Lets have some fun with a scammer-updated!

[boxofrocks]

received today:


Hello,

Goodday to you over there,i am Mr John Barnetts , I need a private wedding photographer for my duaghter's wedding in UK , i got your advert while seaching through the internet and i really want my duaghter's wedding to be covered by you in the month of November 2007 .Although, I want you to get back to me with following details...
1)If you are avaliable for the period
2)Total cost of Photograph for 2 days friday and sarturday..
3)Your years of Photographer experience.
looking forward to hearing from you soonest.
Regards
John Barnetts
Tel0798431667

Anybody wanna have some fun with a scammer?

[gardener]

I think you should just for grins... be sure and ask for the humongeously large deposit in US Cash only though and tell him that it's to be sent through your Nigerian contacts.

[Clayton Wallace]

You don't actually do weddings, do you? If not, that makes it even more likely it is a scammer/spammer.

I don't think the fun you'd have toying with him outweighs the prospects that his cousin is a hacker.

[rages4calm]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

You don't actually do weddings, do you? If not, that makes it even more likely it is a scammer/spammer.

I don't think the fun you'd have toying with him outweighs the prospects that his cousin is a hacker.

:) I agree, as far as the hacking part goes doesn't matter how good he is it would take him a month at the most to hack him assuming he is running windows xp, and a month is pushing it without a firewall.. with a firewall only way would be script kiddy stuff.

[AlexMorse]

other than it's rather bad as far as typos/english what makes you think it's a scammer?

It doesn't ring like a nigerian 419 variant..

[CobyPhoto]

Oh, it is a scam alright. I have gotten about three or four variants of names and dates. They will want information and then want to book your for a ridiculously LARGE package (price isn't an option, this is my ONLY daughter, etc. etc.) and then want your bank info to WIRE you the money...

Only thing is, they withdraw ALL the money they can in that account. I used a bank account with only 25.00 left in it and specifically informed the bank to only allow INCOMING wire transfers to the account. It was hit four times with attempted withdrawals.

Send him a proposal and make sure you pad it some...then watch what happens.

CJ

[Steelsun]

It's smells of the overpayment check scam, especially if the photog in question does not advertise weddings and travel.

Play with him.
One of the things I do is offer him the option of paying through "our local office in Lagos" or wherever he is. Use the address for the American Consulate or even the Nigerian Ministry of Defense.
Also require that a photocopy of the marriage license and site reservation onfo be sent to you.

Query with him exactly where in the UK the marriage will be performed, the exact site. And also who will officiate. Say you must confer with them (site owners/managers and officiant) to determine what the photographic restrictions are.

[boxofrocks]

I think you guys should start emailing him immediately. Be sure to post replies here.

john_barnetts@hotmail.co.uk

[Daniel Bates]

This should be entertaining...

Do be sure to use throwaway email accounts, though.

[boxofrocks]

Aha--bait taken...


Sure, John. First I need to know the date and location?

Yes Tom will be 21-22nd and it will be in london.
So get back pls.
John

What next?

[Gordon]

You should ask for snapshots of the bride/ groom just so you can select appropriate lenses... Maybe ask for some hotel and flight recommendations and ask if they want your deluxe package ;)

[NathanJK]

Try to act REALLY excited too, and a little stupid. That's their target audience after all!, gullible happy people!

[mivy00]

See this for ideas .... http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

ASk what church in London and where they plan to hold the reception, also how many guests and if he wants to offer each guest a package of say 20 choice photos which would be $100 per package with a minimum of 15 packages sold (the package deal is something that you do in all of your wedding shoots and that you cannot be swayed from it).

[boxofrocks]

John,

I would love the opportunity to shoot in London, since my family originally comes from the UK (I imagine that you may have already surmised that based on my surname). Actually, prior to living in Manchester, my family goes back to Waterford County, Ireland in the 1600s? Can you imagine that?

Are you living in London now? I'll bet the weather is just starting to get really crummy this time of year. It's finally getting bearable where I am.

Anyway, my Deluxe International Wedding Extravaganza Package consists of a two day shoot, including a Bridal session, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception coverage. In order to start putting a budget together, I would need to know the number of guests expected, as well as the times needed on the two days.

You did say the 21st and 22nd, correct?

Best,

Tom