There's a couple from Singapore named Joycelyn and Azrin. They'll insist on a wire transfer to pay you. DON'T give them your bank details. Fraudsters can fake being you and authorize withdrawals. They can also use your account as a tool to scam other merchants out of goods.
I had a few emails back and forth with this couple. They claimed to be visiting the States later this year and wanted a photo shoot. Her email showed up in a google search commenting on a wedding forum in Singapore so I proceeded, but with caution.
When I asked for a payment they insisted on wire transfer. Red flag. Big time. I asked why not a credit card and they again insisted on wire transfer. I told them I'd proceed only with a card.
They emailed me a card number. I checked it out and it was a bad card number actually. No surprise.
She also went on about what shipping should cost according to her research on USPS and emailed me a PDF file of their rates telling me to look at it.
Of course I didn't. Probably infected with keylogger malware.
I emailed her back and asked for the missing info like expiration date, CVC number, billing address... and she fired right back telling me it's "illegal" to ask for that information and how she's not comfortable divulging that (that's right, this is AFTER she emailed me the card number)... and how if I don't provide bank details, she's moving on.
Maybe you can open the link with your smart phone and not your computer? I don't know if they are trying to do anything fraud here. As for the whole CVV code, they're probably not educated. Someone probably told them about it in Singapore that you should never give it to anyone and they probably don't. Of course they dont' realize when they swipe the credit card all info is taken and most likely never had to give CVV code to anyone.
sounds lame. but i have done wire transfers for like all of my international dealings. the difference is that i'd be on the phone with them after our first or second emailing. never ever book a destination wedding without a skype or phone call first...
With wire transfers fraudsters can fake being you and with your bank details pull a number of different scams. Wire transfers aren't totally safe.
I *was* on the phone with them. That's where they hemmed and hawed when asked for the credit card to reserve their session and insisted it be a wire transfers and kept on pushing me to give them my bank numbers.
Brides don't make copies of USPS regulations and turn them into PDF files and insist you open them, as a matter of routine. When people go unusual, you have to raise an eyebrow.
Plus as I stated, a run on her credit card turned out it was a bad card.
Paranoia. Right.
TheGE wrote:
What I'm saying isn't stemming from any paranoia.
With wire transfers fraudsters can fake being you and with your bank details pull a number of different scams. Wire transfers aren't totally safe.
I *was* on the phone with them. That's where they hemmed and hawed when asked for the credit card to reserve their session and insisted it be a wire transfers and kept on pushing me to give them my bank numbers.
Brides don't make copies of USPS regulations and turn them into PDF files and insist you open them, as a matter of routine. When people go unusual, you have to raise an eyebrow.
Plus as I stated, a run on her credit card turned out it was a bad card.
Paranoia. Right. ...Show more →
Maybe she thought the same about you when you started asking her for all her cc info if she's not used to those questions in Singapore.
BTW, how did you run a credit card without and exp date?
As for the USPS regulations? You mean the rates? What regulations? Confused.
In terms of bank transfers...can't you set up an account that would ONLY be used for transfers? So that as soon as you receive the funds, you transfer the funds to another account? If there are no funds in the account, it makes it hard for people to take money from it...
Mohaimen Kazi wrote:
Maybe she thought the same about you when you started asking her for all her cc info if she's not used to those questions in Singapore.
Are you saying that in Singapore they're sort of naive on how to use credit cards but awfully keen on handling wire transfers in their day to day transactions?
Or are you just playing with me?
As for the USPS regulations? You mean the rates? What regulations? Confused.
She claimed to look up rates at the USPS site for shipping to Singapore. She then attached a pdf file named "USPS Price List" telling me to look at page 17.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I look up something online and want to share that with someone, I just give them the link. Maybe a screen capture if need be.
But download the page as a pdf and send that?
So there's just too many things about this that give it a bad vibe.
joelconner wrote:
In terms of bank transfers...can't you set up an account that would ONLY be used for transfers? So that as soon as you receive the funds, you transfer the funds to another account? If there are no funds in the account, it makes it hard for people to take money from it...
That's true. Lot of bother though.
Just give me a credit card.
I've had international orders many times. It's never been an issue.
That's why this behavior raises a flag.
Actually, you should leave the funds in it for a while because if it turns out the funds came fraudulently from yet some other merchant they conned, then the funds will need to be restored anyway.
You see, one of the frauds going on out there is where they get your bank numbers, but then order goods from someone else. They get the goods by pretending to be you and having it shipped to them. The other merchant gets paid by you. When you finally realize you've had funds stolen and file with the bank, the bank goes after the other merchant and gets your money back (hopefully). But by then the scammers have received the shipment of whatever they ordered from the other guy and so the other merchant is out the money and the goods.
Scam....anyone in this business long enough knows. If it smells like a rat then it's a rat. Scammers always use the same scenario......."We'll be having our wedding in your town but we haven't selected a date or location blah blah blah", but we really want to use you..............yeah right......next..
is wire transfer in US really unsafe? Because in europe is bank transfer very usual, actually more common then credit cards are.
Most companies have their bank accounts available online in about page too.
And while you can authorize anybody from withdrawal (just signature and your address is enough), you have rights to cancel the withdrawal within i think 3 months (there is even online banking feature for it) and your moneys will be in few minutes back, no questions or costs attached.
Apparently there are ways criminals can pretend to be the business and falsify authorization to gain access into the account after you've provided them with the details.
I can understand why that seems to surprise everyone. I thought wire transfers were a safe bet too.
Wire transfers are safe, and a very common form of payment in Europe .. for what it's worth every time you write a cheque your name, address, and back account info are there for everyone to see.
Speaking as a former regional manager for a large financial services firm, there is really no valid reason to not do a wire transfer. In the US there are plenty of regulations and safeguards to protect account owners from fraudulent activity, and unless they have acquired copies of signature cards, online logins, SSNs and TINs for your business along with other sensitive information, fraud is very easily recognized and many banks have very heavy monitoring for suspicious activity especially if it originates outside the US. You really have nothing to worry about..
You can actually get a bank account that is "temporary" for these purposes. That way you aren't giving out your actual account information. A LOT of banks offer it now. If not just go with something like a green dot account.
Mike Mahoney wrote:
Wire transfers are safe, and a very common form of payment in Europe .. for what it's worth every time you write a cheque your name, address, and back account info are there for everyone to see.
That's true. But then when you write a check, you're not usually sending it into the hands of unknown people in foreign countries who act suspiciously. You send it to companies you know are reputable, I'd imagine.
tjsix wrote:
Speaking as a former regional manager for a large financial services firm, there is really no valid reason to not do a wire transfer. In the US there are plenty of regulations and safeguards to protect account owners from fraudulent activity, and unless they have acquired copies of signature cards, online logins, SSNs and TINs for your business along with other sensitive information, fraud is very easily recognized and many banks have very heavy monitoring for suspicious activity especially if it originates outside the US. You really have nothing to worry about..
Until it happens, because fraud like that does happen.
I tell you what guys,
PM me and I'll refer you to the person I suspect is a fraud. I'll tell her you're available to do her photoshoot and you can give her your bank details when she contacts you.
