I hate to have to post this but we were contacted by a scammer. Thanks to One Fine Day Events (http://www.onefinedayevents.com/tahoe-wedding-advice/wedding-planner-scam/comment-page-3/#comment-152864) we were able to catch it. I would like to make sure that anyone in this area is also not approached in the same way. The same person seems to have tried to scam people in various states according to the post. This scammer TEXTED me which I have never seen before. It made it seem like a legitimate inquiry until I received the email. It is obviously a fake party planning request.
The text of the email is as follows from the address Leo Carter <leocarterinvestmentsltd@gmail.com>
“Hello,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on Jan. 28. 2017, in Bryan, TX, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 14k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 7pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I’m anticipating your earliest response.
Thanks.”
The number he texted from was 813-603-0975. Event planners BEWARE!! I assumed he would have sent the money then asked us to send some back before the fraudulent funds could be caught. We hope this helps someone to catch this guy.
Thank you and stay aloof! We hope you had a wonderful holiday.
Our company received the same message, instead he was using Houston as his location. Apparently, he has sent that message to numerous of people.
I recently had the same type of problem. Email was from an alex victor.
I want to tell you that I’m having a little issue with the payment of some other party arrangements and the event planner that is setting doesn’t have the credit card facility. So I will need you to do me the favor by adding his fee of $5000 with your deposit of $500 then you charge the total amount on my credit card, and once the funds has finally cleared into your account then you deduct $500 as for your deposit and i will forward you the Planner info for you to send him the remaining $5000 via cash deposit as for his service fee. And I’ll be glad to tip you $50 for helping hand. Break down is below;
We just received the exact request for a family reunion in Dallas via text but it took several days to get to the payment part . This person first said they were deaf and when we requested a phone call or meeting they were in the hospital with lung cancer. But planning a family event in 3 weeks..I turned to google and found all this scam information.
Same here…I got it today and he is from Grand Prairie–Dallas, Steve Campbell. Family reunion in July. I just blocked. I can always tell from the wording they use. When I asked if we could talk on the phone, he said no. So I texted saying, I see you are a scammer and I’m blocking you.
I have been communicating back and forth with a “Damian Grass”. What really triggered me to be on the look out is the email domain is to a “@vcatt.com” which I can not find anywhere on the internet. After checking with vendors and doing the proposal leg work. He immediately responded to the proposal to proceed “I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past”. He also stated that he would send a check to me via USPS for the event amount in full.
But what really took the cake is he called from a “502” number with a thick African accent (with the last name Grass!?) telling me he would send a larger check then required because the car rental companying will not accept checks from him. This is so crazy to me. I am in the process of declining his business!!
I just have been back and forth with this guy. Right from the start it seemed suspicious. I even asked him who his referral was so that I could give that person credit next time they used me for an event. He gave a very generic name that I couldn’t dispute hadn’t used me before, but was still wary. Glad I found this post. Thank you for posting. He has changed his story a bit. And goes by David Harrison. He even completed my lengthy questionnaire. He definitely puts the time into his scam. Here was the last e-mail he sent when I decided to look up if there was a scam people knew about out there. We had had quite a bit of texting back and forth by this time but no transaction of money yet, thankfully.
Good morning Christine. How are you doing and how was your night?hope it was splendid. firstly. i would like to say i am so grateful to read from you and fulfilling your promised as you said. i want you to know that i am currently out of town at the moment for a special assignment as a US navy officer i am on the sea at the moment that is why i choose this medium as a means of communication due to bad network and i will be coming back to town by ending of next month that is why i want you to handle everything for me because i am making this as a surprise for my wife. More also, there is no way i can sign this agreement here unless you resend it and make it a way i can be able to sign in through internet or through microsoft word.
Thank you so much for your full package of services and i really appreciate you for taking your time to elaborate them to me I am okay with the cost of your service. Does that include processing fee + tax because i would need you to do me little favor,I will like you to kindly coordinate deposit of $3500 for my limo driver that will pick up my wife, family members and some guest to party location and i want you to be rest assured that i will pay all CC fee and taxes. i will be making advance payment of 50^% of the service and i want you to calculate everything together and send me the total estimate and agreement so that i can sign. Less i forgot kindly let me know about the payment if you have gotten the merchant setup so that we can proceed with the payment. i want you to know that once i make the payment and fund hit your account i will surely instruct you on what to do and we can proceed from there. i will also be given you $200 as a tip for all the inconvenience and i would be so glad if you can handle this for me perfectly. Thanks for your understanding and your cooperation.
Thanks
Thank you for sharing!!! I received a text associated with the same email string from an “Andrew Blink” to plan this event in Florence, AL!!
Same message received here in Miami. Googled the phone number and this came up. THANK YOU!
I just got the exact same email from Andrew blink!
I got the same email and text fr Andrew Blink. I knew it was fishy from the beginning because his English was not good and when I got the email saying I would have to use my credit card u til he was available that is when K googled it. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks for the previous posts and warnings!!! Well I just received the exact same texts (initially) and then f/u emails with the exact same wording as previously posted.
Name was Andrew Blink p# 612.502.4316
Luckily for me I did a quick google search and found these posts
Thanks to all and one fine day events!
Just received the same email here in Kansas City. Thank god I looked him up and had seen this before I got into that mess.
This is what he sent me
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with intent to make it a surprise party to my wife, and this has prompted me to reach out to you for assistance. I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own. I’ve made out a list of what I thought would be essential for my event to ensure its success. My event will hold on Friday, May 26, 2017 in Kansas City, MO, and I want all logistics taken care of by you.
*Venue
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; (Italian Cuisine, buffet style)
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget: $14,000.00
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my event coordinator and you’ll have to take care of all logistics and plans for my event as I’m officially out of town because of work. I travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, I’m a Sailor, but my ship has been scheduled to berth on MaY 18, 2017, 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 7pm and expected guests are 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event and deposit payment will be made with my credit card in other to formally secure your services once I have a contract from you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I’ll be looking forward to hear back from you so we can proceed with necessary arrangements.
Thanks and best regards,
Leo Carter
I just got one too. The nerve
Andrew Blink as well
Yes! I got the same one too! I felt it was fishy, but my business partner thought it was legit. I’m so glad you posted this!
Just got the same thing from Leo Carter. Ugh!
He contacted me under the alias Andrew Blink based out of Ft. Myers. This is the 3rd scam email I’ve received, the previous 2 were from some other folks. I don’t get what these people are trying to do.
I have gotten a message from a man names bill donatello saying pretty much the same thing!
