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Possible check scam Thread poster: Caroline Hammer
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Hello all,
I have been contacted by a Mr. John Burroughs with a gmail address offering the translation of an article on child trafficking. He offered a 50% down payment by check. When I asked him to pay by wire transfer because due to the growing presence of stolen or counterfeit checks for payment, I no longer accepted checks, he refused by saying that he needed to pay by check in order to "protect my self" (which I did not understand: exactly in what way is a wire transfer more u... See more Hello all,
I have been contacted by a Mr. John Burroughs with a gmail address offering the translation of an article on child trafficking. He offered a 50% down payment by check. When I asked him to pay by wire transfer because due to the growing presence of stolen or counterfeit checks for payment, I no longer accepted checks, he refused by saying that he needed to pay by check in order to "protect my self" (which I did not understand: exactly in what way is a wire transfer more unsafe than a check?). Now, this looks like the typical stolen/counterfeit check scam, but I wanted to check if anyone had received a similar message. Thank you. ▲ Collapse
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Jens Lober 
Denmark
Local time: 14:59
English to Danish
| It is a scam ... | Mar 14, 2011 |
I recieved the same e-mail a few weeks back and found a site with a list of similar scams from the same email address and similar senders. Just ignore it and don't spend anymore time on it.
/Jens
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Tanya Toneva
Bulgaria
Local time: 15:59
Member (2011)
English to Bulgarian
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| Definitely a scam | Mar 14, 2011 |
Agree with Jens - don't waste anymore of your time with it - you can be sure it's a scam. I've seen many of these recently, and judging by what you've described here it's the exact same scheme they seem to be using recently...
Please check my a... See more Agree with Jens - don't waste anymore of your time with it - you can be sure it's a scam. I've seen many of these recently, and judging by what you've described here it's the exact same scheme they seem to be using recently...
Please check my article on this topic, you might find it useful: http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/3227/1/How-to-recognize-a-translation-job-scam
Hope I have been of help!:)
Greetings,
Tanya ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 14:59
Member (2009)
English to German
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| It is definitely SCAM | Mar 14, 2011 |
Yes, I received the same offer only from a different "outsourcer" a couple of months ago.
No company website or email address, no record whatsoever, not even on Google.
Jens is right, just ignore it and move on.
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| John Burroughs' scam | Mar 14, 2011 |
It is a scam. I received it two days ago. With the same indications, a long dead time delivery, payment only by cheque.. the name doesn't exist on Google web search, but it refers to only an American naturalist died in 1921!... This is not an outsourcer or a translation agency! Be careful and just ignore it!
Many greetings,
Federico
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Several months ago I received something similar. As soon as I replied to the job offer he said that I really was the right person he would choose. Which immediately made some suspects come to my mind!! Noone would answer that way!
The "kind" client-to-be even wanted my personal data at once to issue the "check".
I obviously said NO and asked for more information first, HIS information, because that kind of request sounded rather strange to me.
Obviously I didn't receive any a... See more Several months ago I received something similar. As soon as I replied to the job offer he said that I really was the right person he would choose. Which immediately made some suspects come to my mind!! Noone would answer that way!
The "kind" client-to-be even wanted my personal data at once to issue the "check".
I obviously said NO and asked for more information first, HIS information, because that kind of request sounded rather strange to me.
Obviously I didn't receive any answer, BUT just to play my part well I pretended that some kind of error might have happen and re-sent my request for HIS information.
Result: he simply said that it was too late (although I had replied immediately!!) and the translation (a very simple one, I must say) had already been given to another translator.
Which was not true at all!!
We really have to be careful!
Kind regards,
Beppe ▲ Collapse
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Caroline Hammer
France
Local time: 14:59
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER |
| Clearly scam | Mar 23, 2011 |
Just stop answering this person's emails and carry on with your life!
Good luck!
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I did receive the same information but today I have received a cheque from HSBC / UK...What do I do?? Is there anything very very strange here?
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JaneD
Sweden
Local time: 14:59
Member (2009)
Swedish to English
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| File it where it belongs... | Apr 2, 2011 |
María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda wrote:
I did receive the same information but today I have received a cheque from HSBC / UK...What do I do?? Is there anything very very strange here?
If you pay it into your bank it will bounce. Bin it!
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Job was € 308 and he sends 1600 Pounds???????
[Edited at 2011-04-02 10:57 GMT]
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| Email received today | Apr 2, 2011 |
""
I am mailing to let you know that the cheque has been finnally mailed to your address as provided, The cheque was issued and mailed to you by an investor who happens to be the sponsor of the workshop. So kindly get me informed as soon as you have the payment.
Thanks for the co-operation and understanding,
JOHN BURROUGHS
36 Orchard Close,
North Kensington,
London, W10 5RB.
United Kingdom~
""
?????????
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| Go to an HSBC branch | Apr 2, 2011 |
María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda wrote:
I did receive the same information but today I have received a cheque from HSBC / UK...What do I do?? Is there anything very very strange here?
HSBC has so boldly and so often adverstised (at least on Brazilian TV) that if you are a client of theirs anywhere in the world, you are their client in each and every agency they have worldwide, that you could assume that taking that check to the nearest HSBC branch would let you either walk out with cash or have solid reasons to take it to the Interpol.
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Anne-Lotta (X)
Canada
Local time: 08:59
English to German
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| travellers cheques? | Apr 3, 2011 |
Hello - I'm signed up by a client who claims to pay only in travelers cheques. He send said he accidentally issued the cheques too high - 3000USD instead of 1400 and asked me that when the cheque arrives to cash it in and to send him the overpayment? That has got to be a scam too?!?
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| Scam? Definitely! | Apr 3, 2011 |
Anne-Lotta wrote:
Hello - I'm signed up by a client who claims to pay only in travelers cheques. He send said he accidentally issued the cheques too high - 3000USD instead of 1400 and asked me that when the cheque arrives to cash it in and to send him the overpayment? That has got to be a scam too?!?
Chances are the travellers' checks are lost or stolen. How can one get TCs 'accidentally' issued for a higher amount? They've gotta pay cash or equivalent for them!
Another thing, they mention "cheques", plural. So at least two of them. Let's assume equal amounts, 2 x $1,500. Why don't they send you one of the $1,500 check and cash the other themselves?
It's difficult to figure how $3,000 in TCs can be issued in more than one check, and yet it's impossible to group part of these checks to assemble a lesser amount, closer to $1,400, than the full $3K.
If the checks are not LOS, it must be some money laundering scheme.
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