Bizarro Wedding Invite... Scam?
soulmarcosa
4,296 Posts
So last week I got a poorly-worded email invitation from a certain RALPH TOMMY to DJ a wedding party in a small NC town about 4.5 hours away. It seemed like a fairly sketchy proposition, as the party was from 12pm-10pm (kinda long for a wedding party), he said nothing about what kind of music he wanted, and didn't say anything about how he heard of me (I don't advertise as a wedding DJ).Still, whenever I'm a DJ "for hire" I always get a deposit in advance so I don't get burned, so I figured if he'll pay, I'll do it. So I ballparked an estimate of $2000, guessing it would be too steep and that would be the end of that. Nope. He said that would be fine as long as I "promised a good party" and please to send my name, address, phone number, ostensibly to send me a "cheque." At this point I was envisioning coming home to a ransacked house soon after sending the info, so I listed my office address instead (actually a big office complex), which is fully wired with a security system and is generally a lot safer than my house.I also sent him a more detailed estimate listing not only the fee but 2 nights motel stay, a vegan meal, and a sixpack of water. Here's what I got back:
What? He's"invited another artist?" "Based in the UK"??? What the hell is going on here?By the broken English of previous emails, I had a feeling it might be someone hiring me for an Indian wedding (though they never mentioned this), and importing an artist from the UK actually dovetails with that theory. And now I'm thinking he must be under the impression I'm a recording artist, not just a dude who spins records.Still, I'm confused as fuck. The whole exchange reads more like a dialogue with a shady French eBayer than someone who wants me to DJ a wedding.Thoughts?I have invited another artist who based in uk to work along with you. it means you are working along with the orther artist and he has expressed his readiness to work with you.There is a friend of mine who are has promissed to contribute to the successful arrangement of the party So he has the decided to responsible for the payment of you and the other artist invited. I have forwarded to him your address where the payment will be mailled out to and he has told me that the payment willreach you on tine .so you people will have money to prepare for the party fully. In a couple of days now you will have your full payment and i want you to promise me that you will make the party a very good one. Pls get back to me and feel free for any other question you may need to ask. Thanks for you co operation all the time
Comments
some outer bank island ??
Do the directions say "last house on the left"?
That's actually what I'm gonna do tomorrow. I need to talk to this guy IRL and figure out just what the hell is going on.
BTW, 4.5 hours away from me is in the mountains somewheres. Luckily my wife's family are mountain folk and should have the connections to lay the smack down if needed.
If things get more interesting as I feel this out, ya'll definitely will get the updates.
I wrote
He responded
So I wrote back
How long before he tells me about a frozen Ethiopian bank account that only I can help him access?
Cosign on the "smells like the cashier's check scam" in the making.
Now listen here Rajiv, you told our boy Marco that he was getting paid. Don't make me square dance on your turban.
[color:#999999] [translation]get my motherland out your mouth[/translation] [/color]
Yeah, isn't it Nigeria where they're having all the banking problems...??
You will be big time now!
Not really enthusiastic about sending this "band" their "service charge(money)" out of my own pocket, I responded accordingly, with apologies to the Soulstrut massive for not being more entertaining in my response.
In other words, MR. RALPH TOMMY:
WOW it's the same Nigerian scam flipped for the Bhangra set! Incredible.
LOL
And made them hold a sign saying "DJ MARCO".
while wearing speedos.
E-mail them back. We can work with this.
May I use this opportunity to introduce my self as MRS. TAMI
SAVIMBI I am the wife to the late MR. GREAT JONAS SAVIMBI, the leader
of the Angolan revolutionary group know as the (UNITA) who died while
on active duty in an effort to liberate our people .I am currently in
possession of (Fifty eight Million United State Dollars) which I
intended to use for investment purposes specifically in your country.
The money came about as a result of my late husband's inability to
proceed with the purchase of military hardware. I traveled immediately
to my late husband????????s residence in South Africa we he was killed and
discovered the sum of FIFTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS cash hidden under his
under ground safe.Due to my status as a refugee, I cannot invest these
funds here in South Africa, I therefore seek your assistance in
transferring this funds out of South Africa, all necessary arrangement
has been made by me. if this proposal will interest you, contact my son
who is staying in UNITED KINGDOM as a refugee via this security Tel:
+447040112006 or Fax:+448700686501 Please keep this transaction at
utmost secrecy while I await your response via my son.
Regards
Mrs.
Savimbi.
damn you could buy a lot of heatrocks with that. and it would be an "investment" at the same time.