> Report online scams.
Internet Scams Target Massage Therapists
Please note! ABMP has received several reports reporting this scam. Be aware!
Massage therapists are now on the receiving end of a variation of an online con. Here’s how it works: An out-of-town “client” contacts a practitioner via e-mail wanting to schedule appointments for a time in the future when he/she will be visiting the area. The appointments and times are scheduled. Shortly thereafter, the practitioner receives a cashier’s check for these services, but it’s generally for much more than the originally agreed upon price. The alleged client or a secretary of the client contacts the therapist, explains the mistake, and asks the therapist to deposit the check and simply refund the balance. The check appears to clear and the practitioner sends the overage back to the client only to learn two weeks later that the check was a fraud. Now the practitioner is out whatever the overage was.
If this has happened to you, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website, www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm, and click “File a Complaint” to fill out the form. You can also forward the offending e-mails to spam@uce.gov. In addition you can file a complaint at the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s website, http://www.ic3.gov/.
Using caution and common sense will help you avoid the pitfalls of Internet scams. For more information on Internet scams, visit www.ftc.gov/spam/ or www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp.
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
February 1, 2012
First Name: XXX
Last Name: XXX
Member ID:XXX
Date: 1/26/12
Hi,
I’m an ABMP member and I just received this email. I’ve gotten others like it before and forwarded them to you. They are always someone coming from another country and sent to undisclosed recipients, wanting info on services and sessions. Anyway, here’s another one. Just want to let you know in case this is some kind of scam so you can let the membership know.
Thanks much,
XXXXXXX
[Initial Email Inquiry]
From: andrearossi820 <andrearossi820@gmail.com>
Date: January 26, 2012 8:09:33 AM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
BCC: XXXX
Subject: Re—-Enquiry About Your Service !!!
Hello,
My name is Andrea from Ireland,i will be coming on an official assignment to your city on Feb 8th and i like more info about your service and sessions,i will be staying 3 months or more.Kindly let me know your charges and details if you offer any of Deep Tissue,Energetic and sport Massage so that i will book ahead before coming.
Await your reply.
Andrea
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 11, 2012
First Name: XXX
Last Name: XXX
Member ID:XXX
Date: 12/15/11
Description: Good Day,
My Name is Wayne Packer from Scotland. I want to make inquiry on your Pilate sections for 8 athletes that will be coming to your country for a 3 weeks training tour in your area. We are interested in an hour pilate sections after each day activities. do you offer private/simi private pilate sections?
Bellow are details of the reservation:
Arrival Date: 23rd of January to 12th of February 2012
Time: evening sessions, Mondays through Saturdays (18 section) Number of athletes: 8 adults.3 females & 5 Male Sprinters within the age of
19-27 years.
Kindly advise details on availability and the TOTAL COST for the booking of the sections, so we can make payment to secure the booking.Hope you accept credit card payments? I await your prompt response.
Regards,
Wayne Packer
waynepk74@yahoo.com
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 2, 2012
[Initial Email Inquiry]
From: Mr Joseph Lee lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk
To: #####
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 3:55 PM
Subject: MASSAGE SERVICES
Dear sir/Madam,
I wish to know if you can provide massage services for my clients on business trip.They are three males and will need at least 1 hour massage services and relaxation each for three weeks from 16 January – 06 February 2012.They will be needing 1 hour massage sessions each,at 3 days in a week for three weeks.
They will be visiting your clinic for the massage services in the evening from 03:00 pm.I hope that you will be able to accommodate my request at this time.My clients do not have any medical issues and have received massage in the past.
Give me your quote and the total cost for your services.Get back to me at lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk
SUMMARY OF MY REQUEST-
Number of customers:3 males
Number of daily massage hours:1 hour massage/person/day
Total number of days:9 days
Massage days:3 days a week for 3 weeks
Type of massage: Full body massage
Payment: Credit card
Customers Language:Chinese and English
Regards
Mr Joseph Lee
Tree Craft Ltd
Hillside Farm,Rushmore Hill
Knolckholt,Kent.TN14 7NL
PH:+447024063564
[Reply from ABMP Member]
From: ####
Subject: Re: MASSAGE SERVICES
To: “lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk” lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tuesday, 13 December, 2011, 15:38
Dear Mr. Lee,
First my apologies for the delay back to you. My name is #### and as of now will be able to accommodate your clients for the time frame you have requested. For a traditional 1 hour massage $79.00 per person, traditional massage with reflexology 70 minutes $84.00 per person. I also offer 90 minute massages as well. These services will need to be booked and redeemed at ##### to provide the best service. If you wish to book these services, please request it to be with me specifically, I will take 20% off their first massage, also you will get more for your money if you purchase a gift certificate before 12/31/11.
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions you may have.
Happy and Healthy Holidays,
####
[Last Response, Requesting Overpayment to be Sent to a Third Party—the Tell-tale Sign of a Scam]
Date: 1/2/12
Description: I confirm that my clients will receive massage services and relaxation each for three weeks in your clinic from 16 January – 06 February 2012 as i told you in my previous mail. According to your quote,the total amount for your services is $2133.I wish to proceed with the payment. I will make the payment with a credit card.I will send the credit card details to you on Monday so that you can process the entire amount with your POS machine.
We also made arrangement with a travel/logistics agent to take care of their travel arrangements from China and also make hotel and car hire reservations for them before they arrive. You are to process the credit card to the tune of $9000 + (credit card charges, vat and tax) to cover the entire cost for your services and the booking for other services. When you receive the money $9000 in your account, you deduct the cost of your services $2133 and send the balance $6867 to the travel/logistics agent to enable him make the other bookings for them.
