SCAM that Promises to be Translation Job Thread poster: Harold Nevin
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This message is to alert other LSPs and translators of a scam that's circulating and seems to be targeting the language services industry. A man that goes by John Varela and has the email address [email protected] ordered two documents to be translated and he prepaid by check from a US bank account. In our case, the quote totaled $2,700 for two documents. The scammer requests that one translation be started first and... See more This message is to alert other LSPs and translators of a scam that's circulating and seems to be targeting the language services industry. A man that goes by John Varela and has the email address [email protected] ordered two documents to be translated and he prepaid by check from a US bank account. In our case, the quote totaled $2,700 for two documents. The scammer requests that one translation be started first and that we hold the funds and wait to start the second translation. In the meantime, the scammer cancels the second job claiming that his supervisor does not wish to proceed with it anymore and the scammer then tries to demand a cash deposit or wire transfer refund for the remaining balance. In our case, we waited to see if the check cleared, especially because although the scammer claims to have a business, he did not have a website or other indicators that we look for when accepting checks as payments. When the check bounced, we canceled the transaction.
Signs to look for in case he uses different pseudonyms are email addresses that appear to be for a business name but are hosted by Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and/or content for translation that is plagiarized from internet sources.
[Edited at 2015-06-23 16:00 GMT]
[Edited at 2015-06-23 16:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 16:20
Member (2009)
English to German
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| The old familiar overpayment scam | Jun 24, 2015 |
I'm sorry to read about your problems.
It is always wise to do one's homework before accepting payment via check, especially when 2 projects are requested to be translated upon first contact with a new client.
If the client doesn't have a website, then the Blue Board here on ProZ.com might be helpful. Gmail-Addresses are also a possible indication for a Scam, since hardly any reputable business uses free e-mail addresses.
The Scammer Directory is also hel... See more I'm sorry to read about your problems.
It is always wise to do one's homework before accepting payment via check, especially when 2 projects are requested to be translated upon first contact with a new client.
If the client doesn't have a website, then the Blue Board here on ProZ.com might be helpful. Gmail-Addresses are also a possible indication for a Scam, since hardly any reputable business uses free e-mail addresses.
The Scammer Directory is also helpful when it comes to the detection of possible scammers. Almost all of the known scammers are listed there. Stay safe! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Patty Black
United States
Local time: 07:20
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I received the same email | Jul 1, 2015 |
The header is "QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR NEEDED" from the same guy, John Varela, with the same email address. I hope I am allowed to post the contents of this scam email so that other translators can quickly find it online:
Greetings to you, I am in search for a qualified translator that can work on my documents for me.
I have two Articles for translation.
(1) RACISM AND PREJUDICE (17,266 WORDS)
(2) CONFLICT RESOLUTION. (23,515 WORDS)
Article 1 is available now f... See more The header is "QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR NEEDED" from the same guy, John Varela, with the same email address. I hope I am allowed to post the contents of this scam email so that other translators can quickly find it online:
Greetings to you, I am in search for a qualified translator that can work on my documents for me.
I have two Articles for translation.
(1) RACISM AND PREJUDICE (17,266 WORDS)
(2) CONFLICT RESOLUTION. (23,515 WORDS)
Article 1 is available now for translation but article 2 is still with the Editor but i am sure it will be ready soon. Both Articles are meant for seminar to Educate masses on Racism and other issues related to it.
The Articles are meant to be translated from English to Spanish.
Deadline for the Racism and Prejudice Article is 30th July, 2015 while deadline for Conflict Resolution Article will be determined when you receive the document but i am sure you will have enough time for you to translate it.
However, I will like you to confirm your availability so i can provide a copy of the Racism and Prejudice article for you and other information required.
I will be waiting to read back from you.
Regards,
John Varela,
36 W73rd n 10,New York,
NY,10023
646-363-6927
[email protected] ▲ Collapse
| | | | SeanPrendivi (X)
United States
Local time: 09:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Received same email | Jul 7, 2015 |
Just yesterday I received the same email. My gut was telling me that there was something wrong: the email subject line "Are You Available?" followed by terrible spelling and grammar should have been dead giveaways.
Thank you for confirming my suspicions. Is there anything that can be done about this scam?
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Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 10:20
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Easy solution | Jul 8, 2015 |
gmail address = automatic delete without a second thought.
