9 Red Flags That Signal a Remote Developer Scam (and How to Verify Their Identity)

The global shift to remote work has opened up a world of talent, but it has also created a fertile ground for scammers, professional fraudsters, and unqualified individuals using AI to look legitimate. For founders, a single bad hire can result in thousands of dollars wasted, significant project delays, and the devastating loss of intellectual property.

At Founders Don't Forget (FDF), we believe the best defense is vigilance. This guide provides actionable verification tips and spotlights the most critical 9 red flags to watch for during your remote developer hiring process.

Portfolio & Credential Scams (Verification of Expertise)

The first and most common scam involves a developer presenting work that is not their own—often stolen code, templated projects, or deepfake personas.

1. The Portfolio Is Too Perfect (or Too Vague)

A highly polished portfolio is good, but a perfect one with no evidence of personal struggle or iteration is suspicious.

• Red Flag: The developer only shows static screenshots, non-interactive video demos, or polished final products without showing any actual source code.
• Verification Tip: Demand a Live Screenshare Demo. Ask them to share their screen and navigate their own local development environment. Ask them to briefly modify a small feature in the code base they claim to have worked on. If they hesitate or refuse, walk away.

2. The "Expert in Everything" Profile

No developer is truly an expert in 10 different frameworks. The broader the skillset, the shallower the knowledge often is.

• Red Flag: The resume or LinkedIn profile lists expertise in five or more diverse languages and frameworks (e.g., Python, Swift, React, Solidity, PHP, and Rust).
• Verification Tip: Have your existing technical team or a trusted technical advisor ask two highly specific, niche-level questions about a single, complex concept within the framework they claim is their primary skill. Look for hesitation or generic, textbook answers.

3. Missing or Locked GitHub/GitLab Activity

Real developers have active public profiles, even if specific client work is private.

• Red Flag: Their GitHub profile is nearly empty, shows only basic "Hello World" repositories, or has a sudden, massive spike in commits right before the interview process begins.
• Verification Tip: Check the timestamp consistency. Look for a healthy, long-term history of contributions. Ask them to walk you through the architecture of a public repository they contributed to.

Communication & Process Red Flags (Verification of Trust)

These red flags appear during initial communication and are often signals that the person is an impostor or is using template-based communication.

4. Vague Communication & Avoidance of Video Calls

If communication is stiff, overly formal, and sounds generated, it's a huge warning sign.

• Red Flag: They consistently avoid video calls or, when they do join, the video is low-quality, blurry, or they "have technical difficulties" keeping the camera on for more than a few minutes (a common tactic for deepfake or proxy scam rings).
• Verification Tip: Insist on High-Quality Video. If the video is poor, ask the candidate to hold up a specific, randomized object (like a pen or a sticky note) to confirm they are live and responsive.

5. Too Good to Be True Pricing

While you might find great talent abroad, abnormally low pricing usually comes with hidden costs.

• Red Flag: Their hourly or fixed rate is drastically below the market average for their claimed experience level and location.
• FDF Tip: Treat abnormally low pricing as a major risk factor. It often signals a lack of experience, a plan to cut corners, or a high likelihood of abandoning the project mid-way when better-paying work comes along.

6. Resistance to Paid Trial Projects

A confident, professional freelancer or contractor understands that paid trials protect both parties.

• Red Flag: They insist on immediately signing a long-term contract without completing a small, paid, and time-boxed project (e.g., a 10-hour sprint on a small feature).
• FDF Tip: Always implement a small, paid trial project. This allows you to evaluate their communication, code quality, and time management before committing major resources.

Legal & Financial Red Flags (Verification of Intent)

These flags relate to the transactional phase and indicate a potential future dispute over IP or payment.

7. No Interest in IP Ownership Clauses

A legitimate professional understands that the code they write for you belongs to you.

• Red Flag: The developer shows no interest or concern regarding the intellectual property (IP) transfer clause in the contract, or they push back heavily against a clause specifying that the code they produce is "Work For Hire."
• FDF Tip: Ensure your contract explicitly states that all code and assets created for your project are the sole property of your company upon payment.

8. Insisting on Unsecured Payment Methods

This is a tactic to prevent chargebacks or accountability.

• Red Flag: They insist on upfront payment entirely via non-reversible methods like Western Union, cryptocurrency, or direct bank transfer, bypassing secure platforms like Escrow, Loxala, or PayPal's business service.
• FDF Tip: Always use secure payment platforms or contracts that offer milestone-based payment held in escrow until deliverables are confirmed.

9. Pressure and Fake Urgency

Scammers thrive on founders making rushed decisions without due diligence.

• Red Flag: The developer or agency creates artificial pressure, claiming their availability window is closing or that the "special rate" expires in 24 hours.
• FDF Tip: Never rush your due diligence. Take the time to run background checks, talk to their references (and call their former company's main line to verify the reference is real), and wait 24 hours before signing any contract.

The FDF Founder's Safe Hiring Checklist

To protect your startup and your investment, follow these three non-negotiable steps:

1. Mandate a Paid Trial: Start with a small, paid contract to evaluate their competence and process.
2. Verify Identity: Insist on a video call and cross-check the candidate's identity against their public profiles (LinkedIn, GitHub) and their provided references.
3. Secure Your IP: Ensure a legally sound contract with explicit clauses on vesting, IP transfer, and termination.

Don't let your experience become a scammer's next profit. What is the single most unusual red flag you have ever encountered when hiring a remote developer? Share your story below to help protect the founder community.