Scam Tip Report #24686 - Family reunion Photography scam


Scam ReporterScam Tips Received
Anonymous
Ottumwa, IA, United States
2015-09-24 04:55:33
Job Scam
Zoho.com
+3 Family reunion Photography scam 
 Scammer
  Information
Name:
Alex Gartman
Email Address:
alex.gatman011@zoho.com
Scam Website:
Fax:
We were approached through our business email to do a family reunion event (5 hours). After which we were asked to do a favor and transfer a large sum of $3000 to an event planner as they did not have a credit card machine to do the transfer and offered a large tip to help. This raised red flags for our business and pushed us to research the email and name and found this site listing 4 other occasions this has happened to others.
Follow Ups/Extra Information. Most recent is listed first.
I was contacted by text on 9/28/15@:34pm. The messages appeared on my Iphone came in reverse order, so the final clause came before the first clause. Also the statements were repeated.. The grammar was questionable. They asked to hire me as a photographer for an "interior house birthday party." They wanted to know if I took credit card. Since this was the third time someone with poor grammar wanted to use a credit card for a family event, I called them out on the scam before they went any further. I never heard back.

Steven   (Hopkinsville, KY, United States) Added the following extra information on :2015-09-28 21:59:13
 Scammer
  Information
Name:
Curtis
Email Address:
Scam Website:
Fax:
I was contacted by text on 7/02/15@2:37pm. The messages appeared on my Iphone in random chunks as opposed to one single text box. The grammar was questionable and certain words were in all caps as though they were copy and pasting locations from the Internet. They asked for a family reunion party and wanted to hire me for 5 hours and requested specific print sizes. There would be 6 families with 5 members in each family. They asked for the availability of several dates in September. I found it odd that they were trying to get a large family together but didn't even have a set date. They wanted to know if I took credit card. They insisted on a credit card, not Paypal and not a Money order. I asked to speak to the person by phone but they said they are hearing impaired and can only text. I told them I can take credit card. After giving them my price, they then asked for a "little favor" if I would include $1600 for the amount of the fee for their event planner since the event planner could not accept credit card, and they also wanted to add $200 in tips and add 3% for surcharge. There were too many red flags and I never fell for it (due in part to my bank teller wife and God's grace). This was the second scam that came. I refused and never heard from them again. I reported them to the FTC and Attorney General. I never heard back from them.

Steven   (Hopkinsville, KY, United States) Added the following extra information on :2015-09-28 21:55:38
 Scammer
  Information
Name:
Theresa Gaston
Email Address:
Scam Website:
Fax:
I was contacted by text on 8/19/15@7:59am. The messages appeared on my Iphone in reverse order, so the first message to appear was actually the last part of their initial text. The grammar was questionable and certain words were in all caps as though they were copy and pasting locations from the Internet. They asked for a family reunion party and wanted to hire me for 6 hours and requested specific print sizes. They asked for the availability of two dates that were actually on Monday (not your typical reunion day). They wanted to know if I took credit card. I asked to speak to the person by phone but they said they are hearing impaired and can only text. I told them I can take credit card. After giving them my price, they then asked for a "little favor" if I would include $1750 for the amount of the fee for their event planner since the event planner could not accept credit card, and they also wanted to add $100 in tips. I didn't fall for it. This was actually the second scam attempt that came. I reported them to the FTC and Attorney General. I never heard back from them.

Scam Email
I did not receive an email.

Steven   (Hopkinsville, KY, United States) Added the following extra information on :2015-09-28 21:49:43
 Scammer
  Information
Name:
Sawyer Moore
Email Address:
Scam Website:
Fax:

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