Booking scam

[Sue: White Horse Walking Holidays]

I was wondering if anyone else had been targeted: I have just received an e-mail enquiry and there were a couple of things that looked suspicious. First, when I investigated the email, it didn't have my actual email address on there. Instead, it was addressed to great_groups@hotmail.com so I did a search and found that there have been a number of scams going on for several years, targeting B&Bs, hotels and estate agents - not just in the UK but all over the world. Also, there was too much insistence on the financial aspects of the booking. Plus it's just not that likely that someone would want to book a 2 week walking holiday in 1 small B&B without actually mentioning walking in the enquiry! Just wanted to give everyone the heads up in case you get anything similar.

See below:

"Hello,

I want to know if you will have space to accommodate 2 couples (4 adults) arriving 13th June to depart 27th June.
Firstly, I will need you to send me the all inclusive cost for the accommodation of the 4 guests(2 couples) for the 2 weeks in 2 separate rooms or if you have units to contain the 4 guests. And the dates are flexible so you can advise any alternative 2 weeks you may have either in May or July.
Most importantly,I will need to know what payment options you have because I am presently away on a long term business in another country and do not operate my bank accounts online and currently do not have access to any banking facilities. For me payments can be made by direct deduction from my Visa.
I will need know if you have flexibility in handling funds for the external needs of your guests.These external needs will include things like car hire,meals, excursions and so on.
Please get back to me via email or the phone number below with answers to my questions above as I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind Regards,Frank Martins.
+447031930854
+442070221691 Fax
great_groups@hotmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nuova grafica e nuove funzionalità! Crea subito Gratis la tua nuova Casella di Posta Katamail "

[joyful]

Yes, lots of these type scams go on. I have had Gospel Choirs emailing!!! All a scam.Also be warned of people who ring you and try and engage you in conversation who are linked to a premium phone line!!! Faxes used to arrive from Korea & Jersey asking for B&B information and you to fax back. I once got caught in the early days for £25 fax bill!!! The longer you are in the trade the quicker it is to spot them.

[Starchip]

Hi Sue,

Heh, heh. Funny how things turn out.

Here is a scam I was subjected to only last weekend.

I post the original email - my (admittedly naive) response and the subsequent reply.

As is usual with email stories and hot curries, it starts at the bottom and works its way up.

Suffice to say - If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Emails follow; Enjoy, and forgive my stupidity.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for your e-mail and detailed information.Now i will send to you their Credit
Card Information that will cover the cost of use of your Apartment,and the
Air-Flight/Lodging arrangement for them. Moreover,i have made an arrangement with an
Air-Flight/Lodging Agent who will take care of all the delegates Air-Flight/Lodging
logistics to your country.
However,because of security reasons and confidentiality reposed on you and because
the Air-Flight/Lodging Agent do not have credit card facility,they have decided that
only You will have to handle their credit card information.
So once i send the credit card information to you. You are required to charge the
total amount of {£9,950 GBP} from the credit card, then deduct {£1400 GBP} the total
cost for the use of your Apartment for the 10 days, then forward the balance of
{£9,550 GBP} to the Air-Flight/Lodging Agent whose information will be forwarded to
you,once this is confirmed and agreed by you.
I hope you have POS(Point of Sale) machine to make the charges from the credit card
that will be sent to you then.
So confirm this arrangement and get back to me with your;

1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) ADDRESS
3) PHONE NUMBERS,

so that i will forward their credit card details for payment.Hear from you.

Regards
Mark Donald
Paragon Consulting.
25 Bond Street,London
+447045763671
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- On Sat, 4/25/09, malcolm@cecilcottage.co.uk <malcolm@cecilcottage.co.uk> wrote:

From: malcolm@cecilcottage.co.uk <malcolm@cecilcottage.co.uk>
Subject: Re: BOOKING
To: markdonaldservices@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 10:25 PM

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your enquiry. My name is Malcolm.

I wish I could accomodate your party to your requirements. However, this
is a small B&B. As you must have seen on the website.

I have a double and a twin for those dates - both with ensuite facilities.

Just in case it is of interest, the cost is £70 (GBP) per room per night.
This includes Breakfast and free parking.

So, for two rooms for 10 (ten) nights the total would be £1400 (GBP).

For that sort of booking I am willing to discuss a discount.

Anyway,

Thanks again and, whatever you decide, I would be interested in learning
how you found us.

Regards,

Malcolm Duff
Cecil Cottage
45 Broad Street
Old Portsmouth
PO1 2JD
Mobile: 07894072253

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> My name is Mark Donald .
> I want to make a reservation for some group of Academicians.They
> shall be coming for a 10-day HIV/AIDS sensitization campaign in your
> city.
> Check in date........ 15th JULY 2009
> Check out date.......25th JULY 2009
> Number of Nights......10 Nights
> Rooms... 4 single rooms,apartment,Lodge for 4 persons.
> Get back to me with the total cost of accommodation for the 10 nights
> including
> tax and breakfast if there is any. Also let me know which payment
> method you will prefer(either Credit Card or Certified Check).
> NB:Get back to me with the total cost in Euro or USD or GBP only.
>
>
> Regards
> Mark Donald
> Paragon Consulting.
> 25 Bond Street,London
> +447045763671

[Sue: White Horse Walking Holidays]

Hi Malcolm,

I did wonder whether to reply but decided not to bother. I imagine I'd have got a very similar reply to yours.

You have to wonder if anyone does actually fall for this sort of nonsense. Disappointing though when you get all excited thinking here comes a booking (I'm new to this too) and then it turns out to be some idiot trying to take you for a fool.