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Thank you Teresa and the rest of you for sharing!
I received an e-mail from a certain Sharon Laws with the same document to be translated into Spanish. I had my doubts so I started looking for details online and I found this thread. Thank you! Now it's clear to me that I was right to be suspicious. I wonder what did the Spanish police tell you about the check...
Teresa Lopes wrote:
I also received an e-mail from Mrs. Flora mcmannaman with a document "article_business_sustainability_framework" with about 15k words. I informed her of the price and told her that I would need some advance payment to start the job. She promptly agreed to my price and said a check of the total would be sent to me. I answered that I would start the job as soon as the payment was credited to my account.
Then, I forgot about it, because I wouldn't start working without some guarantee, but gave her my address. Today I received a check with a badly written note asking for excuse for the late payment. The check is from a Spanish Bank and the amount is 3200Euros, 5 times the price of my expected job.
I thought someone had mixed envelopes and sent the wrong check to the wrong person and I went to my bank with it, to show it to my bank adviser and ask what to do. I was informed that the check would take 45 days to be cleared and I would have to pay expenses for submitting it and then more expenses if it bounced.
The note that arrived with the check said, among other things like asking how the weather was: (sic) "The payment was mail out to you on behalf of our client based on instructions from my boss. Please notify me once you receive the payment and kindly take it to your bank for a deposit and it will take two working(2)days for the funds to be credited into your account. It is for your bank to get the cash into your bank account."
I sent Mrs. Flora an email, playing the naive and telling her that I had received a check that I assumed was from her, although her name wasn't included, and asking what was the meaning of this.
I got this answer:
"Dear Teresa
Thanks for your update,yes the check you receive is from my client Mr Richard King.
Is Owing me Some Money for our business transaction and i told him to send the check to you for the payment of the translation job,So i want you to go and deposit the check into your bank and account and it will take just 3days to clear and deduct your money which is 637,44€ and i will let you know how to get the balance across to me.
Hope you understand me.
Thanks
Flora"
I started thinking of money laundry, which is also possible, and then I started searching the Internet and I found this thread. Alas! Well, the check looks so perfect that, as I have to go to Spain next week for a personal matter, I think I'll drop by at a police station and leave it there!!!
Sorry Mrs. Flora for being such a bad sport.
Teresa
And also... searching on the internet for Mrs Flora Mcmannaman I just got this link: http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=357240
A gravestone????? Oh my God, I got a check from High Above!!!
[Editado a las 2012-11-23 17:48 GMT] | | | Jane Larsen Estados Unidos Local time: 02:47 inglés al danés + ...
I was contacted by Kelly Kell through proz. It is the same story as everybody else so I told her I would not start work before payment was received.
The FedEx package with my payment was sent, but detained by FedEx's fraud department which verified my suspicion.
Unfortunately, being the diligent translator that I am, I have already translated the 6000-word document to make sure I could meet all my deadlines.
It is a document about STDs and pre-marital sex, ... See more I was contacted by Kelly Kell through proz. It is the same story as everybody else so I told her I would not start work before payment was received.
The FedEx package with my payment was sent, but detained by FedEx's fraud department which verified my suspicion.
Unfortunately, being the diligent translator that I am, I have already translated the 6000-word document to make sure I could meet all my deadlines.
It is a document about STDs and pre-marital sex, I figured I would share that information just in case somebody else receives the same text from another scammer name. ▲ Collapse | | | Maria Zpe/Sharon Laws/Mrs. Flora mcmannama | Dec 17, 2012 |
Dear translators,
I was victim of the same scam!
In my case a woman named Maria Zpe asked me to translate the same document (article_business_sustainability_framework. pdf) into Italian.
Thank god I read your reports in time! Apparently the cheque has already been sent (so said "Maria"), but I'll throw it in the paper shredder as soon as I receive it!
Lesson # 1: beware of e-mails written in such bad English (BTW: also the .pdf document is pretty badly written, i... See more Dear translators,
I was victim of the same scam!
In my case a woman named Maria Zpe asked me to translate the same document (article_business_sustainability_framework. pdf) into Italian.
