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Diagram of a Scam

January 28, 2012 by James Beltz Photography
Ashley Lowder sent this in to me to alert you guys. It is a commonly used scam involving people outside the US and directed to photographers that are still kind of starting out. They usually prey on ones that are charging less than $2K for a wedding. Those photographers are hungry for business, and ripe for the picking. Ashley did not fall for it, however, but here is how it works.

1. You get an email sort of like this: "Hello , I'm celebrating my wedding  party on the 18th of febuary and i need your service . So please let me know  if you will be available please i want you to mail me back immediately with your actual fee you will be charging for my wedding ceremony .i will really appreciate your quick response. so below are some information you have to know concerning my wedding party

Date: 18th feb 2012
Number of guest: 200 to 250 quest
Time duration of the party: from 12pm afternoon till 5pm evening

please i will be expecting to read back from you soon thanks so much."

Now first thing that tips you of that something is wrong is the poor grammar, and bad typing skills. It is not entirely conclusive, as anyone that reads my blog, or reads my email replies can attest to. I stink at typing. But even I do a better job than this.

2. You reply, of course and a give them the information that they are looking for as far as pricing is concerned. They then answer back with additional information and telling you a check is on the way. It will cover more than enough for your fee. In fact they are giving you more. You will need to deposit their check ASAP and take the extra and send a money order to another vendor. Please, they really need you to do this as they are out of the country right now and will not be coming in until the wedding. In fact for the trouble, they will even pay you extra. The amount will be more than you have ever made for a wedding before in order to seduce you in.

3. You deposit the check and go buy a money order, an untraceable money order, and send it to the address you were told to.

4. Days later your bank calls to tell you that the check bounced. And now you are out the several hundred to just over $1000 that you sent to the other wedding vendor. A florist or cake maker that does not exist.

So what can you do to make sure the person contacting you is legit? 
  1. Tell them that you only book appointments in face to face meetings. If they are out of state, then you at least need a lengthy phone call to discuss the details. Remember like I have said in the business class and the wedding class. An interview should always be mandatory as you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you.
  2. Tell them all deposits sent in by check must clear the bank first. 

For fun, I have allowed these people to think they had me just so I could deposit the check and watch it bounce. I have a total of 10 checks in my possession as souvenirs. They are reminders for me that there is only one way to conduct business. Listen to that little still voice that gives you guidance. Most of us don't listen to it because we are selfish and want things like we want them. That little voice has always steered me correct. We don't do things in business because it is convenient or because it feels good. We do things because they are the right way to do things.


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