One of our colleagues, Susanne Lenhart from Vienna, told us about a fraudulent inquiry she received recently, along with information on the scam details. We wanted to share this with our colleagues who might not have seen this one yet.
It is sad news that scam artists are increasingly targeting interpreters for assistance in interpreting at a wedding. Sounds innocous enough, right? However, during the e-mail exchange that follows, they are trying to get you to wire money that you have received from the "client" (in the form of a fake check) to pay for other wedding-related costs to a third party (we know, you wouldn't do this anway). Needless to say: don't touch this one with a ten-foot pole!
The text looks like this (this is the original version -- we resisted the temptation to edit and correct):
It is sad news that scam artists are increasingly targeting interpreters for assistance in interpreting at a wedding. Sounds innocous enough, right? However, during the e-mail exchange that follows, they are trying to get you to wire money that you have received from the "client" (in the form of a fake check) to pay for other wedding-related costs to a third party (we know, you wouldn't do this anway). Needless to say: don't touch this one with a ten-foot pole!
The text looks like this (this is the original version -- we resisted the temptation to edit and correct):
Hello,
I’m Jeff and My fiancee Mary are planning to have our wedding in the Month of March 2009.I have decided to give her a well treated package by giving her options of venue of celebration in anywhere in Europe,Based on her option,She has decided to choose Germany and We will be staying within Your area.We will be staying for 3Weeks from 7th of March to 28th of March 2008.My Fiancee only speaks English and My native language..
We will require Your services as an interpreter for 3 hours daily,for any 5 days that will be suitable for You within the period that We will be staying.So We will like to pay You in advance of our visit so She can be assured of an interpreter during her shopping for the wedding because this is her first visit.An early reply will be appreciated.Please acknowledge if you can offer this service and give me a price quote,as soon as you receive this email,so we can conclude on all other arrangements, as time is not really on our side.
Remain Blessed,
Jeff.
7 comments:
That scam is still circulating? I got that same exact e-mail three years ago! Wow. I can't believe he is still successful with it.
I don't see how anyone fall for these nonsense
@language translation Jim: True. You'd be surprised, though: a woman here in Austria just sent 130,000 Euro to the Nigerian scam folks. However, translators are smarter than that!
@Jill: Wow, it's been around for a while. It must be succcessful -- and that's very sad.
I had that one a few years back, as well, but when I looked up the address for the "top-of-the-line ceremony" it turned out to be a Local 8 Motel in an extremely dodgy area of town.
Better than penis enlargment, right?
@Abigail: Haha, very classy wedding at Motel 8, huh? It makes me very sad that this is still circulating, as I think it implies that it's been successful with fellow language service providers. I sure hope it hasn't...
My sister received the exact email about five or six years ago. There was no harm done since we really thought it was a scam and did not bother to give a second of our time. However, we should have posted such email and alerted others. Anyway, may this post always remind us to be very watchful.
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