| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9] > | feels and smells like a scam Thread poster: lysander canlas
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I got Kathy's email too last week and replied with a quote which she accepted with no complaints. She insisted on paying by check (disregarding my concerns that 1. cashing foreign checks incurred high bank charges (she kindly agreed to send the bank charges over and above the agreed amount!) and 2. the Italian postal system tends to lose checks (she assured me this wouldn't happen!))
I did find her request suspicious and asked why her address was UK but she said "here in the US" and... See more I got Kathy's email too last week and replied with a quote which she accepted with no complaints. She insisted on paying by check (disregarding my concerns that 1. cashing foreign checks incurred high bank charges (she kindly agreed to send the bank charges over and above the agreed amount!) and 2. the Italian postal system tends to lose checks (she assured me this wouldn't happen!))
I did find her request suspicious and asked why her address was UK but she said "here in the US" and she explained that she did have houses in both countries(!!)
I just got this reply:
How are you doing today and thanks for the details.You
know i told you that we seek fund from organization that is will to
help teenagers.There was a mistake with the check,a check of 2800
Euro has been mail to you which is more than the exact amount and
the money is needed for the less privilege kids that we provide
drugs,cloth,shelter and food also to create awareness on std and other
deadly disease.Am really sorry about the stress you will go through
when you got the check and get it cashed you will have to send to us
the difference after you deduct your money,just let me know if you can
do this and for doing this you have save million life's also God will
reward you. Thanks. You should have got the check by now but post office made a mistake
and they will reschedule the delivery by next and you will get it by
next also.
Too too fishy! I just replied saying I am no longer available. Then I logged on to proz and saw this forum. Wish I had done a search before instead of wasting time corresponding with this person. The bit "for doing this you have save million life's also God will
reward you." is my favourite!!!!
[Edited at 2010-09-05 21:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Satu Ilva 
Finland
Local time: 10:39
English to Finnish
+ ...
| Same thing, different name | Sep 13, 2010 |
I got this last week - the exact same message that others have got but with a different name. I have been requested by moderators to remove the name and address, but I guess the point is that this can come from other senders besides the one mentioned before.
Hello,
Please can you take a translation job right now ? I have a document on ( Human Relations in an Organization), 11,265 words to be translated, I want it translated from English to Finish but you should be able... See more I got this last week - the exact same message that others have got but with a different name. I have been requested by moderators to remove the name and address, but I guess the point is that this can come from other senders besides the one mentioned before.
Hello,
Please can you take a translation job right now ? I have a document on ( Human Relations in an Organization), 11,265 words to be translated, I want it translated from English to Finish but you should be able to finish in 4 weeks time. Let me know your charges per word and the total charges with a discount please.
N.B : You will get paid by Bank Wire Transfer
Awaits your mail soon.
Best Regards,
XXX
[Edited at 2010-09-14 02:32 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Same thing... | Sep 15, 2010 |
Hi everybody,
unfortunately I've been contacted by Aikman Farkus as well on the 18th of August.
I've looked for some information about him on the Internet but I didn't find anything.
However, I have accepted the job but, after some mails, I've decided to give it up because I found this man a bit strange.
That's why on the 23th of August I told him I wanted to renounce to the job but he didn't reply to me.
Almost 2 weeks ago, I received a cheque from a ... See more Hi everybody,
unfortunately I've been contacted by Aikman Farkus as well on the 18th of August.
I've looked for some information about him on the Internet but I didn't find anything.
However, I have accepted the job but, after some mails, I've decided to give it up because I found this man a bit strange.
That's why on the 23th of August I told him I wanted to renounce to the job but he didn't reply to me.
Almost 2 weeks ago, I received a cheque from a company located in Africa but I didn't tihink it was connected to Aikman Farkus because I had remove him completely from my mind.
The checque is Euro 2800 and I thought it was a fraud.
I went to the bank to ask if they knew somethinbg about this fraud but nothing.
Today I have recived the following mail:
Dear Alessandra,
You should have almost finished the translation by now?I also got a confirmation that the Cheque has been delivered to you, kindly inform me as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Aikman F.
This mail made me think that the cheque came from his company.
I didn't reply to him and when I looked for some info about him this morning, I've found out these posts that unfortunately were not available when I did the first searches in August.
Now I have decided to go to the poiice (finanza) to ask them what I need to do.
I don't want that someone falls into their trap.
I'd be glad if you told me what do you think
Thanks
Alessandra ▲ Collapse
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| One more time: "Awaits you" is still waiting | Sep 15, 2010 |
lysander canlas wrote:
has anyone received a similar message?
