Recently, I received an email from a bride-to-be claiming to be located in Ireland who wanted to plan a wedding within 3 months. Below, you will see the email threads and the lengths these scam artists will go to in order to get money out of planners or other event professionals.
What sent up a red flag was the use of “bad grammar” contained in the email that I received. Also, on the two occasions that I called, a man answered the phone with an unrecognizable accent, who on each occasion, would tell me that this fiance was out of town. Because I did not want to prejudice anyone for bad grammar, I pursued and responded to the email, however, becoming suspicious, I called a few planners and asked whether they had received any fishy emails from Ireland. Sure enough, I was cautioned by one planner to proceed with caution, and that I should be very careful not to send any money.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS: The so-called bride-to-be will willingly ask that you send in your proposal for services, and they happily accept it. They ask you what your deposit/retainer will be, and they send your retainer back in overnight mail; however, the check is for more money than you request (check or cashier's check turns out to be a counterfeit).
They make up a story; this particular scam artist said that they had a particular band that wanted to hire to play at their wedding and that I should deposit their check, take our my portion, and send the balance to their band as their deposit. (NOT LIKELY). No matter how much I asked for my signed agreement back, they promised, but never sent it.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DEPOSIT THEIR CHECK: Once you deposit their check, which after 5 days appears to clear your bank--and even shows as being deposited into your account (I am told), you send your check to their "vendor;" however, after a couple of weeks when the other bank receives their bank, you receive a notification from your bank stating that their check was a "bad" check, so you are out what ever amount you have sent to their associate, I mean, vendor. I have received 2 such cashiers checks and am framing them.
I am posting the email communications below for your information as they tend to write from a script, and also in the hopes that you will not be scammed by this or any other individuals preying on Wedding Consultants/Planners or event professional.
My final email is shown here first:
“I have been in touch with one of the company's whose name you have been using to send fraudulent checks to me and they are aware of the scam. I would appreciate it if you would stop wasting people's valuable time in soliciting funds. It is a shame that you have nothing better to do with your time. I take weddings very seriously and I am sickened by your attempt to use this occasion as a platform for such a horrible crime. Please do not contact me again otherwise I will report you to the authorities.
Try and do so some good in the world and stop wasting precious time - life is too short!” Janet
SCAM ARTIST'S EMAILS FOLLOW (chronologically listed, latest first):
Sent: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 2:13 pmSubject: Compliment of the season
Compliment of the season Janet,
How was your festive period?I have been out of town all these while,i just arrive within some couple of minute ago and was informed by Robert that you called.I want you to take the check to your bank for cash so you start planning immediately please.
I will send you the signed agreement Failingly tommorow.
Warm Regards,
Sent: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 4:47 pmSubject: Re: Change in plan!!!
Okay Janet,i will email you the tracking number of the package to make yourslf available tp recieve it and i will get the contract to you as you have said.
Thank you,
Sent: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:59 pmSubject: Re: Change in plan!!!
Thank you for been there for us Janet,we concluded on having our wedding on the 1st of march 2008 but the payment will get to you very soon so you can proceed with our wedding plan.
let me know if it is okay so we can choose a prefferable day for our wedding and let me know if a new contract should be fill out and send to you on the date specified above.
Regards,
Sent: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 1:16 pmSubject: Change in plan!!!
Dear Janet,
I am very sorry for the delay in respect to your previous email,payment will get to you first thing next week while we are trying to work out another date for our wedding.I will let you know the date as soon as me and my fiancee conclud and i want you to have it at the top of your mind that you are still our wedding planner and nothing will change that, please understand.
Pertaining to the check,i will tell you what to do with it.
Thanks,
Sent: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 8:27 pmSubject: I will let you know...........
Hooooooooooooooooo, just make sure you keep it.I will tell you what to do about it and another payment will be issue to you ASAP in your name.
(name removed).
Sent: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 6:05 pmSubject: Payment on the way
Hello Janet,
How was your thanksgiving holiday?i just want to inform you that payment will be delivered to you tomorrow by UPS with tracking number ...... (removed) .Please make yourself available to recieve the package from the mail delivery company.
A copy of proposal/agreement form will be send to you via email as an attachment or a regular mail.Regards,
Sent: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 9:12 amSubject: Check payable,address and contract form
Dear Janet,How are you today?Our wedding will be a religious ceremony in a Catholic way,an hotel settings for 60 guest.pertaining to our guest i have 26 and Robert 34 guest.......We made a budget of $20,000 but as the date is fast approaching we decided to add more to budget which is $10,000.00 making 30,000.00 for you to plan our wedding without your charges and French band fee.A 50% payment of your deposit fee will be send to you as certified check drawn in USD, we are interested in a particular band for our wedding in which you will help secure so as to ascertain we have them perform on our wedding.It will be semi formal wedding in Longs Island but we have no location thats why we want you to plan this for us on the 19th of January 2008.The package listed below are very much accepted.Let me know your charges,the % you wish to have for deposition fee and get back to me with the contract form so as to have you booked,including to the oder of whom payment should be made payable and where should i send it to.Please instruct.Kind Regards, (name removed).
Sent: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 5:53 pmSubject: Hello........
Good day,How are you doing today?Robert told me when i called back,we can start working things via email before we provide a conference call to determine our need as this will let you get some clue of what we need before conducting calls.Please let get started and send the list of package you have so i can choose the one that swift our budget or more.Cheers,(name removed).
Sent: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 8:31 pmSubject: Hello......
Dear,
Thanks for swift response,we will be very much intrested in the list of pakages you have for wedding plan in respect of thier prices so we make our choice.Presently am out of town but you can reach me on (number removed)
Regards,
(name removed).
