I've been receiving some odd emails the past couple of days. Just wondered if you had received anything similar. I won't use the actual names involved incase I'm just being paranoid but it just seems a little too coincidental. I also thought it would be a good idea to have a thread with confirmed/well known scams on here as I couldn't find one already.
First one I'm really not really sure about. Could be a case of just poor english. Anyway yesterday I get an email from a 21 year old in a "west african country" wanting to know how much I charge for lessons. She is planning to holiday in the UK (supposedly in the area i teach) soon and would like some flute lessons. I sent her my prices and a bunch of questions i.e. how long she'd been playing, what pieces she'd been working on, etc etc. Anyway she ignores my questions and says that her uncle, who she will be staying with, will be in contact soon to pay for the lessons. No questions about me. She did reply to a couple of emails I sent her though which is why was considering the possibility that maybe she didn't understand the questions.
Second one I'm pretty sure is a scam. I went to check through my spam (GMail can get a little zealous sometimes) and I find three messages asking for lessons from the same person, two from today, one from a couple of days ago. Two of them were for piano (which I dont teach) and one for sax. They are written from a lady in the USA who's 14 year-old son will be coming to the UK for three months from mid-November. Looked like she'd sent exactly the same emails just replaced piano with Saxophone. She said payment for the whole three months would be paid up front by her "associate". All she asked for was my full name, address and cell phone number so she could arrange the payment (so at the moment she hasn't got any of them, just my stage name and email address). Again no questions about me. I have sent back even more question this time but haven't had a reply yet (but it's only been an hour).
So what do you think? On the Flute Email List there were many details of similar scams from people claiming to be coming on holiday looking for lessons that were being paid for by a third party who then overpaid and wanted some of the money back, all before lessons began. Just wondered if any of you have been receiving similar emails.
Cheers
Full Version: Scam, Wham, Thank You Maam
I get them all the time and ignore them.
I got a genuine email from a Korean Man and trust me it was different in every way - he named the school his charge was at and gave me a phone number. I taught his guardian for 3 terms.
I got a genuine email from a Korean Man and trust me it was different in every way - he named the school his charge was at and gave me a phone number. I taught his guardian for 3 terms.
These all sound like scams to me. There's been a thread fairly recently - you might like to do a search.
I get these all the time - usually 1-2 a day. Quite often the name in the send-to bar is not yours. When they have your bank details, they then send you a cheque far in excess of your charges. They claim that part of that payment is for other expenses ( eg accommodation) and you are to forward a part of the payment to some third party. You can guess what happens next - your cheque is cashed and their cheque bounces.
Delete these straight away. Don't even reply, because then they know the email is active. One member of the forums was hounded for several weeks by a scammer.
I get these all the time - usually 1-2 a day. Quite often the name in the send-to bar is not yours. When they have your bank details, they then send you a cheque far in excess of your charges. They claim that part of that payment is for other expenses ( eg accommodation) and you are to forward a part of the payment to some third party. You can guess what happens next - your cheque is cashed and their cheque bounces.
Delete these straight away. Don't even reply, because then they know the email is active. One member of the forums was hounded for several weeks by a scammer.
I had a lot of similar sounding emails when I advertised my son's first bassoon on a musical instrument sales site. At first sight they can sound plausible but when the only interest seems to be in the financial details, and no apparent desire to even see the instrument, I started to smell a small furry rodent. (The bassoon is still available by the way!)
Cheers, I did try a search but nothing came up, maybe I had the wrong keywords. Part of the reason I have a GMail address is the anti-spam included was so I can just ignore the scammers.
And I certainly would be giving out my bank details to strangers. That's part of the reason I always take the first payment at the first lesson (after a free consultation lesson).
And I certainly would be giving out my bank details to strangers. That's part of the reason I always take the first payment at the first lesson (after a free consultation lesson).
How strange this topic should just come up. I have just started to receive such emails from "potential students".
I just posted a message on the Organfax website to that effect. I now wonder how to tell a genuine request from a scam. If I have a feeling it could just be on the level, I ask the sender to phone me for fruther details.
