Adam Aref and Jenna Mersi Contracted me as a freelance writer; never funded the account. When I inquired as to their plans to pay, they did not respond. Bloomfield Hills Michigan

I worked for Adam Aref, and possibly an associate, Jenna Mersi, through a freelancing website called Elance. When I applied for the job it was described as simply copywriting; when I was actually awarded the job they demanded an academic paper for the same price. Being a new freelancer in need of experience, I accepted these terms and began work. However, funds for the escrow account never arrived. When I enquired they assured me that funds were on the way and kept up the pressure on due dates to ensure that I kept working.

Halfway through the project I stopped work and demanded that they demonstrate their intention to pay. I stipulated that I would not provide the product without the appropriate funds being deposited into the Elance escrow account. They never responded, and I eventually cancelled the project. Having looked at their history on the website I see that they have never paid for a job, and the majority of jobs that they award to freelancers are either cancelled or the payment is "private." Since their overall payment numbers are still at $0, it's pretty easy to figure out how much they paid for those jobs.

Remember, if you work online for anyone, make sure that they're going to pay you.