Examples of scam job offers targeting translators and interpreters
Subject: English/Portuguese
Date: 8August2019 at 19:37:39 CDT
To:
[email protected] [This is a fake e-mail address used for illustrative purposes only – Joe doesn’t really exist
and neither does the domain acetranslator.com!]
I'm contacting you in regard to an English content document worth
11,643 words (44 Pages). I need this document translated into Portuguese.
I would like to know if you are interested and available to get this
done for me. Please get back to me as soon as you can.
Thank you
This one is very common. Variants of this e-mail have been making the rounds for several years now. The
obvious “red flags” here are the gmail address; the odd English (“an English content document worth
11,643 words), despite the fact that “Arthur Williams” would seem to be a native speaker of English; and
the lack of detail about the subject matter of the document. Also, this e-mail was sent to a translator who
translates from Portuguese to English, but not from English to Portuguese.
From: "."
Subject: French to English Translation
Date: 28August2020 at 09:39:33 CDT
To: [email protected]
Greetings,
How are you doing today? I kindly ask for your service in translating a document in the above language pair. Kindly
confirm your availability, so I can send you full details about the project. Will be waiting on your timely response.
Best Regards.
This one exhibits the same red flags as the one above, but with one additional (great big) one: A single
dot appears in the “From” field. Hovering the cursor over the dot, however, revealed that the message had
been sent by [email protected]. No legitimate client would ever fail to include a name in the “From”
field!
Subject: Translation
Date: 20August2020 at 22:23:36 CDT
To:
[email protected]Hello,
How are you doing today? And I'm contacting you regarding an English content in which I want to get translated, So
kindly get back to me with the language in which you translating and if you available so I can forward the document to
you asap for the quote, I found your contact at Austin Area Interpreters and Translators Association, Thank you.
Apart from the ghastly English, the main thing that identifies this as a scam offer is the failure to state the
language combination, although the sender claims to have found Joe Translator’s information in the
AATIA directory, where Joe’s working languages are clearly indicated. A legitimate client would always
specify the language combination!
From: Eric Strom <[email protected]>
Subject: English to spanish translation
Date: 19December2019 at 20:23:57 CST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Good evening,
I obtained your contact information from the American Translators Association website. I am working with a private
investigator on a case and need some documents (approximately 200 pages) translated from spanish to
english. Can you please tell me your rates?
Eric
The big red flag here is that the e-mail was sent to “undisclosed recipients,” meaning that hundreds of
others probably got it. Also, “Eric” provides no information about who he is or why he is (supposedly)
working with the private investigator. If this were a legitimate offer, it would most likely have come from
a law firm with a verifiable domain name and the sender would have provided more information about the
documents to be translated. Also, the sender would have capitalized “Spanish” and “English.”
Subject: You there
Date: 30March2019 at 11:54:52 CDT
To:
[email protected]Good day,
I looked you up on Translators/Interpreter directory. I seek your service in translating an English article of about
11,000 words into Spanish. Please get back to me and let me know your availability and I would respond with a copy
of the document to be translated.
Thanks,
Charles Kirkpatrick.
More red flags: A legitimate client would never put “You there” in the subject line! Also, “Charles” does
not say which “Translators/Interpreter” directory he found your name in. And the recipient in this case
was someone who translates from Spanish into English, but not from English into Spanish – something
that “Charles” would have known if he had really looked the translator up in the directory of AATIA or
another association.
Date: November 2, 2018 at 11:16:00 AM CDT
To:
[email protected] [Jane, like Joe, is fictitious!]
Subject: Re: On-site Interpreters Needed!
On-site Interpreters Needed!
Venn Group Recruiting Expert is looking for face-to-face interpreters.
On-site interpreters work on a freelance basis, going to a variety of appointments in USA.
We are currently seeking interpreters to work on a 3 days seminar scheduled for November 14th - November
16th.2018
Requirements :
* Fluent in language of specialty & English
* Two years of interpreting experience
* Training and/or certification in interpretation (+)
* Knowledge of on-site interpreter standards
* Professional demeanor and appearance
* U.S. citizenship or a valid work permit
If you are interested in becoming an interpreter for the event, please send us your resume today!
