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How to Pay Designers Abroad Safely: Avoid Fraud, Scams and Fees

As a business owner, you may at some point need to pay a designer located abroad. This can be complex, as many potential scams and fees can occur. This article will discuss avoiding fraud, scams and excessive fees when paying designers abroad.

4 min read

Startup Advice
How to Pay Designers Abroad Safely: Avoid Fraud, Scams and Fees cover

As a business owner, you may at some point need to pay a designer located abroad. This can be complex, as many potential scams and fees can occur. This article will discuss avoiding fraud, scams and excessive fees when paying designers abroad. We will also provide tips for making the process as smooth and safe as possible!

pay designers abroad
Photographer: Lindsey LaMont

The difficulty of paying designers abroad

Paying designers abroad can be a challenge due to the many potential scams and fees that can occur. For example, you may encounter fraud or scammers who try to extract money from you illegally. You may also have to pay excessive fees to send money internationally or pay the designer directly. This process can be difficult and frustrating, so it is essential to take precautions to avoid any problems.

Tips for paying designers safely

Here are a few tips for safely paying designers abroad:

  • Use a reputable payment service: When sending money internationally or paying a designer directly, it is important to use a reputable payment service. This will help protect you from fraud and other scams.
  • Check for fees: Check for any fees associated with using the payment service. This will help ensure that you are not overpaying for the service.
  • Communicate with the designer: It is also essential to communicate with the designer before and after sending payments. This will help ensure that both parties are aware of what is happening and there are no misunderstandings.
  • Finally, it is always a good idea to write a contract when hiring a designer. This will help protect both parties and ensure that everyone is clear.
  • Source Designer on trustworthy sites and avoid direct bank transfers.

How to Verify the Identity of a Designer

When working with a designer, it’s essential to verify their identity. This can be done by asking for identification documents, such as a passport or driver’s license. You can also ask for samples of their work and references from past clients. These steps can help ensure that you are working with a legitimate designer.

Unless hiring a large group of designers, you can do identity verification manually over zoom or google hangouts. Ask the designer to hold up an identification document to be eligible.

Photographer: Kelly Sikkema

Tax Liabilities and Compliance

When working with international designers, it’s essential to be aware of tax liabilities or compliance issues. This is because you may be responsible for withholding taxes on behalf of the designer. You should also check to see if the designer is registered with the appropriate government agencies in their home country. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that you are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Avoiding Scams

Commit to payment Milestones

One way to avoid scams is to agree on payment milestones upfront. This means that you will only pay for work that has been completed. This can help protect you from paying for work that is never delivered.

Get everything in writing

Another way to avoid scams is to get everything in writing. This includes the scope of work, and deadlines.

Photographer: Romain Dancre

Avoid Upfront Payments unless working with an established entity

Avoid paying for work upfront unless you are working with an established entity. This is because there is a risk that you may never receive the work or get scammed. If possible, try to negotiate a payment plan where you only pay for work that has been completed.

Use Escrow Services

If possible, use escrow services to pay for work. This means the payment will be held in an account until the work is delivered. This can help protect you from scams and ensure that you only pay for work that has been completed.

Be sure their online presence is consistent

When hiring a designer, be sure to check their online presence. This includes their website, social media profiles and online portfolio. This can help you verify their identity and ensure that they are a legitimate designer.

Photographer: Jeremy Bezanger

Use Design Match

At Design Match, we understand the challenges of paying designers abroad. That’s why we offer a safe and easy way to pay designers. We handle all the payments for you so that you don’t have to worry about fraud, scams or additional fees. Learn more about Design Match here.

Final thoughts on paying designers safely abroad.

In conclusion, there are a few things to keep in mind when paying designers safely abroad. These include using trustworthy sites, communicating with the designer, verifying the designer’s identity and using escrow services. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that you are not scammed and that you only pay for work that has been completed.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

As always, if you need help with anything related to payments or matching with the right designer for your project, be sure to reach out to us at Design Match. We’re happy to help! :)”

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