I would be grateful if you can coordinate my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary. I want you to secure me a venue that can cover my guest starting from 4pm to 8pm on the 10th of June 2017 below here is the service I want you to handle for me
Secure me a venue wether indoor or outdoor
*(Guest count is 52 )
Food and drinks for my guest
menu :(Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Cream Sauce,Mini Cheesecakes) Plus Open bar
*Center piece flower on each table (8 person per table)
*Photographer that will cover the full event
* Servers
*Event theme : White and Blue
* Dj- MUSIC IN BACKGROUND IS FINE
Note that : My budget is 15k $ including your fee for the planning and I will be paying with my credit card till I complete the payment
Kindly get back to me if this is something you can handle …Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month we can have a phone conversation anytime am less busy … Am the vice president of sales and marketing for (BELFORT INSTRUMENT COMPANY )….I want you to please make all the proper arrangement for me on the given date starting from 4pm to 8pm …As soon as I hear back from you we can proceed on the next step
Regards
Yep! Received this one yesterday. Same word for word just different location
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on Aug 20 2017, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 15k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 7pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can.
Thanks
James Moore
Received the same text followed by emails here in Ga!!!
I got this also in Atlanta. From “Dennis Johnson.” This is horribe, but if you fall for this then you probably shouldn’t be in business for yourself anyway. The grammatical errors alone should tell you it’s fishy.
Has anyone actually fallen for this and sent money?
I agree and the email was the red flag, however, a lot of people think texts are legitimate and I felt like it’s good to share regardless! The smarter scammers get, the more alert we should be 🙂
Apparently they are picking up on the grammar issues because the one I just received was written in perfect English with no errors.
Just got the same email… Usually I can spot this scam right off due to the strange wording and bad grammar, but the initial email I received was short and looked legit. When I replied to the inquiry I received literally identical info, just as others have mentioned in this thread. Is there a way to report this google? – the email I received was from a gmail account; name Jim .
Here is the message we got via email after a text from 813-603-0975
Hi,
Thank you for your timely response.
I’m Leo Carter, I’ve been having some challenges planning a successful 20th wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to my wife who is also turning 50th same day my family and some friends at our lovely new home. I will need help which is your services for our coming 20th wedlock anniversary and my wife 50th birthday which is coming up in July 29, 2017 , i believe you should be able to cater for this event for me and i also do believe that you will throw us a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
*Make proper arrangement for flowers & decor
*Event color : white and purple
*Reserve your venue for my anniversary
*Photography service
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music
* Budget : $45k
*Expected guest is about 80-100
*Food (Italian Cuisine)
*Drinks (Beer, Liquor, Champagne, Wine and Juice)
*Best time to call/text me at from 9am-5pm Mon-Sat
I want you to be rest assured that all the payments will go through you as my party coordinator/event planner to all vendors because I’m currently out of town officially for business I work on a ship and currently stationed in Netherland but will return a week or two prior to my event as I’ll be having my break from July 5th to Aug. 5th and I expect to have my anniversary party thrown within this date. Party time 2pm to 7pm. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before….
Thank you hoping to read back from you soon.
Best regards,
Leo Carter
Happened here in Greensboro, NC to me today. I’m glad I was smart enough to google his number.
…same senerio here in St. Joseph, MO. Used the name Steven Balack.
Received the same one from a Peter today 06/21/2017 be ware!
Peter Yun
7:01 PM (16 hours ago)
to me
Hi,
Top of the day to you. My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up soon; it’s on the 30th of September, I want a surprise dinner party for my wife. I have a flexible budget of $10,000 which includes payment for your fees, and all the other vendors you will be working with.
I’m presently out of out of town for treatment recuperating from the diagnosis of lung Cancer and I’m still at Private medical center which will last for another month or two. I need you secure a venue that can cater for 25-30 guests, coordinate floral and decor arrangements for the venue, secure photographer who can take candid shots during the party. I need you to handle food and drinks for my guests. I also need a Videographer and a DJ for entertainment.
Let me know if this is something you can handle and also get back to me with the total cost to make this surprise party a romantic and memorable Anniversary for my wife.
I await your response.
Thank you,
Peter.
I had the Identical email from a Jacob G wang
Terrible that they do this to hard working people.
We just got this word for word email request from a Chuck Levi in Flagstaff, AZ, which we thought was legit until we received a similar request, however with many grammatical errors from a Jayne Smith who said she was too stressed. .. the same menu chicken and meat lasagna, DJ R&B & jazz set off the spidey sense. Thanks for the heads up!
Just got the same email from a stanswyer51@outlook.com uggggg
And #5035068157
I got the same message from a Stanley Sawyer and I also got one from a Jean Smith. I actually processed Jean Smith’s credit card deposit. Then he asked me to withdraw funds and pay a vendor with a cashier’s check so I immediately contacted the police and my credit card merchant. I was successful and refunding his money I notified him that I was suspicious and I have not heard back after many many phone calls and texts. Ugh
I received a little bit of a different variation of this in an e-mail in IL. “Dave Carter” needed help planning a Wedding Anniversary party for 90 people for $25000 but would be out of town until August and wanted me to plan it for him.
Thank you very much for this blog
Just received this same message from a Kenneth Coleman. Beware!
He told me to look up his fb page with his email … I did and if it is him, he already looks like a scammer! He only had 4 friends, which all were girls, and non had the same last name as his… I asked which one was his wife and he never responded.
I am currently corresponding with an “Andy Blize” right now who is texting me from a phone number with a 619 area code. the first thing I did was do a facebook search of the name and couldn’t find anyone with that name of fb so figured it was not legit. The email message is identical to the ones posted here already, here is the message:
“Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on Aug 20 2017, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 14k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 7pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can.
Andy Blize
It all seemed fishy from the onset but I just wanted to see how far this scammer will go. I wish there was a way I could get the police involved.
Same thing for me–exact wording, etc. Kenneth Coleman giving a Grand Rapids, MI address. Gave me an email and phone number which only texts.
I also got something similar in Los Angeles, CA from Arnold Walker, arnoldwalker17@gmail.com.
Thank you for your timely response. Due to my Busy Schedule, I want an event planner in regards of my Son and his wife 10th Year Wedding Anniversary which is coming up on 7th of October, 2017 and I don’t want the party to be held at my house. Am having a lot of stress regarding this event and I want you to please cater for this event for me and I also do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
*Getting us a venue Los Angeles, CA
*Make proper arrangement for flowers and decorations
*Photography service
*Food and drinks for the guest as I do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, I will have to leave that for you but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color: white and purple
*Budget: 20k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payments will go through you as the party Coordinator/Event Planner to all vendors and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for the event as I am officially out of town on special assignment as a Military Personnel but will be in town a week prior to the wedding anniversary. Party time 4pm to 8pm, Expected guest is about 50 to 60. Also let me know how much you charge for this type of Event deposit or full payment will be made ASAP with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I await to read back from you.
