Latest Scam Email

Rick L. Allen · July 7th, 2011, 08:56 AM

Received a scam email this morning addressed to "undisclosed recipients" from gregwoods10@yahoo.com

"Hello
I am Mr Greg Woods from the UK,i am sponsoring a reality TV show project of mine,the shooting will take place around your area,with regards to this project i will love to check availability for a full shooting package equipment rentals.this project will run for 7 days 10th - 16th OCT 2011,the venue is not confirmed for now,but i could suggest an apartment to be used for this project,you are requested to make suggestion of equipments that would fit my production,including operators of necessary equipments,this is to includes 2 cameras (Sony EX3 or Panasonic AG-HPX500 HD P2 Camera or any other equivalent) ,Video Equipment Rental package,Audio Equipment Rental package,Lighting/Grip Equipment Rental package.I think i have given you an idea of what is required,you are to enclose a comprehensive list of equipments and cost of rentals for 7days,including cost of operators if needed,i have an open budget for now till i get a standard equipment quote from you,Do you accept credit card?(visa,master card)Respond back to me in full details so we make the best productions.
Best Regards"

Tim Polster · July 7th, 2011, 10:27 AM

Rick, where is the scam? Just looks like a poorly written attempt at something.

Sebastian Alvarez · July 7th, 2011, 12:08 PM

Very poorly written emails are usually a good indication of scams. These scammers from Nigeria and similar countries are so stupid they think they know English good enough to perpetrate these scams, but their spelling and grammar errors give them away pretty soon.

Chris Medico · July 7th, 2011, 12:36 PM

The truly sad thing is that they are getting enough victims to keep working the angle.

If they got nothing they would move on to a different scam.

Josh Bass · July 7th, 2011, 12:43 PM

The giveaway is usually the "your area." Ask em exactly what area that is if you think theres a chance its legits legit

Dave Blackhurst · July 7th, 2011, 12:51 PM

But WOW, they are learning the equipment so they actually ALMOST sound educated about what's required for an actual shoot...

Guess DVi is upping the knowledge even in Nigeria!

This does have all the typical "scam" signatures - someone going halfway round the world to do "something" (reality shows have even made it to Nigeria?! How bout "Scammy Shore"?), bad grammar, offer to send unlimited "open budget" funds via CC (but I'll bet he'll pay in fake MO... or fraudulent check), just enough "details" to make the scam attempt SEEM plausible...

Be careful out there people, the scammers are always getting "better"...

Josh Bass · July 7th, 2011, 12:54 PM

Next time i get one of these i want to send them a ridiculous quote...like $30000 a day. If they dont balk...scam..

Noel Lising · July 8th, 2011, 10:34 AM

Here's an even more elaborate scam for those who rent out their gear. They would rent the camera from you, return it on time, pay cash. Rent even more equipment, return it on time, pay cash. This went on for 3 months. Trust gained they now rent a 3 camera shoot package, with the long throw lens, grassvalley switcher, ccu cables, etc, etc. and vanish from the face of the earth. Happened to the company I use to work for.

Tom Miller · July 8th, 2011, 06:24 PM

i actually had one of these scamers try to buy a camera from me. I did a little research and found out some of them will send you a picture of them if you ask. do a Google search theres some pretty good stories out there and ways to mess with them

Sebastian Alvarez · July 9th, 2011, 12:22 AM

Same thing happened to me. I was selling a Sony HVR-HD1000U on Craigslist to avoid the other scam that is eBay with all their fees. This woman had the typical weird English grammar all these idiots have, and she wanted me to send the camera to Nigeria. Yea, right. She insisted she was going to pay with Paypal. Here's the problem. Even if the money comes in, and you login to your Paypal account and the money is there, then you send the camera away, the scammer can file a complaint with Paypal saying she never received the camera. So Paypal takes away your money and you lost the camera. If it's within the US, UPS tracking or post office delivery confirmation can save you, but I don't think there's a way to get delivery confirmation to Nigeria. Only that it entered the country at best. Needless to say, I told her no and ended up selling it to a nice local guy.

