This message is to warn my fellow yoga teachers about a scam that is going around. I wouldn't be surprised if it is more widespread than yoga, because really anyone in alternative health care fields could be a target. Heck, people with small on-line stores (fellow knitters) could even be approached by such a fraud attempt!
A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail inquiry that was a little odd, but not overly suspicious. A woman calling herself Mrs. XX, a massage therapist in Italy, wrote to ask about my yoga therapy practice, and if I would be available to provide a month's worth of 3-times weekly, hour-long private instruction sessions to a client of hers. This client, Mr. XY, would be in my area on a modeling job, and since she could not come along she offered to set him up with a therapist here.
Now, it is strange that he would want yoga therapy, if what he is accustomed to is massage therapy - very available in any major city in the U.S. Still, it is not unusual for language barriers and general misunderstanding of the work I do to confuse otherwise simple matters, so I responded. I told her that while I would be happy to provide private yoga instruction for Mr. XY, I would be on vacation for most of August and therefore unavailable to do so. Depending upon his dates of travel, I might be able to offer my services during a portion of his stay.
This morning, I got a reply that made so many red flags go up that I made some phone calls. Mrs. XX said that all sounded great, and that Mr. XY would be in contact with me with his flight information, etc. and could I send them the total and some other information (Note: I'm not his personal assistant, I don't really care what his flight arrangements are. If I were to do private instruction, then he'd make his appointments for said instruction at my studio for whatever dates work for him. How/when/he arrives and where he stays is none of my concern). Then, the kicker: he wanted to pay up front, had money orders for this purpose, and wondered if "he could trust me to do him a favor" (????). It seems that he is having trouble getting some of his equipment from Dubai (for a job in the U.S.? As if there aren't models here with whatever "equipment" he might need?). Would I please accept $4, 880 in U.S. money orders, deposit it all, then send Dubai a wire transfer for the portion not allocated for my services?
Ummmm, lemme think.....NO!
I called my colleagues and friends, the ladies who make Yoga Centers go. They are fabulous business women, savvy and informed. I said "this smells fishy, I think I'm being scammed". They said, "Yes, it is fishy. You are being scammed." Sigh. They have had similar things attempted: someone wants to make a large package purchase (say, a year's worth of yoga classes), then "accidentally" overpays and wants you to refund the difference. In the meantime, their check was fraudulent, and you end up out hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Please, if you are contacted by someone with a roundabout issue such as this, do NOT engage them! A simple "Thank you for your message. I have forwarded it to (my local) Police Department as well as the FBI, who may be contacting you regarding your fraud attempt." should work. Remember, just because we are in the business of helping people relax, feel good, etc., does not mean we should be lax in our business practices or let our guard down.
Keep looking for the good in people, so that when faced with the bad...you'll recognize it for what it is.
Added later, same day: take a look at this link. There are some great tips for double-checking the veracity of inquiries. Thankfully, my interaction with these scammers was short-lived, but clearly I am not alone....
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