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Photography Scam Warning!
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Just as a head up to anyone out there. I just received an e-mail that seemed quite fishy. I did some research on google to double check if it was a scam. I come across a few forum boards with other photographers receiving the e-mail.
A few things stood out to me. Firstly the name of the sender "chris Apostle". Secondly they did not mention how they were able to get my contact information. Thirdly why would I get into a vehicle of people I have never met? Lastly why would a Reverend (or priest) offer his credit card information?
Well a heads up to everyone. The e-mail is as follows :
from Christ Apostle
reply-to infochristapostle@yahoo.gr
date Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 3:35 PM
subject PHOTO BOOKING
mailed-by msn.com
Dear Sir
I have a group of people coming to your town for a tour and i want you to cover this tour based on your expertise in the feild of photography. They are 10 in number and the period of work is 3hrs every day on their outings, they will also take you in their vehicle so all i need is for you to confirm the availability of you to cover this event for 10days.
Date of tour : Nov 20-30th, 2008
Number of Persons: 10
Kindly get back to me with the availability and i will send you my credit
card for an upfront deposit, note you will print all the photos and you
balance will be paid after checking at the end of the tour
Regards
Rev Mendez George
Email: infochristapostle@yahoo.gr
Posted at 3:05PM, 19 October 2008 PDT
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I have to agree the email sounds very fishy. i don't think I would be getting back to them.
Posted 44 months ago.
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Well, considering it's an email addy from Greece, I would say it's strange. Though now I'm really curious as to the nature of the scam.
And LOL, what kind of reverend would have an name/email like Christ apostle, seems almost like having an name/email of PhotomanMcPicture@yahoo.ca.
Originally posted 44 months ago.
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S. Mackaay edited this topic 44 months ago.
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aww come on, dont be a sissy :P
Posted 44 months ago.
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snort. ha
Posted 44 months ago.
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Yea I got the email too, took it to the next step, just to see where it would go, this is what I got:
Hi
Thanks for your reply. I am glad you accepted our booking and i believe you will give me the best job. Due to the fact that i don't know how many exposures this booking will take i will pay you an upfront deposit of 1500pounds for this while the balance will be paid at the end of the job.
I also want you to accommodate the charges of our translator who is coming also with the guest for this trip whom would be able to translate every word to them because they are Greek.I have arranged this with a linguist who is willing to undertake these responsibilities on their behalf. He would be with them throughout their stay with you.
I will send you my credit card details when I receive your confirmation email so that you would charge as authorized a total of 7500pounds which includes 1500pounds for the upfront booking +6000pounds for the translator.I really need you to make the charges for the Translator as he does not have a POS machines.Confirm this and provide me with the following:
Your full name/address/Telephone
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards
Rev Mendez George
+447035942452
Posted 44 months ago.
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And here is how the scam works, as it has been done before:
You will get the credit card or draft information, and the local banks here WILL ok it.
However, for foreign accounts there is a 2 week waiting period.
So.... after having the virtual 7500 pounds in your personal banking account, the good reverent will ask (in 1 weeks' time) for an advance of the cash now in your account, usually in the amount of between 2000 and 6000 pounds. He will most likely ask for the money to be transferred through Western Union.
You, being the good business person that you are, will wire him the money - only to find a week later that the credit card info is false.
You will now owe your bank the amount you wired away.
This is not a new scam, it has been done many times before with minor variations.
Surprisingly, many so-called intelligent people will fall for it, albeit only once.
Posted 44 months ago.
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I received the same mail with the identical reply. Then I sent him a reply asking him to wire the money. I told him if he agrees to wiring the money I will send him account details. hehe! Awaiting a reply
I live in Saint Lucia (Caribbean).
Originally posted 44 months ago.
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Alvinthephotographer edited this topic 44 months ago.
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I'm sort of pissed now. I mean my photography isn't good enough for someone to scam me out of 6000 pounds?
Posted 44 months ago.
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I guess mine isn't either Sean so for once I'm thankful my photos are crab even though I know I wouldn't have fallen for it.
Posted 44 months ago.
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I got this same email and I am a seven hour drive from Edmonton. The fact that he did not mention your or my city in the initial email is your first clue this is a scam. The fact that I haven't received one of these in quite a few months threw me for a minute but only a minute. I hope that no one fell for it. BEWARE!
Posted 44 months ago.
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Here is another variation on this scam:
Good day,
Thanks for your reply,. I am glad to tell you that of your offer are
acceptable by My Friends and such, i am willing to make a deposit
payment immediately. Due to there acceptance of your offer, I have
concluded payment with them also.
I have been instructed to pay you for your services and provision of a
language translator whom would be able to translate every word to them
because they are Russians and do not speak your local language and
also provide every transport logistics to include flight, hulage etc.I
have arranged this with a linguist who is willing to undertake these
responsibilities on their behalf. He would be with them throughout
their stay in your country.I will send you my credit card details once
I receive your confirmation email so that you would charge as
agreed/authorized by my Friends.
However upon the receipt of my credit card, confirm you will charge a
total of 7500pounds which is for your deposit of 1000pounds which will
an advance payment and transfer the balance of 6500pounds to the
Translator who will also take care of their travel logistics like
insurance,ticketing etc. I really need you to make the charges for the
Translator as she does not have a POS machines to process her charge
and such all money for the tour has been credited to a credit card.So
kindly Confirm this and provide me with the following Information:
Your Company full name/address
Name of the Manager/Owner
Telephone and fax numbers
Looking forward to your reply.
All checks and balances shall be done with the group leader on the
final day after counting the snap shots and other things .
Please be advised that we shall pay for all expenses and fees incurred
as a result of the entire amount to be charged.
Cheers
Jimmy Cena
Mobile:+447035942452
Tel:+447031830872
Fax:+44-7006-002-404
Posted 34 months ago.
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Also, it's generally not a good idea to reply to these, even if you're just trying to lead the scammers on. You don't want these people to have any connection to you whatsoever.
Posted 34 months ago.
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if i answer something like this, i usually state that i have passed this offer on to my agent, staff sargent joe smith at the edmonton city police station etc...
Posted 34 months ago.
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in Carol's email:
"Date of tour : Nov 20-30th, 2008"
I think this is enough to click it away to trash.
any email contains one of the phrases Bank account, credit card, you are the winner, password, transfer,.... I never continue reading. despide of the awarness today I still hear some successful scam stories.
Posted 34 months ago.
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Actually Ali, the date was about right since Carol's original post came from October 2008.
Anyways, as with anything else, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If these scams didn't work then no one would be running them. I've had a few friends fall afoul of the following scam (see link below), though they were the homeowners and not the gullible want-to-be tenants.
arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/08/my-house-is-for-rent-adv...
Posted 34 months ago.
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Ah, I thought it was a new thread :S
Posted 34 months ago.
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