Brian P. Reynolds · August 30th, 2011, 03:54 AM

Interesting... I just recieved an identical email except the name and dates have been changed....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John Connor <connorj599@yahoo.com>
To:
Sent: Monday, 29 August 2011 9:40 PM
Subject: shooting equipment inquiry

Hello
I am Mr John Connor from the UK,i am sponsoring a reality TV show project of mine,the shooting will take place around your area,with regards to this project i will love to check availability for a full shooting package equipment rentals.this project will run for 5 days 7th - 11th NOV 2011,the venue is not confirmed for now,but i could suggest an apartment to be used for this project,you are requested to make suggestion of equipments
that would fit my production,including operators of necessary equipments,this is to includes 2 cameras (Sony EX3 or Panasonic AG-HPX500 HD P2 Camera or any other equivalent) ,Video Equipment Rental package,Audio Equipment Rental package,Lighting/Grip Equipment Rental package.I think i have given you an idea of what is required,you are to enclose a comprehensive list of equipments and cost of rentals for 5days,including cost of operators if needed,i have an open budget for now till i get a
standard equipment quote from you,Do you accept credit card?(visa,master card)Respond back to me in full details so we make the best productions.
Best Regards

Dave Blackhurst · August 30th, 2011, 05:11 AM

You don't expect a lowlife scammer to put out that much effort do you? Why invent when you can just steal someone else's work, maybe with a few little changes...

Adam Gold · August 30th, 2011, 11:04 AM

You need to be helpful to this client. Some day he will help to prevent the machines from taking over by destroying SkyNet.

Chris Hurd · August 30th, 2011, 11:35 AM

Zero-spaced and extra-spaced commas and periods... yowza. Who falls for this stuff?

Andrew Smith · September 1st, 2011, 05:34 PM

Beware of potential new clients who don't know what a paragraph break is?

Andrew

July 7th, 2011, 08:56 AM	#1
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 535	Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Received a scam email this morning addressed to "undisclosed recipients" from gregwoods10@yahoo.com "Hello I am Mr Greg Woods from the UK,i am sponsoring a reality TV show project of mine,the shooting will take place around your area,with regards to this project i will love to check availability for a full shooting package equipment rentals.this project will run for 7 days 10th - 16th OCT 2011,the venue is not confirmed for now,but i could suggest an apartment to be used for this project,you are requested to make suggestion of equipments that would fit my production,including operators of necessary equipments,this is to includes 2 cameras (Sony EX3 or Panasonic AG-HPX500 HD P2 Camera or any other equivalent) ,Video Equipment Rental package,Audio Equipment Rental package,Lighting/Grip Equipment Rental package.I think i have given you an idea of what is required,you are to enclose a comprehensive list of equipments and cost of rentals for 7days,including cost of operators if needed,i have an open budget for now till i get a standard equipment quote from you,Do you accept credit card?(visa,master card)Respond back to me in full details so we make the best productions. Best Regards" __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

July 7th, 2011, 10:27 AM	#2
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Rick, where is the scam? Just looks like a poorly written attempt at something.

July 7th, 2011, 12:08 PM	#3
Sebastian Alvarez Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 309	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Very poorly written emails are usually a good indication of scams. These scammers from Nigeria and similar countries are so stupid they think they know English good enough to perpetrate these scams, but their spelling and grammar errors give them away pretty soon.

July 7th, 2011, 12:36 PM	#4
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better The truly sad thing is that they are getting enough victims to keep working the angle. If they got nothing they would move on to a different scam. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

July 7th, 2011, 12:43 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better The giveaway is usually the "your area." Ask em exactly what area that is if you think theres a chance its legits legit __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

July 7th, 2011, 12:51 PM	#6
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better But WOW, they are learning the equipment so they actually ALMOST sound educated about what's required for an actual shoot... Guess DVi is upping the knowledge even in Nigeria! This does have all the typical "scam" signatures - someone going halfway round the world to do "something" (reality shows have even made it to Nigeria?! How bout "Scammy Shore"?), bad grammar, offer to send unlimited "open budget" funds via CC (but I'll bet he'll pay in fake MO... or fraudulent check), just enough "details" to make the scam attempt SEEM plausible... Be careful out there people, the scammers are always getting "better"...

