A video editor from Dehradun named Himanshu Semwal was recently tricked by scammers on LinkedIn, reports TimesNow. The scammers posted a fake job for video editors. They asked Himanshu to send a free work sample to show his skills. After he sent his work, they simply blocked him and disappeared with his free work.
This type of scam is becoming very common on job sites like LinkedIn. The trick works like this: scammers post fake jobs that look real. They target people who need work, especially freelancers. They ask for “sample work” but never plan to hire anyone. Instead, they collect free work from many different people, then either use it themselves or sell it to others for money.
Video editors are perfect targets for these scammers. Their work takes many hours to create and has real money value. The scammers know that many freelance video editors are looking for jobs and might be willing to create a quick sample to show their skills. Think of it like asking several chefs to cook you a “sample meal” for free, then eating all the food and never hiring any of them!
These online job scams are growing quickly. According to reports, job scams on platforms like LinkedIn increased by 118% in 2023. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that people lost about ~₹3156 crore ($367 million) to job scams in 2022. This was 76% more than in 2021. With LinkedIn having over 1.1 billion users in 2025, scammers have many potential victims to target.
If you’re a freelancer, here are some important ways to protect yourself:
- Be suspicious of new profiles or accounts with little history
- Never do free work without a written agreement
- Always put watermarks on your sample work (like adding your name across the video)
- Trust your gut feeling – if something feels wrong, it probably is
- Check the company and recruiter online before responding
- Use low-resolution or shortened versions for samples
To better protect your creative work (your “intellectual property” – which means the things you create), experts suggest these additional steps:
- Use contracts that clearly state who owns the work
- Sign non-disclosure agreements (papers that say others can’t share your work)
- Register copyrights for important work you create
- Use secure file-sharing methods with password protection
- Regularly search online to check if someone is using your work without permission
- Talk to a lawyer who understands creative work rights if working with international clients
Remember, legitimate companies understand that your time and skills are valuable. They usually don’t ask for free custom work. If they want to see your skills, they should be happy with your portfolio of previous work. Stay alert and protect your hard work from those trying to get it for free.
