First published on Facebook/LinkedIn on March 4th, 2025 – Reprinted/reposted/reblogged here with the permission of the Author
I’ve been freelancing here and there, and I’m grateful for every small opportunity that comes my way. However, I feel it’s my responsibility to warn you about certain things you might encounter during this „drought season.“ Maybe my prolonged situation happened for a reason—so I could warn others about the real potential dangers out there for artists in general.
Here are some of them:
1) Recruiter Scammers
These people appear on LinkedIn the very second you post your availability for work.
Ignore them at all costs. They don’t know you. Use your judgment—if they don’t come from the industry you’re looking to work in, they’re not legitimate.
2) „Draw My Husband“ Scammers
These scammers typically reach out via email, asking for a commissioned artwork to „surprise their husband“ (or wife) and offering payment in advance.
Don’t fall for this! It’s a scam. No one offers money upfront like this. These schemes often lead to money laundering.
3) Fake Interviews from Scammers (A newer scam in the community!)
They set up an interview that leads nowhere, often using Zoom filters to hide their background.
In my case, I could see through the filter—the guy was in a run-down apartment with a single flood lamp, meaning he likely had no electricity.
Again, they’ll offer money in advance, which will eventually turn into a money laundering scheme.
Use your judgment—research their company on Google and verify if their email is from a real studio.
4) “Everyone Has an Animation Studio Now!”
With major studios in an inexplicable hiatus, smaller studios are searching for talent everywhere.
Now, not all small studios are bad or unprofessional—I’ve worked with fantastic ones run by wonderful people.
However, I’ve also encountered so-called „studios“ that are just one person with little to no budget.
So, be wary of „John Doe Studios“ talent-seeking ads—they’re not always what they seem.
Always verify the legitimacy of a studio before accepting a job.
5) People Who Send Unsolicited Scripts! These are everywhere. They email you a script and ask you to read it to see if you’re interested.
Dave Alvarez
CAREFUL! NEVER read or accept unsolicited material. It can put you in legal trouble.6) „Dreamy“ Commissions That Are Too Good to Be True
A fantastic commission suddenly appears—one that will definitely pay the bills. And they’ll pay via PayPal! Sounds great, right?
Wrong. If you don’t personally know and trust the client, do NOT accept payments directly to your PayPal account.Here’s why: The scammer pays you a large amount from their credit card, then reports the transaction as fraudulent, and PayPal reverses the payment—leaving you with nothing.
To protect yourself, use a PayPal Business account and offer a protected payment link or an official PayPal invoice. This way, there’s evidence of the transaction.
There are many more scams out there, but these are some of the most common.
Stay cautious, stay informed, and above all—value your work. The right opportunities will come, but they should never cost you your security or peace of mind.
Dave Alvarez
Character Designer and Illustrator