The Scammers Are Back

Several emails from members have complained recently about suspicious requests for wedding coverage. Alas these are a return of a scam which has gone around and around and been the subject of previous warnings.

They read as or similar to these examples:

Hello,

My name is Mr Mahoney Bobby. I reside in United Sate Of America, The reason am contacting you is
that my Daughter will be getting married soon in your state, the wedding is coming up on the 29th of
December 2006 and I would like you to take care of the Photographs. I came across your advert on the Internet and am impressed with your services. All expenses would be taken care off; perhaps you can give me the total/Quotes charges,plus the transport cost for you down to the place we will need your service in the following address: 20, Beaumont Leys Lane, Stocking Farm, Leicester, LE4 2BJ,U,k.
And also all Hotel accommodation would also be gladly attended to. Please I want the best services from you, because this is my only Daughter so I want the best for her. So your best is needed at this occasion. I will like to know where you are currently residing as at now, so that I could start the preparation on how
you would be coming down.I look forward to you....
Best of regards,
Mr Mahoey Bobby.....

tIf you rely you will get back something like this:

Dear,

Thanks for writing me back. Note that your service is required down at the church (on the 29th
November) where the marriage would be taking place. The wedding is taking place in a church, but with a little scottish traditional flair and we hoped everything could be captured inside the photoes.
About payment, you would be getting part of the payment now, with expenses I agreed to include and you would be getting the rest once you are down here for the wedding...?

I hope these arrangement wouldn't upset you, but I am sorry, my father in law who is handling the payment wanted it this way......

My father in law further said he would be issuing you a cheque of £2,400 for the wedding photographer and the wedding planner, although he's out of the country on a long vacation, and wouldn't be back until the wedding's eve, he said he would sending you the payment from where he is, and once you have received and cashed the cheque, you are to deduct (part of the payment £305 and an extra £100 expenses fee..) and have the remaining sent via western union to the wedding planner who we are currently trying to find.

I would be looking forward to read from you soon, and kindly include in your next email:
1. Payee Name for the cheque....
2. The payee Address...
3. A phone # for better and faster communication.
Would be expecting a feedback....
Write soon.

Other types of emails are:

Letter 1 - hello my name is ***************

pls I have a wedding? of my niece coming up i have been giviing the job of finding a photographer and i decided to get on net i saw your web pls would you be free for the last thursday in june the wedding is meat to take place here in las vegas and we will like to make arrangemnt and payment asap to forestall any dissapointment pls can you give me your charging rates we will be needing you for 8hrs between 10 am and 4pm all expenses will be payed by us including transport even if you are flying over payment instructions including you account where we can remit money pls give me your firm price. thanks *******

Letter 2 - Goodday, I am *********** by name.I am emailing in regard of my wedding which is on the way,and i will require your service on the D day.I will like to inform you that we will be needed a Large Wedding Package,such as 500 pcs of 5x7 colour photo,200 pcs 8x10 phot,making 700 pcs altogether.Firstly i will like to know if you will be available of June 30th 2005,if yes let me know.Secoudly i will like to let you know that the wedding will took place at the Historic Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia.And the address is :28 Bull Street Savannah, GA 31401.So,let me know the Total cost of the 700 pcs photograhpy,also le me know if i will be the one to responsible for your transportation,are you coming by road or by flight?I want you to ge back to me as soon as possible with the cost,so that i can contact my wedding planner for him to issue you the payment via USPS POSTAL MONEY ORDER or CERIFIED CASHIER`S CHEQUE DRAWN FROM YOUR COUNTRY BANK. Looking forward to your urgent response.

However photographers are not the only ones who fall victims to these bogus emails

Cars

i saw your advert via the internet and i am interested in the purchase of the auto, i am a business man in West-Africa who is into buying and importation of auto on request by my clients,

i have a local shipper that takes care of my shipping so shipping is no problem, as soon as the transaction is completed my shipper will come to pick it up.

my only request is if you will accept a cashier check drawn in American bank, so if this is ok by you kindly let me know the following information via the e mail, your last offer for the auto and your phone number.

expecting your urgent response.

Horses

My name is Keth. My client is in terested in buying it. I would like to know the last cost price so that I can proceed further on this, meanwhile my client pay with cashier cheque. Best regards, Mark

Warnings

Members should be aware that fraudsters are scanning classifieds in the press and on the Internet and offering above the asking price as an incentive to con sellers into cashing cheques.

Fraudsters target people who advertise items for sale through the press or the Internet.

Contact is then made by the fraudsters stating that they want to purchase the item and offering to send a cheque or get their business partner or creditors to send a cheque for more than the asking price. They then ask that the cheque be cashed and that the goods are then sent with the rest of the money via their courier who will come and pick it up. Variations are that the balance of the money should be paid by money transfer usually to Nigeria, or with shipping, the balance be given to the shipping agent who arrives to collect the item.

The cheque sent in the post to cover the cost of the item is likely to be stolen or a forgery but may well be cleared by the bank initially. Some time later when it is revealed that the cheque is not genuine, payment will be stopped and the seller will not only loose their goods but the balance as well.

And finally:

It is well worth reading 'MATHIESON Australia's Answer to Grumpy Old Men - Again' with his insight into bogus emails.

Discuss this on our BLOG

Photo Quote: Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it may be. - Edward Weston