'They've already made at least $10K off my free labor': Developer gets tricked into building a full client website for interview test, only to get ghosted and find it live a week later

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
May 13, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

In today's ultra-competitive job market, the interview process has reached ridiculous heights. I spent eight months straight in 2023 interviewing for a position at one company, which felt more like a trial by fire than a hiring process. First, there are the never-ending rounds of interviews, followed by a seemingly endless stream of comprehension tests, personality assessments, and project presentations. At one point, an interviewer asked me to complete an assignment, which I later learned many people consider a red flag in the industry. To be fair, they did pay me $50 for my time. But that was barely enough compensation compared to the hours I spent trying to create the perfect project, all in the hope of landing the role. I didn't get it. But at least they did pay me, which is more than I can say for the story you're about to hear.

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  • A developer applied for a job at a digital agency, completed a detailed assignment for their interview process, and even received praise for his work, only to be ghosted.

    To top it off, only days later he discovered his work being used live on a client’s website without his permission. When he confronted the agency, they claimed his submission was their property, which they conveniently never mentioned to him. 

    Now, he's invoicing them and consulting with a lawyer.

  • MERRY CHRISTMAS!
    via LinkedIn Sales Solutions For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Got tricked into developing a full client website during interview test, found it live a week later"

    Just need to rant and see if anyone's been through something similar... I'm still fuming about this interview process I went through last month. A small but growing digital agency reached out to ME on LinkedIn about a web developer position.
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • Seemed legit their portfolio had some decent work and they were offering competitive pay. After two interviews, they asked me to complete a "technical assessment" build a functional landing page for one of their
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • "potential clients" in the tourism industry. They provided mockups and asked for a working prototype with some specific functionality. I spent THREE DAYS building this thing responsive design, custom animations,
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • booking form integration. Even added some accessibility features they didn't request. Their feedback? "Absolutely brilliant work, exactly what we're looking for!"
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • Landing Page PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ADPUT VS мо の PUNITS ADAUT TRODUCT #1 Our Product About HIGHLIGHT #2 HIGHLIGHT #1 OR MAY SHORT STATEMENT ABOUT THE TIM HIGHLIGHT #3 SHORT STATEKUT ABOUT THE COFFALY DETAILS 2 120 MacBook 16 HISTORY 190 t 9 8 % ^ & 5 6 7 8 R T Y U 9 News K 0 P = return
    via Amper For Unsplash+
  • Then radio silence for a week. No response to follow-ups. Yesterday, my friend who works in tourism sent me a link to a "hot new website" for a local tour company... MY EXACT CODE was live, with
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • minimal changes! They'd simply taken my "assessment," made a few tweaks, and delivered it to their paying client. I immediately contacted the agency owner who had the nerve to say "the assessment materials
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • clearly stated all submissions become company property." I checked my emails nothing like that was ever mentioned. Now I'm sending them an invoice. for $3,800 and consulting. with a lawyer friend.
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • They've already made at least $10K off my free labor. Has anyone else experienced this level of scammy behavior? I'm not even looking for advice at this point - just want to
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • know I'm not alone in dealing with these vultures masquerading as legitimate employers. Feeling pretty defeated right now.
    via Resident-Bottle-9960
  • Realistic_Damage5143 Glad that you're pursuing action! That is so sleazy of them. Follow the advice of your lawyer definitely but slam them on everything. Write a
    via Realistic_Damage5143
  • seething Glassdoor review, google review, and contact the client directly to them who they did business with.
    via Realistic_Damage5143
  • AndrewRP2 File a copyright on your code/design and then write the end Client a cease and desist letter. That should get the company's attention.
    via AndrewRP2
  • Make sure there's nothing listed in the assessment materials that says they'll own your output.
    via AndrewRP2
  • Lost_Moose Send the agency an invoice for your time spent. Net15. With 1.5% monthly interest past 30 days.
    via Lost_Moose
  • Then continue to escalate. Because there was no contract they don't own the work product. It is in their best interest to pay the invoice to avoid the shady exposure. Consider it a lesson learned.
    via Lost_Moose
  • xudoxis Sounds like you should reach out to their client and offer your services without the middleman
    via xudoxis
  • Signal-Audience9429 This is pure evil. I hope you are successful in your legal pursuit.
    via Signal-Audience9429
  • Schmilettante I'm guessing what you actually did is set up a landing page for a scam website.
    via Schmilettante
  • fedput Be careful sinking too much money into this. What you described is not uncommon, but I am not sure what can be done after the fact.
    via fedput
  • Someone tried to pull this on me a very long while back.... not web development, but different software. In my case, I could see where it was going, said "No", and moved on.
    via fedput
  • There was no point with either me or the company negotiating beforehand. They wanted free work. Then as now, there was likely someone desperate enough to entertain them.
    via fedput
  • RadiantHC This should be illegal. As a general rule, if a company ever asks for something more than a simple leetcode question then that's a red flag.
    via RadiantHC
  • FensterFenster STOP DOING COMP WORK PEOPLE
    via FensterFenster
  • rossmosh85 So, you weren't under their employment, so that's your work. You own it unless you signed paperwork saying otherwise.
    via rossmosh85
  • Send their client a notice that your work was stolen and they can either pay you $5000 for the work or take down the site.
    via rossmosh85

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sketchy employee lawyer labor work client ghosted designer Office workplace entitled website company developers job interview sleazy
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