| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Do you think it's a scam? Client wants to pay by check way before delivery Thread poster: Julie Fragkaki
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I got an offer for a very interesting project, the client send me the file (ca 50 pages), we agreed on a price and now he asks for my details so he can send a check by post (way before delivery). There is no Blue Board record on him and his e-mail is on gmail (also registered with MySpace and Facebook). How do you think should I proceed? After all it is a very interesting project and the money is right.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
[Edited at 2010-09-14... See more I got an offer for a very interesting project, the client send me the file (ca 50 pages), we agreed on a price and now he asks for my details so he can send a check by post (way before delivery). There is no Blue Board record on him and his e-mail is on gmail (also registered with MySpace and Facebook). How do you think should I proceed? After all it is a very interesting project and the money is right.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
[Edited at 2010-09-14 11:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Sounds like a scam. I'd back out now before it goes any further, if I were you. Or tell him you can only accept payment by bank order, or something, if you really want to keep hoping it's real.
[Edited at 2010-09-14 11:06 GMT]
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:58
German to English
+ ...
| Wait for the cheque to clear | Sep 14, 2010 |
If you receive the cheque and it clears, I see no reason not to proceed. But I wouldn't start until then!
| | | | | Clearing cheques | Sep 14, 2010 |
Mary Worby wrote:
If you receive the cheque and it clears, I see no reason not to proceed. But I wouldn't start until then!
If you receive a cheque for the agreed price, maybe. If it's for higher than the agreed price, it's either a scam or a money laundering scheme and you should definitely not try to cash it. Taking it to the police would be a better option in this case.
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| Maybe, maybe not | Sep 14, 2010 |
I never accept cheques. If a client can send a cheque, he can also transfer the amount to my bank account. Much safer.
| | | | | thanks for the input! | Sep 14, 2010 |
I e-mailed the client and asked if there would be a possibility to pay me via my regular methods. If not I send him the details and if he goes this route I will wait for the check to arrive and clear before I start working on the project. I just hope that the Greek postal office won't mess up and deliver the check just before the deadline!
| | | | | Business as well as translation... | Sep 14, 2010 |
The way you manage your BUSINESS as a translator should be base on strictly points when dealing, your PO must arrive either prior or together with job contract (if you have a contract) all information on your PO must be sensible and must be verified. Phone numbers, site, address, IP, names, etc... Do not play naive because the money, no one pays at front (may be some exceptions...) Better make sure about customer, if this is a real customer, for sure no offense may arise when corroborate informa... See more The way you manage your BUSINESS as a translator should be base on strictly points when dealing, your PO must arrive either prior or together with job contract (if you have a contract) all information on your PO must be sensible and must be verified. Phone numbers, site, address, IP, names, etc... Do not play naive because the money, no one pays at front (may be some exceptions...) Better make sure about customer, if this is a real customer, for sure no offense may arise when corroborate information... Ask and research before you get scammed. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 11:58
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Be careful, but don't be silly | Sep 14, 2010 |
Panagiota Julie Fragkaki wrote:
...now he asks for my details so he can send a check by post (way before delivery).
I often find that clients who have never used translation services before believe that payment has to be made in advance. Perhaps your client thinks the same. There is nothing wrong witn payment in advance -- especially not for a large project.
What you need to do is ask your bank if they can pay out the money of the cheque only *after* they've validated that the cheque is valid and that the money is really available in the person's account. Some banks treat international cheques on an honour system (i.e. they don't care if the sender has the money as long as the sender's bank is trustworthy) or they pay out the money before the cheque really cleared (if the bank manager decides to, in his discretion), to save the recipient some time. So make sure your bank doesn't pay out the money into your account until the cheque has truly cleared. Explain to your bank manager that you don't mind if the money takes a few weeks to arrive.
Also, make sure the cheque is for the exact amount that you had agreed with the client.
If the client cancels the job and asks for some or all of his money back, tell him "no problem but I can only do that at the end of next month", to give yourself time to verify that the cheque is real.
If the first job is a success, apply the same caution to subsequent jobs, no matter how trustworthy you believe the client had made himself.
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I was wondering how the bank would treat the foreign check! I'll have to wait for the client to answer, maybe -very positive thinking- he won't mind to transfer the money directly to my account! Let's see how it goes
Thank you all very much for your ideas, was all very helpfull!
[Edited at 2010-09-14 11:44 GMT]
| | | | | HOT TO GET THE IP ADDRESS | Sep 14, 2010 |
Hy translators
I'd like to know how to "extract" the IP address to verify client's source: I use Mozilla Firefox but still I didn't understand how to get IP address, is there anybody helping me with this matter?
Thanks in advance
| | | | | If the client is in the U.S. | Sep 14, 2010 |
s/he and his/her bank, may not even be aware that there is a way to transfer money other than sending a paper check. The regular banking system in the U.S. hasn't even reached the 20th century yet, but is still merrily chugging away using paper checks, which are sent by regular mail, have to be taken to your local bank branch and then take one or two days to actually be available in your account.
[Edited at 2010-09-14 15:12 GMT]
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Tell them that I prefer 20th century payment methods to 19-th century solutions and give them a bank account number to transfer to.
If they insist on a check, agree and let them know I'll only start work after it cleared.
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| ProZ.com wiki pages | Sep 14, 2010 |
GianLuigi Miani wrote:
I'd like to know how to "extract" the IP address to verify client's source: I use Mozilla Firefox but still I didn't understand how to get IP address, is there anybody helping me with this matter?
You may find useful information in the ProZ.com wiki page on Risk management: Email.
All members are encouraged to contribute to the ProZ.com wiki pages.
Kind regards,
Enrique
| | | | | I don't want to sound pessimistic... | Sep 14, 2010 |
but as soon as I asked for a signed P.O. the client vanished!!! lol thank God I asked you guys otherwise my work would simply go down the drain!!! thanks a lot again!
| | | | | One or two days in the US? | Sep 14, 2010 |
Benno Groeneveld wrote:
s/he and his/her bank, may not even be aware that there is a way to transfer money other than sending a paper check. The regular banking system in the U.S. hasn't even reached the 20th century yet, but is still merrily chugging away using paper checks, which are sent by regular mail, have to be taken to your local bank branch and then take one or two days to actually be available in your account.
Maybe banking has improved in the US, however I was told it's usually a week or more. It was some two weeks in the ancient days I had an account there.
Due to 3-digit inflation up to a couple of decades ago, the Brazilian banking system now looks like science fiction to any foreigner. Nevertheless, a foreign check takes 30-60 days to clear here.
As the asker is in Greece, I have no idea on how banking works there. No matter how fast it may be, if the check comes from a slower banking system, it might take a while.
As Samuel aptly pointed out, your bank may cash you a foreign check immediately on an honor system, for a good, solid client. However if that check bounces, they'll immediately deduct that amount (plus possibly some fees) from your account.
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