I ignored red flags because I needed the money… now I think I got scammed (~$1000)
I think I just got scammed out of ~43 hours of work and I feel like absolute shit!
I really need to vent because I don’t even know how to process this right now.
Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been working with this client who commissioned multiple pieces from me; one for $600, one for $250, and one for $100.
He said his company only does payroll on Fridays, so he’d pay me then. But at the same time, he kept saying the quicker I finished the illustrations, the better, because he could order more work from me.
I foolishly believed him and kept working without getting a single penny.
I fully completed the $100 piece, did the sketch for the $600 one, and started working on the $250 piece. Altogether it’s been around 40+ hours of work.
Today is Friday.
Now suddenly there’s “an issue with payroll” and no payment.
When I told him I’d pause work until I get paid, he basically disappeared. He used to reply instantly before.
I feel so stupid. I know I was naive. I saw the red flags, but I desperately needed the money, so I let myself believe in his sweet lies.
Please don’t tell me I should’ve known better, I already know. I’m already frustrated and honestly crying while writing this. I just need to get this out for a bit.
I really needed that money (I’m literally in debt right now) and now I’m sitting here realizing I might have just worked for free for almost two weeks.
I don’t even know if I should wait a bit longer or just accept that I got scammed.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this? How did you handle it?
I just feel really defeated right now.