This one is a little unusual in that it targets interpreters rather than translators. But all the same red flags
are present:
- Although “Cameron” purports to represent a company called Venn Group, he/she uses a Gmail
address.
- The language combination is not specified, nor is the location or nature of the interpreting job.
- The English in the message is terrible.
The AATIA member who received this message described her experience with the scammer at one of our
general meetings. You can read her account at https://aatia.org/aatia-ends-year-with-three-great-meetings/
Subject: APTAR PHARMA JOB OFFER - TRANSLATOR/INTERPRETER
Date: 7November2019 at 04:38:13 CST
To:
[email protected]Dear Applicant,
After a quick review of your profile on the( Austin Translator And interpreters Association(ATIA), I write to
present APTAR PHARMA TRANSLATOR/INTERPRETER job offer, Aptar is a leading global supplier of a
broad range of innovative dispensing, sealing and active packaging solutions for the beauty, personal care,
home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectables, food and beverage markets. We’re in search
of individuals, company irrespective of the current business type for a
TRANSLATOR/INTERPRETER Position.
Please indicate your interest to receive a full job description.
A referral will be welcome.
Yours Sincerely,
Joanne Calandra,
Director Human Resources,
APTAR PHARMACEUTICAL.
www.aptar.com
Be you. Be challenged. Be inspired.
This type of scam has also become very common. Sometimes the original offer includes a job
description, along with some language lifted from the company website (see the example below)
and sometimes a company logo and/or slogan, which gives it a veneer of legitimacy, but don’t be
fooled! There are numerous red flags here:
- The sender’s e-mail address ([email protected]) and the actual e-mail address
([email protected]) don’t match. Aptar is a real company and the domain
aptapharma.com appears to be a real domain owned by the company, as it redirects to
https://www.aptar.com/pharmaceutical/. However, a fraud warning on the company’s career
website indicates that legitimate job offers are sent only from @aptar.com. The domain
aptarpharma.company.com does not exist.
- The address in the “To” field ([email protected]) doesn’t match the recipient’s e-mail
address. This e-mail was sent to an AATIA member at her true address.
- The sender says that Aptar is recruiting individuals for a translator/interpreter position
“irrespective of the current business type.” So, they’re supposedly willing to take someone
who is currently working as, say, a landscaper to do the job of a translator/interpreter. A
legitimate client would want someone who is currently working in the T&I field!
Here’s another, longer variant of this scam.
From: BAYER AG <
[email protected]>
Subject: TRANSLATING/PROOFREADING JOB!!
Date: 3May2019 at 13:14:48 CDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Hello,
Your portfolio published on AUSTIN AREA TRANSLATORS & INTERPRETERS ASSOCIATION has been reviewed
by our HR Department at (BAYER) and we are pleased to invite you to an online interview/briefing exercise. You've
been assigned to Mr. Gerald Berkley (Hiring Manager) of Bayer Pharmaceuticals. He would be conducting an online
interview with you.
Position available: TRANSLATING/PROOFREADING JOB.
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Hourly Rate: $48/Hour
Training Rate: $28/Hour
Your salary package may include pension benefits, commissions and bonuses, no Startup Costs, 1099-K structure.
ABOUT US:
We address some of the world's most pressing global challenges and continue to develop new solutions. The
population is constantly growing and its age is increasing. That is why it needs better medicines and high-quality food
in sufficient quantities.
At Bayer Pharmaceuticals, our largest segment in terms of sales, we focus on researching, developing and marketing
specialty-focused innovative medicines that provide significant clinical benefit and value, primarily in the therapeutic
areas of cardiology, oncology, gynecology, hematology and ophthalmology. In this way, we are addressing the
growing requirements of patients, physicians, health care payers and regulatory agencies.
At Bayer Pharmaceuticals, we provide the tools to enable the personal growth and fulfillment for individuals and as a
company we work together as a team to make a positive difference for our employees. We operate an equal
opportunities policy for all current and potential employees and offer all our employees clear and fair terms and
conditions of employment. We maintain a clear and open dialogue with all our staff and have policies and procedures
in place for staff to formally raise any concerns should that ever be required. We operate a fair and consistent
employee selection process based on skills and ability regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnic group or
religion. We ensure our suppliers have similar standards as part of our supplier selection process.