I just posted a message on the Organfax website to that effect. I now wonder how to tell a genuine request from a scam. If I have a feeling it could just be on the level, I ask the sender to phone me for fruther details.
QUOTE
I had a lot of similar sounding emails when I advertised my son's first bassoon on a musical instrument sales site. At first sight they can sound plausible but when the only interest seems to be in the financial details,
Advertise it on Ebay and insist on payment by Paypal. You soon know who's genuine. They have feedback and are willing to chat via email or phone.
Steve
Put your name on a website and these will come flooding in. They are all scams.
As ringaringa found, genuine contacts will have additional info that enable you to identify the sender as genuine.
Steve
As ringaringa found, genuine contacts will have additional info that enable you to identify the sender as genuine.
Steve
Yes, the light underneath the sign saying "scam!" is flashing away merrily, with the corresponding bell sounding loudly.
I've had a few of these and just delete them straight away. Most of the time you can tell just by looking, e.g. someone after tuition in an instrument I don't teach or play, poor English, my e-mail address not in the To field, etc. One the other day was after woodwind tuition: I have been known to make a noise out of a flute and an oboe, but noise is actually quite a kind description!
Also, look at the amount of tuition they are after - someone (maggiemay?) had one a while ago where they wanted about 40 hours' tuition a month for the child in question.
I've had a few of these and just delete them straight away. Most of the time you can tell just by looking, e.g. someone after tuition in an instrument I don't teach or play, poor English, my e-mail address not in the To field, etc. One the other day was after woodwind tuition: I have been known to make a noise out of a flute and an oboe, but noise is actually quite a kind description!
Also, look at the amount of tuition they are after - someone (maggiemay?) had one a while ago where they wanted about 40 hours' tuition a month for the child in question.
I'm pretty sure the one I got from the wifey in the USA was a scam.
The other one contacted me through one of the sites I advertise on so it was addressed only to me. She'snow said that she's a beginner and doesn't know that much about flute. I've made it very clear that payment will only be taken at the first lesson after she's signed the agreement. There's no way I would accept a cheque from anyone for the wrong amount nevermind write one out there and then for the difference. As I can't teach at home I've also asked for the full address of where she will be staying (her uncle's house) and as he'll be paying for the lessons there's no excuse for a cheque of the wrong amount. I would have thought if it was a scam she would stop responding after that email.
I'm really not sure about it. there's so much talk of scams these days but I have friends who's aunts and uncles abroad that have paid for them to visit and have lessons. Suppose all I can really loose here is my bus fare and a wee bit of time replying to emails.
The other one contacted me through one of the sites I advertise on so it was addressed only to me. She'snow said that she's a beginner and doesn't know that much about flute. I've made it very clear that payment will only be taken at the first lesson after she's signed the agreement. There's no way I would accept a cheque from anyone for the wrong amount nevermind write one out there and then for the difference. As I can't teach at home I've also asked for the full address of where she will be staying (her uncle's house) and as he'll be paying for the lessons there's no excuse for a cheque of the wrong amount. I would have thought if it was a scam she would stop responding after that email.
I'm really not sure about it. there's so much talk of scams these days but I have friends who's aunts and uncles abroad that have paid for them to visit and have lessons. Suppose all I can really loose here is my bus fare and a wee bit of time replying to emails.
My Korean Gentleman gave me an envelope full of cash.
That was nice of him
Latest scam email received today...
Good day to you over there, I need a tutor for my son (john) for the month of oct/nov, i got your advert while surfing through the internet and i really want my child to be taught by you.john is 13 year old and easily catch up.
Although,i understand you are in (U.K} but i've arranged with my Nanny ASSOCAITE living there that my son is coming to stay with him for his period of tutoring and he has agreed with me,i am based in switzerland kindly get back to me with......
1.YOUR CHARGE FOR AN HOUR....
2.TOTAL CHARGES FOR 1 MONTH THAT HE
WILL BE TAUGHT 3 TIMES PER WEEK..
3.FULL NAME AND ADDRESS....
4.YOUR PHONE NUMBER..."
don't hesitate to e-mail with your total charges.
