UKAWP - THE LEADING INDUSTRY BODY FOR THE UK WEDDING PLANNING MARKET

Posts Tagged ‘Hoax emails’

Postal Hoax Email

Friday, November 4th, 2011

This week I was sent an email by one of my suppliers informing me of a potential postal scam, on further investigation this email itself is the scam. So I thought it beneficial to post said email below so you are aware of it.

Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).

DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize .

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655.

By going onto the Crimestoppers website I have found information relating to this email chain.

 1. The chain email refers to a service (operating on 0906 661 1911) that was shut down by PhonepayPlus (then ICSTIS) in December 2005. PhonepayPlus subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), £10,000.

2. The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.

3. You do NOT need to contact PhonepayPlus, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost six years ago.

4. If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward this statement from PhonepayPlus.  

5. If you receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number, you can contact PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) for further guidance.

Scam Emails

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Regular visitors to our blog will know we try and feature as many scams as we can to try and help the battle against these despicable people. This category is so popular and has helped many businesses across the world. We recently received an email from Amanda all the way in Ontaria, Canada. Amanda runs a wedding planning company called Envy Events.

Amanda said “I came across your blog/website while searching for info on wedding planning scams, after receiving an odd inquiry via email the other day.  I was quite weary about the request, which prompted me to start an online search while trying to obtain further details from this mystery person…

I’ve included both emails for you below… the first email at the very bottom of this string was the note I received inquiring about services… I sent some additional questions as the request had struck me as a bit “off the wall”…the 2nd email just below is the response.  After searching your “scams” section, I found an email that was almost word for word - which led me to confirm for myself that his was indeed a scam. I hope the following information helps you in your quest to put an end to these ridiculous ploys..!  and I must say how disgusted I am that people are able to somehow justify this type of behavior…  You’ll notice that the information below is a bit more detailed than perhaps what has been seen in the past… so a word of caution to all new planners out there who might take this as a real opportunity - do your research and trust your gut!”

Email 1

Hello,

I am Ramson Taylor, from London England. I am writing to get more information on wedding/ reception venues and also so in need of the services of a wedding planner.

Kimberly and I are planning to have a wedding in 0ctober 2011 (any date in October will be fine) and will require more information on this as we plan also to have the wedding in your region We are looking for venue and a planner to help us plan our wedding/reception.

So far, we have not made any arrangement. 30 to 40 guests are expected to attend. We are considering a budget of $40, 000 USD but will allow a few extra if necessary. I will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once you confirm availability.

Please note that you (wedding planner) are to arrange for a Videography, Music Entertainment, Photography, Officiant, cake and flowers.

Please do confirm this date and get back to me.

Thanks for your anticipated response

Best regards,

Ramson.

Email 2

I am really  glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.

My Fiancé (Kimberly Reeds) and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I’ll need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 15th October 2011 (wedding date is flexible).

We have a budget of about $40,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent aside us, I am also expecting about 20 other guest from UK, USA and Asia

Below are other requirements we’ll need.

My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold.

For flowers, majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we’ll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.

For music, a DJ or live band
Food, a buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Wedding is a civil wedding
Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours
Photographer for 3-4 hours
Venue: out door or indoor
Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.
Flowers for bridal party
Accommodation for out of town guest (18 single or 13 doubles from for the wedding night only)

Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm.
Both the wedding and reception will be in same venue.

I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.

I’m presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you.

Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.

Scam/Hoax emails

Friday, June 26th, 2009

We are still being flooded with hoax emails. We could post a new one each day but prefer to do it every few weeks instead! So below is another one to be aware of.

Hello,

I am contacting you with respect to my sister\’s wedding( Julian George)scheduled to hold on the 22nd August,2009.

I want you to handle the wedding arrangements on their behalf since our would-be son in law,Mister Alex is a citizen of your country and as a result, i need the blessing ceremony,reception and wedding reception party to be held in your country. Please get back to me with any of the services which you can provide as regards the wedding arrangement of my younger Sister.


- Vehicles /hotel transfers for the guests - ( coaches transportation)

- Limousine hire for the couples

- location for the wedding and reception.

- lodging  for the guests for an estimate of fifty people(21st - 24th August
)2009

- Wedding cakes and Flower decorations

- Sight seeing tours for the guest - 23rd  August

- DJ Sound

 The wedding Budget is at the range of EUR 39,000 for now and it remains very flexible pending our final conclusion.Please do let me have the details of all i should know so we can make about the services you can provide as regards the arrangment. Estimates and calculations should be based on the quoted budget.

Do get back to me asap through my yahoo email: martinhgeorge@yahoo.co.uk

Mr Martin George.