Thank god I read your reports in time! Apparently the cheque has already been sent (so said "Maria"), but I'll throw it in the paper shredder as soon as I receive it!
Lesson # 1: beware of e-mails written in such bad English (BTW: also the .pdf document is pretty badly written, isn't it?:-D); Lesson # 2 : never ever accept cheques!!
How could I be so dumb? If I just think of all the time I've wasted on that translation!
All the best,
Elisa
zilvia wrote:
Thank you Teresa and the rest of you for sharing!
I received an e-mail from a certain Sharon Laws with the same document to be translated into Spanish. I had my doubts so I started looking for details online and I found this thread. Thank you! Now it's clear to me that I was right to be suspicious. I wonder what did the Spanish police tell you about the check...
Teresa Lopes wrote:
I also received an e-mail from Mrs. Flora mcmannaman with a document "article_business_sustainability_framework" with about 15k words. I informed her of the price and told her that I would need some advance payment to start the job. She promptly agreed to my price and said a check of the total would be sent to me. I answered that I would start the job as soon as the payment was credited to my account.
Then, I forgot about it, because I wouldn't start working without some guarantee, but gave her my address. Today I received a check with a badly written note asking for excuse for the late payment. The check is from a Spanish Bank and the amount is 3200Euros, 5 times the price of my expected job.
I thought someone had mixed envelopes and sent the wrong check to the wrong person and I went to my bank with it, to show it to my bank adviser and ask what to do. I was informed that the check would take 45 days to be cleared and I would have to pay expenses for submitting it and then more expenses if it bounced.
The note that arrived with the check said, among other things like asking how the weather was: (sic) "The payment was mail out to you on behalf of our client based on instructions from my boss. Please notify me once you receive the payment and kindly take it to your bank for a deposit and it will take two working(2)days for the funds to be credited into your account. It is for your bank to get the cash into your bank account."
I sent Mrs. Flora an email, playing the naive and telling her that I had received a check that I assumed was from her, although her name wasn't included, and asking what was the meaning of this.
I got this answer:
"Dear Teresa
Thanks for your update,yes the check you receive is from my client Mr Richard King.
Is Owing me Some Money for our business transaction and i told him to send the check to you for the payment of the translation job,So i want you to go and deposit the check into your bank and account and it will take just 3days to clear and deduct your money which is 637,44€ and i will let you know how to get the balance across to me.
Hope you understand me.
Thanks
Flora"
I started thinking of money laundry, which is also possible, and then I started searching the Internet and I found this thread. Alas! Well, the check looks so perfect that, as I have to go to Spain next week for a personal matter, I think I'll drop by at a police station and leave it there!!!
Sorry Mrs. Flora for being such a bad sport.
Teresa
And also... searching on the internet for Mrs Flora Mcmannaman I just got this link: http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=357240
A gravestone????? Oh my God, I got a check from High Above!!!
[Editado a las 2012-11-23 17:48 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | Basil Wolff - Peter Ellis Scam | Dec 17, 2012 |
Please be aware that these people operate a scam where they take work from agencies and pass it on to third parties. They never pay for the work and as such one of his third parties translators Carlos Valdez has breached his code of conduct and contacted directly the end client and is threatening us with legal action to receive payment for this work we have never instructed in the first place. T... See more Please be aware that these people operate a scam where they take work from agencies and pass it on to third parties. They never pay for the work and as such one of his third parties translators Carlos Valdez has breached his code of conduct and contacted directly the end client and is threatening us with legal action to receive payment for this work we have never instructed in the first place. Their emails are:
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ▲ Collapse | |
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it happened the same thing to me with Maria Zpe!!!! can't we do something to stop all this?!?!? | Jan 13, 2013 |
Elisa Miniussi wrote:
Dear translators,
I was victim of the same scam!
In my case a woman named Maria Zpe asked me to translate the same document (article_business_sustainability_framework. pdf) into Italian.
Thank god I read your reports in time! Apparently the cheque has already been sent (so said "Maria"), but I'll throw it in the paper shredder as soon as I receive it!
