On a weekly basis, I get a lot of inquires about my voiceover services. Luckily many of those turn into work, and a fair number turn into regular clients.
Every once in a while, though, an inquiry comes through that just smells like a scam right from the start. The one below had that “scam odor” right when I saw the subject line:
Subject: Studio Inquiry.
Hello,
My name is Andrea Purdon from M&G Investment International United States. I want to know if there is any availability for hiring of your studio and recording services if possible. If there is availability, kindly let me know about the dates and the quotes.
They are looking forward to Arrive on 4th of July 2011. The ONLY mode Of Payment is :Visa , Master or Amex Card.
Write me immediately with an update on the list of all the services you can offer and available at that time. Call me anytime.
Mr Andrea Purdon.
One of the things that points to this being a scam is the second paragraph, “They are looking forward . . .” Who are “they?”
But, just to be sure, I did a quick Google search for Andrea Purdon and found these:
In the emails posted in each of those links, the wording of the email is very similar to the one I received. About the only difference is the service requested and the date the service is needed. I wasn’t surprised in the least, since I pretty much knew it was a scam the second I read the email.
My guess is that the scam would be them overpaying me for my services and expecting me to provide a refund. Then I would find that the original payment was bogus, and I would be out the amount refunded. I didn’t fall for this scam, and I hope no one else does.
So to answer the question posed above, “Why is Andrea Purdon trying to scam me?
Andrea Purdon is a scammer who is trying to steal my money.
a lot more of this crap……
Hi,
what is the total cost using Producer/Director , Cameraman with gear, Audio tech with gear, Grip/stagehand ,Editing suite with editor and Tape stock per day. The date is 4th July to 6th July. That is 3 days. what is the grand total cost and the types of credit cards you accept?
Andrea
Hello,
My name is Andrea Purdon from M&G Investment International United States. I want to know if there is any availability for hiring of your studio and recording services if possible. If there is availability, kindly let me know about the dates and the quotes.
They are looking forward to Arrive on 4th of July 2011. The ONLY mode Of Payment is :Visa , Master or Amex Card.
Write me immediately with an update on the list of all the services you can offer and available at that time. Call me anytime.
Mr Andrea Purdon.
Thanks, Gian. These guys drive me crazy.
I got an email and He call me by phone once I answered him, He has send me some money and want me to tranfer a part of that money to another account!!
That’s the scam. Once you send him the money, you’ll find the check he sent you is bad. You’ll be out the money you sent him.
Hello,
I own a small hotel in Mexico near the border. I too received an email like this, except of course the dates & number of “occupants” changed. I first noticed the poor grammar, then the MR andrea, & the fact that no matter what price I gave them they were willing to pay with such easyness. Luckily I followed my gut. My only question is, How could they have possibly gotten my email adress? where could this have come from?
Hi Caylee, hard to say how they got the email. Maybe off your website or from a travel directory that might list your hotel. Who knows? These scammers bother me. Not much we can do except warn others. Thanks for stopping by.
Tim
First tip… never trust a man named Andrea. Or a man named Kelly for that matter. Shifty.