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Board warns of fraudulent use of professional seals on freelance platforms; authorizes staff to contact Upwork
Summary
Following two complaints alleging individuals misrepresented themselves as licensed professionals on Upwork, the board voted to send an advisory letter to the platform urging verification of licensure and other safeguards.
The Board of Architectural & Engineering Examiners voted Dec. 5 to authorize staff to send a formal advisory letter to Upwork after investigators traced two complaints to freelancers who appeared to be falsely using the names or stamps of Tennessee registrants.
Miss Martin (Chief Counsel) summarized two related complaints: one in which a member of the public engaged a freelancer on Upwork who claimed to be a registered engineer, and another in which plan reviewers found stamped plans for which the listed architect disavowed authorship. "Our investigator did do quite a bit of work... but in the end, I don't have a specific respondent at this time for either case," Miss Martin said, describing profiles that had been removed from Upwork and transactions that left limited forensic trails.
Board members expressed concern about the platform’s role and recommended a technical and procedural response. "I think Upwork has a responsibility to validate whoever offers that claim that they're registered before they put them on their website," said Rick Thompson (Board Member). Several members suggested the letter ask Upwork to require registrants who advertise licensed professional services to provide a registration number and to implement automated verification checks; members also discussed notifying the platform’s incorporation jurisdiction if fraud continues.
Legal counsel advised it is a complex enforcement space because online platforms may raise First Amendment and intermediary‑liability questions; nevertheless the board concluded it should document the issue and request platform safeguards. The board approved a motion to authorize staff to prepare and send an explanatory/instruction letter to Upwork; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Why it matters: fraudulent listings on freelance platforms can expose consumers to unlicensed practice and public‑safety risk, and platform verification measures could reduce the likelihood that false credentials are used to obtain design or engineering work.
Action details: the board directed counsel to draft language explaining the board’s concerns, recommend verifiable registration-number requirements for providers advertising licensed services, and share information with the platform and, if appropriate, the platform’s state of incorporation. Staff will also coordinate outreach materials for consumers and registrants warning of the risk and explaining how to verify credentials on the board’s website.
Provenance evidence: Miss Martin’s legal report and subsequent board motion to authorize a letter to Upwork are recorded in the legal portion of the Dec. 5 meeting transcript.