Thanks.
He first sent a message through WeddingWire phone number and when I replied with my google voice number with my email that’s what I got.
BEWARE!!!
I just got the text and the exact wording of inquiry. Smelled like a rat and my sister was the most suspicious. Googled and found your site and a few others. Mine was Andy Blize. Is there any way to report these guys. I thought legit when I got the text and then red flag was making all payments to vendors.
I just received something similar from a 650 area code, I had a bad feeling so I said I was unavailable.
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 25th of November i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit
display with
cake for guest to choose from/grilled
chicken,
steamed
broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken
salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
This is the phone number: +1 (650) 741-4597
Jean Smith
And she had texted me right after I got the email too
We just received the same request from Jean Smith in Saginaw, Michigan.
The scammer is still at it, I see. I was suspicious from the first summary. “Steven Cambell” using a 753 area code and this time is requesting a family reunion @ $150 per head. Same story about having stress due to the event and out of town for stress related issues. Keep on the lookout. Scammers continue their efforts. They must be having some success.
I received this message today from a Jean Smith. I was excited but the more I talked and responded to him I started to seem like a scam because his only concern was paying me. I took to Google and so happy I found this blog.
I got this in Springfield, IL. Notice it’s signed Andy but from Dave.
From: “Dave Bjorn”
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2017 4:48pm
Subject: My Wedding Anniversary Details
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on 28th of October, 2017,, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 14k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 7pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can.
Thanks.
Andy
I just received the same text message just a few days ago although he’s calling himself James Micheal 213- But what’s weird is he doesn’t seem to want to answer my questions about the party he’s wanting me to plan. I don’t know if it’s the same person, but I almost fell for this scam in 2015, but also a year before that. He’s texting my personal number, not my business line which is weird in itself and it’s got me wondering how he got my number. But like all the other posts here, his English is terrible and not whole words. I’m glad I looked this up before I fell for it. I hope they catch this guy.
Hello my company received the same e-mail! from Steven Balack sbalack2@gmail.com
Thanks for your prompt response. Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on December 16th 2017, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability. Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catherine Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 15k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 8pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before. Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can….19047013544
Thanks.
Steven…
Just received this email this morning as well – but from Steven Balack
Hi ,
Thanks for your prompt response. Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on December 16th 2017, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability. Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catherine Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 15k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 8pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before. Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can….19047013544
Thanks.
Steven
Ugh same with us! It was fishy From the start, thanks for sharing, it’s the same email almost word for word
They just attempted to scam me and thanks to your article I stopped him
I atcually ran the his credit card and don’t know what to do about that
Hey Ellie, what happened with the charge? Did it go through?
His name was JEAN SMITH ! And agree with everyone so badly written emails and text oh and the idiot forgot that I asked his wife’s name which was Mary .. when I caught on and ran his card I texted him back and address Him by Mary and he said .. “yes I am here “
Well I told him his card was declined and he asked for screen shot I never ga e it to him …how do they do that
I had a similar email and then phone contact yesterday. The individual used my website contact form to email me and gave me a phone number that went through a screening service. She said they were in Florida but would be back to the area a few weeks before the event. Several lines are verbatim to the messages above. The grammatical errors in each email were atrocious. I never allowed the situation to get past the initial inquiry so I don’t know what money situation would have been proposed but it more than seemed like a scam.
I was contacted by a David Bjornside (414) area code with the exact same request for anniversary party in Kentucky. He wanted to use his credit card for me to pay everything for him but could not use PayPal or square merchant and recommended another merchant. Told him sorry wouldn’t do that and never heard from him again. It is sad that people run so many scams.
I’m assuming I’m being tricked too??
This was a reply to my initial response from a guy named “Tom”:
Good to hear back from you, my 6th wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 28th of January i don’t want the party to be held at my house, am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life, I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what is needed for my event:-
-Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-DJ entertainment
-Event theme is white and yellow
-Budget: $17,000
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month .I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm, Expected guest is about 150 to 200 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past.
I look forward to read back from you.
Thanks,
Tom.
Just received the exact email and text from these scammers. This one came from Andy Mark with a phone number of: +1 (779) 218-0661. It seemed fishy and so happy I looked it up. Thanks for posting!
In Arkansas
Almost word for word the same. I didn’t catch on until the awkward wording in the last email I got. Didn’t get as far as payment – I have a contract and nothing happens til they sign that and provide ID – doubt they would have agreed to doing that so….
I kept all the emails – I can post if helpful. This paragraph about the money and the payments to vendors and the liability etc is very red-flag to me:
“Budget is $14k I believe i have been able to give little answers as best as i can but if you have further questions kindly email me asap and we can also speak on the phone anytime you want but I would like you to get us a venue first then prepare a contract for us to sign so i will make deposit via my credit card to secure the venue space and your service and once the space is secured we can then discuss about other vendors we will be using for my event also i want you to be rest assured that all payments will go through you as my event planner to other vendors we will be using for my party as i am liable to pay for all credit card charges / taxes including any inconveniences that i might cause you as we plan my party.”
Don’t fall for it.
same thing i got.
Got this, too. “Kenneth Coleman” texted me then emailed the exact message you got. So disappointed!
Thanks to all that posted so I could be sure this was a scam!
I just got the same email from jean4407@gmail.com – Mr. Jean Smith… first red flag is that Jean is the female spelling of the male version GENE. I figured it was a scam so I bluntly asked the date, budget, basic needs etc. I got this in response:
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 24th of March 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit
display with
cake for guest to choose from/grilled
chicken,
steamed
broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken
salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
jean smith
Thank You For Posting…
We received an email today very similar to the emails others have received.
Except our was from Jean Smith using the email address: jean4407@gmail.com and using the phone number (650) 741-4597 to send text messages from.
1st email received:
Hello how are you doing my name is Jean smith I will like to know if you offer event planning services and are you the owner or manager, do you accept credit cards as payment ?
Contact :Mr. Jean smith
Email : jean4407@gmail.com
Regards with Gratitude,
Jean
2nd email received:
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 24th of March 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit display with cake for guest to choose from/grilled chicken,
steamed broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
jean smith
Contact :Mr. Jean smith
Email : jean4407@gmail.com
Regards with Gratitude,
Jean
3rd email received:
Thanks for your swift reply kindly send me your direct cell phone number so that we can discuss more about my event coming up.
