If you’ve noticed some changes when applying for jobs, you’re not seeing things. There are some unhelpful trends we’re going to tell you about. But we’re also going to share with you what you can do to leverage AI and your own humanity to still find those clients. We’ll start with those unhelpful, at times harmful, trends.
🤖 AI Hiring Tools That Work Against You
You’ve applied to 30 freelance projects in the past six months.
Every one matched your skills. You customized each proposal, wrote thoughtful intros, and even answered multi-step briefs.
Some were posted by well-known companies. Others through platforms you’ve trusted for years.
And still — nothing.
No rejection email. No “Thanks for your pitch.” Not even a view notification.
🎭 Scam Listings Masquerading as Jobs
At first, you thought it was the algorithm — not your skills or experience. Then, maybe bad timing. But now it feels like something deeper is broken — not with you — but with the system.
Because this isn’t just about being ignored. It’s about being filtered out, data-mined, or misled before a human ever reads your work.
For freelance writers and B2B consultants, the rules of engagement have quietly changed — and AI is right at the center of it.
😰 It’s Not Just You: AI Filters and Fake Postings Hurt Everyone
Online platforms have made it easier than ever to pitch projects. But they’ve also introduced new risks that didn’t exist five years ago.
AI-powered job boards, content platforms, and hiring tools now:
- Scan and sort your proposals before a human ever sees them.
- Use language models to automatically reject submissions that don’t hit certain metrics.
- Post “evergreen” listings to collect content samples or pad databases — without real intent to hire.
And scammers are getting smarter, too.
Fake RFPs, phishing schemes, and impersonated brand names now target freelancers with increasing sophistication.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, job scams led to $367 million in losses in 2023 alone — and that number doesn’t even include freelance project fraud.
📊 Who’s Affected — and How
Here’s a breakdown of how different age groups of freelancers are being targeted:
|
Demographic Group |
Freelance-Specific Risks |
|
Gen Z (18-25) |
Tempted by fake “quick cash” writing jobs that require up-front “certification” fees or portfolio reviews |
|
Millennials (26-42) |
Most active on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr; often ghosted after submitting full proposals or test samples |
|
Gen X (43-58) |
Targeted with high-ticket ghostwriting scams or RFPs promising “royalties” instead of pay |
|
Boomers (59+) |
Often approached through phishing emails or fake recruiters offering “editorial board” gigs or “co-author” offers |
🧭 Jeff’s Take
“If it sounds too good to be freelance true — it probably is!”
🤝 When the Client Ghosts You (and It’s Not Your Fault)
Take Rohma Qureshi’s story: a freelance SEO writer who lost a contract in 2024 simply because she refused to send a screenshot proving her content was ‘zero AI-detected.’
Her work was 100% human. But the client let a flawed tool make the call.
It’s a growing issue. Freelancers are increasingly being ghosted not for the work we do — but for the systems clients rely on.
If this happens to you:
- Stay professional — ask for clarification.
- Offer to revise or explain your draft in real time.
- If it’s a dead end, share your story with others so they don’t fall into the same trap.
🚩 “Freelance AI Writing” Scam
The Scam Pattern as reported by Llewellyn Williams:
Companies advertise freelance AI training roles — “help train AI language models” or “provide human feedback for AI.” Applicants are required to complete extensive tasks: full-length articles, editing passages, evaluating AI-generated outputs. After investing their best work, freelancers never hear back.
Unpaid, uncredited, and the “sample” submissions are often repurposed to train the company’s AI.
Williams warns:
“These assessments are often not about finding the right candidate. Instead, they’re a way for companies to gather free input to train their AI systems. Your meticulously crafted writing and feedback are used to improve their models — without you ever being paid.”
Now here’s what you can do:
🕵️♀️ How to Spot a Fake Job or Writing RFP
Scams aren’t just targeting job seekers anymore — freelance proposals are being harvested too. Here are some common red flags:
|
Red Flag |
What To Do |
|
No real contact person listed |
Cross-check on LinkedIn or the company’s site |
|
Requires up-front payment for certification, kit, or system access |
Stop immediately and report it |
|
RFP asks for detailed samples or outlines up front |
Limit how much you give away unless a contract is signed |
|
Vague project scope with “flexible” budget |
Push for specifics before investing time |
|
“Too good to be true” language like $2/word without vetting |
Compare rates on Reedsy, ClearVoice, or Contently |
|
No follow-up after detailed pitch |
Assume your data may have been mined — watch for reused samples elsewhere |
|
Job listed across multiple freelance platforms with inconsistent company names |
Reverse image search company logos or cross-check email domains. |
🤔 Why This Is Happening (and What You Can Do About It)
Many companies now rely on AI to help sort, score, or even write RFPs.
That means your pitch may never be read by a person unless:
- It’s optimized for the algorithm.
- It passes AI-plagiarism filters.
- It hits keywords or formatting preferences set by the client.
And sometimes, there’s no real client behind the post at all. Just a scraper or scammer running a test.
✅ How Freelancers Can Use AI to Win More (Legit) Work
The good news? You can fight fire with fire. Here’s how:
1. Use AI to Reverse-Engineer RFPs
Before submitting, run the RFP through ChatGPT or Claude and ask:
“What is this client really asking for? What deliverables or tone do they expect?”
Let the AI unpack vague language for you.
2. Check Your Proposal with AI Filters
Use tools like Originality.ai or Writer.com to test your copy for “robotic” phrasing — even if it’s human-written.
Some clients wrongly rely on detection tools. You can preempt them.
3. Train AI to Help You Pitch Smarter
Input your best-performing proposals and ask AI to:
- Suggest tone improvements like Nick Usborne’s Writing Style: “You-Centric” Conversational
- Voice: Direct, personal, and reader-focused
- Tone: Friendly, informal, often framed as “I’m talking to you”
- Technique: Uses second person (“you”) consistently, drawing the reader in as the hero or decision-maker
- Goal: Build trust through connection and clarity, not cleverness; flag clichés
- Optimize for clarity and structure
🧭 Jeff’s Take
Nick Usborne writes like your best friend in marketing — sitting across the table, saying, “Here’s how you talk to them.” It’s you-centric, relaxed, and built for connection.
Rebecca Matter? She’s your coach with the blueprint in hand — clear, steady, and action-focused. She doesn’t just tell you what to do. She walks you through it with real talk and a flashlight.
One earns trust through empathy. The other builds confidence through momentum. If you’re smart, you learn to blend both. I do.
Let your AI-AGENT be your proposal assistant, not your ghostwriter.
🧠 Recommendation from Jeff
“Before you send your proposal, run it through an AI tool for tone and clarity. You’ll spot things faster than a second draft. The best freelancers don’t just dodge bad bots — they train their own.”
🧭 Final Thoughts: Trust Is Still Your Best Tool
Here’s the good news: There are great clients out there.
The best ones will:
- Disclose if AI is used in screening.
- Respect your time and proposal boundaries.
- Communicate clearly — even if they pass on the pitch.
And as a freelancer, you get to choose who you work with.
So, pitch boldly. Protect your time. Ask smart questions.
And don’t let ghosting shake your confidence. Because in a world full of bots, your human touch still matters most.
