Got a new request today for translation of an article (Well known scam by now)
Thread poster: Didier Devynck
Didier Devynck
Didier Devynck  Identity Verified
United States
Member (2002)
English to French
+ ...
Aug 5, 2014

I received the following email today:

Hello, I am Miss Mata Taylor, I got your e mail address from a online forum that you are an excellent translator, I guess you would have worked for them. I will like you to translate an article for me, but first i need to know your language combination because it was not stated. I will be very happy if you can reply my e mail ASAP.

Thank You

A few weeks ago, the name of the "requester" was Rick Johnson. If you receive s
... See more
I received the following email today:

Hello, I am Miss Mata Taylor, I got your e mail address from a online forum that you are an excellent translator, I guess you would have worked for them. I will like you to translate an article for me, but first i need to know your language combination because it was not stated. I will be very happy if you can reply my e mail ASAP.

Thank You

A few weeks ago, the name of the "requester" was Rick Johnson. If you receive such a request, delete it. It is NOT a legitimate request.
Collapse


 
George Trail
George Trail  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:04
Member (2009)
French to English
+ ...
You couldn't make it up! Aug 6, 2014

Why would anyone actually tell a translator that they wanted to hire them yet also tell them that they didn't know their language pair?

 
Peter Shortall
Peter Shortall  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Romanian to English
+ ...
"I will like/want" Aug 6, 2014

For some reason, these scammers have a habit of using the strange-sounding phrases "I will like" and "I will want" - an aspect I have commented on before:

http://www.proz.com/forum/scams/209144-another_suspicious_enquiry;_potential_scam.html

Beware those phrases!


 
Trisha F
Trisha F  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:04
English to Spanish
+ ...
Strange wording Aug 6, 2014

They usually have terrible grammar and yes, what's the point of contacting a translator if you are not sure of his / her language combination? If she had truly obtained your info from Proz, she would have been able to see the languages you work with.

 
finnword1
finnword1
United States
Local time: 03:04
English to Finnish
+ ...
a/k/a Jonathan Cowan, Elizabeth Larson, and others Aug 6, 2014

this scammer has indeed been around for a while

 
María González, M.A. English
María González, M.A. English  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 07:04
Member (Jan 2024)
English to Spanish
+ ...
So Absurd Aug 6, 2014

Poor language skills, bizarre content and requests... I wouldn't waste a second with such unsolicited mailings -- which, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly commonplace these days.

However, Didier, your sharing is appreciated. Thx!

Have a good nite, everyone,

-MG


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 08:04
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Yes, the wording Aug 6, 2014

Peter Shortall wrote:

For some reason, these scammers have a habit of using the strange-sounding phrases "I will like" and "I will want" - an aspect I have commented on before:

http://www.proz.com/forum/scams/209144-another_suspicious_enquiry;_potential_scam.html

Beware those phrases!



It seems as if these scammers believe that being overly (and incorrectly) "polite" will do the trick.

In my experience, all legitimate outsourcers are polite in the proper manner. They have neither the time nor do they (I believe) it to be necessary to sugar-coat their job offers like this. They know the language pair they need, and address only translators offering these pairs.

I agree with Peter, beware of these phrases and the tear-jerkers.

Actually, I am just waiting for a scammer to ask the respective translator, if he/she (the scammer) can be sure that the person s/he contacted was really a translator.


 
Olga Cuzmanov
Olga Cuzmanov  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:04
Member (2013)
English to Romanian
+ ...
Me too Aug 7, 2014

I received the identical nonsensical message today. It screams SCAM.

If you're ever in doubt, check out the following posting:
http://www.proz.com/forum/scams/264628-translator_scammers_directory.html

Mr. João Roque Dias' works really hard to help all of us by posting information in his TRANSLATOR SCAMMERS DIRECTORY. It is free
... See more
I received the identical nonsensical message today. It screams SCAM.

If you're ever in doubt, check out the following posting:
http://www.proz.com/forum/scams/264628-translator_scammers_directory.html

Mr. João Roque Dias' works really hard to help all of us by posting information in his TRANSLATOR SCAMMERS DIRECTORY. It is free and constantly updated. You will find a lot of information about scammers and advise on what to do to avoid being scammed.

Thanks a lot João.
Collapse


 
vcmarcano
vcmarcano
United States
Local time: 02:04
English to Spanish
+ ...
I got this scam email too Aug 14, 2014

Hey everyone. I am glad for this forum. I feel kind of stupid because I thought it was a real request (I am new at this) and I had a back and forth with the person, "Mata Taylor". I asked for advance payment and they sent me a fake check for a lot more than we had agreed on. The check was FedExed from Lenexa, Kansas. When I told her I had received the payment, she then emailed me saying that her assistant had messed up and could I wire her the remaining money amount to some address in Ukraine. ... See more
Hey everyone. I am glad for this forum. I feel kind of stupid because I thought it was a real request (I am new at this) and I had a back and forth with the person, "Mata Taylor". I asked for advance payment and they sent me a fake check for a lot more than we had agreed on. The check was FedExed from Lenexa, Kansas. When I told her I had received the payment, she then emailed me saying that her assistant had messed up and could I wire her the remaining money amount to some address in Ukraine. I replied to let her know I realized it was a scam. I will be reporting it all to the authorities and also to whatever FedEx there is in Lenexa, Kansas. I am glad this community keeps us all alert. I felt really stupid, but glad to not have sent any money or anything.Collapse


 
João Roque Dias
João Roque Dias
Portugal
Local time: 07:04
English to Portuguese
About the Translator Scammers Directory Aug 15, 2014

Thank you, Olga, for your kind words, but:

1. From February 15, 2014, the TSD is hosted on its own domain -- www.translator-scammers.com -- and it is published by the Translator Scammers Intelligence Group, with whom I am not associated. I remain a strong supporter of the TSD, though.

2. The TSD has never dealt, and it doesn't deal, with payment scams or payment issues. It dea
... See more
Thank you, Olga, for your kind words, but:

1. From February 15, 2014, the TSD is hosted on its own domain -- www.translator-scammers.com -- and it is published by the Translator Scammers Intelligence Group, with whom I am not associated. I remain a strong supporter of the TSD, though.

2. The TSD has never dealt, and it doesn't deal, with payment scams or payment issues. It deals ONLY with CV theft and translator impersonators. Therefore, the IDs of the scammers mentioned on this thread would not be found at the TSD.
Collapse


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Lucia Leszinsky[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Got a new request today for translation of an article (Well known scam by now)







Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »