ProZ.com Translation Forums

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Interesting

Adieu — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 07:07:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Adieu
Post title: Interesting

So, did y'all get scammed by a translation company led by a washed-up Russian pop star, or do they just use fake names?

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Regent Street

gayd (X) — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:40:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: gayd (X)
Post title: Regent Street

[quote]Michael Newton wrote:

In retrospect, "Regent Street" is an awfully posh address for a translation agency. [/quote]
Regent Street is a well known address for virtual offices.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Don't forget to check for scammers

Jens Voelkel — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 07:51:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Jens Voelkel
Post title: Don't forget to check for scammers

Hello all, hi Thomas,

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Tolingo Limited is indeed a fake agency that used our name – tolingo GmbH – to scam freelance translators. The scammer company has been deleted from the platform Thomas mentioned, and we hope that there will be no further damage.

We’re very sorry to hear that some of you fell prey to this scam. Take care and don’t forget to check the scammer lists!

Best regards,
Kimberly
Vendor Manager at tolingo GmbH

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Could it be the same David Stewart?

Thomas Veron [EI] — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 17:15:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Thomas Veron [EI]
Post title: Could it be the same David Stewart?

I remember I had a problem finding this guy's (?) company to make an invoice some time ago.
This was the information I got from him, and I couldn't find a company registration or VAT.

Tolingo Limited
Attn: David Stewart
Abbey Road
London
United Kingdom

Strange, another famous address :) . But I had payment through the platform I worked on, so just an invoicing problem for me, luckily. .

[Edited at 2021-03-24 20:08 GMT]

[Edited at 2021-03-24 20:15 GMT]

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Translation body

Michael Newton — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Michael Newton
Post title: Translation body

In retrospect, "Regent Street" is an awfully posh address for a translation agency.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Final piece of information re. TRANSLATION MINDS

Chris John Hall — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 01:43:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Chris John Hall
Post title: Final piece of information re. TRANSLATION MINDS

Dissolution of the company on 22 October 2019:

[url removed]

All that you need to know can be found via the above link.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | No issues with Translation Minds

Eduard Urgell — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 11:43:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Eduard Urgell
Post title: No issues with Translation Minds

I have recently translated a text for Translation Minds and have been (fairly) paid in less than 2 weeks. The PM, David Stewart, has been great to deal with.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Sorry for your experience but thank you for letting us know...

Zibow Retailleau (X) — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 10:09:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Zibow Retailleau (X)
Post title: Sorry for your experience but thank you for letting us know...

...as I just received an offer from David Stewart as well. Luckily, running a background check before accepting a job is my habit.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Just received a request

Angie Garbarino — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:15:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Angie Garbarino
Post title: Just received a request

Fortunately I always check all what I can check :)

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Valery, check this out:

IrinaN (X) — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:51:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: IrinaN (X)
Post title: Valery, check this out:

Third Floor, 207 Regent Street
London, W1B 3HH

1. I looked up the address... Londoners will correct me if I'm wrong, but thinking about the rent at this location, I'd guess that we are talking about the richest translation company in the galaxy.

Another interesting detail:

TRANSLATION MINDS CONSULTING LIMITED

Companies House does not verify the accuracy of the information filed

Company number 11880327

[url removed]

Registered office address
Third Floor, 207 Regent Street, London, United Kingdom, W1B 3HH
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited Company

*****Incorporated on
13 March 2019*****

Accounts
First accounts made up to 31 March 2020
due by 13 December 2020

Confirmation statement
First statement date 12 March 2020
due by 26 March 2020

Except for Mr. Bilan, there is a secretary... :-)

The other company under the same name seems to be in existence for much longer. However, their address is nowhere to be found on the official site, and they do not specify for how long they have been in business.