SeanPrendiville wrote:
Is there anything that can be done about this scam?
[Edited at 2015-07-08 13:34 GMT]
| | | | Jacob Hoegh
Switzerland
Local time: 16:20
English to Danish
+ ...
| Same overpayment scam | Jul 26, 2015 |
Dear all!
I received the same request (first into the wrong language pairs French and German) with an overpayment scam from a Mr. Donald Ewards. The bank check arrived with FedEx, but was a counterfeit and trying to cash it in costs you in the end ca. 90.00 USD:
Donald Edwards
Jun 15, 2015, 11:34 AM
Hello,
Thanks for your email.
I am happy to let you know that I have decided to use your service for the translation of the do... See more Dear all!
I received the same request (first into the wrong language pairs French and German) with an overpayment scam from a Mr. Donald Ewards. The bank check arrived with FedEx, but was a counterfeit and trying to cash it in costs you in the end ca. 90.00 USD:
Donald Edwards
Jun 15, 2015, 11:34 AM
Hello,
Thanks for your email.
I am happy to let you know that I have decided to use your service for the translation of the documents.
I will prepay you directly with a certified bank check but before that, I want to make a humble request. I have contacted an event manager to organize a seminar on the topic “The Bermuda & Dragon´s Triangle” in Madrid, Spain. This is actually what the translated documents were meant for.
I have already concluded arrangement with him pending the receipt of his fund in the amount of €7500 and am not able to pay him directly because he does not accept bank check. Unfortunately, am unable to make bank transfer to neither him nor you due to my present sailing location.
On this note, I have resolved to send you a certified bank check for a total amount of €9960.
On receiving the check, kindly deposit it into your account to clear. When you have the cash money on your account, deduct and keep your fee of €2460 and send the balance €7500 to the event manager via a swift bank transfer. I will provide you with the manager's banking details. All taxes, bank charges and commissions will be deducted from his fee before the transfer is made. An invoice from the manager to you is also available if needed for your book-keeping records.
Kindly confirm this arrangement and get back to me with your NAME (as it will appear on the check) POSTAL ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER for payment.
Regards,
Donald Edwards
31 King Street West,
Manchester M3 2PN, England
Warm regards,
Jacob Hoegh, Copygral.ch (Zurich) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Antonio Tirado
United States
Local time: 10:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I received the same e-mail as well and started project and received a fictitious cashier's check | Jul 28, 2015 |
Harold Nevin wrote: This message is to alert other LSPs and translators of a scam that's circulating and seems to be targeting the language services industry. A man that goes by John Varela and has the email address [email protected] ordered two documents to be translated and he prepaid by check from a US bank account. In our case, the quote totaled $2,700 for two documents. The scammer requests that one translation be started first and that we hold the funds and wait to start the second translation. In the meantime, the scammer cancels the second job claiming that his supervisor does not wish to proceed with it anymore and the scammer then tries to demand a cash deposit or wire transfer refund for the remaining balance. In our case, we waited to see if the check cleared, especially because although the scammer claims to have a business, he did not have a website or other indicators that we look for when accepting checks as payments. When the check bounced, we canceled the transaction. Signs to look for in case he uses different pseudonyms are email addresses that appear to be for a business name but are hosted by Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and/or content for translation that is plagiarized from internet sources. [Edited at 2015-06-23 16:00 GMT] [Edited at 2015-06-23 16:01 GMT]
| | | | Antonio Tirado
United States
Local time: 10:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I received the same e-mail as well and started project and received a fictitious cashier's check | Jul 28, 2015 |
I naively commenced work on this purported fellow's project as we had received payment of $5,000 USD for 2 translation job to be realized. However, it was a counterfeit/fictitious cashier's check. I just read other people's accounts of this same SCAM and I hope that others will read this forum first before getting caught up in this SCAM.
