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View Full Version : Urgent Advice Required - scams?


otooleg
8th May 2006, 12:23 PM
I received an e-mail which I thought looked iffy and this is the reply I have received. Do you think, as I do, that this is a scam and a possible attempt at money laundering?


Hello,
Thanks for the response.I am ok with your charges and ready to pay ahead the wedding day,this is due to my tight financial arrangements at present.

It's really good to know that you are available and that you are free on that day because we started making the arrangements rather late! The wedding will hold in a friend's villa in West Lothian. The church ceremony,reception and after party will all hold in the villa.We both will go view the location when i arrive,that is if you wish. I believe you will make it a most memorable day for me, whenever i look at the album.

Now to payment arrangement.I will send you a cheque for payment.I hope you are ok wth this? The cheque is a pay cheque from the UN.I wok with the UN and was transfered most recently.The cheque will also exceed this amount i wish to pay you. You will cash the cheque,deduct your funds and have the balance handed over to my wedding planner.He is going to call you before my arrival to work out necessary arrangements .I hope my arrangement is ok with you? Please respond immediately with your name and address so we have the cheque sent to you immediately.

Kind Regards,
Andrew..

I am unsure what to do with this - advise the police and proceed with caution or just ignore it?

George

Wineman
8th May 2006, 12:25 PM
Just ignore it. It is a scam that is doing the rounds.

StagePhotography.co.uk
8th May 2006, 12:27 PM
Tell him to send the cheque....

It's more than likely stolen...

At least then he can't scam someone else with it...

Hand it in to the local police station,
and report it as a attempted decrption...

Handle the cheque as little as possible,
fingerprints may still be on the cheque...

otooleg
8th May 2006, 12:49 PM
Reported this to the Lothian & Borders Police who asked me to hand in a copy of the e-mail to my local station.

Please be aware that these scams are going on and could be dangerous.

George

england1965
8th May 2006, 01:00 PM
Well spotted!

Martin - is it worth having a specific sub-forum where we can post "scams" we are sent to try and alert others?

(Sorry if I've missed it)

Cheers

Mark

Stemmy
8th May 2006, 01:10 PM
Ok Scam emails thread posted in the Photography News section.

lostmysnorkel
9th May 2006, 03:44 AM
Yep, this is a scam doing the rounds all over the place, not just photography.

Many scuba divers selling their gear were hit with this, and it often happens to people selling on eBay. It seems to be the more expensive (ie £500 and up goods/services that are targeted.)

I would reply that they are welcome to send the cheque, BUT that it will not be cashed until AFTER the wedding. The balance will be sent to their address as soon as your bank has confirmed the legitimacy of the cheque, which will take two or three weeks.

See what reply you get from that!