Early December 2016. I'd been traveling for 3 months. I'd just run out of money and was supposed to go from India to Malaysia. Everything was going according to plan. I knew I was going to spend my savings in the first 3 months and had to find a freelance gig so I could travel off that.
What followed was a four-month journey through Malaysia, Hong Kong, and back to Ukraine—a story of broken promises, fake identities, and lessons that would eventually lead me to become the CTO of a tech platform connecting developers with clients.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
I arrived in Kuala Lumpur with barely enough money for a bus from the airport. I found a hostel where I traded guitar concerts for a bed and breakfast—fried eggs and toast on jam.
One day, sitting on the hostel rooftop with my laptop, a black-haired woman approached and asked what I did.
"I code," I said. "Develop websites and mobile apps."
"That's exactly what I need!" she said. Her name was A., from Romania. She explained she was in a legal battle with an Australian agency that had charged her $10,000 a month for 5 months but delivered nothing.
In 15 minutes, I fixed her first issues. We agreed I'd work by the hour.
Rule #1 I Broke: No contract. No deposit. Just a handshake.
The Promises Kept Stacking Up
I spent the whole month in India waiting for my first payment. A. was "about to send it" any day. I wasn't looking for other projects because I didn't want overlapping commitments.
My credit card debt was growing.
A. finally transferred $500 through her mother's card to my Payoneer. At last, money to pay back friends and the bank. We agreed on a new arrangement: 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, $1,250/month rising to $1,980 as my responsibilities grew to include development, teaching, finding designers, and project management.
Her lawyer was supposed to bring $3,000 from Singapore. For three weeks, he couldn't "find the time." Then Western Union blocked her mother's transfer as suspicious. Then Moneygram couldn't find the tracking number. Money was "hanging in the air" through three different channels.
Rule #2 I Broke: Never kept working when payments were delayed. I should have stopped immediately.
The Overstay and the Escape
My 5th day of visa overstay.
I could barely keep calm. Almost completely out of money. Credit card emptied. I had to leave Malaysia immediately. I had barely enough money to get to the airport and pay the fine.
I waited because A. said the money in Bucharest might be released—and I was the only one who could receive it. One day of illegal overstay, I thought. Malaysian law said up to 7 days was a fine of 30 ringgit ($8) per day. More than 7 days? Potentially 5 years in prison.
A. offered a solution: fly to Hong Kong, go to her bank, withdraw $7,000 (for both of us). She'd get me a ticket.
Three Hours Before the Flight
Still no ticket. Her friend "Katrin" who arranges tickets couldn't deliver. I had a backup plan: an old Ukrainian credit card with a damaged magnetic stripe—couldn't withdraw cash, but could buy online.
But online ticket sales closed 2 hours before flights. At the registry, they demanded a return ticket. A. made a fake return flight reservation through Expedia.
It worked. I got a ticket to Hong Kong. 30 minutes before the flight.
At Customs
"What are you doing here? You've been here for 35 days instead of 30."
I explained I was waiting for money and couldn't leave. "Let's go to the boss," he said.
The boss asked why my name is Anvar. I told him my dad was from Uzbekistan.
"Muslim?" — "Yes." — "Sunni?" — "Yes." — "Good."
He stamped my passport. Didn't make me pay the fee. 20 minutes before the flight. I made it.
Three Weeks Trapped in Hong Kong
Saturday morning. I woke up at 7 a.m. for the expected call. The bank needed "additional papers." Everything postponed till Monday. In Hong Kong, money disappears fast—$34/night for a tiny room, $10-12/day for food.
Monday came. Then Tuesday. Then Friday. Each day, "wait until tomorrow."
By Week Three, My Situation:
- A. owed me $4,350
- My personal debt was crossing $2,000
- My Hong Kong visa was about to expire
- I started playing guitar on the streets for $20-45/day
The Truth Unravels
I was at McDonald's scrolling Facebook. A British girl, Lucy, who had volunteered at the same hostel, posted something devastating:
"There is a woman who's been living at the hostel for months without paying. She pretends to be a businesswoman, hired people to work for her but doesn't pay them. Her travel posts are fake—the photos are stolen from the internet. Her 'friend' Katrin is a fake account."
