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Wedding Photography Scam

1/23/2012

8 Comments

 
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A man by the name of Tim Wood reached out to me via email and in the subject it said your service is needed. I love when people reach out to me for photography work because It means that my name as a photographer is getting around. It sounded great at first read, but after seeing his response, I realized it was a wedding photography scam. 

Here is his first email to me.
Hello.
Am Tim Wood,i got your contact from a friend who has told me more about your photography works,actually my daughter will be having her wedding by 11th of next month in (New York)and i want to ask for your good service at the wedding taking pictures at the occasion,kindly let me know if you will be available so that we can proceed from here.

Regards.
Tim Wood


At this point I am thinking to myself... WOW I don't do too many weddings but if I was recommended by someone then all the better. Here was my quick response.

Hi Tim, Thank you so much for contacting me. Could you please send more information about the event? Thanks. 


Here was his response.

Hello .
Thanks for the mail and happy to hear you are available on the 02/11th/2012 this is date of the occasion,also let me know what other details you will need from me kindly get back to me with your website or attachments of your past works,a friend called Jones told me about your works.

I would have love us to meet face to face so that we can discus things out but i wont be able to do that now as i will be traveling to the UNITED KINGDOM  soon but as soon as am back will meet and talk better,i would be so glad to have a very clean and perfect pictures from you and if possible you can copy the pictures in a CD .please see below the date and location of the occasion.Also have it in mind that additional transportation fee will be included.

Date. 02/11th/2012
location.HELEN MILLS, New York City
Party Starts:11:00 am
Party Ends:6:00pm
Attendance: 200people

 
Please do get back to me with the list of services you render with prices so that i can select my desire plan.
 
Regards
Tim Wood

How do I know it's a scam?
1. I never said I was available in my response.
2. I am a headshot photographer and not a wedding photographer.
3. I don't know anybody by the name of Jones.
4. Why is United Kingdom in all caps?

and finally what made the whole picture clear...


5. When I called Helen Mills they had nothing scheduled by a Tim Wood. 


Be savvy and ask questions.

Until tomorrow.

Jai
8 Comments
John | Married (with Debt) link
1/23/2012 08:37:01 am

Weird, I wonder what he was up to? Would be funny to follow through to the actual scam, to see how he is able to spin this into a scenario where he asks you for money.

Maybe that's the "transportation fee" he is talking about, or is that lingo for him paying for you to get to the venue?

Reply
Jai Catalano link
1/23/2012 09:31:17 am

Maybe. It also could be that he was going to pay for more services and then after say he wanted a reimbursement on some of them. Hmmm.

Reply
Dr Dean link
1/24/2012 01:15:49 pm

Good going. But it is curious what his nefarious plan was for you...

Reply
Jai Catalano link
1/24/2012 01:48:34 pm

I don't think I will ever find out because he hasn't responded to me. Maybe I should email him again... :)

Reply
maria@moneyprinciple link
1/24/2012 08:18:55 pm

Well spotted Jai. We get only 'transfer this funds' kind of scam and I am wondering whether these people ever learn. Repuredly though, it is still working!

Reply
Jai Catalano link
1/24/2012 10:15:35 pm

I also have gotten the scam that says that they wanted to take private dance lessons from me. 2 brothers were willing to pay me $2000 for a package and then at the last minute one brother stayed back which leads to a refund.

Reply
Zack Jones link
2/5/2012 09:51:01 am

Well my last name is Jones but I didn't refer Tim to you :). Good going catching the scam before it went too far along. Perhaps he'll respond to your emails after he returns from his UK trip.

Reply
Jai Catalano link
2/5/2012 11:58:37 am

Thanks for clarifying. :)

Reply



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    Jai Catalano

    There are 3 things I can't change... my 2 kids, my 1 wife and my 0 rights.

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