Subject:
REVIEW THIS DOCUMENT AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT
From:
Gordon Hills
Date:
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:11:48 +0100
To:
Hello,
How are you doing today and This organization seeks applications from linguists (BA Honors or equivalent or mother tongue). You will be translating for us and the document will be email to you.Good spoken and written English; A genuine love of languages and Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines; Flexible attitude to work,good team player and willing to take on responsibility; Self-discipline and the ability to concentrate for long periods,I will be very please to work with you and i attached the document for you,i want you to translate and proofread it.I want it ready in 4 weeks and i hope to get a discount but i want a neat and accurate work,hope to work with you in future so let me know the price,Awaits your mail soon.
English to Spanish.
Hi,
What jumped out at me right away was "Awaits you" and the writer's bad English.
Look at Antonio's post farther up in this thread - the text he received is very similar to the first text I received.
I received mine on September 10th 2010, from a Scott Gilbert; note that he signs his name in his email slightly different from how he spells it in his email address: scott gilgert plus a number (an unverified account @ gmail)
He contacted me through translatorscafe.
Below, you find my experience with Mr. "Awaits you"
QUOTE:
Hello, Please can you take a translation job right now ? I have a document on ( Human Relations in an Organization), 12,707 words to be translated, I want it translated from English to Germany but you should be able to finish in 4 weeks time. Let me know your charges per word and the total charges with a discount please. N.B : You will get paid by Certified Bank Check. Awaits your mail soon.
Best Regards, Scott Gilbert
END OF QUOTE
If you google for the text or email, it will come up.
That is what I did and you can double check.
Here is a copy of my reply:
QUOTE:
Dear Scott, 4 weeks would not be a problem. Please provide the following information: your business address and telephone number
the original text
a price proposal (My average charge is USD .XX/source word)
After my review of the source text and price confirmation, I will issue a signed order contract which I will ask you to co-sign (via email).
Thank you for contacting me. Sincerely, my name
END OF QUOTE
His reply, to which he attached the document, dealing with Human relations in the workplace.
QUOTE:
Hello, Good day to you, Attached is the document with an email, i will like to review it and get back to me immediately if you can translate it....I will like to know if you are O.K. by getting you paid through Certified Bank Check.... I await your mail soon. Best Regard,
END OF QUOTE
My reply:
QUOTE
Hello Scott, I have reviewed the text. I would have a few questions about capitalization used in the text and certain unclear phrasings (such as popularize). My offer is USD .XX/source word (total price USD XVYZ.MV). This is a rather low price for this kind of treatise. You mentioned "discount" and there would normally be no further discount. Please feel free to make a counter offer if my proposal does not meet your needs. I will consider it. Please let me know the details of this project: who is the author of the text or is this your own text, what is the purpose of the translation, who is the targeted audience? Also, please supply information about yourself and/or your business association: address, phone number, business name (if applicable). After confirmation of the final price and receipt of the information I requested above, I will be glad to issue an order contract. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. Best regards, my name
END OF QUOTE
Then I sent a PS:
QUOTE:
Payment via certified bank cheque in US Dollars would be acceptable. Please let me know if this is indeed the form of payment you had in mind. Sincerely, my name
END OF QUOTE
He replied to both, my email and the PS.
His reply to my email:
QUOTE:
Hello, Thanks for the response, the price is good for the job an i will like you to get back to me with the following information where you want me to mail the payment to : Full Name : Full Address : City : State : Zip Code : Phone Number : I want all this to be mail quickly so there won't be any delay from both party. Best Regard,
END OF QUOTE
His reply to my PS, sent the same minute:
QUOTE:
Hello, Thanks for the response, the price is good for the job an i will like you to get back to me with the following information where you want me to mail the payment to : Full Name : Full Address : City : State : Zip Code : Phone Number : I want all this to be mail quickly so there won't be any delay from both party. Best Regard,
END of QUOTE
Those two last emails of his were sent Saturday, September 11th, around 10 pm my time (GMT-5)
I did not reply.
He has not contacted me since.
Good luck,
Bernhard
[Edited at 2010-09-15 21:44 GMT]
| | | | | Both letters... | Sep 16, 2010 |
Cari Tutti,
io dapprima ho ricevuto la mail da Aikman, poi da Kathy. Entrambe stranissime e sospette. Chi pagherebbe tutto in anticipo?
In ogni caso, visto che era agosto, stavo per partire e avevo un po' di tempo, sono stato al gioco, chissà mai... La traduzione del testo artistico (io sono appassionato d'arte) è di infimo livello, con intere sezioni tratte pari pari da Wikipedia (non ha tolto nemmeno i riferimenti...).
Gli ho detto di aver finito la tra... See more Cari Tutti,
io dapprima ho ricevuto la mail da Aikman, poi da Kathy. Entrambe stranissime e sospette. Chi pagherebbe tutto in anticipo?
