Beware of bogus translators

I am well-known for my "discussions" on the unfair treatment of translators by a number of Translation agencies. Maximum effort for minimum pay seems to be the order of the day and most professionals worth their salt are feeling undermined and unappreciated -let alone insulted. I spend a great deal of my precious time justifying my fees and my expertise to clients, haggling as if I were a market vendor with a van full of leftover words at the back of the tent. I don't know of any lawyers, doctors or plumbers proving their worth in any other way than with a prompt and hefty invoice. No questions asked. As professional translators, we must abide by a very strict professional code of conduct, possess recognised linguistic acumen -in at least two languages and be immersed in a continuous developmental programme to satisfy the demands of the ever-evolving world of technology. So forgive me for getting justifiably annoyed form time to time.
The tables were turned this week, however, when a desperate project manager contacted me to assist him in checking out the credentials of a Polish translator claiming to be fluent in Polish, English and Spanish and who was refusing to justify a considerable number of errors that his client had found in the translation she had provided. I proceeded with caution and asked him to send me details of all the documentation he had on her. It did not take me long to start hearing all types of strident bells ringing. And I thought we were the naive ones! Her CV was as unbelievable as  a free lunch. Apparently, she was too busy and did not have time to write a report to justify the errors found. Her references were also dubious and I felt a bit sorry for the PM -but not much. 
Perhaps it is the quick turnarounds and the cost-cutting exercises that force some agencies to employ the cheapest and the quickest individuals without stopping to consider the consequences. 
My instinct told me that she was a fraud. My research showed a lack of consistency in her work trail: there was no mention of specific employers, her education was very sketchy -and her qualifications (it did not take me long to find out) were false.  For someone like me who spends a great deal of time doing research, this was a walk in the park. He had spent hours trying to work out how to face his client and the other translators working in the same project-unpaid for three months so far- . He had bought phone cards to call Poland, went to a number of Polish delicatessens to enquire, Skyped the world for advice and more. I spent very little time on my PC and found all I needed to know. She was someone intent on defrauding him but worse than that, she was out there posing as one of us. That will not do.
I urged him to cut his loses and apologise to the client, offer him a discount, pay his translators their dues and refuse to remunerate this woman. 
I know she is not the only one. Be vigilant and do not take anything or anyone for granted but most importantly, do not forget that in life , you get what you pay for and you may be paying more than you bargained for whilst trying to cut corners.