I’m posting a warning for other freelancers on Upwork who work while traveling.
My account was permanently banned on April 9 after 11 years on the platform, 53 completed contracts, and a perfect job success score. I had multiple active clients who even contacted support on my behalf, but the ban was still upheld. My earnings from completed work were also reversed back to clients, and I was never given a clear policy violation.
I believe this may be linked to Incognia, which partnered with Upwork in March 2026. About a month later, my account was restricted. Other remote workers have reported similar issues.
The pattern seems to flag things like:
Logging in from different countries than your profile location
Using multiple devices across countries
Traveling while active on time-tracked contracts
Accessing the platform from “higher-risk” countries
Even after full identity verification, the ban was not reversed and support did not provide a clear explanation.
My advice to other digital nomads:
Keep devices tied to your account in one consistent location
Avoid logging in from multiple countries in short periods
Don’t rely on Upwork as your only income source
Store client contacts outside the platform early
Be cautious about running tracked work while traveling
I’ve also started formal complaints through regulatory and privacy channels, but I’m mainly trying to understand if others have experienced similar sudden bans since the March 2026 changes.
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