Lesson # 1: beware of e-mails written in such bad English (BTW: also the .pdf document is pretty badly written, isn't it?:-D); Lesson # 2 : never ever accept cheques!!
How could I be so dumb? If I just think of all the time I've wasted on that translation!
All the best,
Elisa
zilvia wrote:
Thank you Teresa and the rest of you for sharing!
I received an e-mail from a certain Sharon Laws with the same document to be translated into Spanish. I had my doubts so I started looking for details online and I found this thread. Thank you! Now it's clear to me that I was right to be suspicious. I wonder what did the Spanish police tell you about the check...
Teresa Lopes wrote:
I also received an e-mail from Mrs. Flora mcmannaman with a document "article_business_sustainability_framework" with about 15k words. I informed her of the price and told her that I would need some advance payment to start the job. She promptly agreed to my price and said a check of the total would be sent to me. I answered that I would start the job as soon as the payment was credited to my account.
Then, I forgot about it, because I wouldn't start working without some guarantee, but gave her my address. Today I received a check with a badly written note asking for excuse for the late payment. The check is from a Spanish Bank and the amount is 3200Euros, 5 times the price of my expected job.
I thought someone had mixed envelopes and sent the wrong check to the wrong person and I went to my bank with it, to show it to my bank adviser and ask what to do. I was informed that the check would take 45 days to be cleared and I would have to pay expenses for submitting it and then more expenses if it bounced.
The note that arrived with the check said, among other things like asking how the weather was: (sic) "The payment was mail out to you on behalf of our client based on instructions from my boss. Please notify me once you receive the payment and kindly take it to your bank for a deposit and it will take two working(2)days for the funds to be credited into your account. It is for your bank to get the cash into your bank account."
I sent Mrs. Flora an email, playing the naive and telling her that I had received a check that I assumed was from her, although her name wasn't included, and asking what was the meaning of this.
I got this answer:
"Dear Teresa
Thanks for your update,yes the check you receive is from my client Mr Richard King.
Is Owing me Some Money for our business transaction and i told him to send the check to you for the payment of the translation job,So i want you to go and deposit the check into your bank and account and it will take just 3days to clear and deduct your money which is 637,44€ and i will let you know how to get the balance across to me.
Hope you understand me.
Thanks
Flora"
I started thinking of money laundry, which is also possible, and then I started searching the Internet and I found this thread. Alas! Well, the check looks so perfect that, as I have to go to Spain next week for a personal matter, I think I'll drop by at a police station and leave it there!!!
Sorry Mrs. Flora for being such a bad sport.
Teresa
And also... searching on the internet for Mrs Flora Mcmannaman I just got this link: http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=357240
A gravestone????? Oh my God, I got a check from High Above!!!
[Editado a las 2012-11-23 17:48 GMT] | | |
Synergy Language Services Synergy Language Services wrote:
Please be aware that these people operate a scam where they take work from agencies and pass it on to third parties. They never pay for the work and as such one of his third parties translators Carlos Valdez has breached his code of conduct and contacted directly the end client and is threatening us with legal action to receive payment for this work we have never instructed in the first place. Their emails are:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
I got an offer for a technical translation for EN-DE, which seems to be the same origin, from the following email address:
[email protected]
Brian Smith
project manager
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile Phone: +1-213-233-9487
Los Angeles, California, USA
When i look at the header of the mail, i receive "[email protected]" as the Return-Path, in combination with a German IP address.
I didn´t reply to this mail, i guess its 100% Scam.
[Edited at 2013-01-21 23:19 GMT] | | | Scam Protection Improvement on PROZ.COM Required | Apr 20, 2013 |
I took on a job from Segi Carrasco-Esteve a few days before vendor scam was posted on this web site. With the exception of a proposed cheque payment, everything around the job looked ok . I performed the translation and delivered it. the expectation was to receive a normal bank cheque with the matching amount. The surprise came when I received a letter from a 3rd-party containing several traveller cheque with an excessive amount in total. At this point I realized that something was wrong. After ... See more I took on a job from Segi Carrasco-Esteve a few days before vendor scam was posted on this web site. With the exception of a proposed cheque payment, everything around the job looked ok . I performed the translation and delivered it. the expectation was to receive a normal bank cheque with the matching amount. The surprise came when I received a letter from a 3rd-party containing several traveller cheque with an excessive amount in total. At this point I realized that something was wrong. After an enquiry by mail I got this story on accidential overpayment, cash everything and return the excessive amount. I informed my bank about it and we agreed to cash one chequeto see what happens. After 3+ weeks the bank informed me that the cheque is invalid.
