80/20 Digital warns freelancers and job seekers of remote job scams targeting Australian agencies.

Key Takeaways

    • A growing remote work scam is targeting freelancers and job seekers by impersonating legitimate businesses and digital agencies.
    • Victims are often contacted through messaging platforms and asked to pay fees, purchase training or provide sensitive information before starting work.
    • Legitimate employers do not require candidates to pay money upfront for employment opportunities or onboarding processes.
    • Scammers frequently create convincing websites, fake login portals and fraudulent communications that closely resemble real businesses.
    • Common red flags include requests for personal information, urgent payment demands, unrealistic earnings claims and unsolicited job offers.
    • Protecting yourself requires verifying company details, researching opportunities independently and avoiding suspicious links, payments or login requests.

A scam targeting freelance contractors and small businesses is becoming widespread in Australia, and a number of Melbourne-based digital agencies have been affected, including 80/20 Digital.

Dozens of fake remote work websites have been set up to entice freelancers to sign up and earn extra cash. When they do, the victims receive messages on WhatsApp asking them to log in to a password-protected portal and pay for ‘training’ so they can work for 80/20 Digital. It’s an elaborate scheme with promises that the more they pay, the more work they will receive.

80/20 Digital has reported this to the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Scam Watch. We have also published posts on social media and flagged on our website that people should be aware that the scam has nothing to do with 80/20 Digital.

For more information, you can also read about employment or job scams in this media release from the Australian Federal Police. 

While we are furious that a bad actor is impersonating 80/20 Digital and using our good name for their ends, we are equally concerned for vulnerable people who get caught up in the scheme. We are aware that some victims have lost substantial sums running into thousands of dollars.

The scammers typically build websites like the ones pictured below, promising remote work with top agencies:

We were initially alerted to the scam by Caleb Wynn, Founder of Wynne Digital, another Melbourne-based digital agency. The same scammers have been targeting Caleb’s brand for the past year, and he has painstakingly contacted hosting providers to ask them to blacklist or take down the spam websites and URL logins.

At this stage, we do not know how many small businesses or digital agencies have been impersonated by this scam, but we can safely assume that it is far more than we know about.

Both Wynne Digital, and now 80/20 Digital too, have been contacting hosting providers to alert them to the scam.

This is a list of all the website logins that we know of that have been used in the scam, and subsequently taken down so far:

If You Have Been Scammed

If you are a remote worker, and you have applied through one of these scam sites, please take note of the website domain name and login URLs, plus any correspondence on WhatsApp. Take screenshots and send them to . We can, in turn, use this evidence to bring it to the attention of the hosting company and get them taken down.

  • Report Immediately: Contact your bank and report the incident to relevant authorities like Australian Cyber Security Centre  or Scamwatch. 
  • Digital Agencies: If your digital agency has been impersonated by the Remote Work Scam, feel free to reach out and we will help as best we can. 

Common Red Flags for Scams

Remember, no legitimate employer will ever ask you to pay to get a job. Here’s a few reminders for things to watch out for:

  • Too Good to Be True: Unbelievable deals or easy money are usually fake.
  • Requests for Personal Info: Asking for passwords, PINs, bank details, or security codes.
  • Unusual Payment Methods: Demanding payment via unusual methods like gift cards, money orders, or paying into new accounts.
  • Unexpected Contact: Unsolicited calls, texts, or emails with links or attachments, especially if they look slightly “off” (spelling errors).
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be a known organization (bank, government, tech support, or in our case, a highly reputable digital agency in Melbourne like 80/20 Digital.
  • Overpayment Scams: A buyer sends a cheque for more than the item’s value and asks you to refund the difference. 

What to Do Instead

  • Verify Identity: Hang up and call the organisation back using a number from their official website, not one from the message.
  • Don’t Click: Avoid clicking links or opening attachments in suspicious messages.
  • Protect Details: Never share passwords, PINs, or one-time codes.
  • Slow Down: Take time to think; don’t be rushed into a decision.
  • Research: Look up companies or offers independently.
  • Secure Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords and check bank statements regularly.
  • Trust Your Instincts: If it feels wrong, it probably is. 

We will update this post as more information becomes apparent to us. In the meantime, stay safe online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a remote work scam?

A remote work scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers impersonate employers or recruitment agencies to trick job seekers into providing money, personal information or access to online accounts.

Warning signs include requests for upfront payments, unrealistic income promises, pressure to act quickly, suspicious websites, requests for passwords or banking details and communication that occurs only through messaging apps.

No. Reputable employers do not require candidates to pay for job opportunities, training programs, onboarding processes or access to company systems before employment begins.

Stop communicating with the scammer, avoid sending additional information, report the incident to relevant authorities, contact your bank if money was transferred and preserve evidence such as screenshots and messages.

Using the name and branding of a recognised business helps scammers appear trustworthy and increases the likelihood that potential victims will engage with their communications.

Verify the company’s official website, contact the business directly using publicly listed details, research reviews and online presence, avoid sharing sensitive information and be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.

Colm MacGowan is a multi-award-winning digital marketer, growth strategist, and Founder of 80/20 Digital. Specialising in lead generation for service-based businesses, Colm helps brands scale through brand-led, data-driven SEO, AI SEO (AIO/GEO), Google Ads, social media, conversion strategy, and commercially focused digital marketing systems. Over the past three decades, his strategies have generated more than $100 million in revenue for clients across Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada, and the US.