Anyone with an Internet connection must be alert and on the lookout for someone trying to steal their identity or their personal or financial information.

It seems that scammers are everywhere, and anyone with an Internet connection must forever be alert and on the lookout for someone trying to steal their identity or their personal or financial information, and now we know there are people (scammers) out there who pretend to be translators.

The translation industry in the United Kingdom is apparently quite unregulated and there’s no such thing as a Certified or Authorized Translator; which basically means that anyone can call themselves a translator.

Fake Translators Are on the Increase

Because the translation industry has become such an important one, and it continues to grow quite rapidly, we’re now noticing an increase in fake translators pretending to be the real deal. How are they getting away with this? Well, it seems that most of the time they’re impersonating qualified translators by using their names and their CVs.

Translators today must do everything in their power to ensure they don’t become a victim and that their CV is safe and protected from scammers. Translation clients and this includes agencies and other outsourcers, will always want to be assured that they’re working with professional translators.

Fortunately, most fake CVs have a few things in common which make it not too difficult to spot the tell-tale signs of a scammer. These include –

Receiving CVs Direct, and Not Through the Website

A scammer will send you their CV direct, even though your website clearly states that applicants should use your online application form. Obviously, not everyone who sends their CV to you by email is a scammer, but generally, a scammer will not take the time to complete an application form. They prefer to send out bulk emails in the hope that just one will stick!

Emails Directed to Undisclosed Recipients

Another sign is when you receive an email directed to undisclosed recipients. This means that the same email has been sent to everyone they can possibly think of, knowing (or hoping) that just one person will take the bait. It seems that some people must get caught this way because scammers keep on sending these emails.

Poor Use of the English Language

Of course, an obvious sign of a translation scammer is a poor display of the English language. All translators know that when you’re applying for translation work youput your best foot forward, so-to-speak because any errors in English are going to be a dead giveaway. Translators are skilled linguists, so poor English skills should always be viewed as suspicious. Obviously, we’re not referring to the odd typo (although this would rarely occur in a professional translator’s application), but when you receive emails with very poor English skills, then the red warning lights should be flashing!