Company asks for Systrans
Thread poster: Ritu Bhanot
Ritu Bhanot
Ritu Bhanot  Identity Verified
France
French to Hindi
+ ...
Aug 28, 2008

Hi,
I just had an interesting discussion with an organisation... but somehow I felt that it was a scam and I backed out. I'd like to know what you think. Is it reallly a scam?

Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 9:29:59 AM): Hi
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:50:52 AM): Hi
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:51:01 AM): finally, both of us are online at the same time
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:51:03 AM):
X (8/28/2008 10:51:12 AM): hello
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:51:13 AM): How are you?
X (8/28/2008 10:51:25 AM): I"m good
X (8/28/2008 10:51:27 AM): and u ?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:51:38 AM): I'm fine too.
X (8/28/2008 10:51:48 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:52:12 AM): u tried to contact me a couple of days ago.
X (8/28/2008 10:52:25 AM): whats your name again
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:52:26 AM): but I was offline
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:52:29 AM): Ritu Bhanot
X (8/28/2008 10:52:37 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:52:44 AM): I am a French>English, Hindi translator
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:53:09 AM): My source languages are French, English and Hindi
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:53:19 AM): My target languages are English and HIndi
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:53:21 AM):
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:53:32 AM): I'm Indian
X (8/28/2008 10:53:42 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:53:46 AM): My proz profile is www.proz.com/profile/15075
X (8/28/2008 10:53:52 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 10:53:58 AM): just a min
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:54:04 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 10:58:34 AM): Please spare me min
X (8/28/2008 10:58:38 AM): let me pick a call
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 10:58:43 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:06:01 AM): I"m back
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:06:10 AM):
X (8/28/2008 11:06:28 AM): so i"ll just give you a brief detail about the job
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:06:32 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:06:36 AM): hang on...
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:07:55 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:08:39 AM): we have openings for part time and full time work
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:09:27 AM): what does the job involve?
X (8/28/2008 11:09:42 AM): we have projects on business,Legal,Medical,History,Arts I.T e.t.c
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:09:55 AM): I am a full-time freelance translator
X (8/28/2008 11:10:01 AM): we pay about * usd per word source
X (8/28/2008 11:10:10 AM): we make payments after every 2 weeks
X (8/28/2008 11:10:33 AM): via paypal,direct bank deposit and western union
X (8/28/2008 11:10:49 AM): we can provide you with over 1500 words daily
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:11:10 AM): and who pays paypal charges?
X (8/28/2008 11:11:18 AM): and if you dont have systran software you"ll need to get one as it is required for the job
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:12:10 AM): are translations proofread after submission? (a second eye)
X (8/28/2008 11:12:27 AM): we have people who proof read
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:12:57 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:13:12 AM): which systran software do you need?
X (8/28/2008 11:13:26 AM): business version 6.o
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:13:29 AM): I believe systran is a MT software
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:13:43 AM): http://www.systran.fr/traduction/produits-de-traduction/desktop/systran-business-translator
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:13:50 AM): is this the one you are talking about
X (8/28/2008 11:13:53 AM): its for translation
X (8/28/2008 11:14:02 AM): yes
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:14:15 AM): and why insist on Systran?
X (8/28/2008 11:14:33 AM): we have a standard
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:14:34 AM): I have CAT tools. and I don't know how useful a MT software will be
X (8/28/2008 11:14:44 AM): and thats our policy
X (8/28/2008 11:14:58 AM): thats why we offer systran at a discount rate
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:15:18 AM): and what is the discounted rate?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:15:34 AM): how much space does it take on the system?
X (8/28/2008 11:16:44 AM): you can get systran from www.systransoft.com for about $430
X (8/28/2008 11:16:57 AM): but we can offer it to you for only $310
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:17:24 AM): and what is its use?
X (8/28/2008 11:17:59 AM): it has a spell checker and and editor
X (8/28/2008 11:18:03 AM): in built
X (8/28/2008 11:18:25 AM): we also customized so that it can recognize our formatting rules
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:19:00 AM): but that is possible in word/ powerpoint
X (8/28/2008 11:19:21 AM): but its limited
X (8/28/2008 11:19:33 AM): the software has many more advantages
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:19:35 AM): easily achieved with CAT tools
X (8/28/2008 11:19:44 AM): all our translators use systran
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:20:27 AM): At the cost that you are offering, it pays itself in approximately * words