Unfortunately I only heard about this scam web site only after getting caught. If I would have been aware about this scam web site, the scam report would have reached me in time before starting the translation. I don't see any direct link on PROZ.com site for this valuable scam site (unfortunately). I got informed by PROZ SUPPORT after reporting my problem as a support case. So people need to fall into a trap first before becoming aware that such a valuable scam web site exists.
Consequence:
It is the first time I accepted a cheque payment for a translation job and also the last time. I don't see any acceptable reason why somebody cannot perform a PayPal or bank transfer payment. ▲ Collapse | | | MIT Computer Sciences lab scam | Apr 20, 2013 |
I was contacted by a person using a spoofed MIT email address, claiming to be a researcher for the A.I. CS department.
The person offered to pay me a flat rate the equates a 20k word job, to translate a 'standardized' text using his open sourced CAT program, which he wanted me to download from a supplied link.
It seemed fishy, so I downloaded the program to a computer I could wipe clean. I had to do exactly that afterwards.
Since downloading the program, the link has died. ... See more I was contacted by a person using a spoofed MIT email address, claiming to be a researcher for the A.I. CS department.
The person offered to pay me a flat rate the equates a 20k word job, to translate a 'standardized' text using his open sourced CAT program, which he wanted me to download from a supplied link.
It seemed fishy, so I downloaded the program to a computer I could wipe clean. I had to do exactly that afterwards.
Since downloading the program, the link has died.
If someone is asking you to use a new tool, I suggest you ask them to establish themselves at a legitimate client first. ▲ Collapse | |
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Freelancers should do their own risk management | Apr 20, 2013 |
Nicole Islinger wrote:
I took on a job from Segi Carrasco-Esteve a few days before vendor scam was posted on this web site. With the exception of a proposed cheque payment, everything around the job looked ok . I performed the translation and delivered it. the expectation was to receive a normal bank cheque with the matching amount. The surprise came when I received a letter from a 3rd-party containing several traveller cheque with an excessive amount in total. At this point I realized that something was wrong. After an enquiry by mail I got this story on accidential overpayment, cash everything and return the excessive amount. I informed my bank about it and we agreed to cash one chequeto see what happens. After 3+ weeks the bank informed me that the cheque is invalid.
Unfortunately I only heard about this scam web site only after getting caught. If I would have been aware about this scam web site, the scam report would have reached me in time before starting the translation. I don't see any direct link on PROZ.com site for this valuable scam site (unfortunately). I got informed by PROZ SUPPORT after reporting my problem as a support case. So people need to fall into a trap first before becoming aware that such a valuable scam web site exists.
Consequence:
It is the first time I accepted a cheque payment for a translation job and also the last time. I don't see any acceptable reason why somebody cannot perform a PayPal or bank transfer payment.
Hi Nicole,
I am sorry to learn that you were the victim of a scam but I do not believe that the responsibility for this should be placed on improper warning by ProZ.com.
Freelance translators work as one-person companies, and as such they are responsible for the proper risk management associated with accepting or declining jobs. A first rule here, that will protect them from most scammers, is to request verifiable contact information from any new commercial contact, and then verify this information.
In order to help translators fight scammers, ProZ.com has published scam-related information in its blog, a scam alert center, a very active dedicated forum, a dedicated section in its wiki section and several newsletter articles.