Some shady story.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | http://www.translator-scammers.com/translator-scammers-notes.htm

Chris John Hall — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 16:45:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Chris John Hall
Post title: http://www.translator-scammers.com/translator-scammers-notes.htm

All the information that you need to know courtesy of TRANSLATOR SCAMMERS DIRECTORY:

Translation Minds Ltd / Translation Minds Consulting Limited / translationminds.com / [email removed]
Domain created: 26 DEC 2017
No address (except a fake postal code: SW1W 0HQ) / Phone: [phone removed] (usually not answered)
Real address: Blijnii Hutor Slobodzia 5712 Moldova
Website copy plagiarized from Translation Desk (see above)
Ghosts associated:
Anna Hesterberg / Business Development Lead / [email removed] / ProZ profile: 2550619
David Stewart / [email removed]
Dmitri Belan (resident in Moldova), listed as Director of Translation Minds Consulting Limited (incorporated 13 March 2019, no. 11880327) at the Companies House website

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Update on unpaid invoices

Alison Turner — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:50:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Alison Turner
Post title: Update on unpaid invoices

Update: further to my last post on unpaid invoices from Translation Minds, after sending several invoices I was eventually paid.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | unpaid invoices

Alison Turner — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:30:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Alison Turner
Post title: unpaid invoices

I am also still awaiting payment for work done this spring and emails are now being ignored.
Alison

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Translation Minds address

Stela KP — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:34:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Stela KP
Post title: Translation Minds address

From my paypal account:

TranslationMinds
5712
Blijnii Hutor
Slobodzia
5712
Moldova

I will contact officials in Moldova.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Same experience

Stela KP — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:05:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Stela KP
Post title: Same experience

Hi,

It is time to join you. My journey with Translation Minds started last year in November when I was contacted by David Stewart. As I was aware of scamming I asked 50% advanced payment for the translation task and he paid immediately. The rest of the payment was made with a small delay. Later I have received several big and small projects with the same client (an Italian manufacturer of machines) and they were paid again after several emails. But it seems in April I received the last big and final projects from the client that David is now willing to pay. Total amount due: $1625.

Please let me know how can I report him to proz.com
I am also going to contact whoever may be concerned in order to find him and made him pay everyone.

Regards,
Stela

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Contacted ProZ and this is what we need to do about David Stewart

Valerie H/ Dutch Pen Language Services — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:34:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Valerie H/ Dutch Pen Language Services
Post title: Contacted ProZ and this is what we need to do about David Stewart

This is ProZ's policy. Let's complain formally so no one else has translation work stolen from them.

"This site serves as a place for language companies and language service providers to meet and engage in good-faith transactions. Use of the site in a dishonest or fraudulent manner will result in termination of site use and associated privileges. The staff of ProZ.com, the company providing the technology for this site, has established the following policy for the termination of offending outsourcers:

If a total of two complaints regarding a single outsourcer have been received from unrelated sources, a warning will be issued to the outsourcer. The warning will serve as notification to the suspected party that its privileges are in jeopardy. The outsourcer's access to job posting and profile messaging may be suspended as a precaution until all non-payment issues have been resolved.

****** "Upon receipt of a third complaint, the issue will be brought to ProZ.com staff for review. At its sole discretion, ProZ.com staff may then choose to suspend or revoke the outsourcer's right to use ProZ.com." ******

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | My story

Wojciech Suchomski — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 22:40:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Wojciech Suchomski
Post title: My story

I was contacted by David Stewart on 3rd May for a small 550 words job for the next day (yes, for Saturday). David said it was urgent, so I sent my translation as soon I could. After sending it I realised I should have sent my invoice but had no Translation Minds' address. I tried to google it and that was how I came across this Proz thread. Anyway I emailed them my invoice without a company address.
I said to my wife: "He gave me a bait and if he is a smart scammer, now he should send me a bigger job". Few days later I got an email from Translation Minds asking to translate 8000 words. I said I am not available and in fact I was very busy.
On the 7th of June he had another job but I said I won't do it since I wasn't paid for the previous job. He sent the payment straight away to my PayPal account and insisted I take this another project. I refused politely knowing what I know.
So, eventually I was paid, but a bit later than agreed and only because David Stewart was hoping I would take another job.
David, or Дима, whatever your name is, I know you are reading this post. The translators claim you didn't pay them. The reputation is all we have got in this business, really, and if your reputation is bad, translators would not like to work with you. What are you going to do to regain our trust?

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | contact details for Translation Minds

Valerie H/ Dutch Pen Language Services — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:59:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Valerie H/ Dutch Pen Language Services
Post title: contact details for Translation Minds

Thanks to everyone for posting.

Not sure of what exactly is going on for me yet as regards my overdue payments, but for anyone else, the following details were provided to me by David Stewart:

Translation Minds Consulting Limited
CRN: 11880327
Third Floor, 207 Regent Street
London, W1B 3HH
United Kingdom
[phone removed]

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Has he kept his promise of making the remaining payment?