I checked A.'s Facebook myself. Lucy was right. Every photo was stolen and cropped. "Katrin"—who was supposed to get me tickets—was a fake account that liked and commented on every post. So was the "lawyer" who never delivered money. So was another "friend."
I realized: there was almost zero chance I was getting paid. My illegal overstay in Malaysia was for nothing. My three weeks in Hong Kong were for nothing.
The Developer's Revenge
I used my developer skills to catch her.
I had access to all her websites. I coded a script to capture her IP address. I made a minor change that caused an error to grab her attention. "Hey, I fixed something on your website—take a look."
She swallowed the bait. I got her IP address, OS version, and browser parameters.
She wasn't in Hong Kong. She was on Penang Island in Malaysia.
After 2 hours of research, I discovered: almost every travel photo was stolen and cropped. The "24-hour trip to Afghanistan" was physically impossible given flight times. Three of her "best friends" on Facebook were fake accounts she created—all joined Facebook on the same day, all with the same writing style.
The Surprise Ending
She actually paid.
She gathered everyone on the hostel rooftop and paid me everything she owed—including the $200 she borrowed from my colleague for me. I was shocked. She probably got the money from her business partner Mo, promising him a website in return.
Back to Ukraine
I was back in Ukraine. A. still owed me money for Hong Kong. I told her I wouldn't work until she paid. She called me, cried, and asked how much I needed to finish the project.
I reminded her about the Hong Kong expenses plus $1,000 on top. She agreed to send a wire transfer.
It's been years. The transfer's still pending.
The Rules I Broke (Don't Do This)
No Contract
Started work with just a verbal agreement. No scope. No payment terms. No recourse.
No Deposit
Worked for months before receiving any payment. Never should have continued past week one.
Kept Working When Unpaid
Every excuse was "wait until Monday." I should have stopped immediately when payment was late.
Trusted Strangers Completely
Met at a hostel. No references. No background check. Trusted her completely with my livelihood.
No Safety Net
Relied on a single client while traveling with no savings. Maximum vulnerability.
Ignored Red Flags
Multiple failed payment attempts through different channels. Should have seen the pattern immediately.
What I Learned (That Led to CTO)
This experience taught me why vetting matters—for both sides. Clients need to verify developers. But developers also need protection from clients.
Why Platforms Like Boundev Exist
- Verified clients: No more guessing if someone is who they claim to be
- Payment protection: Money is secured before work begins
- Clear contracts: Scope, terms, and expectations documented upfront
- Dispute resolution: A neutral party when things go wrong
This wild journey—from volunteering at a Malaysian hostel to overstaying visas to playing guitar on Hong Kong streets—eventually led me to understand what developers and clients both need. That knowledge became the foundation for building better systems.
If you're looking to hire developers without the chaos—or you're a developer seeking stable clients—that's exactly why vetted platforms exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you protect yourself as a freelancer from non-paying clients?
Always use written contracts with clear payment terms. Require a deposit (30-50% upfront) before starting work. Use milestone payments for longer projects. Stop working immediately if a payment is late. Consider working through vetted platforms that protect both parties with escrow and verified identities.
What red flags should freelancers watch for with new clients?
Multiple failed payment attempts through "different channels." Constantly changing excuses for payment delays. Resistance to contracts or deposits. Overly emotional responses to payment discussions. Stories that don't add up (like travel times that are physically impossible). Fake social media profiles with suspicious patterns.
Why do freelancers work through platforms instead of finding clients directly?
Direct freelancing offers higher rates but more risk. Platforms provide payment protection, verified clients, dispute resolution, and steady work flow. After experiences like this story—chasing payments across countries—many developers prefer the security of vetted platforms even at slightly lower rates.
The Lesson
Sometimes the worst professional experiences teach you the most. I broke every rule, ended up $2,000 in debt, overstayed a visa, lived on street performances—and somehow that journey led to building systems that protect others from the same chaos.
Don't do what I did. Use contracts. Get deposits. Stop work when payments are late. And if you want the chaos removed entirely—use a vetted platform.
Skip the Chaos. Hire Vetted Developers.
Verified developers. Guaranteed payments. No fake identities or visa overstays required.
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