In ogni caso, visto che era agosto, stavo per partire e avevo un po' di tempo, sono stato al gioco, chissà mai... La traduzione del testo artistico (io sono appassionato d'arte) è di infimo livello, con intere sezioni tratte pari pari da Wikipedia (non ha tolto nemmeno i riferimenti...).
Gli ho detto di aver finito la traduzione (eppure ha continuato a mandare la mail ad altri dopo quella data...). Mi ha detto di aspettare un assegno via posta. E mi è arrivato, firmato da una persona sconosciuta, senza riferimento alcuno al lavoro e per una cifra di duemila euro superiore a quella concordata. Mi ha chiesto di incassarlo e restituirgli la differenza. A questo punto, ovviamente, non risponderò, o risponderò per ingiuriarlo.
Però l'assegno (che senza dubbio è un falso, oppure è scoperto) lo tengo per ricordo. Magari l'appendo in camera, accanto alla Natività dei Della Robbia o all'asciugamano di Paul McCartney...
Saluti,
Nicola ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Perché non segnalare il fatto? | Sep 16, 2010 |
Ciao Nicola ma non pensi che sia meglio segnalare il fatto piuttosto che lasciar passare?
Io mi sentirei molto più a posto con la coscienza, anche perché si eviterebbe che qualcuno ci caschi veramente...
Nicola (Mr.) Nobili wrote:
Cari Tutti,
io dapprima ho ricevuto la mail da Aikman, poi da Kathy. Entrambe stranissime e sospette. Chi pagherebbe tutto in anticipo?
In ogni caso, visto che era agosto, stavo per partire e avevo un po' di tempo, sono stato al gioco, chissà mai... La traduzione del testo artistico (io sono appassionato d'arte) è di infimo livello, con intere sezioni tratte pari pari da Wikipedia (non ha tolto nemmeno i riferimenti...).
Gli ho detto di aver finito la traduzione (eppure ha continuato a mandare la mail ad altri dopo quella data...). Mi ha detto di aspettare un assegno via posta. E mi è arrivato, firmato da una persona sconosciuta, senza riferimento alcuno al lavoro e per una cifra di duemila euro superiore a quella concordata. Mi ha chiesto di incassarlo e restituirgli la differenza. A questo punto, ovviamente, non risponderò, o risponderò per ingiuriarlo.
Però l'assegno (che senza dubbio è un falso, oppure è scoperto) lo tengo per ricordo. Magari l'appendo in camera, accanto alla Natività dei Della Robbia o all'asciugamano di Paul McCartney...
Saluti,
Nicola
| | | | | Segnalazione | Sep 16, 2010 |
Cara Collega,
segnalare a chi? Già ci avete pensato voi. Magari potremmo segnalarlo a Striscia la Notizia, per dare maggiore visibilità alla cosa, ma a parte questo, che possiamo fare?
Le vie legali mi paiono impraticabili.
Saluti,
Nicola
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Alla finanza. Dopotutto è il suo lavoro.
Penso proprio che lo farò anche se sono cpnsapevole del fatto che per loro non sia una cosa facile da gestire dal momento che la truffa è a livello internazionale.
Però tentare non nuoce
Saluti
Alessandra
Nicola (Mr.) Nobili wrote:
Cara Collega,
segnalare a chi? Già ci avete pensato voi. Magari potremmo segnalarlo a Striscia la Notizia, per dare maggiore visibilità alla cosa, ma a parte questo, che possiamo fare?
Le vie legali mi paiono impraticabili.
Saluti,
Nicola
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I'd send it back to him (if you have his address), or back to the sender.
If I were you I'd refrain from keeping it. It could be money laudering.
You could also inform the "Polizia postale".
Also, the "Guardia di finanza" can give you some advice.
Just my humble opinion.
P.S. I received the same, asked for a wire transfer and he vanished in the blue
Ciao!
[Edited at 2010-09-16 09:33 GMT]
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 03:39
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Scam the scammer | Sep 16, 2010 |
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the check. I would be pleased to return the excess amount to you. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area and my bank is charging me a fee of $20.00 in order to cash your check and I do not have the money because my account is currently overdrawn. If you would kindly send me this fee via Western Union as soon as possible, I would then be able to cash your check and send you the balance. Do you want a check or can you accept a money order? Here is the informatio... See more Dear Sir,
Thank you for the check. I would be pleased to return the excess amount to you. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area and my bank is charging me a fee of $20.00 in order to cash your check and I do not have the money because my account is currently overdrawn. If you would kindly send me this fee via Western Union as soon as possible, I would then be able to cash your check and send you the balance. Do you want a check or can you accept a money order? Here is the information to send the bank fee... ▲ Collapse
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| Travelers cheques scam! | Sep 16, 2010 |
Hello everybody!