Contact :Mr. Jean smith
Email : jean4407@gmail.com
Regards with Gratitude,
Jean
My instinct kicked in right away…
googled the phone number and saw this post.
After reading all the comments to the post
we ceased communication with this person.
Thanks again for posting this scam warning!
I hope our post also helps someone from being scammed.
Oh no! I got this same email today! Same as you, it sounded weird and I started googling and found this post. Gosh, people suck.
This is identical to what I just received. THANK YOU so much for posting and for the head’s up.
My scammer called herself Jean Smart, Greenville SC
Upstate ny
Just received the same request only “her” name was Jean Smith.
We just had this happen to us in Lancaster, SC! We almost fell for it until we felt that some things weren’t adding up. I googled his email and it led me straight here. So glad we saw this before any information got to him. We plan to report him! This was so upsetting.
I received an email somewhat similar:
My parent’s wedding reunion party is coming up on the March 2nd , I want it be a surprise for the family but presently am in the hospital receiving my hearing impaired treatment of which I will undergo surgery in some days time and my best option of communication for now is Email, let me know if I can proceed or not??
I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do a perfect job for me. Below here is all what is needed for the event :-
-Date is March 2nd, starting from 2pm to 5pm and Expected guest is #50.
-I want you arrangement for flowers and decor.
-I want you get Photography service.
-I want you make arrangement for Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh fruit display will also be available with cake for guest to choose from,grilled chicken, steamed broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and chicken salad ).
-Event theme is white and purple.
-My Budget : $9,000
-I want you get back to me with your Proposal or Quote and did you accept credit card as method of payment?
NOTE:: I don’t need DJ service cos have personally made arrangement with my parent’s favourite band which am inviting them as a surprise for them.
Thank You.
Mario Hope
From: Hope Mario
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2018 12:53 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Reasonable Estimate Needed
Good day, I want you cater for my parent reunion party. I want you make arrangement for Grilled Chicken and chips, Ceaser salad and as for drinks I prefer Tea, Water and Soda more also you can as well you can make suggestion for me.
The event date is October 26th and address: 1036 Moseley Dr Lynchburg, which will held under a tent. Setup time 11am I want you make arrangement for #50 guest and more also did you accept credit card as method of payment?
Kindly let me have a cell number which I can text my credit card information and also I will need a favor from you before I proceed!
Best Regards
Mario Hope
I am SO GLAD I came across this! This guy/lady has been emailing all week. Exact same message as stated above.
Thank you for sharing!
I emailed back and said they can send payment in full to ihatescammers@fu.com
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on July 20 2018, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catering Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 15k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 6pm to 11pm, Expected guest is 50. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can.
Thanks
Kenneth Coleman
Just got the same text and then email from “Kenneth Coleman”! I was suspicious so thank you for this blog!
Got this email & text from Andy Mark – gmail account
Thank you for your response. Due to my Busy Schedule I want an event planner in regards of my coming 15th wedlock anniversary which is coming up on 19th May 2018 here and I don’t want the party to be held at my house, I’m having a lot of stress regarding this event and I want you to please cater for this event for me and I also do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
*Getting us a venue /Make proper arrangement for flowers and decor/Photography service /Food and drinks for the guest as I do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, I will have to live that for you but it shouldn’t be more than my budget. I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music/ Event color : white and purple/ Budget : 13k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payments will go through you as my party coordinator/event planner to all vendors and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as I am officially out of town and I work 24/7 in a ship but will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time 2pm to 9pm. Expected guest is about 40 to 50 also how much do you charge for this type of event deposit or full payment will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I await to read back from you.
Thanks
I’m in Kansas and have received two different emails in the past couple weeks following the same kind of patterns. I got a weird feeling about the first one so I didn’t respond after the second email and then a new one cam yesterday. Is there anyway to report these people or is all we can do just mark the email as spam?
I am located in Florida, and I got a similar message via email….
“my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 14th of April, 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to my work and i have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh fruit display with cake for guest to choose from/grilled chicken, steamed broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and chicken salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 4pm to 9pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you”
I replied asking a ton of questions of which he only answered one, and gave me a text back from a Google phone with area code from California saying …as many of you posted “feel free to contact me any time”.
I am glad I did my research; I did have a weird feeling about it. Thank you for sharing
I got the same one. Thankfully I caught on. I actually got two but the exact email; One was from Barry grant. The other from Ricky f Parks This was the email
Hi! Can you plan a surprise dinner party? Do you accept credit cards?
Thank you,
Rick.
I did reply and this was his response:
Hi Mike, thanks for your response.
My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up soon; it’s on the 26th of May I want a surprise dinner party for my wife. I have a flexible budget of $10,000 which includes payment for your fees, and all the other vendors you will be working with.
I’m presently out of town for treatment recuperating from the diagnosis of lung Cancer and I’m still at Private medical center which will last for another month or two. I need you secure a venue that can cater for 25-30 guests, coordinate floral and decor arrangements for the venue, secure photographer who can take candid shots during the party. I need you to handle food and drinks for my guests. I also need a Videographer and a DJ for entertainment.
Let me know if this is something you can handle and also get back to me with the total cost to make this surprise party a romantic and memorable Anniversary for my wife.
I await your response.
Thank you,
Rick.
Unbeliebable and sad really.
Got the same thing word for word from Stanley Sawyer. Makes me sick that they use the story of someone being sick to try to pray on your emotions. Can they be reported?
I recently received the same email word-for-word from “Stanley Sawyer”. Sadly, I did not catch on until later after processing payment onto the card he provided. He also asked me to pay his “limo driver”. Now, I have a chargeback dispute against me from a bank that claims the amount charged was a “no cardholder authorization” situation and “Stanley Sawyer” has stopped responding and completely vanished. Wish I would have seen the signs. It’s really disappointing and angering. Now I have a situation on my hands where I was simply doing my job and was taken advantage of and left to deal with this persons wrong doings. Has anyone reported these situations? What has been the outcome?
I’ve gotten the same thing from a “Kenneth Coleman” … I was 99.99% sure it was a scam, but I’m an optimist and kept emailing lol … He’s still responding! … I asked for a facebook so I can look at pictures and get an idea of what he and his wife would like. … I’m emailing him now a list of venue questions .. I kinda want to go through with this just to see what he says LOL … I wonder if one of those prepaid Visa cards would work… He could put the 15K on one of them, then I just never send it back! Scam the scam artist! LMAO
oh, the number he texted from was (317) 597-4015
I did the same thing. He proceeded to ask me to charge his card for more than my fee to pay one of the vendors who doesnt accept credit cards. I’m sure the end game is to get that money somehow. Thinking the limo driver may be linked to them or something.
