Possible Scam?!

[BobbyThompson]

So, for the last few months, I've been getting these emails that all follow the same formula, but this week I've gotten more than usual so I thought I'd mention it. The message starts out saying that he is coming in from the UK and want to know my rates for one hour and one day. Then he says that he wants to pay by money order or cashier's check. Some of the emails mention that he wants to pay me in advance by sending it to me. I've gotten three emails like that from different people this week alone.

 

What do you think? Obvious scam?

And if they're legitimate, make note: STOP DOING THAT. It's weird.

[OneFinger]

I think it's a scam. There are a lot of bogus money orders and cashier checks out there. And, most banks won't give you cash for them. They'll deposit them into your account, put a hold on the funds, and then take the money out of your account when it bounces.

 

If I were an escort I wouldn't take anything but cash. Even that is a risk because of the potential for counterfeit. (That's why I always make sure to pay my escorts with new-style money where the watermark can be easily seen.)

 

Have you responded to these e-mails? I think any response will only cause you to be put on more scam e-mail mailing lists.

[ErikMcAlister]

Definite scam. I've gotten several of the same emails. If you ignore them, they stop after a couple of weeks--or, at least I stopped getting them.

[splendidpup]

I used to get one of those every few weeks or so, but, like you, I've gotten an avalanche of them this week. They're always the same: from the UK, requesting multiple overnights, payment by cashier's check or money order, and the most atrocious grammar and spelling. Also, they always claim to have been referred by another client, though they never say by whom. It's definitely a scam, though I'm having a little trouble figuring out exactly what they're trying to get. Once, I went pretty far with him, e-mail wise, and he told me that he was going to send an extra $1000 that he wanted me to send on to a "business associate", so I know what kind of scam that particular guy was trying to pull. Finally, after getting the umpteenth one this week, I told the guy I needed $10K for an overnight and he went along with it, so you know he's not on the level.

 

Ben

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/benla.html

[Hugobay69]

That's weird. I receive the same email this morning. Looks like there must be a list out there as the emails aren't coming from a site. Escorts a marketable demographic?! Give us 10 years and we'll have our own political party. Be afraid.

[+ deej]

Sounds eerily similar to this:

 

http://babydb.male4malescorts.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=10543&mesg_id=10543&page=

 

From reports on this thread, it *almost* sounds like our pal cupcake lost his sources for preying on clients and is now targeting escorts. <sigh>

[Rick Munroe]

I got the same email from the UK...requesting one overnight per week for four successive weeks, and asking how we would like him to pay a deposit. Definitely weird...I told him he could use paypal and then I never heard from him again.

[joel304]

>If I were an escort I wouldn't take anything but cash. Even that is a risk because of the potential for counterfeit. (That's why I always make sure to pay my escorts with new-style money where the watermark can be easily seen.<

 

One. Come on. Watermarks??? Are you fucking spies

[Guest ChgoBoy]

This thread is Deja Vu...All over again. I'll repost this link that explains alot. You may have to scroll up to the top of the page after clicking.

 

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html#examples

[OneFinger]

>Are you fucking spies

 

I have NEVER admitted to being a spy. But, I do work with them (and rocket scientists). ;-)

[OneFinger]

>...I told him he could use paypal and then I never heard from him again.

 

Rick, do you really use PayPal? I thought they banned sexually-oriented payments. If I remember correctly, HooBoy used them before for donations and then was banned when they figured out it supported a sex-related site.

 

Wouldn't making a payment to you be a violation of their ToS?

[Vincent_Michael]

Bobby I have just read this and man this is shocking! I got an e-mail that was on par with what you are saying about a month ago and I have to say it was very odd that they wanted to pay me in advance…I asked why they wanted to pay me in advance, they offered a very odd explanation and of course needed my address for the money.

 

I skipped out because I am sure it was a scam.

[LovesYng]

>>...I told him he could use paypal and then I never heard

>from him again.