I want you to know that I nearly have been scammed by a "disable business woman". She was an intermediate between a client and me and I arranged with her that I would translate a text for 2000€ and I would receive a 30% of the total amount in advance and that the payment would be through travelers cheques.
Unfortunately, the client had a mistake and sent to me 3000€ (6x500€) in American Express travelers cheques. (The envelope in which the travelers che... See more Hello everybody!
I want you to know that I nearly have been scammed by a "disable business woman". She was an intermediate between a client and me and I arranged with her that I would translate a text for 2000€ and I would receive a 30% of the total amount in advance and that the payment would be through travelers cheques.
Unfortunately, the client had a mistake and sent to me 3000€ (6x500€) in American Express travelers cheques. (The envelope in which the travelers cheques were has no information about the sender's name nor address. Very suspicious!)
The business woman wanted me to have in cash all the travelers cheques, I could keep the agreed 30% and then I would have to send to her the rest of the amount via Western Union.
I finally did not have in cash these forgery travelers cheques.
The only advise I can give to all of you is "use your commons sense". Sometimes is good to use it.
Nobody mistakes in sending 3000€ instead of 600€. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | "FEELS LIKE A SCAM " | Sep 18, 2010 |
DID ANYBODY RECEIVE A STRANGE EMAIL LIKE THIS AND DO YOUT THINK DEAR TRANSLATOR IT MAY BE A SCAM:
Hello,
Thank you for responding to our offer translation for our company.
Some of you have already cooperated with XXXX in the past and have already finished one part of the translation but it unfortunately happened, not our fault that we went to the server when the database was deleted associates a database of all documents received, therefore I... See more DID ANYBODY RECEIVE A STRANGE EMAIL LIKE THIS AND DO YOUT THINK DEAR TRANSLATOR IT MAY BE A SCAM:
Hello,
Thank you for responding to our offer translation for our company.
Some of you have already cooperated with XXXX in the past and have already finished one part of the translation but it unfortunately happened, not our fault that we went to the server when the database was deleted associates a database of all documents received, therefore I do not have any of your order ani translated text and some or ag. agreement.
Therefore, please avoid the misunderstanding that we send all documents to our Support Center at www.xxxxxx.com very sorry for the trouble but the database has been destroyed due to our fault but the server.
If you cooperate with us to immediately send the support center:
1st Order
2nd Ag. agreement if you have it.If not, download the registration www.XXXXXXX.com in your account in the download section is potřaba contract to add your details and send to us.
if you do not have it for download at the download center on your account there www.XXXXXX.com completed your position you need to add it to your data and send it to us where your position will be completed and sent to you for approval.
3rd Your CV with photo
4rd Yor Translate files All language
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have not cooperated with our company.
1st Sign up for www.XXXX.com
2nd Sign up for www.XXXXXXXXX.com
3rd Fill in the order
4rd
Your CV with photo
Annex dispatched for new collaborators
1st Order Service
2nd Ag. agreement for your country
We apologize for the trouble and ask for quick dispatch of documents to be as soon as possible to paste the text into the system and pay the charges for translations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DID ANYBODY WORK BEFORE FOR THIS AGENCY? THE POINT IS THERI WEBSITE is not a translation agency but something that reminds Ebay (or e-commerce website)
[Edited at 2010-09-20 15:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | lysander canlas
United States
Local time: 03:39
English to Tagalog
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | more feels and smells like a scam | Oct 11, 2010 |
even if it's not a scam, would you care to work with a company that doesn't know enough to take care of their database?!?! feels and smells like a scam to me!
here's another query, to which i replied that we require a 60% via money order or sight draft -- no checks.
==========================================================
Hello,
My name is John /////; I will be going on my annual leave on the 29th of
October & my wife and I, along with our 2 ... See more even if it's not a scam, would you care to work with a company that doesn't know enough to take care of their database?!?! feels and smells like a scam to me!
here's another query, to which i replied that we require a 60% via money order or sight draft -- no checks.
==========================================================
Hello,
My name is John /////; I will be going on my annual leave on the 29th of
October & my wife and I, along with our 2 children will be coming to the
USA on holiday for 10 days. We will be staying from Saturday 30th of Oct
2010 to Tuesday 9th of November 2010 (Arrive 30th Oct - Depart 9th Nov).
My wife who does not speak English, requires the services of an
Interpreter/translator for 5hours per day for the duration of our stay.
Your duties will be mainly to escort her and our two children during
shopping and sightseeing.
If you are available to render your service, I would greatly appreciate it
if you could advise the languages you specialize in and the costs of your
service for 10days.
I'm 42 years old and a senior accountant, working with Chevron Oil Company
here in the United Kingdom. I look forward to hearing from you, have a
great day and God bless.
Many thanks,
John ///
Upper Richmond Road,
London,
United Kingdom.
Tel: //////.
Email: [email protected] ▲ Collapse
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