Allen
Hi Folks,
I had one from East Africa.a Mr. Kugelman wanted me to give his children a series of lessons totalling 48 hours. I recommended that he contact the Associated Board.
I had one from East Africa.a Mr. Kugelman wanted me to give his children a series of lessons totalling 48 hours. I recommended that he contact the Associated Board.
I get these frequently-sometimes my anti-spam thingy susses them out and drops them straight into my bulk mail-often they get through though to my inbox. I just ignore them-replying just indictates that your email address is active and opens you up to even more spam. You can always tell by the poor or strangely phrased English, same old stories, dubious names-often overly English, and enquiries for ridiculous amounts of hours per week.
QUOTE(lilmizbloodbath @ Oct 28 2005, 06:54 PM) 
I've been receiving some odd emails the past couple of days. Just wondered if you had received anything similar. I won't use the actual names involved incase I'm just being paranoid but it just seems a little too coincidental. I also thought it would be a good idea to have a thread with confirmed/well known scams on here as I couldn't find one already.
First one I'm really not really sure about. Could be a case of just poor english. Anyway yesterday I get an email from a 21 year old in a "west african country" wanting to know how much I charge for lessons. She is planning to holiday in the UK (supposedly in the area i teach) soon and would like some flute lessons. I sent her my prices and a bunch of questions i.e. how long she'd been playing, what pieces she'd been working on, etc etc. Anyway she ignores my questions and says that her uncle, who she will be staying with, will be in contact soon to pay for the lessons. No questions about me. She did reply to a couple of emails I sent her though which is why was considering the possibility that maybe she didn't understand the questions.
Second one I'm pretty sure is a scam. I went to check through my spam (GMail can get a little zealous sometimes) and I find three messages asking for lessons from the same person, two from today, one from a couple of days ago. Two of them were for piano (which I dont teach) and one for sax. They are written from a lady in the USA who's 14 year-old son will be coming to the UK for three months from mid-November. Looked like she'd sent exactly the same emails just replaced piano with Saxophone. She said payment for the whole three months would be paid up front by her "associate". All she asked for was my full name, address and cell phone number so she could arrange the payment (so at the moment she hasn't got any of them, just my stage name and email address). Again no questions about me. I have sent back even more question this time but haven't had a reply yet (but it's only been an hour).
So what do you think? On the Flute Email List there were many details of similar scams from people claiming to be coming on holiday looking for lessons that were being paid for by a third party who then overpaid and wanted some of the money back, all before lessons began. Just wondered if any of you have been receiving similar emails.
Cheers
Hello I keep getting these as well they are a pain. I had an email from another teacher the other day saying she had also had the same one as me and told me to report it as Phoish mail or something like that can't remember the exact spelling.
I have a feeling that they are people trying to get into the country illegally and if they can give a UK address as a place of study it allows them entry into the UK. Here is one I received this morning-:
Hello,
i am Mrs Penny Ennice in USA im working in oil company so my Tinny is
coming to UK to stay with a clinet of mine and also to finishe her school
education.so i needed a tutor class for my child(Tinny).so when i am
serchinng the internet,i saw your ads so interested.She will be staying with
a client of mine therein UK Meanwhile,i will like you to let me know how you
charge for fees for the months of Oct-Jan
Regards Penny
QUOTE(adagiok5 @ Sep 26 2006, 09:14 AM)
QUOTE(lilmizbloodbath @ Oct 28 2005, 06:54 PM)
I've been receiving some odd emails the past couple of days. Just wondered if you had received anything similar. I won't use the actual names involved incase I'm just being paranoid but it just seems a little too coincidental. I also thought it would be a good idea to have a thread with confirmed/well known scams on here as I couldn't find one already.
First one I'm really not really sure about. Could be a case of just poor english. Anyway yesterday I get an email from a 21 year old in a "west african country" wanting to know how much I charge for lessons. She is planning to holiday in the UK (supposedly in the area i teach) soon and would like some flute lessons. I sent her my prices and a bunch of questions i.e. how long she'd been playing, what pieces she'd been working on, etc etc. Anyway she ignores my questions and says that her uncle, who she will be staying with, will be in contact soon to pay for the lessons. No questions about me. She did reply to a couple of emails I sent her though which is why was considering the possibility that maybe she didn't understand the questions.