Did it work? Lol
Thank you so much for sharing this. I got it too and it was definitely too good to be true. God bless!
So glad I found this message thread. I received literally the same e-mail from Kenneth Coleman (kennethcoleman225@gmail.com).
I accept PayPal through invoices and he claimed he couldn’t use paypal and needed me to use a credit card merchant – even including links in his e-mail. The whole thing seemed fishy right off the bat. I even sent the e-mail to my family for their opinions to confirm my suspicions. I conversed a few more times via e-mail with him. I have a contract he signed the sample version electronically… and I informed him I’d spoken to PayPal and they accept credit cards and that if he can’t make a payment he should contact them. he claimed at one time he was away as a sailor, I mentioned since it seemed he had excellent internet service he could contact them that way. I even suggested he sent payment through western union.
I did a reverse phone number look up initially as well and his number was from was Non VoIP – basically a burner number generated online.
Stay safe out there guys!!
This is basically what happened with me and Stanley sawyer and someone named Scott. I use PayPal business they do accept credit cards. Scott sent me a link to a merchant app I didn’t sign up it was strange. I gave Stanley the benefit of the doubt as well. He electronically signed my contract. It’s defintely hard starting a new business when this is what you face.
I received this same one in Portland, OR with phone number 503-455-7219 and name Kenneth Coleman.
I just received the same text from 503 455 7219 and then he emailed me same email. Kenneth Coleman from Lexington. Thanks for the tips!
I receive these texts multiple times a month. They have also been sending the same email through leads generated websites as well.
WOW!!! This happened to me today, I knew it was a scam that’s why I googled his number and long behold I was right!!! Trust your gut folks!!! The name given today was Jean Smith!
His number is 650-741-4597 and the email was Smith Jean jean4407@gmail.com
Different name same scam
Thanks for your timely response i want an event / wedding planner in regards to my upcoming 10th wedlock anniversary party which is coming up in June 30th here and i don’t want the party to be held at my house, I am having a lot of stress regarding this event and i want you to please cater for this event for me and i also do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability….
Below are list of what i want you to help me coordinate and cater for my anniversary party.
*Secure us a venue ( Indoor / Outdoor, Restaurant, Bar, Open field or Rooftop)
*Food and drinks for the guest as i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, I will have to live that for you but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ who can play all types of music including R&B and Jazz music.
*Make proper arrangement for flowers and decor.
*Event color : white and purple.
*Photography service.
*Expected guest: 40-50
*Party time: 4-8pm
*Budget : $14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payments will go through you as my party coordinator/event planner to all vendors and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town and work 24/7 in a ship but will be in town next month. Also how much do you charge for this type of event deposit or full payment will be made asap via my credit card to secure venue space and your services once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I await to read back from you.
Thanks,
Cheng.
Got the same thing from a Jean Smith. My gut instinct was spam but I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. He scheduled a phone call with me and I came across this post a few minutes before the scheduled call.
Why are people so awful? So disheartening when you’re trying to start a new business.
I got the same type of message. Ours is a new company and so I asked him where he found my company name. He said he got it from myweddings.com. So I checked with that company and they said that we are not listed on their site.
Here’s the message I got from this scammer named Andy Mark
How are you doing today. Due to my Busy Schedule I want an event planner in regards of my coming 15th wedlock anniversary which is coming up on 18th AUG 2018 here and I don’t want the party to be held at my house, I’m having a lot of stress regarding this event and I want you to please cater for this event for me and I also do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability.
*Getting us a venue /Make proper arrangement for flowers and decor/Photography service /Food and drinks for the guest as I do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, I will have to live that for you but it shouldn’t be more than my budget. I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music/ Event color : white and purple/ Budget : 13k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payments will go through you as my party coordinator/event planner to all vendors and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as I am officially out of town and I work 24/7 in a ship but will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time 2pm to 9pm. Expected guest is about 40 to 50 also how much do you charge for this type of event deposit or full payment will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I await to read back from you.
Thanks
Just got the same email from Jean Smith. How do these people sleep at night?
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 28th of July 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit
display with
cake for guest to choose from/grilled
chicken,
steamed
broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken
salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
jean
WOW,
I have the same message kennethcoleman225@gmail.com and we have been communicating since February for 10 yr Anniversary 21 July
I received the same message from Jean Smith!! LOL, it was actually kind of funny because I knew it was a scam right away. But what freaked me out was that he asked for my number, I gave him by office, but he texted me and said that he got it from my signature, which i didn’t have! so we spoke on the phone, i said, i don’t work until i get paid the deposit, so he blocked my number! SCORE! lol here’s the e-mail.
On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 8:13 AM Smith Jean wrote:
Hello how are you doing my name is Jean smith I will like to know if you offer event planning services and are you the owner or manager, do you accept credit cards as payment ?
—
Contact :Mr. Jean smith
Email : jean4407@gmail.com
Regards with Gratitude,
Jean
*************************************************************************************
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any attachments, is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above
and may contain information that is confidential, privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in this transmission is strictly PROHIBITED.
**************************************************************************************
(the part below this is what he added on to his email to make it seem like i added my info
God bless you
—
Von Marie Moniz
Event Planner/Owner
Lovely Events by Von
(978)64*-****
Keep Calm. Stay Lovely. Party On.
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 25th of August 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit
display with
cake for guest to choose from/grilled
chicken,
steamed
broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken
salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget : 14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
jean
Nice try bud!
Just got the same email in Denver!
Thanks for your prompt response. Due to the nature of my job, a Seaman/Sailor, always on a ship taking cargo from one destination to the other, it’s kinda hard to plan a successful 10th year wedding anniversary party with the intent to make it a surprise party to wife, family and some friends all on my own, I guess I need help. I’d like to hire the services of an event planner in regards to my upcoming 10th year wedding anniversary which is coming up on July 21st 2018, but I don’t wanna host this event at my residence, I’m already having lots of stress planning this event on my own that’s why i want you to please coordinate this event for me, as I do believe that you will do me a lovely party and thrill my guest to the best of your ability. Listed below are the services needed for the event:
*Getting us a venue is very important
*Making proper arrangements for flowers and decor
*Photography services
*Catherine Services; food and drinks for the guest I presume my guests would like to try a new cuisine. but it shouldn’t be more than my budget.
