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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Since my latest one was supposedly a wedding in my hometown, I wasted two or three emails back and forth before I was convinced it was a scam. I silenced him when I told him payment would be made in person at the event.
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
The previous e-mail that I received from a "Mark Freeman" (base in the UK, also seems like it will soon turn out to be a SCAM (seems similar in approach to the one received by Michale Kent, where the event planner offered a local booking opportunity).
Any further insights into the contrent of your scammer's letters Michael, woudl be greatly appreciated and insightful at this point. So the saga continues... In my second (follow-up) e-mail, I asked the event planner (Mark) to provide me with more detials: time of the event, exact location, and client's name. He did provide me with this info and in this regard, evertything "seemed" legit. But when I ressed him to tell me more about the agendafor the evening, and the type of entertainment he wanted (ie. walkaround and or show), he seemed to not take the time to respond to these vital questions. INstead. His response to our initial price quote as curt... "send us your contract, we will sign it and send you your payment in full". I responded to his request for a contract by thanking him for his interest, but that because there has recently been a rash of SCAM letters going out to entertainers worldwide, I needed to know more about his company and would like to not only have 2-3 references that I could call (in the UK), but wanted a time and date to talk to him by phone in the UK. I also explained how many scam artists worked --sending overpayment by Western Union, and asking for reimbursement of the difference, etc. I ended my letter on a firendly note, thanking him for hjis cooperation and understanding, and that once we could confirm their company's credentials, and thee exact format of entertainment needed for his eveing, we would send off the contract. I have yet to hear back from him. I will keep you posted on any final development. I am not 100 percent sure this is a scam, but my gut tells me yes. Keep in mind, that he is providing me with a date, time and legit place, as well as a legit client name and his company name (brandcuba.com ) is on the web and does in fact "seem" legit. His written english is also excellent, and he has certainly taken "some" time to respond to my individual e-mails and "some" of my probing questions. Another words, if this is a scam, it is not a cookie cutter template type scam, but a highly customized scam. ... we shall see. Quite frankly, if I do not get more reassurances and the info and reference names/numbers that I have requested, I will drop this "potential" client cold. If they are legit, they wil try to reassure me by providing all of the above. Or perhaps they will move on and try to secure another qualified entertainer that is less "trouble". I will keep you posted. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Jonathan -
You can also contact the venue (if it is local), and verify that they have a booking for that time and date by that customer (easily check on the facts they state). It is possible that the venue might not share this information, but if you explain you are trying to avoid being scammed, they might be more forthcoming. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Great suggestion Donald.
Thanks. I will do that this evening and that should solve it. Still, I am curious to see if this Mark Freeman responds. Best regards. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The thing to stop these guys is easy. Simply have a way in which you conduct business, and stick by it.
Let them send the check, if it is for too much send it back. Business done right, is really easy way to get past this BS.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
... not looking good. The hotel that the client told me was to be the hotel where the event is to take place (in Quebec City) has recently been bought by a larger hotel conglomerate which has turned it into a place to sleep only (ie. no meeting rooms, no dinning facilities, etc.).
In the meantime, the "agent" Mark Freeman, that had been very quick to respond to my earlier e-mails, has yet to respond to my last email, requesting a brief history of his company, 2- or three references, and more details on the venue and entertainment needs (he seemed ready to sign the contract and send us a deposit from the get go... without even knowing much aobut us or providing us with important event related info). It seems I have wasted my time in e-mails, much like Micahel Kent, and much like I have done at least once in the pat 6 months. The difference is that this agent's english was solid and he seemed to have real info on the hotel, cleint, etc.... But in the end, not real enough! Be careful, and best regards. Hopefully, if my story and the others on this thread can help save other entertainers some time and heart ache, so that they can better see through these scams, the time we have put into posting these warnings/stories, will have been worth all of the extra efforts. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
End of story... the so called "agent", Mark Freeman, never wrote back.
For some reason, this does not surprise me. Perhaps the Feds finally caught up with him...
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Anyone stupid enough to give out personal informataion to anyone with a keyboard and internet connection, let alone banking information, may well deserve what they get as a lesson.
