Business Scam Targets Wedding Professionals
September 28, 2004
Sarasota, FL - WEVA International members and others in the professional bridal industry are warning their peers and associates about a new business scam and related correspondence that appears to be targeting wedding professionals across the country.
The information, including the email announcement, below has been provided both by affected individuals and law enforcement organizations that can be notified in the event of a business scam affecting your operation.
Subject: Wedding Professionals Newletter Info on Scam
Dear Friend;
I received a warning from Nancy Tucker of Coordinators Corner about a scam that was attempted by a person outside the US. (mail to:[email protected])
I have seen and heard of several others that were attempted by companies in and out of Lagos, Nigeria.
Here is the warning:
I received an e-mail from a man in "Germany" who wanted to set up a wedding for his son here in Colorado. He gave me sketchy details of what he wanted. It sounded real. After a couple of e-mails, he said that he'd hired his vendors from the UK (being the photographer and videographer) and when I received the check I was to deposit it and send each of them $3000 (red flags going up!).
The cashier's check was sent by a client here in the US. After about 4 weeks, many e-mails and several phone conversations with his "son", I received the check. I had the bank check it and they said they agreed with me that it was bogus. The next day I phoned the "issuing" bank and they confirmed it to be counterfit (sic).
I e-mailed this man that I had received the check but it would take at least 15 days to clear. They actually called me and asked that I write these two checks on my account so they could get the vendors here for the "wedding". I informed them this wasn't going to happen.
Long story short- Be VERY CAREFUL if you receive anything from out of the country. This is originating in Nigeria. Don't get caught because if the check is deposited and you write any checks against it, you are responsible for them.
Sincerely,
Tanya W. Porter
(Tanya is with WEDDINGS, ETC. LLC and can be reached at [email protected]).
Here is additional information on this scam (courtesy of [email protected]):
Please also be careful of Internet Relay Calls. They were originally designed for the hearing impaired. However, these scam artists are using them to get in touch with people in the bridal business.
They also are not only from Nigeria -- they are working out of the Netherlands, and Holland, with more countries to come. I am sure I have had this happen three times this past summer alone. They want to order large quantities of wedding merchandise. When you refuse to work with them, they can become very belligerent.
To see the description of some of the fraud, visit
www.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/wn040209.asp
To report an Internet fraud and to learn more about illegal Internet scams contact the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at:
www.ifccfbi.gov/cf1.asp
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