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Author Topic: Anyone else ever get an email like this?  (Read 33638 times)

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« on: August 08, 2010, 21:49 »
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Quote
Greetings!
My name is Joe and my wife's name is Pamela, we live and work as wine sellers(wholesale/retail) in England and China and will be relocating to the State of New York, USA on the 12th of October,2010.

I came across your contact information on the internet after a search for a professional photographer and I hereby write to request if you will be available to offer 4hours of photographic services for the celebration of our 5th wedding anniversary on our arrival to the States. Myself,my wife,my lovely daughter-Debbie and about 12 family members and friends will be present.

Could you please provide answers to these questions if you are interested in this offer

1)Will you be available to provide this service on any date between October 15th and 20th? if so what precise date will be fine for you so as to include this in our plan?
2)What is your address location in New York so as to estimate how close you are to us ?

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on my phone no:


It lists a phone number and address in London. I am afraid to respond to the email if it is some kind of weird thing. Also the email was not addressed to me but had the same to and from addresses which immediately seems suspicious. Has anyone else gotten anything like this before? Does anyone know how I could verify the phone number or address in London to see if this is real or not?


sc

« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2010, 22:25 »
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I recently saw something like this where in the end they send you a check (more than you ask for) and ask you to cash it and give them the overage. But the check won't clear and you are out the money you gave them.
Closest I could find.
http://www.joewein.de/sw/fraud-wedding-photographer.htm

Edit:
Here it is
http://www.asmpnorcal.org/drupal/?q=node/437

« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2010, 23:20 »
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Do you offer wedding photography? Do you have a wedding photography gallery on your web site?
Is this how they found you?

For me it would be a scam as I don't offer wedding photography.

« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2010, 00:05 »
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Likely one of these types of scams: http://www.davidphenry.com/NigerianScammers.htm

« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2010, 00:38 »
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i think there is one thread here about similar email, everything that needs you to pay first is a scam..

« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2010, 08:06 »
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i think there is one thread here about similar email, everything that needs you to pay first is a scam..

Yes, this is a scam.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2010, 08:34 »
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Looks and sounds like a scam, though a bit more 'personalised' than usual.
I do tend to distrust all unsolicited emails, though.
First of all, check their email address. If they're bona fide wine retaillers, probably they have a website. That could also be fake, of course, but without that, you've got nothing to go on.
If they've got a site, google it and see if you've got any references to it.
(Once I saw an advert in a paper magazine which sounded far too good to be true. It didn't really matter to me, but it was so scam-like, I checked it out online and it seemed to be genuine. Subsequently, I've heard about the featured company from various other sources as genuine, so maybe I'm too cautious.)
Triggers in the email you received, however are the To and from email addresses. Can't imagine a good reason why they'd be the same, and the 'where are you so that we can estimate how close' - why don't they tell you where they are to allow you to decide if you'd be willing to go out that far?
They are relocating to the States on the 12th and are having a wedding anniversary celebration on the 15th with 12 family members? H*ll, they must be millionaires. In real life, wouldn't they either hold their celebration beforehand or postpone their relocation. Three days after moving country, they're having an anniversary party? Well, I guess it's possible.  :o
Anyway, would you want to work with someone who refers, to a total stranger, to their 'lovely daughter Debbie', no matter how lovely she might be?  ::)

« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2010, 08:43 »
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That's kind of what I thought. Thanks everyone for confirming for me. I'm not even sure which website of mine (I have several for web design, photography, etc.) they're referring to. Looks like this one goes in the trash!

alias

« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2010, 09:41 »
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Same scam with same wording also also eg - here and here.

« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2010, 10:27 »
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Funny, I got my first version of this scam over the weekend:

Dear Photographer,

This is a requisition for your fotography services.  I am Terry Lorenzo. Based in London.  My wedding is coming up on  October 9, 2010. I have been browsing the internet for a professional photographer  in USA when I found your contact. Pleese I will want to hire your service to be the photographer on my wedding day in London.  I am sorting an america photographer because I really want to make the wedding event a wonderfull day for my fiance. I truely love her.

You will cover the whole events from Getting ready, Ceremony, and the Reception.  I want you  to capture the atmosphere of the event so that we can relive  the special day moment by moment, photo by photo, for a lifetime. Capture all those little moments that make the wedding day incredible. Also, I will want you to make an album from the event.I will prefer popular flush mount albums that are custom designed.
 