Translation: Conversion of written documents into the target language.
Translator/Proofreader responsibilities include reading and thoroughly understanding the context of given material,
using specialized dictionaries and translation tools and proofreading finished pieces of work. To be successful in this
role, you should have a keen eye for detail and be fluent in at least two languages in addition to your native language.
Responsibilities:
- Read given material and research industry-specific terminology
- Convert text and audio recordings from one language to one or more others
- Ensure translated content conveys original meaning and tone
- Prepare subtitles for videos and online presentations
- Cross-reference specialized dictionaries and translation tools to check quality of translation
- Proofread translated texts for grammar, spelling and punctuation accuracy
- Follow up with internal team members and clients to ensure translation meets their needs
- Edit content with an eye toward maintaining its original format (e.g. font and structure)
- Network with field experts to stay current on new translation tools and practices.
Requirements
- Proven work experience as a Translator, Interpreter or similar role
- Fluency in at least two languages in addition to your native language
- Excellent proofreading skills with the ability to identify grammar, spelling and punctuation errors
- Good knowledge of content editing tools
- Familiarity with translation software
- Time-management skills
- BSc in Translation, Interpreting or similar field
- Additional certification in Linguistics is a plus
Ultimately, you will provide ready-to-use translated content that meets our internal needs and helps us reach a
broader audience.
Training:
You'll go through a thorough, comprehensive, five (5) days training online program during your probationary period.
The candidate will be getting a career, not a stepping stone. This is an amazing opportunity for the right individual
who will get all the necessary guidance and training to have a far-reaching career.
INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS
Google hangout will be used for the purpose of the interview. To contact Him, setup a gmail acct.
(www.gmail.com)and also download a Google talk app (www.google.com/hangouts) on your phone or computer
using your email and add up ([email protected]) for more information and interview procedure.
Your verification code is (BPH/P2019-6548). This would serve as your identification number throughout the on-line
hiring process. This is a remote job and working hours are flexible.
Job description, pay scale, duties and briefing about the company will be discussed during the interview.
Training is also available,
NOTE : Freelance Job
Interview Scheduled:
9:00 AM-6:00 PM CST
(Monday-Friday)
Your swift and timely response matters a lot as this is an immediate hire position... We look forward to having you on
the team.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Natalie Loucas.
https://www.bayer.com
© 2019 Global Bayer Pharmaceuticals.
BIG red flags here:
- The e-mail supposedly comes from BAYER AG, which is, of course, a legitimate company, but
the sender is
[email protected]. If it really came from Bayer, the domain would be
@bayer.com or @career.bayer.com.
- The e-mail was sent to “undisclosed recipients.” Companies like Bayer don’t normally send out
unsolicited e-mail to potential job candidates and they certainly don’t mass mail them to hundreds
of undisclosed recipients. Normally, anyone wanting a job at Bayer would do a job search on the
company’s career website (https://career.bayer.com/en/career) and apply via the link provided
there.
- The language combination required is not specified.
- The job is described as both a remote freelance job and a full-time/part-time position with the
possibility of “pension benefits, commissions and bonuses, no Startup Costs, 1099-K structure.” A
real translator position would never include commissions and bonuses or “startup costs” and there
is no such thing as a “1099-K structure.” The scammer probably meant to refer to a 401K plan; the
fact that he doesn’t even know what it’s called is a dead giveaway that this is a scam. A real
recruiter at Bayer would certainly know what a 401K is!
- The interview for the position is to be conducted on Google Hangouts. A company like Bayer
would not be conducting interviews on Google Hangouts!
These scams work in essentially the same way as the above overpayment scams, except that the
“client/employer” sends you advance payment to cover the cost of equipment that you will supposedly
need to purchase for your training period.
IF YOU RECEIVE AN E-MAIL RESEMBLING ANY OF THE ABOVE, HIT “DELETE”!
