talkmagic.co.uk

by **DaveBonsall** » Sep 8th, '10, 10:51

I'm sure that most of you will recognise this enquiry as a con, but just in case you don't beware of this enquiry:

Goodday,
My name is Derek, i am preparing for my wedding which will come up on the 25th of september 2010.. by 10:00am here in 11 staffordshire london se15 5tj, As i was searching for the best magician to make the day a memorable day for me and my wife. I saw your advert and i am really impressed about your performance. and you are going to start by 12:00pm and end 1:00pm, How much will you collect if you are to entertain my guess with the travel expenses....i am having 50 guest.

Hope to read back from you.

Thanks
Derek Washington [drekman35@yahoo.com]

Basically, he'll want to send you a cheque for an amount way over your quote that will apparently ask you to send the remainder somewhere else.

Dave Bonsall

by **Tomo** » Sep 8th, '10, 11:07

Yup, it's a straightforward money laundering scam. All UK banks have money laundering units and you will be invited in for a chat you will not enjoy: under caution.

by **Markdini** » Sep 8th, '10, 11:21

It is almost a reverse 419 scam. Most people are still honest these days and will send the money on, unwittingly being a cog in the scam.

by **Mathew Youngs** » Sep 8th, '10, 11:28

I've had a few of these scam enquiries in the past.

It makes me wonder how much I could sell a gramatically correct enquiry template to them for. You know just an email that reads correctly.

Most of these scammers come from Nigeria apperently. A readable, believable letter would up their game to a new level and some folks might even reply to it!

If I can negotiate a deal, pehaps I'll send them an overpayment by cheque :lol:

by **DaveBonsall** » Sep 8th, '10, 12:02

Out of pure curiosity, i replied to his email, this is what came back:

Good to hear back from you....Well i am okay with any thing you do on that day to make it a memorable day for my guests....I will instruct my PA to issue out a cheque for your service and you are going to help me with something because my PA cannot issued two cheque, I will instruct him to issue you a cheque of 3,500 pounds and after deducting your money you will help me wire the remaining amount to a videographer that will cover all the wedding day.

Let me have your full name and address where the cheque will be send to.

Hope to read back from you soon.

Best Regards.

I've tried to track the ip, but it's diverted through lots of different other ip addresses, their obviously covering their tracks well.

by **Mandrake** » Sep 8th, '10, 12:14

There are probably several 'Derek's operating this scam so the IPs will be all over the place.

by **Lawrence** » Sep 8th, '10, 12:34

I'd be tempted to reply saying you don't have a money wiring facility and that he will need to send the cheque to his "videographer" who can then wire your share on to you.
Just to see what his reaction is.

Clearly he has no money wire facility in addition to not having the ability to write 2 cheques!

just think of it,.... two cheques... TWO....... the mind boggles!

Or just give me an address that is quite obviously that of your banks money laundering department.

by **Mark Waddington** » Sep 8th, '10, 17:13

I had this enquiry too this morning. Knew straight away just from the wording that it would be a scam!!

by **MagicShop** » Sep 8th, '10, 17:24

Yep. Just had the Inquiry come through to my agent. He did not reply.

by **Ted** » Sep 8th, '10, 17:29

It's an interesting scam using stolen cheques. You receive £3,500 in the form of a stolen cheque, bank it and keep some (e.g. £1,000) and send the rest on (to the criminal). He goes away with £2,500 of real money while you save or spend £1,000...

... until the bank recalls the amount, which it can do for stolen cheques. If you've spent it, even though it has cleared, you'll then find yourself £1,000 in debt. Time for bailiffs etc. Not fun...