| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Realtranslatorjobs.com: too good to be true? Thread poster: Helene Diu
|
|---|
Helene Diu 
France
Local time: 16:03
Member (2004)
English to French
Hello,
Sorry if this has been posted before, I didn't find anything in the archives.
I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine:
http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/
The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed.
You have to enter a name and e-mail adres... See more Hello,
Sorry if this has been posted before, I didn't find anything in the archives.
I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine:
http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/
The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed.
You have to enter a name and e-mail adress, then you get to a page asking you to pay 68$ to register and start getting FR > EN jobs from what seems to be large companies (dell, Mc donald's, etc).
What do you people think of it?
Thinking it was a scam, I hit the "back" button on my browser and got offered a special "friend discount", ie the possibility to register for only 24$.
When you look up the name on Internet, you find links towards so-called "review" sites that give amazingly good reviews (nearly 5/5) but seem to be fake pages leading you again to the sign-up page for the site.
Any opinion on this?
Helene ▲ Collapse
| | | |
I have to pay to have a look around - how nice!
No address, no phone number (I couldn't see any) - definetely a scam.
| | | | Ana Malovrh
Slovenia
Local time: 16:03
German to Slovenian
+ ...
Hello Helene,
I think it's a scam. They promise too much and there is no "about us" section, no company details.
It seems as though they have a somewhat affiliate program for bloggers to post good reviews for them.
| | | | kchansen
Local time: 16:03
English to Danish
| My rule of thumb | Jun 22, 2011 |
If they want YOU to pay THEM, it's a scam!
Besides, paying for access to a job database where you get to compete with rank amateurs who think that because they speak two languages they can do translations? No thanks, even assuming it is not a scam!
| | |
|
|
|
| I never pay to work | Jun 22, 2011 |
It's something I've heard repeated time and again on TV: don't pay to work. The idea is that you're supposed to BE PAID, not the other way round!
| | | | Ana Malovrh
Slovenia
Local time: 16:03
German to Slovenian
+ ...
... in addition to what has already been written my assumption was right, all good reviews are done from affiliates.
[Edited at 2011-06-22 15:47 GMT]
| | | | Lords
Mexico
Local time: 07:03
English to Spanish
+ ...
| This is Definitely a scam. | Jun 22, 2011 |
It is impossible that these people can be in touch with those big companies. Anyone who has at least some experience translating knows that those companies will not accept jobs from unqualified people; in addition, they are not testing them, they are just collecting money from naive people.
If we do the maths, they are going to make a lot of money with all of those people without experience who are getting enrolled everyday and as it happens with those companies once everybody get a... See more It is impossible that these people can be in touch with those big companies. Anyone who has at least some experience translating knows that those companies will not accept jobs from unqualified people; in addition, they are not testing them, they are just collecting money from naive people.
If we do the maths, they are going to make a lot of money with all of those people without experience who are getting enrolled everyday and as it happens with those companies once everybody get acquainted with the scam, it is going to disappear and may appear, later on, with a different page an name.
Take care.
Helene Diu wrote: Hello, Sorry if this has been posted before, I didn't find anything in the archives. I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine: http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/ The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed. You have to enter a name and e-mail adress, then you get to a page asking you to pay 68$ to register and start getting FR > EN jobs from what seems to be large companies (dell, Mc donald's, etc). What do you people think of it? Thinking it was a scam, I hit the "back" button on my browser and got offered a special "friend discount", ie the possibility to register for only 24$. When you look up the name on Internet, you find links towards so-called "review" sites that give amazingly good reviews (nearly 5/5) but seem to be fake pages leading you again to the sign-up page for the site. Any opinion on this? Helene ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Don't pay unless you get a real benefit | Jun 22, 2011 |
Any company that has affiliate or membership fees to use its services, has definite, clear benefits for the people who pay for those services.
If you are unsure of what benefits would you get if you pay for the affiliate program, don't pay it. Better safe than sorry.
In this case, it looks like a scam. You have to pay to work, or get work. It does not seem that they offer anything else, like promoting your services in their community, forums or training courses, as so... See more Any company that has affiliate or membership fees to use its services, has definite, clear benefits for the people who pay for those services.
If you are unsure of what benefits would you get if you pay for the affiliate program, don't pay it. Better safe than sorry.
In this case, it looks like a scam. You have to pay to work, or get work. It does not seem that they offer anything else, like promoting your services in their community, forums or training courses, as some other Websites offer to their members.
If you want to pay for something, be sure that you get a clear benefit in terms of:
- Getting access to profesional staff who will help and support you
- Real possibility of obtaining jobs or connecting with potential customers
- Real promotion of your services
- Forums, terminology share, debates, etc
- Any other benefit you might imagine
Maika ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Helene Diu
France
Local time: 16:03
Member (2004)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER | At least now they're listed | Jun 22, 2011 |
Thanks all for your replies so far.