Chris John Hall — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 15:57:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Chris John Hall
Post title: Has he kept his promise of making the remaining payment?

Harum,

You have only been paid just over one-third of the full payment and not even half of it. I do not think any character plaudits are really necessary at this point.

As your last posting was one week ago, please can you update on here accordingly if full payment has now been made.

Regards,

Chris

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Some good progress...

Hameran Harun — Tue, 28 May 2019 00:02:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Hameran Harun
Post title: Some good progress...

Hi all,

This is to update to my earlier posting about Translation Minds and David Stewart.

Apparently, he is not that bad at all, and he followed this discussion closely.

Last week he has paid partially, USD998 out of USD2650.

He still responded to my email. He told me that he has some issues and he promised to pay me this week the remaining balance.

I think he will keep his promise.

...will update again.

[quote]Hameran Harun wrote:

I completed doing the 44000 words with this guy last Apr 9. Payment supposed to be May 9, but he delayed till last week. He made a promise himself.

I didn't know about this scam or whatever, as I didn't suspect anything at the beginning. Only after I didn't receive payment as promised, then I started to google about him, and BINGO!

I even gave him one link telling about someone complaining about him; [url removed]

and I started getting nervous that he also did the same for me. I did not provide the Proz link. He just rubbished the claim, clarifying only one idiot having non-stop argument about this and that. He emphasized that payment will be made last week but he didn't.

After I sent several emails, and threatened him that I will tell the world then he replied saying my bank information is incomplete and I just rubbished his claim, telling I am giving the same info for the past 18 years and I have no problem receiving the payment from any countries.

To be continued. The drama still on going.

Can anyone help as the amount is big, USD2,650. [/quote]

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Operating system and browser

Mihai Badea (X) — Wed, 22 May 2019 23:27:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Mihai Badea (X)
Post title: Operating system and browser

[quote]Natalie wrote:

The Blue Board search is here:
[url removed]

Enter "minds" in the "Search term (optional)" field and leave other fields empty. [/quote]

I remember the times when Blue Board was looking like that. I think I still was on XP, with IE7.

Indeed, the OS and browser versions can influence the user experience, but that is less likely as far as the presented results of a database query are concerned.

Fortunately, Google search does work as expected.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | @Natalie

Samuel Murray — Tue, 21 May 2019 09:19:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: @Natalie

[quote]Natalie wrote:
The Blue Board search is here:
[url removed]
Enter "minds" in the "Search term (optional)" field and leave other fields empty. [/quote]

Yup, that's the URL I visited. There is no field called "Search term (optional)" or any other fields. There is only one search field, and it is called "Search the ProZ.com Blue Board" (screenshot below).

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Which search function do you use?

Natalie — Tue, 21 May 2019 07:52:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Natalie
Post title: Which search function do you use?

The Blue Board search is here:
[url removed]

Enter "minds" in the "Search term (optional)" field and leave other fields empty.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | It is, and it isn't

Samuel Murray — Tue, 21 May 2019 06:06:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: It is, and it isn't

[quote]Natalie wrote:
[quote]Richard Levy wrote:
Although I did not find the firm in Blue Board... [/quote]
Please look once again - for the name written as a single word. [/quote]
Instead of saying "look again", why not just tell us the URL, as Chris did? The agency does not turn up when I search the Blue Board (even if I "look again", as you suggest), but when I visit the URL that Chris gave, I see it (and I don't understand why it doesn't show up in the search, since the record was added in February this year already).

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Expensive lesson learnt for myself: Do the homework before bluntly accepting the job

Hameran Harun — Tue, 21 May 2019 00:27:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Hameran Harun
Post title: Expensive lesson learnt for myself: Do the homework before bluntly accepting the job

I completed doing the 44000 words with this guy last Apr 9. Payment supposed to be May 9, but he delayed till last week. He made a promise himself.

I didn't know about this scam or whatever, as I didn't suspect anything at the beginning. Only after I didn't receive payment as promised, then I started to google about him, and BINGO!

I even gave him one link telling about someone complaining about him; [url removed]

and I started getting nervous that he also did the same for me. I did not provide the Proz link. He just rubbished the claim, clarifying only one idiot having non-stop argument about this and that. He emphasized that payment will be made last week but he didn't.

