Question for experienced Contra freelancers: how do you handle direct client messages?

I’d love to get some real-world advice from other freelancers.

A potential client reached out to me directly this morning about a project creating step-by-step icons for a member experience. I checked their Contra profile and noticed they’re new to Contra and currently “building their profile.” There isn’t a project posted or connected to their profile that I can see.

I’m curious how you would handle a situation like this:

Does this look normal for a new Contra client, or are there any red flags?

Is there a way to tell whether a client account is verified on Contra?

Would you continue the conversation directly through Contra?

What would you typically ask for before discussing scope, pricing, or sending a proposal?

I’ve attached a screenshot of the profile for context.

PLEASE DON’T JUST “LIKE” THIS POST. 😄 I’m genuinely looking for feedback from freelancers who have dealt with direct client inquiries on Contra.

Thanks — I’d really appreciate hearing how others handle this.

Hi Scott! Congrats on getting new direct lead! Yes, it is pretty normal! Contra is very fast to ban any suspicious accounts. Just make sure to keep conversation or project agreement in Contra, then you will be good. And, of course getting upfront payment or holding it in...

Reminder for those getting client inquiries: people asking you to run code on your system before they've given you any money is likely a scam. Get real contact info, get a face to the name, and do your best to vet the client before you start doing anything like installing packages.

@Contra HQ does a really phenomenal job of handling issues once you flag them, if they don't catch them by the time you open your messages. There's a handy 'Report' button. Best to use that and not even let the scammer know you're onto them. Stay safe, fake clients are everywhere. The only obstacle to you making more money is losing it all to a scam.

Good call on the Report button over calling them out directly, I hadn't thought about tipping off the scammer that way. Did something specific happen recently that made you write this up, or is it more a pattern you keep seeing in inquiries?