My guess is, the people most likely to be lured into this kind of scheme probably won't be ProZ members, who are usually wise
But at least, the webiste name is now archived in a forum thread and anyone looking it up will find these posts and be warned!
Cheers,
Helene
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 16:03
French to German
+ ...
| First thing to do... | Jun 22, 2011 |
The first thing to do in such cases, even before asking oneself if such a site is worth your while, is to check the WhoIs information.
In this case, it has be carefully withheld and the contact details are those of the registrar.
Why would anybody offering such great opportunities want anonymity?
| | | | apk12
Germany
Local time: 16:03
English to German
+ ...
| Agree with Peter, kchansen et al: Paying a client is no business strategy | Jun 22, 2011 |
Just like with other databases (databases that might be not scam, but still be not worth a 2nd look at) - in this case, the same rule of thumb for any professional in this business applies, regardless if the promised service is indeed scam of not: You do not pay your client, your clients pay you. That's how it's supposed to work. Any page that asks you for $$ for promises is a page that you should close asap in case you want to stick to your trade.
Pages that do indeed work - i.e a... See more Just like with other databases (databases that might be not scam, but still be not worth a 2nd look at) - in this case, the same rule of thumb for any professional in this business applies, regardless if the promised service is indeed scam of not: You do not pay your client, your clients pay you. That's how it's supposed to work. Any page that asks you for $$ for promises is a page that you should close asap in case you want to stick to your trade.
Pages that do indeed work - i.e are indeed able to process successful projects - don't ask you for fixed prices, they work and function successfully with a percentage fee, therefore resembling the business model of agencies. At least, for me this is how I weed scams (and worthless offers) out.
And... coming back to the page in question: to be honest, even from the first look at it, it makes the impression of a hardcore scam. You may tell it's prejudice, but somehow, such pages do have signs that you can spot, similar to scams in emails: As you can read in all those recent scam threads, there is something in common in such scam offers: terrible English, horrible style, something you can recognize. Scam pages, on the other hand, seem also to have something in common: graphic design that seriously hurts your eye.
[Edited at 2011-06-22 18:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 16:03
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Possibly a scam, definitly a worthless product | Jun 22, 2011 |
Helene Diu wrote: I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine: http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/ The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed.
Actually, the web site doesn't promise anything, if you read carefully. What the web site offers is *guidance* and access to job listings, but after that you're on your own.
The web site makes use of several tricks to get people to buy the product, but that in itself isn't considered dishonest by most companies. For me, the site has a little Dutch flag and it touts Dutch-English translation, so obviously the web site guessed what to show me based on my location. That "HALFOFF" coupon is a nice touch -- I'll have to share it with some folks I know who sell e-books via such web sites.
Should you buy this product? No, you'd be stupid if you do.
| | |
|
|
|
Helene Diu wrote: Hello, Sorry if this has been posted before, I didn't find anything in the archives. I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine: http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/ The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed. You have to enter a name and e-mail adress, then you get to a page asking you to pay 68$ to register and start getting FR > EN jobs from what seems to be large companies (dell, Mc donald's, etc). What do you people think of it? Thinking it was a scam, I hit the "back" button on my browser and got offered a special "friend discount", ie the possibility to register for only 24$. When you look up the name on Internet, you find links towards so-called "review" sites that give amazingly good reviews (nearly 5/5) but seem to be fake pages leading you again to the sign-up page for the site. Any opinion on this? Helene
Most definetly a scam...
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 10:03
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Not to mention the fact that the home page is full of misspelled words:
Example: "While there are literally THOUASANDS of..."
| | | | | It shows the flags of my working language pairs | Jun 22, 2011 |
Samuel Murray wrote: Helene Diu wrote: I came across this website today out of curiosity, following a commercial link on a search engine: http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/ The website promises $$$$ earnings from translations, no qualifications needed. Actually, the web site doesn't promise anything, if you read carefully. What the web site offers is *guidance* and access to job listings, but after that you're on your own. The web site makes use of several tricks to get people to buy the product, but that in itself isn't considered dishonest by most companies. For me, the site has a little Dutch flag and it touts Dutch-English translation, so obviously the web site guessed what to show me based on my location. That "HALFOFF" coupon is a nice touch -- I'll have to share it with some folks I know who sell e-books via such web sites. Should you buy this product? No, you'd be stupid if you do.
Hi Samuel,
I believe it is a scam, for all what previously mentioned. Another thing, when I opened the website page, I found the flags of my working language pairs. I think they depend on the IP's.
Thanks,
Mohamed
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Realtranslatorjobs.com: too good to be true? | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