After a care review of your profile, I am  of the opinion that you are capable to provide the incredible services as requested.Please accept my sincerest appreciation on behalf of my fiance, in advance for your willingness to render your services.
 
Kind Regard,

Terry Lorenzo

« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2010, 10:37 »
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Ya, they have been in business for many years. From telemarketing, to sending prosperous proposition to professionals with bait of big money. Next step is to ask your price and they offer a bonus on top to reward your speed. Aks you for your bank account to deposit overnight your advance in full + extra cash.
If you delay, you get  phone call to sweeten you.

It's big business

« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2010, 11:01 »
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Just curious, what can they do with our bank acount number? 

I the Nigerian dead millionaires scam, I suppose they ask us to send them some money for the legal papers, but here I can not imagine what they do, unless they rob you when you arrive at the location.  A Brazilian guy was robbed in South Africa like this, he had been contacted by an "import company" and went to ZA to sign a contract or whatever, and was held by the scammers.

« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2010, 13:45 »
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This is a scam!!!  That type of emails always are!

Check this out!

http://alojedaphotography.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/photographers-be-aware-of-e-scams/


This scenario comes in many forms, whenever being in doubt...  Simply google a part of the main text and then google will return something like this:

http://www.google.dk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=scam+I+came+across+your+contact+information+on+the+internet+after+a+search+for+a+professional+photographer+and+I+hereby+write+to+request+if+you+will+be+available+to+offer+4hours+of+photographic+services+for+the+celebration+of+our+5th+wedding+anniversary+on+our+arrival+to+the+States.+Myself,my+wife,my+lovely+daughter-Debbie+and+about+12+family+members+and+friends+will+be+present.

And basically... NEVER trust anyone who "found" you and offer something where YOU need to do any sort of payment / money transfer!   :D

« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2010, 14:10 »
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Just curious, what can they do with our bank acount number? 

I the Nigerian dead millionaires scam, I suppose they ask us to send them some money for the legal papers, but here I can not imagine what they do, unless they rob you when you arrive at the location.  A Brazilian guy was robbed in South Africa like this, he had been contacted by an "import company" and went to ZA to sign a contract or whatever, and was held by the scammers.

No, not like that. You get big transfer or check more than your price. You keep the fee and send back the extra. You get big bonus for favor. But check is stolen and bank hold responsibility for you.

« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2010, 14:12 »
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Just curious, what can they do with our bank acount number? 

I the Nigerian dead millionaires scam, I suppose they ask us to send them some money for the legal papers, but here I can not imagine what they do, unless they rob you when you arrive at the location.  A Brazilian guy was robbed in South Africa like this, he had been contacted by an "import company" and went to ZA to sign a contract or whatever, and was held by the scammers.

No, not like that. You get big transfer or check more than your price. You keep the fee and send back the extra. You get big bonus for favor. But check is stolen and bank hold responsibility for you.

Yes this is a very old scam.

rubyroo

« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2010, 14:58 »
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Just found this googling 'how to report scams':

http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/reporting.php

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #16 on: August 09, 2010, 15:57 »
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Funny, I got my first version of this scam over the weekend:

Dear Photographer,
Pleese I will want to hire your service to be the photographer on my wedding day in London.  I am sorting an america photographer because I really want to make the wedding event a wonderfull day for my fiance. I truely love her.

Terry Lorenzo
Everybody in the UK knows you can't have a wonderfull (sic) wedding event without an 'america' photographer.  :-*
« Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 17:27 by ShadySue »

« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2010, 16:27 »
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No, not like that. You get big transfer or check more than your price. You keep the fee and send back the extra. You get big bonus for favor. But check is stolen and bank hold responsibility for you.
I see. But how can you be responsible for a stolen check someone deposited in your account?

« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2010, 17:20 »
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Be careful witth  those.

I was on another forum , an illustration forum.
not in here. and someone got the same type of email, with different names tho,
different request, but it was along these lines.

There are a lot of scammers getting creative now...
If that is a scam, I wonder how that would work.

it sucks ...

« Reply #19 on: August 10, 2010, 08:36 »
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There are a lot of scammers getting creative now..

