I love Fabuluxe Blog by Terrica Skaggs and I follow her musings on Twitter. We're also both speaking at Eventology 2010 in Indianapolis next April! When I saw her blog post this morning on scammers targeting the wedding industry, I lost it. I cannot tell you how many of these emails I receive per day. My guess is somewhere between 10 -20 of them in my inbox each morning and they all start the same way telling me that they are a well paid person in the UK who wants to have a wedding in about 8 weeks and they're in a hurry, etc.
I do happen to know one very well respected planner who was taken for several thousand dollars in one of these scams and she's a smart cookie. So, it must be working otherwise they would not continue this activity. So, even if you're not a planner but work in the industry in other functions, check out the email below where Terrica examples one of these suspect emails...and then her response which left me rolling!
An Open Service Proposal for the Scammers by Terrica Skaggs
I’d like to take a moment to deviate from the normally scheduled
wedding awesomeness, and publish an open service proposal for all of
those loving medical doctors from England (or wherever) who would like
to plan a wedding in “Anytown, USA” and attempt to scam wedding
professionals with their fake requests. What used to come from large
wedding planning sites are now finding their way to your company’s
email address or inquiry form. If you are a bride and looking for some
wedding goodness, tune in tomorrow. If you’re a planner, enjoy, my
friend. Enjoy.
The letters typically start like this….
Hello,
My Name is Dr. David Walter of London, England i need an experienced
wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception
dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 16th of January 2010 and 50
to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests
might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as
initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is
confirmed by you.All checks and balances will be made with you on 3rd
of September which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange
for a a venue for the wedding a place for the reception ,Videography,
Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability, you let
us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your
response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our
accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Please get back to me via my personal email which is davidwaltermails@ymail.com
Best Regards,
David Walter
davidwaltermails@ymail.com
And now…my reply….
Dearest Sir,
It is with great enthusiasm, loathing and utter insanity that I
write this service proposal. I indeed was quite exuberant when I
received your generic scam ,
service request about your wedding. Upon further research through
Interpol’s data and checking an FBI’s watch list, I have come to the
conclusion that you are not engaged, never have been, and
moreover, don’t really know any girls. Instead, you live in your
mother’s basement with her 11 cats…and one litter box. Nevertheless,
for posterity’s sake, I shall play this little game with you in regards
to this upcoming wedding for which you have a need for . Below, I have
taken the liberty of drawing up a proposal according to the event
vision I believe you and your love would be happy with and deserve.
Venue:
As you can see, this venue while not as spacious as most, is full of
personality, character and ambiance. With the uncut, natural
landscaping, feral dogs and cats guarding the rear and front entrances,
as well as the snakes, tree frogs and geckos about, we like to consider
this as one of the more eco-friendly venues that your bride would look
radiant in. And yes, the urine and beer stains come with the unit.
You lucked out!
Condemned by the City :: Gratis (just be sure
to be out if you hear sirens. If the police show up, I don’t know you
and we never met)
Photography:
No need to argue over classic or photojournalistic styles. With
this state of the art ESLR (etch and sketch lens reflex), you are sure
to capture all of the endearing moments and elegant details. More
over, if you catch an unfavorable or less than flattering shot—simply
shake and it’s gone forever!
$12 :: Available in the romantic black and silver only
Band:
Randy Watson is a world renowned celebrity with the vocal chords of
an angel. His four piece band is talented as well, having been the
understudies for the understudies of extras in the hit cable series
“The Wire”. In addition to performing at events, they are also found
every Wednesday playing at Shady Pines Retirement Home.
$2 and a biscuit
Videography:
While the ESLR will capture your moments on the silver screen, here
is your chance to get those memories in motion. Capture every tear
drop, her laugh, and every drunken fight with our artist pad
animation. Presently, we can only do stick figures, however if you
book by the 30th, we will throw in colored pencils at no additional
charge.
$5
Caterer:
Nothing says American like Mickey D’s. Since that is what we believe is what you and your fiancee or worth
this will give you a glimpse in to American fast food, it pretty much
works. With approximately 150 guests and ordering solely off the
Dollar Menu, I do believe we can keep your catering costs under $500.
$450 + tax and gratuity for the drive thru window attendants
Wedding Cake:
I know. It pretty much leaves us speechless, too.
$2 per short stack :: $10
Wedding Planner:
Of course, in addition to these fabulous vendors, you would also have us available for a good tongue lashing, turning you into the cops and dodging all of your calls advice and creative consults.
$3,000 per 5 minute increment :: Approximately 800 hours
It would be my pleasure to assist you with finding your vendors and
venue for her wedding in three days. I must say, I was quite relieved
when I read you would expedite the phony check payment,
for as you must know and understand, undertaking such a glorious event
in such short time will need some surety. Additionally when your bogus check in an amount far over the proposed fees because you seek to illegally recoup the excess,
payment arrives, in full disclosure I will admit that I will not be
sending you the funds in excess and instead will be vacationing in
Capri. In the event that you feel that I cannot handle the event, I
would eagerly refer you to my colleague, Sir Ray Ray of South
Centralshire who is the proprietor of Ray Ray’s Chicken and Weddings.
He can provide all of the services above, including wedding planner,
personally and simultaneously. His rates begin at 10 easy monthly
payments of 19.99. Feel free to pass this along to your scammer friends other fathers of the brides and grooms in your area, as I hear you guys hang out in packs.
Of course, while I wish you and your bride the very best and eagerly
await your decision on my services, I would also like to take this
moment to mention that if it does not work out with you and her, we
also offer matchmaking services. I would gladly match her with any one
of the deposed, expatriate Nigerian princes who are seeking to reclaim
their inheritance from our database.
Now, please kindly die in a fire.
Wishing you nothing but the best with about 15 years in prison and burly cellmate tagged on to that,
Signed: All the wedding planners of the world who are sick of getting these scams
