Poll: When verifying a potential new client that does not have a Blue Board history, where do you start? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When verifying a potential new client that does not have a Blue Board history, where do you start?".
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I barely care about the Blue Board nowadays because a) I am no longer paying for ProZ, so all I get to see is their average LWA anyway and b) there are way too many blatantly fake, probably bought, 5-star LWAs rendering the Blue Board borderline useless. It is only when a customer messes up so royally, even their average LWA is below 4 that I know they are not worth working with.
Instead, I use tri-trab.com and paymentpractices.net.
| | | | Lieven Malaise 
Belgium
Local time: 21:07
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
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Alex Lichanow wrote:
I barely care about the Blue Board nowadays because a) I am no longer paying for ProZ, so all I get to see is their average LWA anyway and b) there are way too many blatantly fake, probably bought, 5-star LWAs rendering the Blue Board borderline useless. It is only when a customer messes up so royally, even their average LWA is below 4 that I know they are not worth working with.
Instead, I use tri-trab.com and paymentpractices.net.
I don't think 5-star reviews are bought. It is probably common practice to ask translators who have just completed an assignment to leave a positive review on the Blue Board. If they are desperate for work, many will not dare to refuse, even if rates are very low (it's too late, they already accepted them).
Moreover, ratings of less than 4 stars do not necessarily have to be a bad sign. One of my better clients currently has a rating of less than 4 stars.
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Website + Payment Practices + LinkedIn + Hall of Fame and Shame + BB…
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My gut instinct, then I look for objective confirmation (Web presence, payment practices...).
Also, experience has taught me that vague and sloppy wording and unsolicited contact are often enough to warrant caution.
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Alex Lichanow wrote:
....their average LWA is below 4 that I know they are not worth working with.
Yup, my attitude to the BB (which like you I can't see in detail anyway) is that a bad score is probably worth paying a little attention to, but you can't really trust a good score.
I stress "a little attention" - other factors obviously count too.
| | | | Oscar Núñez Alfaro
Costa Rica
Local time: 13:07
Member (Oct 2026)
English to Spanish
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| I start searching everywhere! | Jan 14 |
I think that Blue Board is my favorite, but you can also search on Google, LinkedIn, translators and interpreters groups on WhatsApp and social media (Facebook). Sometimes, I just trust in my guts because some of my direct clients have reached out to me directly by WhatsApp or Gmail. So, I have asked them to have a video call first to meet each other and know their needs.
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 15:07
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
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| There are exceptions: Some good clients do use Gmail addresses as their main business email | Jan 14 |
A client contacted me with their Gmail address to propose collaboration a few years ago, and it turned out to be a boutique client. They are now still using their Gmail address to make assignments.
[Edited at 2026-01-14 23:29 GMT]
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Who has never come across suspicious names? Generally, the names of scammers are always very dubious:
"I’m Daniel Craig. Your profile is impressive and perfect for a mission I’d like to assign to you."
| | | | Danielle Crouch
Germany
Local time: 21:07
Member (2019)
German to English
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| Website and LinkedIn | Jan 19 |
I start by finding the potential client's website (if they don't have one that's a huge red flag) and reading through at least some of it to make sure it looks and sound professional. If I have been contacted directly by a specific person from the company, I will search for that person on LinkedIn. If that person doesn't have a LinkedIn profile that's not necessarily a bad thing, but if they do and the information on it matches what I'm expecting to see, it's an extra reassurance.
O... See more I start by finding the potential client's website (if they don't have one that's a huge red flag) and reading through at least some of it to make sure it looks and sound professional. If I have been contacted directly by a specific person from the company, I will search for that person on LinkedIn. If that person doesn't have a LinkedIn profile that's not necessarily a bad thing, but if they do and the information on it matches what I'm expecting to see, it's an extra reassurance.
Other than that, as others have said, I go with my gut. That can be surprisingly effective. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 21:07
English to French
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Send us your CV, along with a vague and overly general project description are all good indicators of deceptive practices.
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