January 2009

SpamScam Alert! V.Com Teachers Beware!

January 12, 2009 11:01

SpamScam Alert! V.Com Teachers Beware!

I am certain that many teachers on the forum have recieved e-mails that request that someone from "another country" is seeking a teacher for their child. I understand that Mrs. Niles is not responsible for these, as it would naturally be impossible to censor such correspondance, and it is our responsibilty to do so ourselves as members.

V.com, being accessed in all parts of the world, the country of origin would always be questionable, and sometime impossible to actually track down. I hope that the information here may help others in any similar cases that may arise with them personally. In all reality, anyone is open to recieving these types of e-mails.

In the past, I used to get a massive amount of these e-mails. At that time, I did not know any better (it was very convincing, and I was ignorant of facts at that time), and took it on good faith that the individual was really ligitimate in seeking a teacher. It had all the right elements and I even spoke with the client personally a number of times on the phone. I have a certain protocol procedure that requires that I am in contact with a live person to square a deal, before continuing business with them. It was only after I attempted to cash a check from one of them, that the bank gave me a useful tutorial on the techniques of money laundering, hitherto which I had not realized before. Nowadays, I am aware of the situation and will quickly inform my bank of any attempts to use me as a "go-between" man. It is an impossibility for us to completly stop such criminal activities outright, but here are a few tips that one may use to help fight the crime of money laundering practices to our best civil ability:

1. If you suspect that the e-mail is shady, simply mark it as SPAM and forget it. (Most persons would do this)

2. If you continually recieve these e-mails, either from a single agent or many different ones, one could personally write the sender and request that they telephone you personally in order to "arrange" further details. Bear in mind, the e-mail could be ligitimate, but mot likely not. Logical common sense says that not every e-mail should contain the similar elements that they do. I cannot reveal certain spam/scam detection information, through fear of condoning others to possibly foster illegal activities, unbeknown, but if one is clever enough, one will could easily find that person as if they simply lived next door. This job is really for the federal or national authorities to handle, and could ultimately be dangerous if pursued in the wrong directions.

3. Deal only on a "cash on the barrelhead" basis (my preference and it solves all problems)

4. Often, if your physical address is readily available, the scam artist will send you a cheque anyway. If this happens, be aware that you are now, by law, technically involved in the scam, whether you agree to cashing them or not. A federal law has been violated since the mail system was used in the transaction. Don't panic, but rather take the cheques(?) to your bank and let the management know what is happening. They in turn will notify the Federal Authorities and that will be the only part you will have played. By doing this, you will have assisted the authorities in tracking down the criminal element. The criminal element already realizes this, and will have already made other arrangements to cover their tracks, but not always. It happens more than one might think, but sometimes persons attempt to cash these questionable cheques and can get themselves in trouble. The law tend to question ignorance even the first time, and certainly never the second....

Other advice on how to handle this situation is highly welcomed here.

Below is a very typical example of what I am constantly having to deal with on an almost daily basis, The names, places and times usually vary, but the formula is always the same:

Hello,
I'm ------------- from Paris,France.during my search for Violin teacher that would always take my Son (----------) and I found your advert..Your advert looks great and it is very okay to me since you specialize in the area i am seeking for him.

My Son would be coming to U.S before end of this month and i need a reputable teacher that would be teaching him for 4 Months.He is just 17yr Old and also a beginner, i want you to help me teach lesson during him stay.

So, kindly let me know your charges cost per week's ,in order for me to arrange for his payment before he travels down to your side.

I would also like to know if the their is any Text Book you will recommend for him as a beginner so that he will be reading privately at home after the lesson during his stay.

Please Advise back on;
(1). your charges per 1 hour twice a week for 4 Months?
(2).The Day and time you will be available to teach his During the week?
(3).Tuition address?

I will be looking forward to read from you soonest.
Best Regards,

Mrs.----------

This message sent courtesy of The Violin Site - http://www.theviolinsite.com
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