*I’d prefer a DJ and would like R&B and Jazz music.
*Event color : White and Lemon
*3tier Cake
*Budget : 15k
I would like to inform you that all payments to vendors will have to go through you as my party coordinator/event planner and you can get all the necessary arrangement done for my event as i am officially out of town because my work makes me travel a lot and that’s because I work 24/7 on a ship, so I’m always on the high sea but I will be in town 5 days prior to my wedding anniversary. My party time is 3pm to 8pm, Expected guest is 60. I’ll like to know how much you charge for this kind of event. Deposit or full payment, will be made asap with my credit card once availability for venue is confirmed by you. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before. Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail and revert to me as soon as you can…
Thanks.
Steven..
So glad I came across this. I get a lot of these scam emails and usually run them by a seasoned friend in the industry so now my guard is up. Just got the same email from Steven Balack in Myrtle Beach, SC.
I received the same email from Steven Balack in Denver Colorado – showing address as “here’s the address of my parent ..891 14th St UNIT 3901,Denver, CO 80202” I thought his verbiage and notes sounded off and I am glad I googled his name!
I received the same email today from Steve Balack. Such a time waster.
Just got this exact email, now his name is Steven Balack and his wife is Margret…..
Located in Gibsons BC, Caterer. He also now has a 15K budget haha!
I’ve received a couple of these through email and now have gotten two different texts about it this week. These people are ridiculous.
Hey there everyone,
We are an independently owned bakery in New Haven, CT and recently got a fraudulent inquiry much like the one you received. It came from a “David Niles” at david.niles884@gmail.com.
His first e-mail looked like this, and seemed normal enough:
“Hello Emily,
Thanks for swift response and the availability of the service. I would be willing to proceed further with the order by giving you the detail, I have attached the photo the sheetcake, so you can get the idea of which design i have in mind. So I have below the event details.
EVENT DETAILS:
Event Type: Wedding
Event Date: 22nd September. 2018
Delivery: Pick Up
Flavour: Chocolate Cupcakes, Frosted in vanilla Buttercream with a small red hearts on each
Dozens : 50 Dozen
Size: Regular Size
According the total quote above,. I want you to give me the accurate quote for the cupcakes. It’s really great to know that you do accept credit card payment. I would be more than happy to receive the quote as soon as possible to finalize the order by making the payment.
I await your urgent response.
Best Regards
David Niles”
Then, what set me off on the fact that this was a scam, was the e-mail I received from him this morning asking us to charge an additional $4,500 to his order that we would wire to his “event planner”. Yeah, right buddy! Here’s what the e-mail said:
“Hi Emily,
Thanks so very much for your response., So before i proceed with the order i would like to discuss a certain plight with you which I believe optimistically you will help sort that because am currently in the hospital to undergo a surgery now due to my hearing impaired and personal disabilities,I would need you to do me little favor because i got an email from the event planner in charge of our event planner.Due to the fact that she doesn’t have the facility to accept credit card for payment.I will need you to do me the favor by adding the Event Planner fee ($4,500). Together with your charges and then you will charge the total amount on my credit card,after the Event Planner fee has been charged on my credit card,you will deduct your fee plus charges and then transfer the remaining amount to the Event Planner so as to avoid any delay or disappointment. Please kindly bear with me.
Thanks
David Niles”
I received a text message like this and he was very pushy. I asked him if he was available for a quick call and he called me, but when I wasn’t responding because I was driving he kept texting me even more and then said he would pay me $2500 for my services. And then called me two times afterwards, I called the number back and it was a Google phone. I responded to him and let him know that I was booked and then I wouldn’t be able to provide him with services.
The scam just touched down in Los Angeles, Orange County with “Dave Sims,’ word for word. It was a definitely a plausible inquiry, but he was a bit to eager to pay more than what was quoted for. FLAG! Flag two was his google voice number. Seaman and or not, you can still use the phone your using to call, erduh! Flag three was his obvious Nigerian accent. Haha… this explains why they text initially! Glad this community is here!
I was very suspicious of an inquiry I got from a Chris Glover…for a 10th Anniversary surprise party for his wife. Says his daughter found my info on facebook. He called from an 870 number with a lot of static. Claimed he was working in LA and his wife lived in Frisco. I even did a contract, emailed it to him. He digitally signed it and sent it back. I counter signed digitally and returned, but have not heard back from him.
Just got the same message from Jean Smith stating he is unavailable to meet until next month. I gave my number and realized it wasn’t a local area code so I googled and this came up. Thanks for putting this out so I did not waste my time.
First I got this….
Hello how are you doing my name is Jean smith I will like to know if you offer event planning services and are you the owner or manager, do you accept credit cards as payment ?
Then once I responded I accept PayPal, I got this…
Good to hear back from you ,my wedding anniversary party is coming up on the 24th of November 2018 i don’t want the party to be held at my house,am having a lot of stress issues due to have not had an event like this before in my life,I want you as my planner for this event and i so much believe that you can do me a perfect job below here is all what i need for my
event :-
Suggested of venue locally
-Arrangement for flowers and decor
-Photography service
-Food and drinks for the guest (A fresh
fruit
display with
cake for guest to choose from/grilled
chicken,
steamed
broccoli, meat lasagna, salads, rice and
chicken
salad )
-DJ as entertainment
-Event theme is white and Navy blue
-Budget :14k
I want you to be rest assured that all the payment will be paid along with your fee for your own service … Due to my work am not available to meet you until next month.I want you to make all schedule in order on the given date starting from 2pm to 7pm,Expected guest is about 90 guests also how much do you charge for this type of event the full payment will be made right away with my credit card. I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past I look forward to read back from you
Regard
Hit here in MC
WOW! This is almost hilarious!
I got a text message inquiry and the same email inquiry from two different people, with the same type of details, etc. The email was exactly as above, but white and purple colors and slightly larger budget. But the grammar, language, and word choices are identical. You can definitely feel something is off with these inquiries, so trust your gut.
I actually almost started working with them and ALMOST took the deposit, until I found this blog post! Has anyone had the pleasure of turning them down? What did you say/how did they take it?
Thank you for posting this. I too received an email from “Mr Jean Smith”. It just didn’t read well for me. I did a Google search and found this post. Below is the email transcript. I will not be responding. Beware!
Hello how are you doing my name is Jean smith I will like to know if you offer event planning services and are you the owner or manager, do you accept credit cards as payment ?