I can't imagine how anyone falls for these things. Again, it comes to greed. The carrot of unknown expences, a very high rate and so on.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Danny - do you use ebay? how about pay pal? Ever buy anything on the internet at all? You are giving these companies enough information to steal your identity. All it takes is one wrong click to a mirror site and you've lost your most valuable possesion.
Again, pride comes before a fall and I guarentee there is a scam out there that you will fall for! Victims of scams are not always gullible or greedy. Often people give money out of charity or because they are over confident or because they just want to do the right thing a help out some one in need. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Nick, in this case it is greed plain and simple. How can you even argue it?
You are comparing the gullible with identity theft. One is someone who willingly does something a bit against the grain, not outright dishonest but certainly a bit greedy, the other is a victim of a crime. Both are victims in the end, one just gives a bit more help than the other. As for Ebay and the internet, no I don't. Identity theft is not a scam, it is theft. Look at the term, it kind of spells it out for you.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
These scams are theft. The con artists are STEALING money from the performer. Identity Theft often involves people freely giving up person information. This scam sees the victim freely give up their money. But both are theft.
If I took a booking from one of these people, banked the cheque and then 'returned' the money as I a gesture of good will when they cancel where is my greed? The only greed is that which is the basis for all business! These fallacies must be corrected 1) You can't con an honest man. Honest people get scammed all the time. 2) We are "too smart" to be conned. You can and will be conned with that attitude. |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Anybody get this one today?
Hello I am kelvin luciano from California I am a international business tycoon ...i do business world wide I am looking for a magician for my daughters birthday on September,16th I would like to know if you would be available and how much would be your cost tho...thanks and would like to hear from asap thanks Kelvin
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Frank
After reading all those other posts yours is the simplest to understand. I will have to fax you a check for that post my friend.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Frank - I like that one! I am going to tell everyone who asks me what I do for a living that I am an International Business Tycoon!
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I would have marked that email as spam and sent it to the trash folder, in seconds.
Other correspondence may take a few minutes to tell if it's a scam or a joke. I always make an excuse to call them back, if I suspect something fishy - that way, I get a phone number. If the phone number is good and I can get a full deposit, assuming that I still have suspicions, then I would go through with a reasonable offer. |
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts |
Never got a magic scam yet, but got plenty of others. I have a lot of fun wasting their time and leading them on, that way it takes away from their time for scamming other more gullible people a little bit.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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Nick Wait Inner circle Lichfield, UK 1042 Posts |
Nick,
I am currently organising 2 corporate dinner events, one in Wolverhampton on the 7th December and another on the 10th December in Birmingham. Please provide me with a quotation for one and a half hours per event, there shall be around 150 guests at each. Also if possible can you send me a cost for New years eve if you are not already booked, this is a cocktail party in Saltley Birmingham and shall need a magician to stroll around for an hour or so between 8 and 10pm, there shall be around 200 guests attending this function Thanks in advance, Daniel Charles Events co-ordinator Showcase PR Ltd I just got this, and wanted to see if anyone could tell me whether it was a scam.Things that made me suspicous were the fact that it was at such short notice, and that the adress was Yahoo, also I am unable to find anything about Showcase PR Ltd. |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Why not cash the check then close your account......?
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
You know.... that was a joke
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Thom Bliss Loyal user Southern California 271 Posts |
Jlevey, they do not send their money by Western Union. When money is sent by Western Union (or Money Gram), there is no recourse -- the sender cannot get it back.
No, they send you a check. After a few days the bank makes the funds available to you -- but the check can bounce around for weeks or months before it comes back to your bank, and then the bank will take the money from your account (or demand it back), and you're out the amount of the "overpayment" you wired to the scammer. The scammers send a check but they want you to send the change back to them by Western Union. If it's a legitimate offer, they shouldn't be sending you more than your fee (plus expenses). If they do this, send the check back to them. If it's legit, they should then send you a check for the right amount. If time is a factor, maybe they could wire you the money. LOL. Thom |
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