I just got an inquiry from my website for a proofreading job. Nothing too major, just 5000 words of a youth HIV awareness document.
The hitch here is that the client claims there is a problem with his Paypal account and so is paying via Traveler's check. I told him that I would only release the work once his check clears and I get the full project amount.
Then I get the email below: it claims his accounting department made a clerical error on the check for 2000 Euros. He's basically asking me to subtract my fee and send him back the difference via western union.
Here's his email:
What do you think? Is this a scam? I'm thinking it might be an embezzlement scheme.
I find it suspicious that he claims to have emailed me yesterday (which didnt happen), and the amount for my project is left blank (see the telltale comma before the EUR2000). Smells like a blank template field for a mail merge.
The hitch here is that the client claims there is a problem with his Paypal account and so is paying via Traveler's check. I told him that I would only release the work once his check clears and I get the full project amount.
Then I get the email below: it claims his accounting department made a clerical error on the check for 2000 Euros. He's basically asking me to subtract my fee and send him back the difference via western union.
Here's his email:
Hello,
Anyway,the traveler's check has been mailed as i wrote yesterday but there is a little mistake on it.Instead of traveler's check with value of ,check of EUR.2,000 was mistakenly sent to you by our financier.The extra is meant for drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The NGO will appreciate if you cash along with your money belonging to you as we have urgent need for the extra amount.
The Remaining amount can send back to us through western union through a name and address i will provide for you later.The commission for western union should be deducted from the amount.
Thanking you in anticipation of your assistance.
What do you think? Is this a scam? I'm thinking it might be an embezzlement scheme.
I find it suspicious that he claims to have emailed me yesterday (which didnt happen), and the amount for my project is left blank (see the telltale comma before the EUR2000). Smells like a blank template field for a mail merge.
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