—
Contact :Mr. Jean smith
Email : jean4407@gmail.com
Regards with Gratitude,
Jean
I also received this SCAM email from Stanley Sawyer – stanswyer51@outlook.com
Hi,
My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up soon and I’m planning a surprise dinner party for my wife. The party will be held at my home in Fort Langley, BC on the 21 of September from 5pm-10pm.
Expected guest is around 75-100 guests and I want you to take care of the photography job at the party. I will need portrait work done after the photography as well.
Ideas of what I would like for the party:
*I want my guest photos in a book/album or C D.
*Separate portraits for my family members : (Meg, Anna, Joey and Troy)
*Just walk around and get candid pictures of the party.
Get back to me if you have availability on the above date and if yes send me a quote and I can prepare a payment to seal this date for my anniversary.
Thank you,
Stanley.
This scam has now changed to planning a birthday party for his sister.
Thanks for the email Cindy i require one more thing from you. I and my sister just moved to California because of her health, we are both what we have and no one else which is why i want to make this event a beautiful one for her and make her one wish come true by inviting her favorite artist to come to the event as a surprise guest. The artist will only be coming to spend some time with her, chat with her but wont be performing. So for the artist to be at the event she needs an upfront fee of $3500 and she does not accept credit card. So i plead with you to help charge the artist fee together with your deposit and help me forward it to her so she can be booked for the day and my sister’s one wish can come true. This is all i ask.
Thanks
Judge Phillips
I turned them down just yesterday. Just seemed fishy and I insisted on meeting in person. Simply advised him if we couldn’t meet I wasn’t the planner he was looking for. Plugged into the Internet today and this page came up. Thank you very much for posting!
Omg I can’t believe I just found this thread. I was just going through old texts and saw the one I got LAST YEAR from Kenneth Coleman. I always wondered if I was just being paranoid or If i missed a good opportunity! I’m glad my suspicions were right and I didnt go through with anything! I spent ALOT of time and effort on this guys proposal..calling all sorts of vendors and venues ..ugh.. But the way he was wanting to pay was just too weird … And his answers to my questions on event specifics were very brief and often unintelligent. Thank you all for posting this! Lesson learned! Now I know some of the other names they are currently using too!
I read through this blog and comments here and I got a very similar request as well, this time in Southern California (San Diego County). It came from a Steven Cambell, phone # (408)909-4060 wanting event planning services for a family reunion for 75-100 people. I received a text from this person and I sensed something very odd about their outlandish requests. They made some of the very same requests with the music and food/catering and wanting chicken, steamed broccoli, lasagna, salads, fruit tray, cake, among other requests all very similar to all these ones. It was fishy that they claimed they were currently out of town due to health issues so they couldn’t meet for any consulting or appointments and they were adamant about having me use Elavon as a merchant service and nothing else to pay. Who in their right mind would offer to pay a planner extra money just to set up another account through a payment service, just to pay the deposit?? Red flags all around, definitely not legit!!!!! This person said a lot of the same exact things in the text, namely “I believe you can bring a level of service that surpasses anything we’ve seen before in the past”
I got one this weekend from Jean Smith phone number 650-741-4597! The email I received was about an anniversary party similar to the emails above. I felt weird about it considering someone would just email all their requests and ask me to start planning their event without speaking or meeting with me. I of course would never start without always following proper protocol. So weird!
FYI – I received the same text messages from a Tyler Poole (253)-265-7385 in Tulsa, OK! Terrible people.
This is still going on! The version we just received said that he is undergoing treatment in a medical facility for Lung Cancer! Boy, it’s amazing what people will stoop to. Came from Stanley Sawyer
Stay on your toes!
Weddings In Sedona, Inc.
Just received an email to help James Petty from email address kokochif02@gmail.com (same from One Fine Day blog post) to help with his mother’s 75th birthday party in LA. Thankful for google search to find these posts.
Just happened over the past few days here in MA/NH as well:
From “Layran Knight: (480) 712-4670 Also claims to be hearing impaired, much like the others.
Thanks for your swift respond,I work at FedEx as a delivery truck driver and presently at the next city due to my work schedule. As i have a lot going on with me at this time. I wont be around on till few days before our honeymoon. I just need everything well concluded and organize in other to let everything goes right. I will need you to do me a little favor Because I’m still having have a payment issue with the payment of the Photographer of the Day, He told me he didn’t have a credit card machine so i need to add his fee together with yours. he as to receive $2.700 for the booking of the Photographer fee, And am giving you $200 as tips including credit card processing fee?
Here’s the break down below::::
Your work Fee:: $2000
Tips and stres:: $200
Photographer:: $2,700
Credit card processing fee: 4%
Thanks for the swift response, venue will be held at 10 Coburn St Lowell, MA 01850 The package i want is 7 hours time required 4pm-11pm. I want includes music for the ceremony, cocktail/dinner music for up to 3 hours and dancing music for 4 hours. 6 Up Lighting and 2 wireless mic the guest coming 70 people. Or your suggestion?and also do you accept all major credit card then give me your cell phone just to text better.
Then I will like to pay the $2000 with my credit card to secure the date? 10 Coburn St Lowell, MA 01850 That’s cool. What type of merchant you use to charge credit card with? As i do normally have problem with my credit card dont work with PayPal & Square due to high limit.
I received this one as well! From a guy named Scott
This turd contacted me through Yelp in the beginning and then communicated through email. Changed his name to “Pope Randy” 🤦🏻♂️ Said he’s on vacation and won’t be back until the day before the party. Had wasted a few hours of my time thinking up a menu for his 40 guests for an anniversary party. And then when I asked for payment up front.. this is his reply…
Hi ,
Thanks for your swift mail reply, I appreciate your kind gestures in catering for my order and am also delighted with the proposed menu.
I have also forward the information to the Party planner and have made necessary arrangement to come pickup at your restaurant by 5pm on Friday, December 21st and I’m sure you’re providing me the best for my anniversary.
I would like to me make payment for the catering now and I will also need you help me out with a little favor for proper arrangement;
I have organized a party planner who would have the house ready for the party, buy the things needed and put them in place before my arrival for the party which I would have loved to pay him directly but he’s not setup for credit card payment which is the only way I could make payment at this moment cause i am not activated to make a transfer.
I will be giving you my card details to charge through the sum of $1,748.16 which you could have the full payment of $748.16 for the food and have the rest $1000 transferred to him when the fund is cleared in your account so he can have all things arranged before my arrival.
Kindly get back to me if there’s any extra amount due to the transaction so I can forward my card details to charge the fund.
I will so much appreciate if you can assist me with my request.
