Some writers use Craigslist to snag new writing gigs (writer Carly Schuna credits her freelance writing success to the site), and while there’s nothing wrong with that, not all writing job posts are legitimate. Some may be elaborate money scams, veiled attempts to promote websites that really don’t pay for content, or people trying to find “sample articles” to steal for their own unscrupulous purposes. It’s definitely not cool, but it’s a fact of life if you want to find writing jobs on Craigslist.

But how do you separate fact from fiction? It’s actually pretty easy once you learn the “markers” of a fake ad–red flags that may indicate they aren’t being honest about what they’re really offering potential writers.

Here are five ways to spot a writing scam on Craigslist:

1. “No experience necessary! You only need a computer and Internet access to write for us!” Remember, you’re a writer–you’re being paid for your skills and talents, not because you’re a warm body that can press buttons on a keyboard. Any Craigslist ad that includes this little red flag is always a scam. It’s likely a get-rich-at-home scheme that has little to do with writing. If you come across any ad like this, flag it immediately and move on.

2. “We’ll pay you $1000 a week just to write articles!” You’re more likely to find these sort of jobs through print publications or private clients, not Craigslist. It just won’t happen publicly, and it certainly won’t happen on Craigslist.

3. “To see if you’re a good fit for our site, you’ll need to send us an unpaid sample article first.” And when you send it to them, they’ll mysteriously disappear with sample article in hand, ready to use on a plethora of other websites. Google check your article in a few weeks–it’ll probably be on a brand new website with hundreds of other “sample” articles. It’s an effective way to get articles for free. If you see any ads that ask for unpaid, written-from-scratch sample articles first, move on to something else. It’s a scam.

4. “We pay based on the portion of advertising revenue you create.” This really means they’re going to pay you half (or even less) of the money they get from advertisement clicks on their website. This usually means Google Adsense, and it almost always means you’re going to get pennies for your work.

5. “We’ll pay you once more visitors come visit our website.” Again, refer to #4. It’s the same thing, but without the pennies.

Note: This doesn’t cover all of the writing scams on Craigslist–some may look like totally legitimate writing jobs, and may have you fooled until they start skimping on the payments. To avoid it, do your research on the company/client first. Google’s a great start, along with the reliable ask around with your writing buds.

5 Ways to Spot a Writing Scam on Craigslist is part of WJR’s series on Online Writing Tips.  To see the full series of tips, click here.