July 7th, 2011, 12:54 PM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Next time i get one of these i want to send them a ridiculous quote...like $30000 a day. If they dont balk...scam.. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

July 8th, 2011, 10:34 AM	#8
Noel Lising Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 789	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Here's an even more elaborate scam for those who rent out their gear. They would rent the camera from you, return it on time, pay cash. Rent even more equipment, return it on time, pay cash. This went on for 3 months. Trust gained they now rent a 3 camera shoot package, with the long throw lens, grassvalley switcher, ccu cables, etc, etc. and vanish from the face of the earth. Happened to the company I use to work for. __________________ Noel Lising

July 8th, 2011, 06:24 PM	#9
Tom Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA, USA Posts: 112	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better i actually had one of these scamers try to buy a camera from me. I did a little research and found out some of them will send you a picture of them if you ask. do a Google search theres some pretty good stories out there and ways to mess with them

July 9th, 2011, 12:22 AM	#10
Sebastian Alvarez Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 309	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Same thing happened to me. I was selling a Sony HVR-HD1000U on Craigslist to avoid the other scam that is eBay with all their fees. This woman had the typical weird English grammar all these idiots have, and she wanted me to send the camera to Nigeria. Yea, right. She insisted she was going to pay with Paypal. Here's the problem. Even if the money comes in, and you login to your Paypal account and the money is there, then you send the camera away, the scammer can file a complaint with Paypal saying she never received the camera. So Paypal takes away your money and you lost the camera. If it's within the US, UPS tracking or post office delivery confirmation can save you, but I don't think there's a way to get delivery confirmation to Nigeria. Only that it entered the country at best. Needless to say, I told her no and ended up selling it to a nice local guy.

August 30th, 2011, 03:54 AM	#11
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Interesting... I just recieved an identical email except the name and dates have been changed.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: John Connor <connorj599@yahoo.com> To: Sent: Monday, 29 August 2011 9:40 PM Subject: shooting equipment inquiry Hello I am Mr John Connor from the UK,i am sponsoring a reality TV show project of mine,the shooting will take place around your area,with regards to this project i will love to check availability for a full shooting package equipment rentals.this project will run for 5 days 7th - 11th NOV 2011,the venue is not confirmed for now,but i could suggest an apartment to be used for this project,you are requested to make suggestion of equipments that would fit my production,including operators of necessary equipments,this is to includes 2 cameras (Sony EX3 or Panasonic AG-HPX500 HD P2 Camera or any other equivalent) ,Video Equipment Rental package,Audio Equipment Rental package,Lighting/Grip Equipment Rental package.I think i have given you an idea of what is required,you are to enclose a comprehensive list of equipments and cost of rentals for 5days,including cost of operators if needed,i have an open budget for now till i get a standard equipment quote from you,Do you accept credit card?(visa,master card)Respond back to me in full details so we make the best productions. Best Regards

August 30th, 2011, 05:11 AM	#12
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better You don't expect a lowlife scammer to put out that much effort do you? Why invent when you can just steal someone else's work, maybe with a few little changes...

August 30th, 2011, 11:04 AM	#13
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better You need to be helpful to this client. Some day he will help to prevent the machines from taking over by destroying SkyNet. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

August 30th, 2011, 11:35 AM	#14
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Zero-spaced and extra-spaced commas and periods... yowza. Who falls for this stuff? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 1st, 2011, 05:34 PM	#15
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	Re: Latest Scam Email - They're Getting Better Beware of potential new clients who don't know what a paragraph break is? Andrew