Second one I'm pretty sure is a scam. I went to check through my spam (GMail can get a little zealous sometimes) and I find three messages asking for lessons from the same person, two from today, one from a couple of days ago. Two of them were for piano (which I dont teach) and one for sax. They are written from a lady in the USA who's 14 year-old son will be coming to the UK for three months from mid-November. Looked like she'd sent exactly the same emails just replaced piano with Saxophone. She said payment for the whole three months would be paid up front by her "associate". All she asked for was my full name, address and cell phone number so she could arrange the payment (so at the moment she hasn't got any of them, just my stage name and email address). Again no questions about me. I have sent back even more question this time but haven't had a reply yet (but it's only been an hour).
So what do you think? On the Flute Email List there were many details of similar scams from people claiming to be coming on holiday looking for lessons that were being paid for by a third party who then overpaid and wanted some of the money back, all before lessons began. Just wondered if any of you have been receiving similar emails.
Cheers
Hello I keep getting these as well they are a pain. I had an email from another teacher the other day saying she had also had the same one as me and told me to report it as Phoish mail or something like that can't remember the exact spelling.
I have a feeling that they are people trying to get into the country illegally and if they can give a UK address as a place of study it allows them entry into the UK. Here is one I received this morning-:
Hello,
i am Mrs Penny Ennice in USA im working in oil company so my Tinny is
coming to UK to stay with a clinet of mine and also to finishe her school
education.so i needed a tutor class for my child(Tinny).so when i am
serchinng the internet,i saw your ads so interested.She will be staying with
a client of mine therein UK Meanwhile,i will like you to let me know how you
charge for fees for the months of Oct-Jan
Regards Penny
And here is another one received this morning bear in mind I am advertising on piano teaching websites
Hi,
My name is Jacob Lawrence,I just wanted to confirm if my 17 years old Son can join you in your Guitar lessons(class groups or individual tuition).My Son's name is Samuel Lawrence,he love Singing, best hobby is study and he is a very good Son.As a beginner,he's just interested to learning the basics and i hope you can accept him as your student.
I will like you to assure me that you are going to take proper care of teaching him as i'm ready to pay all he's neccessary expenses for the lessons. I will want the tutor to hold for eight weeks which consist of two hours a day, 4 days in a week if possible and i will like to know your years of teaching experience,total cost of tutoring for sixteen weeks.I want you to get back to me with above following details. Please let me hear from you as soon as you receive this mail, so that we'll make an arrangment on when to begin lessons.
Regards
Jacob.
And one to me:
Hello,
My name is Ben Wade ,I just wanted to confirm if my 16 year old Son can join you in your Guitar lessons(class groups or individual tuition).My Son's name is Billy Wade,he love Singing, best hobby is study and he is a very good Son.As a beginner,he's just interested to learning the basics and i hope you can accept him as your student.
I will like you to assure me that you are going to take proper care of teaching him as i'm ready to pay all he's neccessary expenses for the lessons. I will want the tutor to hold for eight weeks which consist of two hours a day, 4 days in a week if possible and i will like to know your years of teaching experience,total cost of tutoring for sixteen weeks.I want you to get back to me with above following details. Please let me hear from you as soon as you receive this mail, so that we'll make an arrangment on when to begin lessons.
Regards
Ben.
The email address is:bnwd123@yahoo.com.au
Hello,
My name is Ben Wade ,I just wanted to confirm if my 16 year old Son can join you in your Guitar lessons(class groups or individual tuition).My Son's name is Billy Wade,he love Singing, best hobby is study and he is a very good Son.As a beginner,he's just interested to learning the basics and i hope you can accept him as your student.
I will like you to assure me that you are going to take proper care of teaching him as i'm ready to pay all he's neccessary expenses for the lessons. I will want the tutor to hold for eight weeks which consist of two hours a day, 4 days in a week if possible and i will like to know your years of teaching experience,total cost of tutoring for sixteen weeks.I want you to get back to me with above following details. Please let me hear from you as soon as you receive this mail, so that we'll make an arrangment on when to begin lessons.
