This is exactly what I do/did. Making initial contact over Freelancer, payments over wire/skrill. I look only for crème de la crème clients (as funny as it sounds over those sites) and it is maybe one out of 100 hit. I have several recurring clients which i charge $50/hour and recently bumped price to $100/hour. For 3rd world country where I live, thats surreal money.

patio has very good point, and I'm looking to get off the FL bandwagon as soon as possible and switch to more prosperous/lucrative opportunities.

Actually, most buyers are not interested to pay you directly (Paypal or not) because they feel safer on Freelancer.

Also, when a buyer asks you to go on Skype to discuss his project most of the time he will try to scam you into giving your work without being paid.

I talk as someone who's been there and done it. Perhaps I'm just picky with who I work for, but typically I do the initial job and then move to paypal, I've not had anyone not pay me yet for my work.