Kind regards,
Enrique | | | Norskpro Noruega Local time: 07:47 Miembro inglés al noruego + ... gmail not always a scam | Apr 21, 2013 |
Ines Cunha Jorge wrote:
Bad written emails + client@yahoo or gmail + Interesting documents + long deadlines = scam
A recent job posting on ProZ referred to a contact person with a gmail address, which we have learned is a red flag. I checked the company name, which is on the Blue Board, and it seemed fine. I checked their web page, and I checked for the name of the contact person and another person mentioned in the posting in the company's contact list, but without success. I then wrote a polite e-mail to the Managing Director, enquiring about this person with a gmail address.
Here is part of his reply:
"You are right, XXX is a member of our sourcing team. You can contact her directly by XXX. The reason why she did not use her company email address for advertisement is that she often receives spams if she uses her company email address for advertisement on web." | | | Marlon Marti (X) Alemania Local time: 07:47 inglés al alemán + ... TranslationSecrets | Jun 13, 2013 |
Here is another Mail received by this "company" and person reported as scam on proz and other forums.
from: [email protected]
----- Hi,
How are you doing? I need you to work on a project. It's 2600 words, from German to English, do you think you can do it?
Let me know as soon as possible. It's very urgent. I have attached the PDFs.
Thanks,
... See more Here is another Mail received by this "company" and person reported as scam on proz and other forums.
from: [email protected]
----- Hi,
How are you doing? I need you to work on a project. It's 2600 words, from German to English, do you think you can do it?
Let me know as soon as possible. It's very urgent. I have attached the PDFs.
Thanks,
Abed Rantisi. ----- ▲ Collapse | | | Marlon Marti (X) Alemania Local time: 07:47 inglés al alemán + ... Experts Of Linguists Agency | Jul 11, 2013 |
Apparently Scammers. Pls be aware. see also http://www.translationdirectory.com/forum/messages/?4064
----------------------------------------
Hello, Kindly please find attached file for editing and proofreading of German text. PDF files are for the correct terminology. Words - 3894 words Deadline until Sunday 7 PM
... See more Apparently Scammers. Pls be aware. see also http://www.translationdirectory.com/forum/messages/?4064
----------------------------------------
Hello, Kindly please find attached file for editing and proofreading of German text. PDF files are for the correct terminology. Words - 3894 words Deadline until Sunday 7 PM
Rate : 0.025 USD / word
The yesterday send excel file is for website translation http://www.orthobaltic.eu/
Kindly please use the correct terminology from PDF files send yesterday.
Please let me know if you Are available or not !!
Also Please don't Start Til I confirm you
Regards
-- Regards Stephani Project Coordinator
Experts Of Linguists Agency
Small Business of the Year 2007 & 2012
Skype : Ch.Trans
http://www.translationdirectory.com/forum/messages/?3901 ▲ Collapse | |
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same happened with me | Jul 11, 2013 |
Hi.
Even I am one of the translators, who got cheated by Basil Wolff. I got an email from Madlen Cox and I did not get paid..
but fortunately, I translated some contracts and I am going to sue / threaten the end users and asking them to be responsible for the misdeeds of their vendors.
let us hope, that I get my amount. | | | GRI BUONGIORNE Estados Unidos Local time: 22:47 inglés al español + ... BEWARE OF CHECK FRAUD... | Jul 28, 2013 |
I recently have been the victim of a scam which is similar to some of the ones outlined above. The person contacting me is somebody by the name of Nick De Pina. (Nick Depina 17 Kahler Ave., Milton MA, 02186 Cell: (617) 586-8570). I googled him and found him and his address somewhere in the US. His cell number was fake. However after I finished 5 hours of a document on Terrorrism and after signing what looked like a legit PO he sent me, I received a check for $ 1,900 with instructions to deduct... See more I recently have been the victim of a scam which is similar to some of the ones outlined above. The person contacting me is somebody by the name of Nick De Pina. (Nick Depina 17 Kahler Ave., Milton MA, 02186 Cell: (617) 586-8570). I googled him and found him and his address somewhere in the US. His cell number was fake. However after I finished 5 hours of a document on Terrorrism and after signing what looked like a legit PO he sent me, I received a check for $ 1,900 with instructions to deduct my fee of $ 400. Yeah, right! duh...not that stupid...however, I did do my work for free and it was a perfectly good translation. At least I was only scammed for $400 and not 1,900 which the bank told me I would have owed them when the fraud check bounced. Yikes! Putting this out there for all to see. I reported him to the BBA, and some other online agencies that deal with this sort of thing. Here is what he wrote me at first: " Nick Depina May 7 Good Day, I got your email from the US Department of Labor, that you are a translator. I need you to help me translate from (English--Spanish) if u don't mind. I would like to know your terms and how much it would cost for the article. I will be waiting for your reply. Sincerely Nicholas Depina">>
Sounds all legit, but it ended up being a fraud. This individual went to some trouble to make himself sound legit but he was not...SO BE ALERT!