Regards
Ben.
The email address is:bnwd123@yahoo.com.au
At least yours are something related to you!
So far I've had a hoard of emails with some very interesting spellings of 'pharmacy', some even in capitals to underline the fact that they can't spell. Also many for a website selling 'genuine' rolex watches for about a fiver each
So far I've had a hoard of emails with some very interesting spellings of 'pharmacy', some even in capitals to underline the fact that they can't spell. Also many for a website selling 'genuine' rolex watches for about a fiver each
Yep me too 
Mine was from a Mr Kevin Richard:
Hi I am a single parent living in Scotland. My son Paul is coming to stay with my cousin in Kent and I want you to teach him. Please let me know the cost for a twelve week course of lessons etc. etc.
When I e-mailed him back, he wanted to send me a cheque for £2500 (far more than a twelve week course of lessons I hasten to add) so that I could bank it, take out my fees and expenses then transfer the rest to his cousin, who by the way is now in the Netherlands!!
I think not, matey!!
Apparently people are losing their bank accounts over scams like this as they are being sent the cheques and then the banks have to withdraw them as they are forgeries. On top of all that, they are being charged bank fees. DO NOT FALL FOR THESE THINGS!!
Mine was from a Mr Kevin Richard:
Hi I am a single parent living in Scotland. My son Paul is coming to stay with my cousin in Kent and I want you to teach him. Please let me know the cost for a twelve week course of lessons etc. etc.
When I e-mailed him back, he wanted to send me a cheque for £2500 (far more than a twelve week course of lessons I hasten to add) so that I could bank it, take out my fees and expenses then transfer the rest to his cousin, who by the way is now in the Netherlands!!
I think not, matey!!
Apparently people are losing their bank accounts over scams like this as they are being sent the cheques and then the banks have to withdraw them as they are forgeries. On top of all that, they are being charged bank fees. DO NOT FALL FOR THESE THINGS!!
I had an email like that - and it seemed to be suggesting the "students" would be staying with me for the duration of their stay!
It does annoy me whan I get an email entitled "re:piano lessons" (some manage to filter into the inbox). I get all excited at the prospect of more pupils, then it turns out to be nonsense
xxx
It does annoy me whan I get an email entitled "re:piano lessons" (some manage to filter into the inbox). I get all excited at the prospect of more pupils, then it turns out to be nonsense
xxx
What I find unbelievable is that 10 years after the Nigerian bank scam started, I'm actually getting more of them than ever!
The internet is full of these Anti-scam games where people try to get their own back on the scammers, yet some idiots just don't get the message.
Far more insidious are the fake emails supposedly sent from Paypal, Ebay and Online banks. A busy person sees them, reads the short message about checking his/her details and clicks on the link which takes them to a fake Paypal/Bank website where they then enter all their usernames/passwords.
I'm very security conscious but I still fell for one of these shortly after opening a Paypal account. Luckily I realised pretty quickly and changed my password.
On Ebay, thieves are looking to see who's new and what they're trying to buy. For the first 2 months after using Ebay I got about 3 'second chance offers' which turned out to be fake.
You have to be careful out there!
Steve
PS Anyone who wants to take a 10 and 13 yr old for a few years? I'll pay cash. Honest!
The internet is full of these Anti-scam games where people try to get their own back on the scammers, yet some idiots just don't get the message.
Far more insidious are the fake emails supposedly sent from Paypal, Ebay and Online banks. A busy person sees them, reads the short message about checking his/her details and clicks on the link which takes them to a fake Paypal/Bank website where they then enter all their usernames/passwords.
I'm very security conscious but I still fell for one of these shortly after opening a Paypal account. Luckily I realised pretty quickly and changed my password.
On Ebay, thieves are looking to see who's new and what they're trying to buy. For the first 2 months after using Ebay I got about 3 'second chance offers' which turned out to be fake.
You have to be careful out there!
Steve
PS Anyone who wants to take a 10 and 13 yr old for a few years? I'll pay cash. Honest!
What interesting e-scams you all get.
