On Gig.tn, buyers expect one thing above all: to receive the service they paid for. While most freelancers on the platform are professional and reliable, there are rare cases where a seller accepts an order, takes the payment through escrow, then disappears without delivering anything.
This is called the "Disappearing Seller" scam, and it can waste time, delay your project, and test your trust in freelancing. This article explains how it happens, how Gig.tn protects you, and what steps to take if you encounter it.
🚨 How This Scam Works
Here’s how this scam typically plays out:
You browse a freelancer’s gig and decide to place an order.
The freelancer accepts it and may even message you briefly.
As the delivery date approaches, you hear nothing.
You send messages — no replies.
The deadline passes with no delivery at all.
You’re left wondering: did I just get scammed?
This scam relies on deliberate silence and ghosting, with the freelancer hoping you’ll cancel on your own or forget to follow up.
📌 Real Case Study: Silent Treatment
Case: Bilel ordered a 900 DNT infographic from a seller who had positive reviews. The seller accepted the order, sent one message confirming receipt, and then went silent. Three days after the deadline, there was still no response.
What happened next?
Bilel contacted Gig.tn support.
The order was reviewed.
The freelancer was warned and eventually banned for repeated no-shows.
Bilel received a full refund, and support helped him find a new freelancer.
🛡️ How Gig.tn Handles Disappearing Freelancers
Gig.tn takes delivery failure very seriously. Here’s what happens when a freelancer doesn’t deliver:
✔ If the delivery deadline passes and no work is submitted, the buyer can request a cancellation.
✔ If the freelancer is unresponsive for 5 days, the order can be canceled automatically.
✔ If the freelancer fails to respond to messages, the Gig.tn support team steps in.
✔ Repeated behavior like this leads to account warnings, suspensions, and permanent bans.
Your money is held in escrow, so if you never receive anything, you will be refunded.
🧠 Why This Scam Exists
Some sellers are not outright scammers — they may be:
Overloaded with work and panic
Unprofessional or inexperienced
Attempting to “test the system” with no intention to deliver
Working on multiple platforms and ignoring Gig.tn
Regardless of their reason, it’s unacceptable to take payment and vanish. Gig.tn exists to hold them accountable.
🚩 Red Flags – How to Spot a Disappearing Seller Early
The seller accepts the order but doesn’t message you at all.
They give vague or delayed responses when you ask questions.
Their gig is new with little to no review history.
They have a history of late deliveries or order cancellations.
Their profile seems incomplete, generic, or rushed.
If the seller is ignoring your messages or misses the delivery deadline, it’s time to involve support.
📢 What to Do If Your Freelancer Disappears
🔹 Send a message immediately inside the order page. Be polite but direct.
🔹 If there’s no response within 24-48 hours, contact Gig.tn support.
🔹 You can request a cancellation and full refund through the order page.
🔹 Include any evidence of silence, lack of work, or missed deadlines.
🔹 Support may reassign your project or recommend top-rated alternatives.
Gig.tn investigates every case and takes action quickly to protect your time and money.
📢 Final Advice – Trust the System, Not Silence
🔹 Most freelancers on Gig.tn are serious professionals — but trust is earned, not assumed.
🔹 If a seller goes silent, don’t wait too long — act.
🔹 Always communicate through the platform, so Gig.tn has records to review.
🔹 Let us know early, and you’ll get your refund or a solution.