Scammer

[scootermcq]

Just got this email today:

Hi,
My name is Hauwa Fletcher,I live in Toronto,Canada.I am presently in Glasgow(UK) working,but will be moving back home soon and I'll be getting married shortly after my arrival in the states to my fiance Daniel Smith.We will need a wedding/party Photographer to help us in making up our ceremony from the church to the hotel reception.We will like to find out what your plans are for December 11th,2010.This is the date of our wedding so kindly let us know your availability for this day.We'll take responsibility for your expenses regarding our plans.we might not be able to meet you soon as planned,due to our unavailability in the states but,we are willing to retain the date, that's to make deposit for booking prior we to our arrival to be sure we are interested in your service,if we really are.Waiting to get your response.
Thanks,
Hauwa and Daniel Smith.

When I checked my traffic counter, I was checked out by someone in Nigeria 15 minutes before it was sent, but no one in Scotland...... anyway, you can tell it is a scam by the way it reads.

I am going to play along for a bit and see where they are going with this..... I will keep the thread updated with replies etc.

[andyw]

SCAM.

A variation on the advance fee fraud.

If you are not sure then give them a quote of 50k or something for the day and see what the response is.

[Jim Bryant]

I recently received one such as that and the guy wanted to send me a postal money order check for $5000.00 with instructions to put in my account, then with drawl $2500.00, purchase Western Union money orders and send to the individual who was catering the event. Knowing it was fraud, I said sure thing. When I received the check I took it to the post office for verification. They said it was a fake, took the check and emails and handed it over to the FBI. The address was from a Somalia owned coffee shop/internet cafe in Seattle and I'm waiting to see what happens. How stupid can one get?

[Photologyst]

I’ve know of a few people who have fallen for the Nigerian scams. Some even went to Africa and got cleaned out.

There are people who have beat these crooks at their own game.

It might be fun if you have the time. Just string them along; get them to send you funds and in general, drive them nuts. lol

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

They said it was a fake, took the check and emails and handed it over to the FBI. The address was from a Somalia owned coffee shop/internet cafe in Seattle and I'm waiting to see what happens. How stupid can one get?

That's really surprising. Though it probably won't go anywhere, since they won't be able to prove it.

[Crossfire905]

www.419eater.com contains some absolutely brilliant and hilarious accounts of sharp would-be victims and not-so-sharp would-be scammers. Very entertaining stuff, and a good source of ideas for turning the tables.

[theosus]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

I’ve know of a few people who have fallen for the Nigerian scams. Some even went to Africa and got cleaned out.

There are people who have beat these crooks at their own game.

It might be fun if you have the time. Just string them along; get them to send you funds and in general, drive them nuts. lol

I remember reading a long internet diatribe about these guys who turned the tables on an eBay scammer. The scammer was trying to con a guy out of a laptop. The mark figured it out, and wound up mailing a three-ring binder to the scammer with buttons and ports he drew on it with marker. He declared its value at $1500, and shipped it to the scammer in england. Something about tax on items coming in - the scammer had to pay a lot of money to get the item out of customs. The mark even had people in england supporting him, and they recorded video of the scammer going to get his "laptop". Sure, it cost the mark $10 to mail this thing to england, but he didnt lose the laptop, and he turned the tables on the crook.

[metric_photography]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

When I checked my traffic counter, I was checked out by someone in Nigeria 15 minutes before it was sent, but no one in Scotland

1- It is terrible that people are trying to scam others! Good for you Jim, for going to the FBI, but I wonder if there is anything they can do...

2- Where did you get the traffic counter? I think that sounds like a cool idea! I'd like one for my site... oh, and BTW.... If there is a hit from Southern Ontario, it was me! LOL

[fantasmic2tek]

When my brother was stationed in Africa with the US Embassy he helped a couple avoid a scam by alerting them and getting them out of the country. If he hadn't the circumstances might have been different or even deadly.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by metric_photography

1- It is terrible that people are trying to scam others! Good for you Jim, for going to the FBI, but I wonder if there is anything they can do...

2- Where did you get the traffic counter? I think that sounds like a cool idea! I'd like one for my site... oh, and BTW.... If there is a hit from Southern Ontario, it was me! LOL

Burlington? Anywho I use StatCounter Free invisible Web tracker, Hit counter and Web stats it is free and pretty slick.