Does this sound Scammy to you?

He writes:

Hello,

It's my pleasure to locate your profile by Google Search as someone who I could use in my birthday party and my first born birthday too because we share the same date of birth on the 26th of January,2012 , I will love to know how much you do charge for 3hours of service so we can proceed to book us down on your Calendar for the date

I would prefer you reply me back to my yahoo email

Thanks

Flag 1 - the English reminds me of those bank scams
Flag 2 - the photo (of himself?) that he attached
Sidenote: Why not email me from the address you want me to reply to?

I reply:

Thank you for your inquiry! January 26th is a Thursday - is that the day you were looking to have your party? What time were you looking at, what is the location of the party, and how many participants are you expecting?

If you can let me know those answers, as well as if you wanted face painting, balloon art, or both, I would be happy to provide you with more information.

All the best,

Sidenote: normally I give them a rundown of what I do, and cost, but didn't this time - I didn't expect an answer.

He answers:

Hello,

I am so glad to read back from you in time , I will let you to book me in your calendar 26th of January,2012. kindly let me know your transport fee as well to the venue of the partner below

[legit address]

Let me know your price in the next message

I will instruct my Financial Institute to have the 50% of your total payment with traveling expense sent to you via Check or Money Order therefore , your full name and your address with phone number would be needed for such method of payment

Thanks

He didn't tell me the number of kids or services wanted, but that happens occasionally. It is weird that he's telling me about a retainer without me having mentioned one (normally people ask if there is a deposit and how they can pay it). I guess if he sends a check that's more than what I ask, and wants me to return it I'll know it's a scam

But how does this read to you? I searched his name and nothing came up. Clever, new scam or am I paranoid? I may just tell him I'm already booked...

I got the exact same e-mail yesterday. I replied and asked for more information. He answered with the exact same message he sent you.
SCAM???? Hell yah.

SCAM SCREAMER!!!!

HA!!!

Was his name Anthony Kendrick for you as well?!

Alllll right! I am conveniently busy that day!

that's really weird... wonder what the scam is exactly? Not that I'd want to find out the hard way

Oh my goodness. Good thing there is a forum! Same exact email huh? Interesting!

Perry Noia wrote:that's really weird... wonder what the scam is exactly? Not that I'd want to find out the hard way

That's why I wanted another opinion - I can't pinpoint what the scam is, but I've got that scam feeling all the same, lol.

And my curiosity's not so strong that I'll volunteer myself to find out what it is

Yep, that is his name. And he asked that I reply to his regular e-mail instead of his gmail.
I was very wiery of the picture he attached. Are we suppose to be smitten with him and go along with all this? hahaha
Block him from your list to be safe.

This is usually as you get farther into it a version of the Car/appartment scam or 419 (Nigerian scams) found here:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp

I get a scam "we are looking for artist for..." Henna tattoo, tattoo parlour, face paint, clown, request to trade goods, etc. almost daily. Once the vague form letter is answered, they figure out who they sent it to and get to the details. Most people just don't reply to these from the start but all they need is one person to fall for it!

For the trade goods one they are seriously just spamming.....here is an example from yesterday:

"Dear Sir/Mdm

My name is Alice Mogan we got a recommendation of you from one of your customers about your products you deal on. Here is the exact sample of the product we wish to deal with your company, so please confirm to us if You/your Company can make provision of the exact. Please kindly view our website for the design sample of our desired products if your company can partner with us with similar products in the in-page of our company website below."

I don't carry ANY products so they don't even bother to get that far.........

This question comes up on the henna sites almost weekly so you are in great company!!

Tony contacted me too... I marked as spam. Those types are always scam

I can't believe people will stoop to try to rip off face painters....thats just sooo crazy!!!!!

That's why I stopped using yahoo messenger their all over it. If they can get your name, address, and phone number they can find your bank info and hack into it. They usually say their an American working overseas but when you press them why they write like English is a second language they can't answer. They always say they are some kind of professional with a college degree but I didn't finish college and know you can get any degree without passing a college English class.

How can someone hack into your bank account with that information? If that's all they need, wouldn't it be easier for them to just pick up a phonebook?

With cellphones not as many people in the phone book. They are also looking for ways into you ISP to spam other people.

Definitely scam! I've gotten similar emails too. I do also sell products via two of my own websites, so I often get the same emails through both of my addresses. Usually they tell me they want my products and ask if I take Visa and if I reply I should include the url of the website that they are asking me about. Duh, you want my products yet don't know my website?! General rule, if it feels fishy to you, it's probably fishy! I wondered how they were trying to scam too... "HillbillyDiva1" that's a good call, trying to get into your ISP. I did have that happen once and somehow they sent spam to other people and I was getting literally thousands of returned email messages that didn't get through...NOT fun!

This sound scary! What is ISP? How would they get money from you?

finding out your Internet Service Provider isn't going to do much... many people's email addresses SAY their ISP's name. They can't get into your bank account with just a name and phone number. There is definitely more to it than that.

My "day Job" is an Identity Theft Specialist. I fix people's ID's after they have been stolen. For something to occur here you would have to deposit the check. Once the check is deposited the scammer then has all your banking info including banking routing # and account #. They aren't going to get anywere until that check is deposited.

It is called a Phishing scam, where mass emails are sent out from "fraudsters" trying to get a "bite" of someone responding with either personal info, account info, or having a check sent to them.

Usually all email providers have where you mark an email as a scam or phishing, that way the email provider can start weeding them out for you.

You can always report this to your Better Business Buearu or the Federal Trade Commision.

Never respond with account #'s, and most importantly Social Security numbers or other personal ID numbers.

I got so tired receiving these that I told the last one that I would love to work with them, need a $2000. upfront cash deposit and they went away and never came back...

(Tried to get the bank & local law enforcement to go after a bad cashier's check from someone once--I had strung them along until they fedexed one on SOMEONE ELSE'S account. The bank WANTED to cash it, and all I wanted them to do was call the account owner & give them a heads up to close the account. It took nearly an hour at the bank to insist on it. (The poor guy was so thankful.)
Local law enforcement shelved it.

Hey Kristal! Finally having a look on the forum (only 360 posts since the last time!)

If you ever worry about a scammed we can always either lure the guy to meet RAY instead of you or I can always see what my brother in law, deputy chief of police would recommend

Good 'spidey senses' girlfriend!

Manabanana wrote:My "day Job" is an Identity Theft Specialist. I fix people's ID's after they have been stolen. For something to occur here you would have to deposit the check. Once the check is deposited the scammer then has all your banking info including banking routing # and account #. They aren't going to get anywere until that check is deposited.

It is called a Phishing scam, where mass emails are sent out from "fraudsters" trying to get a "bite" of someone responding with either personal info, account info, or having a check sent to them.

Usually all email providers have where you mark an email as a scam or phishing, that way the email provider can start weeding them out for you.

You can always report this to your Better Business Buearu or the Federal Trade Commision.

Never respond with account #'s, and most importantly Social Security numbers or other personal ID numbers.

So your saying that anyone who's check I may cash could possibly do harm by having my numbers?