Suspicious email message.

[Torrey]

Take it...then when he overpays, tell him you ran into some issues and even his overpayment won't cover the costs. Then tell him you will need some cash so that you can avoid taxes or something to that effect.

[Daniel Bates]

It's a scam... the chances of it being real are verrrrry small. You can try following it up but honestly I wouldn't bother.

Besides, who uses "Esteemed Greetings to you," as their salutation?

[PeteQ]

You just never know... You could be walking away from money. See this thread: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=39104

[byarger]

This is the type of thing where they try to arrange for the money part of the transaction well in advance of the actual event, in order to minimize suspicion that the event is phony. Some people are more willing and less discriminating with the prospect of being paid in advance.

[dragonspyke]

well, as long as my suspicious were confirmed. That is all I needed to know.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Play him like a fish, qoute him a day rate but say that you need to know at what time of day the party will be held because at night you require additional helpers to handle lighting and other things.

Ask who the company is, if he is legit he will tell you who it is, because you would like some background information on "the boss" because you may be able to do some special things for him photographically wise if you know who it is.

Also tell him that you need a 50% non-refundable deposit to lock in the date and you need that by next Friday. (DO NOT CASH THE CHECK BECAUSE IT IS RUBBER AND EVEN IF IT BOUNCES THE Y CAN GET ROUTING INFORMATION OFF OF IT!) Tell him that you can do Western Union and you prefer it that way!

See what his reaction is.

I get a bunch of these which I seldom read but deleat right away so I never get to play with them.

[DragonFly]

I'm not sure if this will be of any help but I did Goggle the name. This is the result that came up in the Residential Phone book. I would still use caution just thought the more information you had the more it might help..

Benjamin A Smith (832) 237-9548 10818 Willowmist Dr,Houston, TX 77064
Using map point with the shortest route this address is 18.8 Miles from the park address listed.

[robert t]

Play the game and scam him back. Check out www.419eater.com it was created to warn about the Nigerian 419 scam. They scam the scammers. some of the stories are hilarious. If you need help ask, safety in numbers.

[Tapper]

Hmm. Missing a few of the characteristic clues of a scam, and includes a lot of specific information.

Give him a real quote, and your paypal account number. Require 50% deposit in paypal, or even some other service like western union, etc. Avoid checks, unless they are local. No cashiers checks. No bank counter checks. Money orders are often forged.

A lot tougher for them to wiggle around paypal.

How would he know to contact you? Do you advertise? Have a studio?

[LaurieE]

Hope this helps! :-) SCAM!!!
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...am+photography

[Ahh!]

Originally Posted by DragonFly

I'm not sure if this will be of any help but I did Goggle the name. This is the result that came up in the Residential Phone book. I would still use caution just thought the more information you had the more it might help..

Benjamin A Smith (832) 237-9548 10818 Willowmist Dr,Houston, TX 77064
Using map point with the shortest route this address is 18.8 Miles from the park address listed.

Here's another hint. If you can google the name...SCAMMERS can too.

Before you bother with something with SCAM written all over it (see the original posting. It sounded like scam to you then, it still sounds like SCAM to us now), why waste your time? The email was not addressed to your friend, and it did not cite a name or website associated with your friend. No specifics. Just a bunch of sunshine pointed from a unnatural direction.

Let it go and go back to honing your skill behind the lense. Or catch on on some sleep.

If you insist on playing with this, get the police involved first. Then come and tell us how it goes AFTERWARD the big sting operation. We don't want to taint the investigation.