Hire ‘Cheap’ Web Developers with Caution
I’m all about saving money and making sure every dollar spent delivers some kind of ROI.
There’s no shame in bootstrapping your business’s digital assets, right?
For cheap website builders, it’s easy:
- Find people on Fiverr to spin up a site for less than $250.
- Or post a job on Upwork and watch 50+ web developers underbid each other for your project.
But this isn’t a guide on how to find the best, cheapest web developer.
This is a warning.
A friend of mine hired a low-cost developer, and their website — without them knowing — became a dumping ground for casino scam content.
So before you take the bargain route, here’s what you might really be getting.
The £100 Website That Jeopardized Their Reputation
A friend of mine was launching a new business in 2024.
He knew the importance of having a website and even considered hiring me to build the site for them.
But, like many startups, cash was tight.
“Why spend $1000s on a new website when you can get one cheap?”
— Bootstrapping 101
So instead, they went the budget-friendly route — hiring a Fiver web developer to launch a 5-page website for £100 (that’s around $125 USD).
At first, all they really needed was a digital asset for prospects and leads to see that they were legit.
For context, these guys are email outreach pros and wanted a website associated with domain-branded emails for their team.
I think we all know emails coming in like this:
- f.name@domain.com
Are more trustworthy than emails like this:
- firstnamelastname123@gmail.com
- companyname@yahoo.com
Anyway, they eventually got their website.
And what could possibly go wrong?
Well, a year later, when they finally came back to me with the budget for a proper website, I made a discovery they never saw coming…
“WTF, your blog is filled with scam content — are you even aware of this?”
I use a number of tools and legit scraping techniques to analyze a site and map out a new plan for my clients.
In this case, I checked my friend’s sitemap to see all the pages that were created for them to decide what to keep, delete, or modify.
But, to my horror, I found 5,612 blog posts with backlinks to:
- Casino and gambling sites
- OnlyFans accounts and dating sites
- And other illicit content
Don’t believe me?
Here’s a screengrab of their sitemap:
Let’s take a look at some of the blog posts their website was now hosting.
Here’s a guide to hooking up with cougars on Tinder:
Next, a blog post in Spanish? Looks like its promoting Clomid, which is a type of medication that increases a woman’s chances of pregnancy by helping her body produce an egg (ovulation).
For 50 euros, too? What a deal!
Let’s do one more on matchmaking with links to elicit websites:
So that’s what £100 gets you.
Pretty f*cked up, no?
The Hidden Risks of Cheap Web Development
When you outsource your website build on Fiverr, Upwork, or other freelance platforms, you’re rolling the dice.
Here’s why:
1. Who’s Really Doing the Work?
When you hire a developer on Fiverr or Upwork, do you know who’s actually behind the keyboard?
Some freelancers outsource their own gigs, meaning your website could be built by an unknown third party — possibly one with bad intentions.
And if that happens, who’s liable?
- The developer? Unlikely.
- Fiverr or Upwork? Nope, they just facilitate transactions.
- You? Yep, and it’s your brand that takes the hit.
2. Are Your Credentials Safe?
Handing over admin access to a random freelancer is a major security risk.
You don’t know if:
- They’re keeping your credentials secure.
- They’re sharing your login with a third party.
- They’re selling your credentials on the dark web for extra cash.
One minute, you’ve got a simple business website. A year later, it’s filled with 5,000+ scam blog posts.
3. WordPress Users: Double-Check Everything!
If your site is built on WordPress (like most budget websites), here’s how to spot and prevent hidden spam content:
- Check ALL published pages and posts. Go to “Posts” → “All Posts” and look for anything suspicious.
- Test the links. Click through your site to ensure there are no hidden redirects.
- Review your user list. See if any unauthorized users have admin access.
- Revoke access after project completion. Never leave a developer’s login active once the job is done.
This is Website Security 101, folks!
So, is a cheap website really worth it?
Sure, saving money is great — but if your website ends up promoting casino scams and questionable content, was it really worth it?
A budget website shouldn’t come at the cost of your credibility.
If you’re bootstrapping:
- Do your research.
- Vet your developers.
- Set clear expectations.
And most importantly — secure your site once the job is done.
Want a website that actually helps you grow your business? One that’s built right from the get-go?
My prices are fair, and you’ll get a website designed to attract leads, convert visitors, and protect your brand from digital disasters.
