I feel like I remember seeing a few freelance writers on this board before...forgive me if I'm getting that wrong.
Anyway, question: I've only ever worked as a contracted writer, but I'm currently looking at a few freelance jobs. How do you check the legitimacy of a remote job listing? Do you just kind of go on gut-feeling after talking to the person?
I generally only do work for people that have been referred to me through other people I know or other clients. Can you ask for references or something? Google the person/organization?
Gut feeling helps, as does Google. Google the site they want you to write for, the people who are soliciting, the emails they have listed. Often scams will come up if you put in their emails.
I never write for free, not even samples, so that's a red flag to me.