I started to be suspicious when he sent me an email, telling me that he did not have his credit card with him and that he was travelling in Europe or some such nonsense and could not open a Paypal account and would just send me a check. Finally he mailed me the check for 1,900 which my bank could not even find the routing number for...at that point and after my toungue lashing he stopped communicating...so HE ALMOST GOT ME! still, I did 5 hours of work for free, which he probably put in the dumpster...
This is what I reported to the BBA:
Hope this helps somebody...
silvia griselda buongiorne ▲ Collapse | | | GRI BUONGIORNE Estados Unidos Local time: 22:47 inglés al español + ... BEWARE OVERPAYMENT FRAUDULENT CHECKS. | Jul 28, 2013 |
Beware: Another faudulent individual who is mailing gross overpayment checks. Do not cash them! Here is the name. I was contacted in what looked like a legit manner, signed a PO, emails back and forth and did not see red lights until the moment of payment when I was told that he did not have Paypal and that he was travelling in Europe and that he would send me a check. I reluctantly said OK, when the check came it was for $1,900 and I should deduct my $400...yeah, right! duh...
Everyt... See more Beware: Another faudulent individual who is mailing gross overpayment checks. Do not cash them! Here is the name. I was contacted in what looked like a legit manner, signed a PO, emails back and forth and did not see red lights until the moment of payment when I was told that he did not have Paypal and that he was travelling in Europe and that he would send me a check. I reluctantly said OK, when the check came it was for $1,900 and I should deduct my $400...yeah, right! duh...
Everything looked OK though, amazing what a good color printer can do...my bank could not even find the bank or routing number...and yet it all looked so legit...so BE ALERT! I Almost go scammed...well, I did, for $400 and not $1,900 so I should be thankful I guess.
This is what I reported to the BBB and the IFA:
Nicholas Depina 17 Kahler Ave., Milton MA, 02186 Cell: (617) 586-8570 [email protected]
INDIVIDUAL CONTACTED ME ON 5/7/13 ABOUT MY SERVICES AS A TRANSLATOR. GOT MY CONTACT FROM THE US DPT. OF LABOR VIA MY BUSINESS LICENCE. WE AGREED ON THE FEE OF $400 TO BE PAID TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT. I SENT HIM THE PROJECT COMPLETED AND AFTER A WHILE HE MAILED ME A CHECK FOR $1,900 TELLING ME TO SEND HIM THE DIFFERENCE BACK ONCE I CASHED IT. I TOOK IT TO MY BANK AND THEY DECLARED IT FRAUD. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE INDIVIDUAL SINCE AND HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR MY SERVICES.I ASKED HIM TO PAY ME VIA PAYPAL BUT HE HAS NOT YET DONE THAT AND I DOUBT HE WILL. CHECK NO.11866619 CITYBANK DELAWARE, ONE PENNS WAY, NEW CASTLE DE 19720 DATED 5/27/013 FROM TRAVELERS ONE TOWER SQUARE HARTFORD, CT 06183 PAID TO SILVIA GRISELDA BUONGIORNE MEMO: PAGO AUTORIZADO (SPANISH) SIGNED BY DOUGLAS K RUOYN (?) ROUTING AND ACC #001186619# :036104493:031100209 AMOUNT: $ 1,900
So legit and yet so fraudulent. Hope this helps you hard working translators out there...
All the best.
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