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:20:30 AM): right?
X (8/28/2008 11:20:46 AM): yes
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:20:49 AM): if we use it just for your work
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:21:14 AM): I guess it's not bad at all.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:21:21 AM): so how is one supposed to pay.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:21:31 AM): can you deduct its cost from the work I do for you?
X (8/28/2008 11:21:57 AM): i would have love to do that but its against our company policy
X (8/28/2008 11:22:10 AM): we have to pay DHL to ship it to you
X (8/28/2008 11:22:26 AM): can't we download it from the site itself?
X (8/28/2008 11:22:48 AM): if you want the soft copy we can do that
X (8/28/2008 11:22:58 AM): so that you just download it
X (8/28/2008 11:23:05 AM): but the hard copy is better
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:23:09 AM): yes, a soft copy is good enough for me. it saves money for both of us.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:23:14 AM): why is a hard copy better?
X (8/28/2008 11:23:31 AM): because you can install it on as many systems as possible
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:23:42 AM): and that's not possible with a soft copy?
X (8/28/2008 11:23:49 AM): though the soft copy goes for only $250
X (8/28/2008 11:23:58 AM): and that hard copy is $310
X (8/28/2008 11:24:05 AM): so make your choice
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:24:43 AM): it should be. if you buy norton online, you get a username and password and can download it on your computer as many times as you want.
X (8/28/2008 11:24:59 AM): we can do that
X (8/28/2008 11:25:15 AM): if you like it that way
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:25:24 AM): Yes, I prefer it that ways
X (8/28/2008 11:25:34 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:03 AM): that helps me avoid using my Credit Card etc., is cheaper and I know that I'll pay for it in a day
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:11 AM): if I do 1500 words a day
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:16 AM): no one loses money
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:20 AM): what do you think?
X (8/28/2008 11:26:22 AM): yes
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:31 AM): it's a win-win situation
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:32 AM):
X (8/28/2008 11:26:35 AM): so if that is want you want
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:26:42 AM): yes, I'd like that
X (8/28/2008 11:26:48 AM): you can make payment via paypal
X (8/28/2008 11:27:05 AM): as i'll provide you with our paypal account details
X (8/28/2008 11:27:14 AM): then i"ll set you up to start
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:27:50 AM): I thought that for a soft copy, it was possible for you to deduct the money from the work I do
X (8/28/2008 11:28:14 AM): sorry its against our policy
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:28:31 AM): I prefer that because I'll be sure that you'll give me at least enough work to pay it back. I don't use it for any other client
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:28:42 AM): and I don't think it'll be of any use otherwise.
X (8/28/2008 11:28:49 AM): we have never done that
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:29:05 AM): but doesn't mean that it can't be done.
X (8/28/2008 11:29:11 AM): and its against our policy
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:29:20 AM): policies can change, and it will be a win-win situation for both of us.
X (8/28/2008 11:29:20 AM): once you pay for it we"ll provide
X (8/28/2008 11:29:27 AM): it for you
X (8/28/2008 11:29:59 AM): and then you can start work
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:30:09 AM): I think it is ok. I can pay that much.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:30:21 AM): but I would have preferred it the other way.
X (8/28/2008 11:30:45 AM): i understand your feelings
X (8/28/2008 11:30:54 AM): but please understand
X (8/28/2008 11:31:09 AM): i assure you once you start work with us
X (8/28/2008 11:31:18 AM): you"ll get enough work
X (8/28/2008 11:31:30 AM): and we make payments after every 2 weeks
X (8/28/2008 11:31:40 AM): so there is really nothing to loose
X (8/28/2008 11:33:35 AM): so if you"re ready i can include your name to our database now
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:33:45 AM): hmmm...
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:34:32 AM): I have another question: how much hard-disk space does one need for Systrans?
X (8/28/2008 11:35:05 AM): systran has different capacities
X (8/28/2008 11:35:25 AM): so you'll let me know what your hard-disk space is
X (8/28/2008 11:35:41 AM): then i"ll provide you with the one thats compatible
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:35:51 AM): I have * GB ram and * GB hard disk on my laptop
X (8/28/2008 11:35:59 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:36:03 AM): thats very good
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:36:08 AM): I use my laptop more than any other system
X (8/28/2008 11:36:18 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:36:31 AM): laptop is very condusive
X (8/28/2008 11:36:36 AM): so its good
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:36:45 AM): but of course, there are other systems and most of the time I have about * GB free space
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:37:04 AM): is that enough?
X (8/28/2008 11:37:05 AM): never mind
X (8/28/2008 11:37:10 AM): that is enough
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:37:23 AM): is there a trial version available?
X (8/28/2008 11:37:37 AM): not yet