The ones I receive are all about golf balls and viagra; and I don't even play golf
b
The ones I receive are all about golf balls and viagra; and I don't even play golf
b
QUOTE(Barry Thain @ Sep 26 2006, 07:42 PM)
What interesting e-scams you all get.
The ones I receive are all about golf balls and viagra; and I don't even play golf
b
I get alot of those e-mails...
...the golf ones that is
I've recently started getting the ebay and paypal ones.
I have a link to some advice / an online "spot the phish" quiz if anyone's interested.
I have a link to some advice / an online "spot the phish" quiz if anyone's interested.
We had the misfortune to be telephoned by these people (no not the newspaper - the company named) - and endured a miserable few days of them ringing all the time until they gave up (I hope). It is clearly extortion but it seems that nothing can be done about it. The company in question is so evil and agressive I dare not name it directly in case they find this post through Google and "threaten" us again. Of course they don't actually threaten physical harm - not in words which would make them in any way "criminal".
QUOTE(Semele @ Sep 26 2006, 01:39 PM)
And one to me:
Hello,
My name is Ben Wade ,I just wanted to confirm if my 16 year old Son can join you in your Guitar lessons(class groups or individual tuition).My Son's name is Billy Wade,he love Singing, best hobby is study and he is a very good Son.As a beginner,he's just interested to learning the basics and i hope you can accept him as your student.
I will like you to assure me that you are going to take proper care of teaching him as i'm ready to pay all he's neccessary expenses for the lessons. I will want the tutor to hold for eight weeks which consist of two hours a day, 4 days in a week if possible and i will like to know your years of teaching experience,total cost of tutoring for sixteen weeks.I want you to get back to me with above following details. Please let me hear from you as soon as you receive this mail, so that we'll make an arrangment on when to begin lessons.
Regards
Ben.
The email address is:bnwd123@yahoo.com.au
Hey, Semele thats almost identical to mine changing a few names they could be the same
QUOTE(adagiok5 @ Sep 26 2006, 09:58 PM)
QUOTE(Semele @ Sep 26 2006, 01:39 PM)
And one to me:
Hello,
My name is Ben Wade ,I just wanted to confirm if my 16 year old Son can join you in your Guitar lessons(class groups or individual tuition).My Son's name is Billy Wade,he love Singing, best hobby is study and he is a very good Son.As a beginner,he's just interested to learning the basics and i hope you can accept him as your student.
I will like you to assure me that you are going to take proper care of teaching him as i'm ready to pay all he's neccessary expenses for the lessons. I will want the tutor to hold for eight weeks which consist of two hours a day, 4 days in a week if possible and i will like to know your years of teaching experience,total cost of tutoring for sixteen weeks.I want you to get back to me with above following details. Please let me hear from you as soon as you receive this mail, so that we'll make an arrangment on when to begin lessons.
Regards
Ben.
The email address is:bnwd123@yahoo.com.au
Hey, Semele thats almost identical to mine changing a few names they could be the same
Hi
Indeed it is. I received it this morning. I purposedly posted the email address in the hope they get scammed!
QUOTE(adagiok5 @ Sep 26 2006, 09:14 AM)
morning-:
Hello,
i am Mrs Penny Ennice in USA im working in oil company so my Tinny is
coming to UK to stay with a clinet of mine and also to finishe her school
education.so i needed a tutor class for my child(Tinny).so when i am
serchinng the internet,i saw your ads so interested.She will be staying with
a client of mine therein UK Meanwhile,i will like you to let me know how you
charge for fees for the months of Oct-Jan
Regards Penny
I've had exactly the same email today
What gives them away is that they seem to be oblivious of or unconcerned about exactly where we are located in the UK.
QUOTE(diapason @ Sep 27 2006, 01:57 AM)
What gives them away is that they seem to be oblivious of or unconcerned about exactly where we are located in the UK.
...or of the instrument(s) one actually teaches. I've been offered vast amounts of money to accommodate and teach violin to people's children before now. Err...
Yes - and they sometimes even talk about "coming to stay in your state" and that doesn't exactly ring true.
