Post by schlager7 on Dec 12, 2006 11:14:53 GMT -5
The following comes from Kim Moser, who for many years has been the administrator of the Classical Fencing Mailing List.
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Fencers,
Warnings about things like scams and viruses are off-topic for this
list but since this one is going after fencers in particular I
thought I would share it with everybody. As this is a one-time
announcement, please follow up with me privately, not to the entire list.
Recently I received an email from somebody claiming that their son
was coming to the U.S. and wanted fencing instruction. I was
suspicious from the beginning because all they asked about was the
name of my business, my address, and how much I charged; they failed
to include details about dates, locations, or fencing experience.
When I emailed them back to ask for these details, they ignored my
questions and again asked for my rates and address.
Just the other day another fencer (in this case a fencing master)
halfway across the country forwarded me a very similar email that
they had received, which makes it even more clear that not only is
this obviously a scam, but it's very likely targeting anyone offering
fencing instruction anywhere in the U.S., and quite possibly the rest
of the world.
So, what's the actual scam? In a nutshell, the scammer offers to send
you your fee in advance. They will send a check or money order for
*more* than your fee, and will ask you to cash it and send them back
the difference. The problem is that the check or money order they
sent you was stolen or forged, and by the time your bank figures it
out and reverses the charges you will have long since sent your money
back to the scammer. Not only will you have lost your money, but you
may be charged with fraud (even though you were the unwitting victim).
Beware of this type of offer and if you receive such an email, please
forward it to me so I can keep track of them.
Again, this is a one-time announcement. If you wish to discuss this
further, please email me privately (don't email the entire list) or
take the discussion to one of the numerous anti-scammer mailing lists
that exist on the Internet.
Oh, and happy holidays!
--
Kim Moser, List Administrator
Classical Fencing Mailing List
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fencers,
Warnings about things like scams and viruses are off-topic for this
list but since this one is going after fencers in particular I
thought I would share it with everybody. As this is a one-time
announcement, please follow up with me privately, not to the entire list.
Recently I received an email from somebody claiming that their son
was coming to the U.S. and wanted fencing instruction. I was
suspicious from the beginning because all they asked about was the
name of my business, my address, and how much I charged; they failed
to include details about dates, locations, or fencing experience.
When I emailed them back to ask for these details, they ignored my
questions and again asked for my rates and address.
Just the other day another fencer (in this case a fencing master)
halfway across the country forwarded me a very similar email that
they had received, which makes it even more clear that not only is
this obviously a scam, but it's very likely targeting anyone offering
fencing instruction anywhere in the U.S., and quite possibly the rest
of the world.
So, what's the actual scam? In a nutshell, the scammer offers to send
you your fee in advance. They will send a check or money order for
*more* than your fee, and will ask you to cash it and send them back
the difference. The problem is that the check or money order they
sent you was stolen or forged, and by the time your bank figures it
out and reverses the charges you will have long since sent your money
back to the scammer. Not only will you have lost your money, but you
may be charged with fraud (even though you were the unwitting victim).
Beware of this type of offer and if you receive such an email, please
forward it to me so I can keep track of them.
Again, this is a one-time announcement. If you wish to discuss this
further, please email me privately (don't email the entire list) or
take the discussion to one of the numerous anti-scammer mailing lists
that exist on the Internet.
Oh, and happy holidays!
--
Kim Moser, List Administrator
Classical Fencing Mailing List