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:39:18 AM): so how does it work?
X (8/28/2008 11:40:36 AM): i"ll take you through it
X (8/28/2008 11:40:53 AM): and in about 24-48 hours
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:40:57 AM): I'd atleast like a link from where I can download it. Before I spend that much money
X (8/28/2008 11:41:13 AM): you"ll know how to use it
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:41:18 AM): I mean a website from where I can download it
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:41:23 AM): I have your website
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:41:39 AM): even if I don't have the password etc. to be able to download it
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:41:46 AM): I need assurance that it is for real
X (8/28/2008 11:41:52 AM): yes
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:41:58 AM): it is a lot of money for an Indian
X (8/28/2008 11:42:00 AM): we have an FTP
X (8/28/2008 11:42:15 AM): which is linked to the website
X (8/28/2008 11:42:28 AM): from a special URL
X (8/28/2008 11:42:48 AM): and also know that we will be given you access to the website
X (8/28/2008 11:42:58 AM): I mean our FTP
X (8/28/2008 11:43:29 AM): thats from where we"ll be sending you translation files
X (8/28/2008 11:43:41 AM): and thats where you"ll download systran
X (8/28/2008 11:43:53 AM): as many time as possible
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:44:40 AM): To begin with, could you please send me an e-mail from your official id
X (8/28/2008 11:44:46 AM): our FTP is connected to www.yousendit.com
X (8/28/2008 11:45:33 AM): sorry i can give my password or I.D
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:46:05 AM): ?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:46:18 AM): I'm not asking you for your password
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:46:30 AM): But maybe you could send me an e-mail from your official id
X (8/28/2008 11:46:52 AM): what official I.D are you talking about ?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:47:16 AM): from your * (company's name) e-mail id
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:47:29 AM): that will be more reliable
X (8/28/2008 11:47:36 AM): ok
X (8/28/2008 11:47:37 AM): i"ll call our support team now
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:47:46 AM): please send me an e-mail to (my e-mail id)
X (8/28/2008 11:47:58 AM): ok hold on..
X (8/28/2008 11:48:10 AM): let me call our support team
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:48:23 AM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:48:48 AM): where are you based?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:22 AM): daniel, there is another solution
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:31 AM): I'll buy systran from a local shop here
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:37 AM): that ways there's no issue
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:43 AM): I'll have systran
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:47 AM): and we can work together
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 11:51:48 AM): ok?
X (8/28/2008 11:59:10 AM): i just called support team
X (8/28/2008 11:59:32 AM): if its confirmation you want there"ll reply shortly.Thanks
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:00:23 PM): ok
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:00:33 PM): I asked another question but guess you were busy.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:00:50 PM): I think it'll be easier if I bought systrans from a local shop
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:00:56 PM): it may be a bit more expensive
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:01:06 PM): but then that doesn't change things a lot
X (8/28/2008 12:01:14 PM): you know what...???
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:01:18 PM): yes?
X (8/28/2008 12:01:29 PM): there is no need wasting time here
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:01:34 PM): ?
X (8/28/2008 12:01:39 PM): it seems you dont trust us
X (8/28/2008 12:01:49 PM): so there is no need working with you
X (8/28/2008 12:02:10 PM): if you can"t believe us to send you a software
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:02:27 PM): as you like it. spending money before starting work is something I have never done
X (8/28/2008 12:02:30 PM): how can you believe us to pay you when you start working
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:02:42 PM): I can take that much risk
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:02:54 PM): that's the minimum risk in any business.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:03:14 PM): but if you trusted me you would have deducted it from my payment
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:03:22 PM): it would have been paid back in two days
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:03:29 PM): but you don't trust me either.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:03:50 PM): and I understand that because it is business.
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:03:55 PM): trust comes with time
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:04:03 PM): it's not born just like that
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:04:23 PM): and it works both ways
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:05:33 PM): and what does it change if I buy it from outside?
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:05:40 PM): you are not losing anything
X (8/28/2008 12:06:00 PM): well thanks for your interest to work with us
X(8/28/2008 12:06:00 PM): i wish you the best in your career pursuit...
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:06:06 PM): thanks
Ritu Bhanot (8/28/2008 12:06:10 PM): best of luck to you too