Very creative. Till 2 weeks ago, the password of one of my mySql databases kept being changed. The server is clean (after a Turkish hack 2 years ago), so how could he inject a password there?
It took we a week to rebuild my site from scratch manually, with a brand new DB, all filled up by hand.
I could have used a backup but I resisted. After the new database/site was working I wanted to delete the old infected one but the server refused. I then cleared all the tables (it showed empty) but it still was undeletable and 3MB large. I had to ask support to delete if for me.
Since then, I get these 404 errors in my Google Analytics:

http://www.flemishdreams.com/STYLOPHONIC-MP3-FREE.html
   404 (Not found)    2 pages    Jul 31, 2010
http://www.flemishdreams.com/encore-4.5-5-torrent.html
   404 (Not found)    2 pages    Jul 30, 2010
http://www.flemishdreams.com/encore-v.4.5.5-cracked.html
   404 (Not found)    2 pages    Jul 30, 2010

Obviously, the MySql DB was hosting a lot of garbage undetectable for any cleaning program, perhaps serving as a torrent seeder or who knows.

It's a bit off topic, just a caveat for those that run their own site. Never put any financial info on it. "They" can get everywhere and leaks are only stopped after months and after some victims.

RacePhoto

« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2010, 17:18 »
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No, not like that. You get big transfer or check more than your price. You keep the fee and send back the extra. You get big bonus for favor. But check is stolen and bank hold responsibility for you.
I see. But how can you be responsible for a stolen check someone deposited in your account?

They mail a check to you and you deposit it. The check clears because it is a fake using a real account number of a corporation for example, but appears to be real. You get the money, send the excess to a drop box. (which is usually Wells Fargo for example) Or they have an "agent" pick up a check... one way or another the person who gave you the check and the person who get the money are also duped into handling transactions but not the perpetrators.

Two weeks later the corporation discovers the fake check, the funds are reversed and you owe the money back to the bank.

The person who has the money has vanished.

That's roughly how it works.

The easy part is someone who sends a check for more than they owe and needs you to somehow send them the excess. It's a scam!

« Reply #21 on: August 13, 2010, 08:34 »
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OT (in the Off Topic board  ;D):

How a country like the US can still heavily rely on almost all payments using paper checks is beyond me...

You'll never have such a problem here in good old Germany, we simply don't use checks any more, they are gone for decades now.

(doesn't mean we don't have scams, they just don't work the same way...)

rubyroo

« Reply #22 on: August 13, 2010, 08:48 »
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Yes it's strange isn't it?   I opened some new bank accounts a few years ago in the UK, and found I didn't automatically get a cheque book.  The bank was really surprised when I asked for one.  I never really need one, but I like to make sure I have all bases covered, just in case.

« Reply #23 on: August 13, 2010, 15:26 »
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I often wonder why business still accept checks. I also laugh when people are hesitant to give a credit card number but don't think twice about writing a check. With check-printing software that's available free, all someone needs is your account number and routing number (both printed on your check) to start printing check that draw on your bank account. Oh, well.

RacePhoto

« Reply #24 on: August 16, 2010, 00:01 »
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OT (in the Off Topic board  ;D):

How a country like the US can still heavily rely on almost all payments using paper checks is beyond me...

You'll never have such a problem here in good old Germany, we simply don't use checks any more, they are gone for decades now.

(doesn't mean we don't have scams, they just don't work the same way...)

It's easier to make a bad argument using a false premise. For example, see above.

The US doesn't not rely heavily on almost all payments using paper checks. In fact most payments are electronic, not with checks. I write two checks a month. One for the rent and one to my auto mechanic, when I get service. Everything else is paid by electronic payment, and my pay comes via direct deposit, except one source that mails me a check. Far from relying heavily in almost all payments.

Another one:
Quote
I often wonder why business still accept checks. I also laugh when people are hesitant to give a credit card number but don't think twice about writing a check. With check-printing software that's available free, all someone needs is your account number and routing number (both printed on your check) to start printing check that draw on your bank account. Oh, well.

All someone needs is a scanner and printer and they can make paper money. All someone needs is a hammer and they can break a window and steal from a car and enter a home. All someone needs is a gun and they can rob a bank.  ::) The fact that someone can print a fake check doesn't mean they can easily print money without getting arrested. Criminals and fraud are not based on available equipment, but on integrity, honesty and individuals. The problem isn't checks, it's the criminals!

Hey look, how stupid are photographers. I can steal images for free off the web, all I need to do is right click and save. If that's blocked I just use a screen capture. How dumb can photographers be putting anything up on the web that's so easy to steal!  ;D Just because people can do something, it doesn't make it right.
 


 

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