Freelance Warning

Anatomy of a Nightmare Client:
A Case Study

Aug 13, 2025 Joselito Bacolod

Just a few days ago, may nag-pop up na message sa screen ko. It was the kind of inquiry every freelance developer dreams of. Malaki yung project, six-figures ang potential, at para siyang golden opportunity.

Ang request? To "clone" ang isang betting console para sa sabungan.

Shine-share ko 'to bilang isang case study sa pinaka-importanteng skill ng freelancer: knowing when to walk away. This is how a huge project turned into a legal and ethical disaster.

Phase 1: The Initial Check

My First Question

"Is this system for online betting (e-sabong) accessible via the internet, or for internal use only in a single, physically licensed cockpit?"

Client's Reply

"The cockpit is still under construction... The vice mayor is the owner."

The Critical Red Flags

Legality First

Before discussing tech stacks or budgets, understand the legal landscape. E-sabong is illegal. Always ask for permits first.

Name Dropping

Power and promises are not permits. Mentioning a politician doesn't make a project legal; it often makes it riskier.

Liability

"Vendor lang ako" is not a legal defense. Knowingly building tools for illegal acts can make you an accomplice.

The Final Confession

"Our programmer is in hiding because he double-crossed a big cockpit... he put a fraudulent feature in the system... that's why he can't be contacted. We need someone to clone his program."

Let that sink in. They wanted me to replace a fugitive developer to continue a fraudulent operation.

The choice was clear. A six-figure salary is worthless if it costs your peace of mind or lands you in jail. There is enough clean work out there.

Choose integrity. Choose safety.