>

>Rick, do you really use PayPal? I thought they banned

>sexually-oriented payments. If I remember correctly, HooBoy

>used them before for donations and then was banned when they

>figured out it supported a sex-related site.

>

>Wouldn't making a payment to you be a violation of their ToS?

>

 

What PayPal don't know won't hurt. As long as they don't know. I pay a lot of escorts using PayPal. It's GREAT for me.

 

When in doubt I whip it out :+

[eastbayguy]

>I have NEVER admitted to being a spy. But, I do work with them

>(and rocket scientists). ;-)

 

Yes, I'm right here. Who called?

 

Oh wait, I'm a nuclear scientist. Nevermind.

 

--EBG

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Be Very Afraid

 

>That's weird. I receive the same email this morning. Looks

>like there must be a list out there as the emails aren't

>coming from a site. Escorts a marketable demographic?!

 

A number of the escort web listing sites over the years have gotten infected by worms or virus which gather up and collect e-mails. Some of these are automated and, the scammers work their way to them. Usually, you will just get additional worms or viruses (as attachments) or you will get advertisement, generally sexually oriented, such as discount viagra/cialis, et al., but I get the Nigeria scams and the pre-paid money order scams and even the guys who are lonely (or simply hard pressed for web sites with nudity) and want to take up time with e-mail exchanges (what do you like to do sexually? do you like XYZ or ZZZ? what did you do with your last client?) or they offer to pre-pay.

 

The ones who want e-mail contact and ask for sexually oriented information, I always refer them to the link to my reviews. Usually, I never hear from them again. The ones who want photographs get referred to my web site link and again, I do not hear from them again. The ones who are serious, after all this, I do hear from.

 

As for pre-payments, as Rick suggests, Pay Pal is a good answer. On the other hand, I have accepted a bank check (i.e., cashier's check) drawn on a U.S. Bank as partial payment for a deposit (or a non-refundable, prepaid plane ticket, again also as a deposit). A bank check is the same as cash if drawn on a federally chartered U.S. bank. If they insist on pre-paying the full amount, that should obviously ring bells and you are best off ignoring them.

 

>Give us

>10 years and we'll have our own political party. Be afraid.

 

I prefer a labor union with a well appointed union halls in all the major cities: nice leather sofas, big screen plasma tvs, B&O stereo system, several hot tubs, a well appointed, well stocked kitchen and, of course, a high tech computer room manned by naked, bubble butt, donkey dicked sized twinks who are highly computer literate, can type 90 wpm and are fluent in at least three languages each. . . .

 

 

http://www.gaydar.co.uk/francodisantis

 

http://hometown.aol.com/francodisantis/myhomepage/profile.html

[HardnThick]

What would be the risk from accepting U.S. Postal money orders as prepayment (no bank wire transfer)? He wants to overpay and the balance sent to a third party by hard copy personal check.

 

What’s the risk if I wait to see if the money order clears?

 

Are counterfeit postal money orders common? Any other risk? Vulnerability?

 

If it is counterfeit, is there risk other than the bank reversing the deposit?

[ServeUncutUncle]

>What would be the risk from accepting U.S. Postal money

>orders as prepayment (no bank wire transfer)? He wants to

>overpay and the balance sent to a third party by hard copy

>personal check.

>

>What’s the risk if I wait to see if the money order clears?

>

>Are counterfeit postal money orders common? Any other risk?

>Vulnerability?

>

>If it is counterfeit, is there risk other than the bank

>reversing the deposit?

>

 

As the e-mails appear to be coming from the UK I dont think it would be possible to buy a US Postal Money Order in the UK..Maybe Western Union but even that might be difficult.

[HardnThick]

And yet it’s a VERY authentic looking U.S. Postal money order. Maybe bought here and carried on a trip to the UK, or possibly purchased in the U.S. embassy’s post office there.

 

Anybody got any insight into the questions I outlined in my last post?