Await your positive response
Many regards,
It’s now crossed into Canada too!
We got an email at our restaurant with very similar details from a Karl Robertson. He was looking to place a large order with us to feed 58 people for his Wedding Anniversary, and he too was out of the country until only 2 days prior to his event. He then requested that we charge his credit card and additional $3,600 and forward the cash to his “Party Planner” who had difficulties accepting credit card payments. Had Red Flags all over it! (Cambridge, Ontario)
I just got this one in NYC…Same guy.
Hi Chef Jill,
My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up soon; it’s on February 23, I want a surprise dinner party for my wife. I have a flexible budget of $9,000- $12,000 which includes payment for your fees, and all the other vendors you will be working with.
I’m presently out of town for treatment recuperating from the diagnosis of Lung Cancer and I’m still at a Private medical center which will last for another month or two. I need you secure a venue that can cater for 25-30 guests, coordinate floral and decor arrangements for the venue, secure photographer who can take candid shots during the party. I need you to handle food and drinks for my guests. I also need a Videographer and a DJ for entertainment.
Let me know if this is something you can handle and also get back to me with the total cost to make this surprise party a romantic and memorable Anniversary for my wife.
I await your response.
Thank you,
Stanley.
This is the exact email I received!
YES, me too. wanted balloon decorations for a family reunion. very vague didnt answer questions etc.
finally today wants me to bill his cc for $450 and tack on $2,000 for the caterer. i am thinking whaat the
heck. i wrote to him saying unfortunately i would not be available for his event. that would have really
been a nasty Christmas present.!!
i received an email as well from a SIMON GREEN about a 10 year anniversary. his google number is 240-468-7219
Got a super strange event planning request (via text) from Steven Cambell. Phone number (779)324-2236. Said he needed help planning a family reunion for 80-120 people. He needed help finding a venue, caterer, florist, etc. Felt fishy from the beginning but I didn’t want to be rude if it really was a client! I asked to talk to him on the phone but he said he only wanted to text. Thought that was super weird. I kept searching the internet to see if it was a scam and finally stumble across this forum! Thanks for sharing Allyson! Glad I didn’t waste anymore time on this guy!
ALSO received the same email as above from Peter Yun!
UGH!
I received similar. He said he was out of town due to cancer treatments and that it’s his 10 year wedding anniversary it’s a surprise party and he didn’t wanna use PayPal business to pay me with him being out of town. He was very specific in his menu request and asked for a dj for jazz and r&b as well. I thought nothing of it and worked out a budget he even signed my contract. Then I was contacted by “scott” who wanted to plan a surprise birthday party for his wife same menu as the other guy. Colors white and yellow. Etc. They don’t answer phone calls and he is busy so he’s not in town. That’s when it got suspicious. So I started talking to my boyfriend and he tracked the phone numbers as landlines in other states. And then I googled to see if anyone else had this happen and found this feed. I thank you for posting this. You may have just saved my business I’m not sure what they’re hoping to gain.
This happen to me, too, in Northern California. The same menu, details, and colors requested, but the story is that he’s out of the area for chemo and wants to surprise his wife for a 10th anniversary party and cancer has made him too tired to plan. He used the name Stanley Sawyer, which I have read on other postings that he uses to prep on wedding wire listings.
Hello,
I was referred by a friend to a guy using almost the SAME verbiage (though briefer) via text. He goes by Patrick and gave me an email address of patriciafaychappell01@gmail.com. Only after several texts and calls did he finally provide a mailing address (I asked for my records and, when he did not immediately give one, became suspicious). It also took him quite a while to confirm his last name was Chappell and that Patricia is his “wife.” Yes, it’s certainly possible to have a Patricia married to a Patrick, but it isn’t common!
The scam here is for a 21st anniversary party and the scammer claims that he had an aphasia seizure and is in the hospital. Later (after calling me in an almost harassing manner), he claimed he’s not even supposed to be on the phone. At other times, it was his wife who was in the hospital and his event date moved because she’d have to stay in the hospital longer…but this is 3 months away, so how could that be certain, if she was so ill as to require hospitalization for so long?
I, too, was told his card wouldn’t work with Square or PayPal. He pressured me to buy a POS machine from Chase Merchant Services but I refused. He said he’d refund me the $500 for the system and he also wanted to send me $2,500 extra for a limo company…but that amount would not have covered the cost for everything he wanted! Patrick was adamant about getting the money sent to me (certainly so that I could then send some to him), but vague and almost dismissive about event details…then overly specific about others. In my 15 years doing events, no one starts out telling you about the menu down to the steamed broccoli but has no opinion about the venue or flowers!
In any case, we can add Patrick Chappell to the list of scammer aliases. This is, by the way, in San Francisco. (He said he lives in Savannah but his number is for Massachusetts. I didn’t think too much of it, since my cell is from Savannah where I used to live.) Plus, SF is full of people from other states and countries.
HAS ANYONE REPORTED THESE SCAMS? TO WHOM? I haven’t gotten any money or given any (thankfully) but it is time to get law enforcement involved.
Hello again,
I looked it up! File a complaint–EVEN IF YOU DID NOT LOSE MONEY–with the FTC. The web site is ftc.gov/complaint and there’s a toll-free number but I didn’t note it down.
It will help others if more people file a complaint.
Thank you,
Sage
Sage McRae Event Design
San Francisco
I have received these inquiries several times via email over the last year or so (Los Angeles area). A wedding, a wedding anniversary, etc. But a few days ago, I got it via text. Even though the phone number tracked to a landline. He said he was in Long Beach, which is just south of Los Angeles. totally legit location, sure. He said he found me on Wedding Wire (though, if he had, he would have seen that I am NOT a planner, but a day of coordinator). It was all the same story, except I said I couldn’t work with them unless we either talked on the phone or video chat. So… he CALLED!! I had stepped away, but saw the missed call in the few minutes I left my phone, and he texted “I just called, where are you?”. Dang it. I should have called back and spoken to them. Yeesh. well… I finally gave up, and outed him as having received this exact same message multiple times over the past few years, and that I would only do the job if there was a paypal business payment. Never heard back.
Interestingly… I work for a princess/character company. They do not do weddings. they don’t even do birthdays. they only send out characters to events you have already planned. Even SHE has received these planner emails, and she forwards them to me, and I recognize them as the scam they are. So clearly, they are finding us on Wedding Wire, but they are reaching out to any type of event business that they can.
Received a text from Brian Hill 209-260-5853, except they were trying to hire the band I represent, but now want to send us a check to pay someone else also. Bride name is going as Kimmy John.