The Popular Advice that Everyone Gives
This advice works for freelancers who already have some experience and want to level up their career.
But for beginners who are just starting, it can be dangerous.
You’ve probably heard it everywhere online:
“Get clients off platforms.”
It sounds smart. It sounds like growth.
But if you are new and you don’t know how to get clients yet, it’s safer to stay on the platform.
I’m not saying you should stay there forever.
But if you don’t know what you’re doing outside the platform, staying inside is the better choice.
I learned this the hard way.
My “Too Good to Be True” Experience
Before, I tried to explore getting clients outside platforms. I was new to Telegram and just looking around when I saw an ad. They said they needed a typist to convert a PDF file into Microsoft Word. The deadline was three days, and the payment was $1000.
Looking back, that rate was already a red flag for me.
It was too good to be true.
But because it was my first time trying work outside a platform, I took the risk.
Everything was agreed through Telegram chat.
No contract. No protection. That was the worst part.
What Went Wrong
I finished the work in three days. When it was time for payment, they told me to message another person and give my bank details. Then they asked me to create an account on an online bank.
I did. I even saw the payment reflected there.
When I tried to withdraw the money to my UK bank account, it didn’t go through.
Then the so-called HR messaged me and said I needed to pay a conversion fee because the payment was in dollars. I questioned it, but they said I wouldn’t get my money unless I paid. So I sent $50.
After that, they asked for another $50 for a transfer fee.
That’s when it finally hit me.
It was a scam.
I felt stupid. Not because of the amount, but because I ignored the signs. I argued with them, hoping at least to get my $50 back. But I didn’t get anything.
Not the $1000. Not the $50.
I blocked them all on Telegram and stopped responding.
The Hard Lesson
That experience taught me something important.
Platforms are not perfect, but they protect beginners.
They give structure, payment safety, and clear rules.
Leaving platforms too early doesn’t make you brave or advanced.
It makes you vulnerable.
For beginners, safety comes before freedom.
Looking back, that one Telegram client could have cost me not just $50, but weeks of wasted time, lost confidence, and even my trust in freelancing. I was lucky I learned this lesson early.
The takeaway is simple: before you chase freedom outside platforms, make sure you know how to protect yourself. Safety first keeps your freelance career intact.
You can also find me here:
Post to you soon 📩
Charmaine 🩷😊