 

What would be the risk from accepting U.S. Postal money orders as prepayment (no bank wire transfer)? He wants to overpay and the balance sent to a third party by hard copy personal check.

 

What’s the risk if I wait to see if the money order clears?

 

Are counterfeit postal money orders common? Any other risk? Vulnerability?

 

If it is counterfeit, is there risk other than the bank reversing the deposit?

 

What a mystery!

[+ deej]

If the amount is over $1,000 it's definitely conterfeit.

 

The risk to you is participating in mail fraud, which is actually pretty serious mojo.

 

Take the MO to the post office and ask them to check it out. Tell them you question the legitimacy. They'll thank you for exposing a scam.

[Zippy]

Here are some articles on the money order scam:

 

http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3647099,00.html

 

http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/penpals.htm

 

http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2005/03/29/news/news2.txt

[Rick Munroe]

>Wouldn't making a payment to you be a violation of their ToS?

 

I guess it would if I got paid to have sex but I don't so it doesn't.

[Rick Munroe]

I got the email today and here's part of it:

 

"I shall instruct a client in USA to forward a USPS Money Order sum of $3800 to you at your address, I shall be willing to part with a deposit of $1200,a sum which you shall deduct and then assist me in forwarding the balance to my supplier of furniture and fittings,that I ll require in equiping my newly acquired apartment over there."

 

Oh jeez.

 

My favorite part of the letter? It's signed: "With love" :7

[noviceny]

Dear Bobby and Rick,

 

I am writing to you (from Germany) to procure your services, but I would like to pay you in advance with McDonald Gift Certificates. I am aware of your fees and would like to send you $400 in gift certificates, and you can deduct your fee from that. You could forward the remainder of the certificates to my representative, the Hamburgular. Either way, the gift certificates can be used for the purchase of food and beverages at any McDonalds in the world.

 

I was referred to you by Grimace, whom you may remember as a rather large purple fellow, who is rather fond of milkshakes and facials.

 

 

Additionally, I would like to requesting one overnight per week for four successive weeks. If possible, I would like you to take any extra coupons you have and purchase a Big Mac Meal for each of my visits. If you could super size my order, for both my meal and your penis, I would be grateful.

 

I will need your address and your preference of gift certificate denominations. Attached, please find pictures to verify my legitimacy

and my contry of origin

 

http://www.mcdonalds.de/shared/logo.gif

 

With Love,

 

The Cock Burgular (Im Hamburgular's Second Cousin)

[+ deej]

>>It amazed me that the emails you guys receive come from the UK too.

 

I just read this week that 80% of the world's spam email originates from servers in the UK. Surprised me. Based on software piracy and lack of regulation I would have expected an Asian country.

[+ MikeM]

Bobby, there are two basic elements to possible scam victims. Those that are so greedy or desperate that they will accept any offer no matter how implassible - if there is any potential payoff.

 

The second group are those that generally have no legal recourse to recover lost monies from a scam. Undocumented workers are frequeent target. And, it seems, your industry - where the likelihood of exposing yourself to law enforcement to expose a scam is not going to happen.

 

I had an incredible personal relationship with an active escort in LA and he got "stiffed" by a client with a bad check - but couldn't collect on it. Du then - took a second check from the same guy to make good on the first session and for a second session - and, guess what, it was bad. Oops the fool me once adage was in play here. As an immigrant AND an escort he was not about to rock the boat; something the client knew all along and took advantage of it.

 

One other group that gets caught in the scam are those that know it is a scam but try to "play" the scammer. It is like the old Three-Card-Monte: the only way to win is to not play!

 

Any time there is a something for nothing, an incredible over-inflated value or a secret to be kept - smart money is on a scam. A wise new-acquantence just said to me (paraphrased)that there is no illusion about Vegas except to the self-dillusional for if there wasn't substantial risk it wouldn't be called gaming - but rather it would be called "winning" LOL.