So what do you think?

Is it for real? Did I just lose a good opportunity or was it better not to pay that much money to someone I don't know?

It just looked too good to be true and then they insisted that I must buy it from them.

P.S.: I have added this organisation to blueboard, just in case. Unfortunately I can't add a remark as I haven't worked with them but...

[Edited at 2008-08-28 10:49]


 
Kevin Lossner
Kevin Lossner  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 13:15
German to English
+ ...
This scam has been discussed numerous times already Aug 28, 2008

Anyone dumb enough to buy MT software for their work deserves to get fleeced anyway Beware.

 
Lori Cirefice
Lori Cirefice  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:15
French to English
Definitely a scam Aug 28, 2008

Ritu, your instincts are right, this is a scam. Two other translators have posted about the same thing in the last month. See here:

http://www.proz.com/forum/software_applications/112609-systran_language_software.html

as well as the link within the above link for more info.


 
JPW (X)
JPW (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:15
Spanish to English
+ ...
It's a four-one-niner from Nigeria. Aug 28, 2008

The name of the person gives it away immediately.

He's been trying it on at other sites (like proz.com) too.

Don't waste any more time on it, and your money's better off staying in your account.


 
Ritu Bhanot
Ritu Bhanot  Identity Verified
France
French to Hindi
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Same scam Aug 28, 2008

Thanks Lori.

I think we are talking about the same person.

http://www.proz.com/forum/safe_computing/111884-possible_scam:_agency_asking_translators_to%20_buy_software_from_them.html
... See more
Thanks Lori.

I think we are talking about the same person.

http://www.proz.com/forum/safe_computing/111884-possible_scam:_agency_asking_translators_to%20_buy_software_from_them.html

http://www.proz.com/forum/software_applications/112609-systran_language_software.html

BTW they also have an office(?) in India. One of the reasons why I found it fishy was that they had given a mobile number for india.

It is quite strange. Few organisations would advertise someone's mobile number on the web-site. It's ok for a translator to do that because we work alone and it's the best way to contact us. But all companies have landline numbers.
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savaria (X)
savaria (X)
Hungary
Local time: 14:15
English to Hungarian
+ ...
That is not the first time I hear this story. Aug 28, 2008

I have already encountered something like this in the past.If I pay 100 USD or so (to prove that I am a real,I mean,existent flesh and blood person),then they will award me the sum I have won on the lottery.That is pretty much the same thing.If you pay them a deposit for this shit programme,then you might get work form them -they say.The thing is that you will never get any work form such companies -because they in fact do not have any work to offer you.

They only want your money.T
... See more
I have already encountered something like this in the past.If I pay 100 USD or so (to prove that I am a real,I mean,existent flesh and blood person),then they will award me the sum I have won on the lottery.That is pretty much the same thing.If you pay them a deposit for this shit programme,then you might get work form them -they say.The thing is that you will never get any work form such companies -because they in fact do not have any work to offer you.

They only want your money.That is exactly why I would never give any money to any website (not even proz.com) for the fear that my credit card/bank card data get into wrong(I mean nasty,criminal) hands,and they are then used for various illegal purposes.

Can you please reveal me in private who this Mr/Mrs X was?(or at least how he/she presented him or herself)

[email protected](I have a good spam filters,so spammers you can all forget me for ever)
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Ritu Bhanot
Ritu Bhanot  Identity Verified
France
French to Hindi
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Blueboard Aug 28, 2008

I think it would be useful if we could add a link to these discussions in the blueboard.

 
Lori Cirefice
Lori Cirefice  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:15
French to English
I was thinking the same thing Aug 28, 2008

Ritu Bhanot wrote:

I think it would be useful if we could add a link to these discussions in the blueboard.


I agree, if someone else were to do a blueboard search on this person/company, they wouldn't get the warning about the scam, just an empty BB entry.


 
Carla Guerreiro
Carla Guerreiro  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:15
Member (2006)
French to Portuguese
+ ...
Do you HAVE TO buy Systran to them??? Aug 31, 2008

This is too much!!! They want to sell you Systran??? You can only work for them if you buy Systran to them???

What a bunch of bastards!!!!


 
Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:15
Multiplelanguages
+ ...
agency is reselling Systran software Jan 24, 2009

Hi Ritu,

I just saw this thread.

From what I can see, this agency is offering you, claiming to be a reseller, the Systran Business Translator v6 version, and they say that it is a standard for their translators to use that model and version.
Also, they say in the chat thread that they have customized it for their formatting rules.

Having worked with many Machine Translation software programs over the years, and having worked for 2 MT companies (includ
... See more
Hi Ritu,

I just saw this thread.

From what I can see, this agency is offering you, claiming to be a reseller, the Systran Business Translator v6 version, and they say that it is a standard for their translators to use that model and version.
Also, they say in the chat thread that they have customized it for their formatting rules.

Having worked with many Machine Translation software programs over the years, and having worked for 2 MT companies (including Systran), here is my input on this deal that this agency tried to offer you.

1). It sounds weird to me that this agency is offering a significantly discounted downloadable version vs sending you a packaged CD. It does not sound like a standard reseller policy with Systran

2). They want to offer you Business Translator v6 , but it is the Premium Translators v6 that has all the features that can help translators. So, why are they forcing professional translators to use the software model that is made for business people, rather than for professional translators.

3). They say they have customized the Business Translator v6 and want to sell that to you.
To my knowledge, Systran resellers do not customize the software and then resell it. They sell the exact same release/build which is officially released by Systran and sold by Systran. They are simply "resellers". All resellers get the same version.

So, reselling a customized version for a discounted price, that sounds very fishy to me.

If I were you, I would also report this to Systran, HQ in Paris at La Defense, because it does not sound like it follows their reseller policy for their software.

Jeff
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