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KeirRoyale Special user Denver, CO 550 Posts |
Anyone noticed the correlation between people sending bogus inquiries for shows and how many of them seem to be for weddings? I just got another Gigmasters lead that got flagged as bogus (and I could tell it was suspect at a glance because of all the grammatical errors and the references to overly proper English, ie: Dear Sir, we require the honor of your presence) and yet again it was for a wedding. Just wondered if anyone else had noticed the same thing?
DVD author of "The Master Prediction System Done Solo"
http://www.DenverMotivationalSpeaker.com http://www.DenverKidMagic.com http://www.LifeIsMagical.com http://www.WichitaComedyMagician.com |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
While I have not noticed it specifically from GM I have received two e-mails exactly as you describe with the wording that makes it very suspicious. Especially when they get to the part addressing our pricing.
These make me wonder how many people do they get to fall for this stuff or to respond. I guess it's no surprise that they have now figured how to use GM or other sites to approach potential victims. |
D_avid Loyal user 253 Posts |
Only if you fit "50th Anniversary" in the same category
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
The wedding angle could be that they are trying to scam several types of entertainers, from bands to dj's, and decided to add magicians to the mix. Just a thought.
CS |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Yes, Christopher you may be correct. I have a couple of friends that are DJs and yes, from what we've discussed they too are being approached and solicited, I believe through both emails and wedding directories they advertise in.
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TRUMPETMAN Special user Naples, FL 705 Posts |
This tired old scam comes back around every few months. It has ended up in my email inbox about four times in the past five years. The bad grammar is a dead giveaway that it is a scam conducted by someone from a non-English speaking country. The last one I received claimed to be from France.
Mark Pettey
Naples, FL facebook.com/robbietheringmaster |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I don't see how these would be scams. You send your contract for signature and a 50% deposit in cash from Western Union. Now you just wait for the money to arrive. If anyone is scammed it is the other guy. Don't accept checks, don't accept transfers of any kind. They can use PayPal of course.
I know a professional magician that got an inquiry to show this Arab gentleman some magic and teach him a few card tricks. He was to go to a high rise suite in Atlanta, I believe, and he was being paid $2,500.00 plus travel expenses and air fare. I told him it did not sound legit. He of course went along with the person, and came out very well in the end. As a business person, I cannot see trying to judge a show inquiry. You have nothing to lose, but an email or telephone call. If they start that double talk about sending a check and sending some back, drop it. Just you remember, you get your deposit on your terms. Otherwise, you will not do business with them. As far as bad grammar, translators are not perfect, it may be the software they are using. I would always check out all show inquires, just use common sense when dealing with them. |
stempleton Inner circle 1443 Posts |
Here is a post that addressed this practice some time ago. I refer in my post to a great article that outlined the similar experiences of the writer/magician that explained how those "Western Union" checks take a while to verify, making the scam work.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......um=44&25 |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Quote:
As a business person, I cannot see trying to judge a show inquiry. You have nothing to lose, but an email or telephone call. If they start that double talk about sending a check and sending some back, drop it. Just you remember, you get your deposit on your terms. Otherwise, you will not do business with them. As a business person I do this every day. I can not see NOT judging or qualifying each inquiry. There are certain criteria that each inquiry must be met before I would ever even consider pursuing the inquiry, price being only one of them. Most of these scam have other common elements that are included. Like they are from a foreign country, "you came highly recommended", but the man including in the money, terms and payment. Most want to wire or send you a cashier's check for your amount plus additional funds for something else for you to give them or pay for something before or once they arrive. The Better Business Bureau had a notice about this warning a while back also claiming may of these are Phishing leads. Those that respond are later contacted for other offers. |
KeirRoyale Special user Denver, CO 550 Posts |
Wmhegbli in short it works like this. They agree to hire you and send you a check for the agreed upon amount + an extra sum of say $2,000. "Woops" they say, we accidentally sent you the money for the wedding photographer also. Can you please cash the check and Western Union the $2,000 on to the photographer please? Your bank will likely cash the check but a few days later you will get the bad news and be left holding the bag after you sent $2,000 via Western Union.
DVD author of "The Master Prediction System Done Solo"
http://www.DenverMotivationalSpeaker.com http://www.DenverKidMagic.com http://www.LifeIsMagical.com http://www.WichitaComedyMagician.com |
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