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Attention: email scam!
Thread poster: Lin Yang
Lin Yang
Lin Yang  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:44
English to Chinese
+ ...
Jun 6, 2005

Hi everyone,

I just got an email via Proz asking for a job quote. But it is absolutely nothig but a scam. If you have received similiar messages, be careful. Here below is the email.

-----------
You have been sent a message via your ProZ.com page.
Author: BISHOP ROBERT WILLIAMS
[NOTE: The author is not a ProZ.com member or was not logged in when
sending this message.]
Author's IP address: 80.179.249.37
Message type: Job-related
... See more
Hi everyone,

I just got an email via Proz asking for a job quote. But it is absolutely nothig but a scam. If you have received similiar messages, be careful. Here below is the email.

-----------
You have been sent a message via your ProZ.com page.
Author: BISHOP ROBERT WILLIAMS
[NOTE: The author is not a ProZ.com member or was not logged in when
sending this message.]
Author's IP address: 80.179.249.37
Message type: Job-related
-----------

DEAR SIR,

I am Bishop Robert Williams . Am an English speaking
clergy
from Ghana.
I will be coming over to United States, within the month
for a 10
days vacation with my Chinese wife,daughter and son of
the
ages of 3 and 5 respectively.
My wife Rev.Comfort Mensah only speak Chinese language.
We will require the services of a Chinese interpreter
for
5 hours daily X 10 days because I will not always be with
them
on most occasions due to other church functions
which I may be attending.
Please acknowledge if you can offer this service and
what
will it cost me?.
We will like to pay in advance of our visit so she can
be
assured of an interpreter during her shopping and
sightseeing because this is her first visit.
An early reply will be appreciated
Please indicate your operational base in your country so
that I will know if it okay for me.

Remain Blessed,

His Lordship,
Bishop Robert William
NOTE THAT OUR SPONSOR WOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF YOUR
SERVICES IN CASHIER CHEQUE. ▲ Collapse
 
Evert DELOOF-SYS
Evert DELOOF-SYS  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 06:44
Member
English to Dutch
+ ...
Yes, indeed, thanks for the warning, but this has been discussed before Jun 6, 2005

Many thanks for the warning, but since this has been discussed a few times before (e.g. at http://www.proz.com/post/198273#198273), may I suggest you first check previous postings?

You may do so by simply entering a keyword (like 'email scam') in the Search box on the left handside of this page.

Thanks for your understanding.
 
swisstell
swisstell
Italy
Local time: 06:44
German to English
+ ...
I told him to stay home Jun 6, 2005

.. and distribute the funds saved in this manner to the destitute people of his community or country.
 
Lin Yang
Lin Yang  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:44
English to Chinese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
oops, sorry. Jun 6, 2005

Oops, sorry, Evert, for any inconvenience caused by my message. I have heard about this scam elsewhere but this is my first time received it personally. Should have searched the forum before posting. Anyway, your suggestion is taken.
 
Lin Yang
Lin Yang  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:44
English to Chinese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
haha, that is a good one. Jun 6, 2005

haha, that is a good one, Swiss Tell. Maybe I should do it too.
 
Lindsay Sabadosa (X)
Lindsay Sabadosa (X)  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:44
Italian to English
+ ...
Through Proz Mail! Jun 7, 2005

gladbeach wrote:

haha, that is a good one, Swiss Tell. Maybe I should do it too.


I too have heard of this and even received e-mails (guess the bishop is none too particular since I'm not even an interpreter!) but I've never received anything like this through Proz mail. That's a bit distrubing. Isn't there anyway that this could be prevented?

P.S. They say that you should never answer these e-mails because the sender then knows that they are going to an active e-mail account and is likely to send others (from an different e-mail address, naturally). I don't know if this helps reduce spam but I guess every little bit helps.

[Edited at 2005-06-07 04:20]
 
Ralf Lemster
Ralf Lemster  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 06:44
English to German
+ ...
Also discussed before Jun 7, 2005

Hi,
I too have heard of this and even received e-mails (guess the bishop is none too particular since I'm not even an interpreter!) but I've never received anything like this through Proz mail. That's a bit distrubing. Isn't there anyway that this could be prevented?

This has also been discussed on a few occasions; in this thread, for example.

In essence, your profile works just like any other e-mail account - with the important difference that, unless you respond to such messages, the sender will not know your actual address. You can also block your profile, for individual members, IP addresses, or generally (My ProZ.com - My Profile - Email Preferences) - just bear in mind that a general bloc will also keep out potential customers.

P.S. They say that you should never answer these e-mails because the sender then knows that they are going to an active e-mail account and is likely to send others (from an different e-mail address, naturally).

Quite right. What you can do is report them, to spamcop.net, for example.

Best regards,
Ralf
 
davidgreen
davidgreen
German to English
report the poster to their ISP and the account will be cancelled Jun 7, 2005

there are two good links where/how to report these scammers:
http://www.joewein.de/sw/419-freemail-abuse.htm
http://spamlinks.net/track-report-addresses.htm

[Edited at 2005-06-07 10:58]
 
Nina Khmielnitzky
Nina Khmielnitzky  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 00:44
Member (2004)
English to French
I receive such emails at least once a week Jun 7, 2005

They are called "Nigerian letter" and you can get more info at http://www.phonebusters.com/english/recognizeit_advfeefraud.html

Nina

P.S.: By the way, I got a weird email last week. I guy in France tried to contact me via my proz profile, saying he wanted to get to know me. Hello! Proz is not a dating agency where you can choose girls in a catalog... See more
They are called "Nigerian letter" and you can get more info at http://www.phonebusters.com/english/recognizeit_advfeefraud.html

Nina

P.S.: By the way, I got a weird email last week. I guy in France tried to contact me via my proz profile, saying he wanted to get to know me. Hello! Proz is not a dating agency where you can choose girls in a catalogue! Anyways, it was full of mistakes, not worth my time. ▲ Collapse
 


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