They must think we were born yesterday
They must think we were born yesterday
Yes it's definately a scam. I was selling a piano once and had an e mail from somewhere in Africa saying that a cheque would arrive for £2500 and that I had to give the person collecting it £2000 change!! Apparantly the cheques do clear initially then bounce a month later when it's all to late. I ignored the e mail and blocked his address.
Here's my latest one, arrived this morning. Judging by the list of people targeted, this one throws the net wide ...
Dear Sir/Ma,
I am pleased to contact you, My name is Becky Baxters, from United Kindom. I saw your
Biography as Piano Teacher (pianist), hence, my purpose of contacting you.
I just mail to confirm if my 14yrs old son (Paul) can join you in your tutor so
that you can help me teach him how to play the Piano. I so much would love his
dreams to come true as a very good player and I am ready to support him both
morally and financially.
I will want you to give me the price of the tutor for 6 months as I will want
the tutor to hold 3 times in a week and last for 1 hour daily. Note that my son
once had a tutor in January who lost his wife in a car accident and decided to
stop teaching inorder to take proper care of his family.
Additionally, please give me your address or the address of where you normally
teach your students, so that I can have idea of where the lessons will be taking
place, as we are presently out of UK, but arrangement have been concluded for
Paul to come to UK.
Awaiting your swift response
Best Regards
Becky
Dear Sir/Ma,
I am pleased to contact you, My name is Becky Baxters, from United Kindom. I saw your
Biography as Piano Teacher (pianist), hence, my purpose of contacting you.
I just mail to confirm if my 14yrs old son (Paul) can join you in your tutor so
that you can help me teach him how to play the Piano. I so much would love his
dreams to come true as a very good player and I am ready to support him both
morally and financially.
I will want you to give me the price of the tutor for 6 months as I will want
the tutor to hold 3 times in a week and last for 1 hour daily. Note that my son
once had a tutor in January who lost his wife in a car accident and decided to
stop teaching inorder to take proper care of his family.
Additionally, please give me your address or the address of where you normally
teach your students, so that I can have idea of where the lessons will be taking
place, as we are presently out of UK, but arrangement have been concluded for
Paul to come to UK.
Awaiting your swift response
Best Regards
Becky
If you don't mind me saying so, most of these scams are aimed at British people, because despite what you may think about the effect of our football hooligans, the image of the average Brit abroad is one of honesty, dependability and excessive politeness. No, don't laugh. I've worked in France, and now Italy, and it's the truth!
The average french or italian teacher would just reply to these emails with some very juicy words - or just ignore them. At the very least they would do what most professionals would do when a minor is involved. Ask for proof of identity!!
We've become used here to showing or giving photocopies of our/our childrens passports. There's no sinister plot involved; simply the need to prove DOB, full name etc. With children the DOB is particularly important for any insurance involved - which is just about any organised activity!
So next time anyone receives an email, be polite and simply ask for a p/copy of the child's and guardian's passport/ I.D. to be faxed or posted to you. This is standard practise in most countries.
I'd be interested in their reaction!
Steve
I've worked in France, and now Italy, and it's the truth!The average french or italian teacher would just reply to these emails with some very juicy words - or just ignore them. At the very least they would do what most professionals would do when a minor is involved. Ask for proof of identity!!
We've become used here to showing or giving photocopies of our/our childrens passports. There's no sinister plot involved; simply the need to prove DOB, full name etc. With children the DOB is particularly important for any insurance involved - which is just about any organised activity!
So next time anyone receives an email, be polite and simply ask for a p/copy of the child's and guardian's passport/ I.D. to be faxed or posted to you. This is standard practise in most countries.
I'd be interested in their reaction!
Steve
Latest one
"I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: fatimahassan1960@yahoo.com
i'm interested in your piano music lesson for my children.
- Fatima Hassan"
I won't be emailing her back!
"I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: fatimahassan1960@yahoo.com
i'm interested in your piano music lesson for my children.
- Fatima Hassan"
I won't be emailing her back!
QUOTE(Semele @ Oct 4 2006, 02:04 PM)
Latest one
"I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: fatimahassan1960@yahoo.com
i'm interested in your piano music lesson for my children.