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Antonio Tirado
United States
Local time: 10:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Same exact thing occurred to me as well naively. | Jul 28, 2015 |
Harold Nevin wrote: This message is to alert other LSPs and translators of a scam that's circulating and seems to be targeting the language services industry. A man that goes by John Varela and has the email address [email protected] ordered two documents to be translated and he prepaid by check from a US bank account. In our case, the quote totaled $2,700 for two documents. The scammer requests that one translation be started first and that we hold the funds and wait to start the second translation. In the meantime, the scammer cancels the second job claiming that his supervisor does not wish to proceed with it anymore and the scammer then tries to demand a cash deposit or wire transfer refund for the remaining balance. In our case, we waited to see if the check cleared, especially because although the scammer claims to have a business, he did not have a website or other indicators that we look for when accepting checks as payments. When the check bounced, we canceled the transaction. Signs to look for in case he uses different pseudonyms are email addresses that appear to be for a business name but are hosted by Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and/or content for translation that is plagiarized from internet sources. [Edited at 2015-06-23 16:00 GMT] [Edited at 2015-06-23 16:01 GMT]
| | | | Antonio Tirado
United States
Local time: 10:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| This is the exact same thing that of which I received. | Jul 28, 2015 |
Patty Black wrote: The header is "QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR NEEDED" from the same guy, John Varela, with the same email address. I hope I am allowed to post the contents of this scam email so that other translators can quickly find it online: Greetings to you, I am in search for a qualified translator that can work on my documents for me. I have two Articles for translation. (1) RACISM AND PREJUDICE (17,266 WORDS) (2) CONFLICT RESOLUTION. (23,515 WORDS) Article 1 is available now for translation but article 2 is still with the Editor but i am sure it will be ready soon. Both Articles are meant for seminar to Educate masses on Racism and other issues related to it. The Articles are meant to be translated from English to Spanish. Deadline for the Racism and Prejudice Article is 30th July, 2015 while deadline for Conflict Resolution Article will be determined when you receive the document but i am sure you will have enough time for you to translate it. However, I will like you to confirm your availability so i can provide a copy of the Racism and Prejudice article for you and other information required. I will be waiting to read back from you. Regards, John Varela, 36 W73rd n 10,New York, NY,10023 646-363-6927 [email protected]
| | | | Yakov Katsman
United States
Local time: 10:20
Member (2016)
English to Russian
| Received today | May 14, 2016 |
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I am looking for an accomplished and experienced translator who is able to translate documents for pay. (Cifm project 8441 words), and cifcn project 19660 words.
The documents will be translated from English to Russian.
The selected translator will not be engaged to do research - translation only. Cifm article is ready for translation while Cifcn is not ready yet but definitely will be ready for translation before due date of the cifn project which is 15th June 2016.
... See more --
I am looking for an accomplished and experienced translator who is able to translate documents for pay. (Cifm project 8441 words), and cifcn project 19660 words.
The documents will be translated from English to Russian.
The selected translator will not be engaged to do research - translation only. Cifm article is ready for translation while Cifcn is not ready yet but definitely will be ready for translation before due date of the cifn project which is 15th June 2016.
When you respond to this email please introduce yourself, describe your previous translation experience, attach excerpt/s of your work if possible and write what is the per word charges that you would like to be paid and total charges for both documents,
The selected translator will have to sign a contract agreement before we begin. This is a translation condition.
Please do not forget to write what you would like to be paid for the job. I will not consider your response if your rate is not included.
Thanks.
John Varela.
187 Carlton Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11205-3265 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Atorada
United States
Local time: 10:20
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I was scammed by James M Burke: TRANSLATION JOB!!! | May 28, 2016 |
I got the same thing. What a creep!
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I am looking for an accomplished and experienced translator who is able to translate documents for pay. (Cifm project 8441 words), and cifcn project 19660 words.
The documents will be translated from English to Spanish.
The selected translator will not be engaged to do research - translation only. Cifm article is ready for translation while Cifcn is not ready yet but definitely will be ready for translation before due date of the c... See more I got the same thing. What a creep!
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I am looking for an accomplished and experienced translator who is able to translate documents for pay. (Cifm project 8441 words), and cifcn project 19660 words.
The documents will be translated from English to Spanish.
The selected translator will not be engaged to do research - translation only. Cifm article is ready for translation while Cifcn is not ready yet but definitely will be ready for translation before due date of the cifn project which is 15th June 2016.
When you respond to this email please introduce yourself, describe your previous translation experience, attach excerpt/s of your work if possible and write what is the per word charges that you would like to be paid and total charges for both documents,
The selected translator will have to sign a contract agreement before we begin. This is a translation condition.
Please do not forget to write what you would like to be paid for the job. I will not consider your response if your rate is not included.
Thanks.
James M Burke,
12 Ells worth Dr
Princeton Jct,
NJ 08550-3514
USA ▲ Collapse
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