ScamVictimsUnited.com

Bit of backgroud: I posted an ad on a local site advertising that I tutor primary age students. I got this email a day or two later-

Good day to you, My name is Mrs Dorothy Oakly....I am 36years of age I based in west africa country.i will like you to know that i got your e-mail from the website that youare a teacher. Then i will like you to know that my daughter is coming over to Ireland for long vacation, and also for a case study pertaining to her school, she is 13 years old. So i'll really appreciate it if you could be a part time teacher...You will be teaching her for 2hours per day which will be for just 4 weeks & so do let me know the total cost you charge for teaching her for the 4weeks. I hope to read from you soon. Best Regards. Dorothy...

I write back-

Thank you for your inquiry. I would have an hourly rate of 30 Euro per hour in your home for 1:1 tuition. So for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks the total would be 1200 Euro. That would include all resources and materials that I will purchase for her use as well as my travel expense. If you would like to bring your daughter to my home then I would charge 25 Euro per hour as I would have no travel expense, for a total of 1000 Euro for the 4 weeks. Am I correct in assuming that this would be 5 days a week, for a total of 20 days or 40 hours? Also, on what date would the 4 week session begin? Do you know what part of Dublin you will be living in for the 4 weeks? Please let me know if this price will work for you and if you have any other questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

I get this back........

Thanks for the mail..you will be taking her for 5 times a week and 2 hrs a day....So I will like to let you know that my Daughter is a very nice girl and you will enjoy teaching her and she will arrive to Dublin by 19th of october.. I will like you to know that we are paying you by Uk cheque drawn from UK bank and i will like you to know that I have a client in the UK that is owing me some money I will order him to issue the cheque out to you at once. so I want you to send me your full details as soon as possible.
Name that will be on the cheque.
Your full contact address.
Your contact phone number.

I will be waiting to read from you back soonest to confirm that you got my e-mail.
Best Regards..
Mrs Dorothy.
N.B...I can send her picture if you like.and i will like to see your picture also

I write back telling them that I will be on holiday for 10 days in the middle of the 4 weeks but that we could do more hours on the other days, and they write back with.......

Thanks for the mail... I m okay with that... My daughter wait for you when you go on vacation... I will like you to get back to me with the following details so that my client can post you the payment before my Daughter arrive...
Name that will be on the cheque.
Your full contact address.
Your contact phone number.
I will be waiting to hear from you as soon as possible.
Cheers
Dorothy

Thats the last of it. Haven't sent any of the info requested. Seems kinda dodgy with the whole UK client posting a cheque deal, I didnt ask for payment up front anyway, so why they're in such a hurry to pay me is beyond me. And wanting my picture is a bit odd as well.

If it is a scam I dont really see where it is going? My name, address, phone number and photo? Cant do much with that right???? Errr... can you? So I'm not sure how I would get scammed, but my gut tells me its just off. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

This is a scam, I've seen it many times before. This person in UK who owes them money will send you a check (counterfeit) in a large amount. Then they will request that you wire the rest elsewhere. They want your information just in case you don't go thru with it so that they have your info and can try to intimidate you into wiring the funds. I would not respond anymore to them.

thanks ximora! I did some more looking around on the boards here and started finding familiar looking situations, i.e. roommate scams. Scary stuff! I went ahead and reported it to the email providers and the online postings site where I put my ad up. I also talked to a friend who is a Garda (cop in Ireland) and he told me to stay away! I'm just so glad I went with my gut and did some questioning and research on scams before I went ahead.

Thanks Again!

I am SURE that it is a scam, and where I see it going is that they will send you the check, ask you to deposit it, and then within a day or two they will email you that something has come up and their daughter will no longer need your services as a tutor, so could you wire them back the money . . . keeping a couple of hundred for yourself for your time and trouble.

Then, once you wire the money, the bank will find out that the check is counterfeit, and the bank will ask YOU to refund the money.

If you are white, and they are black,why do they want your picture?
Sounds like a scam where all they do is send your pic and details off somewhere else and someone else poses as you to get something in return,or only needs to send the info to get something via the post...yes?

Ijust thought of something...Do you think theses scammers ask for your details,pics etc so others they know or are connected to, will buy it then pass it on to another buyer, who maybe can pose as you for some reason or another??