After I sent several emails, and threatened him that I will tell the world then he replied saying my bank information is incomplete and I just rubbished his claim, telling I am giving the same info for the past 18 years and I have no problem receiving the payment from any countries.

To be continued. The drama still on going.

Can anyone help as the amount is big, USD2,650.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Got a request from david as well

Marjolein Tamis (X) — Fri, 10 May 2019 15:26:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Marjolein Tamis (X)
Post title: Got a request from david as well

Today this guy tried to send me a small task with a very low rate.

From: David Stewart

Dear Marjolein,

hope you are well. We have a project into Dutch in general field and we would like to check your availability. Please see the project details below.

Service - English ----> Dutch (Translation)
Words count - 66 words
Total amount - USD 7
Delivery - 11 May 2019, 2 PM CEST
Payment terms: 30 days after invoicing via PayPal or Wire Transfer
Remark: the task will be assign in memoQ

Please note: as the quality is our utmost priority please confirm you are familiar with the topic and will be able to deliver impeccable quality by this deadline.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you can take on this task. Thank you!

Best wishes,
David

--
Kind wishes,
David Stewart
Translation Project Manager
[email removed]
Translation Minds Ltd
[url removed]

Tel.: [phone removed]

Email: [email removed]

What stands out to me, is that he comes across as if we've been working together for years. I'd never heard of him until now. I'm glad I looked here first, so I can just move the message to my junk folder.

Just posting this here so other translators can beware, he's still out there.

[Edited at 2019-05-10 15:28 GMT]

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | Companies House info, job request in junk mail

ThompsonText — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:41:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: ThompsonText
Post title: Companies House info, job request in junk mail

The Companies House website lists a
TRANSLATION MINDS CONSULTING LIMITED
Company number 11880327
at: [url removed]
naming a BELAN, Dmitri as the "person with significant control"
The company was only registered in March 2019.

I just had a job request from a David Stewart at translationminds.com, in my junk mail folder, BCC'd to many translators, which is what brought me here.
The email:

Dear colleagues!
We have a new project with the details below:
Service - French----> English
Field - Technical
Words count - 3,924 words (discounting repetitions)
Total amount - USD 200 (delivery on rolling basis)
Delivery - May 9, 1 PM CEST
Payment terms: 30 days after invoicing via PayPal or Wire Transfer
I have sent this to multiple translators so the first to accept will get the job. If I do not reply this means I have already assigned the project to someone else. Please let me know as soon as possible!

Make of that what you will. I've not replied.

Chris.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | https://www.proz.com/blueboard/51691

Chris John Hall — Thu, 02 May 2019 01:18:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Chris John Hall
Post title: https://www.proz.com/blueboard/51691

I suggest that anyone, who has not been paid by this "agency", ought to make a WWA entry at the link stated in the title. Luckily, I was fortunate enough only to waste an hour or so of my time and not lose out on any money.

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | FYI Richie, Translation Minds tried to pass this project on to me.

Neil Stewart — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 08:52:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Neil Stewart
Post title: FYI Richie, Translation Minds tried to pass this project on to me.

[quote]Richard Levy wrote:

Good afternoon/evening to my fellow translators,

I had my first encounter with David Stewart this morning for a Portuguese > English document translation. He claimed that were approximately 4200 words for which he was offering to pay me considerably below regular US per word rate. We finally agreed on a somewhat higher rate and I sent him my provisional acceptance at that rate. I then proceeded to convert it and noticed that were actually 6298 words - almost 50% more than was stated in his email.

I then attempted to call him in London-- to no avail...he did not pick up. I then wrote back to him to let him know about this major discrepancy and then called him back again. This time he did pick up. I told him that this this was totally unacceptable and I was turning down the project.

Although I did not find the firm in Blue Board, however, I did find the following on Google (link below).

After almost 13 years in the field I'm still encountering more and more scammers. Fellow translators...be ware of people who cannot or do not want to do an 'honest' day's work or for that matter pay legitimate translators what we deserve!

Have a great weekend!

Best regards,

Richie Levy
Brooklyn, N.Y.

[url removed] [/quote]

Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered | BB

Natalie — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:34:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation Minds Ltd disappeared after I delivered
Poster: Natalie
Post title: BB

[quote]Richard Levy wrote:

Although I did not find the firm in Blue Board... [/quote]

Please look once again - for the name written as a single word.