- Fatima Hassan"
I won't be emailing her back!
OH! I had one this morning - exactly the same wording, but it was from a Mr Bill Cameron.
(edit) and the header said " lessons in England" which is odd, and was the first thing I noticed - (why would a genuine poster need to explain that?)
QUOTE(Semele @ Oct 4 2006, 02:04 PM)
Latest one
"I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: fatimahassan1960@yahoo.com
i'm interested in your piano music lesson for my children.
- Fatima Hassan"
I won't be emailing her back!
I also received this one yesterday
QUOTE(lilmizbloodbath @ Oct 29 2005, 12:22 AM)
I'm pretty sure the one I got from the wifey in the USA was a scam.
The other one contacted me through one of the sites I advertise on so it was addressed only to me. She'snow said that she's a beginner and doesn't know that much about flute. I've made it very clear that payment will only be taken at the first lesson after she's signed the agreement. There's no way I would accept a cheque from anyone for the wrong amount nevermind write one out there and then for the difference. As I can't teach at home I've also asked for the full address of where she will be staying (her uncle's house) and as he'll be paying for the lessons there's no excuse for a cheque of the wrong amount. I would have thought if it was a scam she would stop responding after that email.
I'm really not sure about it. there's so much talk of scams these days but I have friends who's aunts and uncles abroad that have paid for them to visit and have lessons. Suppose all I can really loose here is my bus fare and a wee bit of time replying to emails.
I've had many of these too. I once asked them whereabouts in the UK they were going to stay...that showed they had no idea where I was. Regards, Philip
I've recently done a lot of marketing online for my music business website. Some of the well known advertising directories then phone you up a week later asking if you want your advert to be better placed for £££ etc. But one phone call started the warning bells ringing...
"Hello, it's the Police. Nothing to worry about Sir, it's just the Community Officers. You've probably seen us out and about. We are doing a brochure and wanted to know if you'd like to be included with a line saying you support what we are doing."
Are you trying to get dosh out of me?
"Well, it's not a lot and we can talk about that."
Sorry mate, I'm doing my marketing on a shoestring and I'm not paying for anything!
PHONE GOES DEAD!!
Scammers trying to make you think you're gonna pay for a bigger advert, with your credit card details, but in reality no brochure/advert exists... and they get your credit card details FOC. Phone number witheld too. Beware!
"Hello, it's the Police. Nothing to worry about Sir, it's just the Community Officers. You've probably seen us out and about. We are doing a brochure and wanted to know if you'd like to be included with a line saying you support what we are doing."
Are you trying to get dosh out of me?
"Well, it's not a lot and we can talk about that."
Sorry mate, I'm doing my marketing on a shoestring and I'm not paying for anything!
PHONE GOES DEAD!!
Scammers trying to make you think you're gonna pay for a bigger advert, with your credit card details, but in reality no brochure/advert exists... and they get your credit card details FOC. Phone number witheld too. Beware!
The easiest way to tell is to send a test message back to their email. If it bounces then the potential client is a scammer.
I actually had one phone me up a few months back. My tel no is (probably foolishly) on one of the websites I advertise on. He said he lived in my home town and was expecting his nephew to come and stay for 6 weeks in the summer hol - was about Grade 5 and didn't want to go all summer without lessons, would I teach the boy? I smelt scam but tried to be polite - after all what if he was genuine? I told him I'd had a lot of scam emails where the people want your bank details and asked him when he'd be asking for mine. He said he wasn't intending to, and that they could pay me any way I wanted, including cash. It still didn't feel right so I said: 'call me back when the boy's here and we can all meet for a coffee in town before going ahead'.
Needless to say I never heard from him again.
The problem with all this is that you need to be really careful not to delete and block a genuine one. I nearly did that the other day, then realised just in time. I now have a lovely new pupil. You can't be too careful either way.
Violinia
Needless to say I never heard from him again.
The problem with all this is that you need to be really careful not to delete and block a genuine one. I nearly did that the other day, then realised just in time. I now have a lovely new pupil. You can't be too careful either way.
Violinia
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