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Sketchy Job Offers

Hi,

The last couple months (after finishing a large level in UDK that was presented on Polycount but under a newer Polycount account I won't include in-case these offers are legit) I have received several 'job' offers. Usually first time Polycount users with no history. They want the UDK packages and offer money as well as money for contract work. With one, I asked for some credentials (website, previous game history etc) and got a website that didn't load and no mention of previous games.

This seems a little suss to me.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks

Replies

  • Isaiah Sherman
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    Isaiah Sherman polycounter lvl 14
    If they can't provide any links to anything credible, I would be wary.
  • Goat Justice
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    Goat Justice polycounter lvl 10
    Sounds shady to me... Don't think I've ever had anyone ask for source files of my personal work during a job inquiry.
  • Jon Jones
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    Jon Jones polycounter lvl 18
    Yup, that doesn't happen. They seem shady. IMO, they either are shady, or they're very inexperienced and really don't know how they come off.

    You can vet these with questions.

    "Tell me about your company and project." "Do you have a website?" "Do you have a company deck?" "What titles has your company worked on?" "Is this project funded or published?" "Do you have a LinkedIn I could see?" "How will my work be used?" "Who else is on the project?" "This approach is a little unusual to me, because most people don't ask for usable copies of my work up front. I'm careful when it comes to my work because of some past experiences, but I think we could work together. Do you have any professional references?"

    Realistically, whether they're shady or noobs, asking enough questions like that will most likely scare them off if they're not serious about giving you money for stuff. If it progresses further, find a payment service that provides escrow and work with them. Once again, people that aren't serious will never speak to you again once you bring up that word. :)

    My gut instinct says be wary. Professionals don't do this. And it's unlikely a non-professional will have access to enough money to make anything worth your while.
  • ratatatatat
    thanks everyone

    cheers @Jon Jones I'll ask all those questions and see how it goes.

    thanks
  • BARDLER
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    BARDLER polycounter lvl 12
    It sounds like some shady group of people that are looking to trick people into giving them their assets for free so they can sell them somewhere.
  • gartht3d
    BARDLER wrote: »
    It sounds like some shady group of people that are looking to trick people into giving them their assets for free so they can sell them somewhere.

    yeah. All the PM's are in the same broken english. I got some last week. In a similar situation.
  • ExcessiveZero
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    ExcessiveZero polycounter lvl 12
    I would avoid this like the plague.
  • chrisradsby
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    chrisradsby polycounter lvl 15
    I'd never give away my UDK packages etc. That's the evidence that it's actually your work. They only want to steal your art-work, real companies don't ask for that stuff unless it's an art-test that you made for them.

    Shady business!
  • ratatatatat
    Ok cool. I did ask some questions and havent got a reply yet. It's sounding more like bulls**t to me. Thanks everyone.
  • EarthQuake
    gartht3d wrote: »
    yeah. All the PM's are in the same broken english. I got some last week. In a similar situation.

    Sounds very fishy. Please report the usernames to a mod.
  • Xoliul
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    Xoliul polycounter lvl 16
    Yeah wth man, why even protect these guys?
  • Lazerus Reborn
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    Lazerus Reborn polycounter lvl 8
    Xoliul wrote: »
    Yeah wth man, why even protect these guys?

    Due diligence before burning bridges? I know it sounds stupid but when you're looking for a break into the industry, you consider all opportunities. The guy has done the right thing asking here and saved himself a lot of frustration/being ripped off.

    Depending on the answer back you get, name and shame them for the mods. Though they can probably just check Pm's in the database, (depending if they can but morally won't)

    Theres a question to ask, Are PM's visible to mods? / not that it bothers me ofc.
  • almighty_gir
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    almighty_gir ngon master
    PM's are visible to admins + whoever the admin allows.
  • Jon Jones
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    Jon Jones polycounter lvl 18
    Due diligence before burning bridges? I know it sounds stupid but when you're looking for a break into the industry, you consider all opportunities. The guy has done the right thing asking here and saved himself a lot of frustration/being ripped off.

    Excellently put. It's dismayingly easy to form an internet ragemob before more of the facts are known.
  • ratatatatat
    Thanks again everyone,

    I received a PM today with links to portflios and previous work from one of the users and it seems legit at this stage.

    Thanks all for the opinions.

    I have also contacted admin and notified them of the suspicion but also of the validity of one of the offers after asking several questions.

    It sucks to have to ask prying and possibly offensive questions to someone potentially offering you a legit paid job, especially after the years of trying to make a break.


    Thanks again
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