do you think it is a scam targeting wedding photographers?

[haring]

I have received an email today. I am wondering whether it is a scam.... It you received similar scam like emails please share so we don't get hurt...

The email:

"Good day, i'm glad to hear from you. I will be out of the country tomorrow, i have been invited for a new contract in France. I was not aware that they could call me for the contract again because it has been long we have been on it and it was almost getting off my mind. Unfortunately, the birthday party will no longer hold on 28-08-2010 because i will still be in France till (Monday)30-08-2010. I thought of checking with you first, to know the date you will be available before i choose another date for my Guests, will you be available on Sunday(5-09-2010)?... If you are already booked for that date, let me know the dates you have open so that i can know what date to choose for my Guests. I believe you might have turn off other offers for 28-08-2010, being the date i had booked with you before, just let me know and i will compensate you for that change of date. I will have access to email and will always communicate with you while i am gone.

Just to tell you a little about my background, i'm an independent petroleum Geologist by profession. I'm contacting you from Stirling in Scotland, UK. I'm a native of Barbados, i moved my family from Canada down here a couple of years ago, after i was granted a contract on oil field here in Scotland. My parents separated when i was just 4 years old, my Mother left me for my Father's care, then he was still in the high school, there was no one to take care of me except this my caring and long departed Grand-mother, she is the Mother to my Father. When i turned 10 years old, my Mother came to take me from my caring Grand-mother and we relocated to Canada, where she got married to another man, now my step-father. After we left Barbados, i lost contact with my Father and Grand-mother, it was 1987 when my Mother got the news that my father died, he had died a month before we were informed. Then, i was still 16 years old, i wanted to visit home but my mother will not let me. Since i was separated from my Grand-Mother, i never spoke or set my eyes on her. I visited home in January(this year), hoping to reunite with my Grand-mother, things were not like i hoped for. I could not find my Grand-mother when i got to Barbados, although the house we lived in then was a rented home. After a week i had been in town, i got the information that she won visa lottery to United States and had moved down to United States long time ago. Just a month ago, i had her contact and have been talking to her almost everyday. I had not mentioned to her that i will hold a birthday party for her, i want to make it a SURPRISE PARTY for her. She will turn 75 years old on 28-08-2010, i have planned to make this party a memorable day in her life. First, i don't want her to be aware that her birthday will be celebrated, though i had informed her that i will be visiting her with my family(Wife and Kids) on 27-08-2010 and that we will spend a few days with her but she does not has the knowledge that i will host her a birthday party.

The party will take place in Miami, FL and will last for 8 hours(10:00am-6:00pm). I want a home party, it allows people(guests) to be more relaxed, the party will take place in a home i will rent during my visit to Key Biscayne, FL. I already have contacted a Realtor and made him aware that i will need a home spacious enough to throw a party for 58 guests, i will provide you with the location of the home immediately he finds one for me. I am expecting 58 guests, most of them are families and long time friends and most of my guests will fly in from Barbados and Canada. There will be meals, Buffet and Drink. Though, the primary intention of the event is a birthday party for my Grand-mother but it is much more a family reunion and a get together party. I need you to shoot on that day, i want quality photos and i want for each guest to have copies and CD of the images. "

What do you think?

[zona5101]

I wouldn't do a job for anybody that could write that much mindless drivel.

All the red flags of a scam.

[Bluenoser]

The next thing he's going to ask for is a bank account number so he can make a down-payment on the shoot.

[snowfalldesigns]

Any type of sob story is a red flag to me.

[mseigafuse]

Looks mighty similar to this reported scam activity ... PPA Today: E-mail Scam Activity on the Rise

Delete & ignore it

[candleman]

i wouldnt even read it.. geez what a load..

[samnooshka]

I read the first paragraph, then thought yeah whatever.Got better things to do with my day than read all that LOL!

Agree with the others... ignore and delete. Any genuine customer never gives that much info.

[kirbinster]

It looks like Nigerian translated to English on google translate

[NgaiHill]

Two things always flag a scam email for me - the atrocious standard of English and the suggestion that they have already had some contact or prior agreement with you.
Hit that delete button as fast as you can.

[Saralonde]

Absolutely a scam. There are similar ones saying they are planning a wedding, etc.