Confirm this message and get back to me with the below detail -
YOUR FULL NAME-
CONTACT ADDRESS-
PHONE NUMBER-
THE TYPE OF CREDIT you ACCEPT-
THE CREDIT CARD INFORMATION YOU NEED-
I await your reply so that we can proceed.
Regards
Mr Joseph Lee
Tree Craft Ltd
Hillside Farm,Rushmore Hill
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
December 20, 2011
We received an email with stilted English that they wanted three days of 90 minute massages for himself “Ben Raes” and his wife “Janet.”
I had no idea it was not legit so I booked them and asked him to send $550.
I received three money orders totaling $2975(from New York, even though the letter was postmarked in London, UK.)
We are notifying our local police on how to proceed.
My assistant became suspicious and said that this was a scam. They get you to deposit the checks, then cancel and ask for their money back before the deposit cleared.
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
November 4, 2011
It was worded exactly same as what you have shown in the scam warning except set up for Texas.
Same dates, times etc.
sentfrom the email addresses:
whqt1941@gmail.com and whqt1941@yahoo.com
Greetings,
I found your contact after a brief search for a Massage Theraphists on the internet and I therefore use this channel to request if you will be available to offer 3days of 90Mins Massage Service to me and my wife. My name is Ben and my wife’s name is Janet, we live and work as textiles suppliers in United Kingdom and we will be visiting the State of Texas in United States on the 10th of February, 2012.
February 10th, February 17th and February 24th,2012 are our preferred massage dates and morning session between 9am & 12pm will be fine for us,but if this time is not available, then period from 5pm upward will make a good alternative.
Moreover if there is any of the quoted dates/times that is not available,please let me know and possibly furnish me with alternative dates/times.We can on each day do the sessions back to back(i.e one after the other) OR at the same time if you have another therapist working with you. Alternatively I can have my own massage in the morning and the one for my wife comes later in the day. We do not have any medical issues whatsoever and we have received massage services several times in the past .
Kindly answer the following questions if you are available for the service required.
What is your address location in Texas so as to estimate our proximity to you ?
How many years of experience do you have in this career?
I look forward to your prompt response.
Regards,
Ben Raes
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
October 31, 2011
Greetings,
I found your contact after a brief search for a Massage Theraphists on the internet and I therefore use this channel to request if you will be available to offer 3days of 90Mins Massage Service to me and my wife. My name is Ben and my wife’s name is Janet, we live and work as textiles suppliers in United Kingdom and we will be visiting the State of Massachusetts in United States on the 10th of February, 2012.
February 10th, February 17th and February 24th,2012 are our preferred massage dates and morning session between 9am & 12pm will be fine for us,but if this time is not available, then period from 5pm upward will make a good alternative.
Moreover if there is any of the quoted dates/times that is not available,please let me know and possibly furnish me with alternative dates/times.We can on each day do the sessions back to back(i.e one after the other) OR at the same time if you have another therapist working with you. Alternatively I can have my own massage in the morning and the one for my wife comes later in the day. We do not have any medical issues whatsoever and we have received massage services several times in the past .
Kindly answer the following questions if you are available for the service required.
What is your address location in Massachusetts so as to estimate our proximity to you ?
How many years of experience do you have in this career?
I look forward to your prompt response.
Regards,
Ben Raes
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 24, 2011
From: panilawren0101@fusemail.com
Date: January 17, 2011
Description from the ABMP Member:
I got an email that claimed “Massage Therapist needed.” I found the wording to be of broken english and they also wanted to send a cashiers check in advance to sessions. When I went to respond with some key questions–I already had red flags going off–I was asked to download Japanese. This email came on January 17th and I have not gotten any response yet to my questions. It is requesting massages for a wife and husbank supposedly in the UK and coming to my area on the 28th of this month. They wanted a local “associate” to get me the money in advance. I have reported it to local news, BBB, and FBI. I really hate to see the scam cause anyother professional and problems. This is coming from panilawren0101@fusemail.com and going to mellow060@yahoo.com Please be cautious.
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
November 10, 2010
From: doyen00066@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 9:41 AM
Subject: In need of massage therapist
Hello my name is Patricia, I’m in the United Kingdom for a year contract and I got here last August this year. My husband and I have agreed to spend our holiday in the United States starting from the 22nd of November. We intend to have some deep tissue massage to relieve some of the usual work related pains that we do have. I will like to know how much you charge for each sessions and we will like to have about three sessions each. Once am sure of the price, I will have my associate in the United States send you a cashiers check payment as I will like to make payment and bookings in advance.
Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
10/05/2010
Description: Greetings from Milan ,
My name is Mr Roberto Branco, I live and work as a massage therapist here in Italy . I am 46 yrs old. I have been doing massage since 1991. I do a deep relaxation massage in which the muscles relax without pain. I also do energy massage that helps people feel great when I am done. I am also certified to do pregnancy massage. I have lots of happy clients here in italy.
I have been looking for a massage therapist for over a week now till i met an old friend yesterday that referred you to me, her name is Serah. She used to live in America before she relocated here with her family, so i decided to contact you to know if you will be able to give my client some massage sessions when she arrives the US.
My clients name is Ms Monica Picchi, Shes is a model here in Italy . She will be coming to the U.S in 2 weeks time for a modeling job and will be residing in Illinois temporarily until the neccesary arrangement for her job has been made before she leaves. She will be needing 1hr massage session per day, 2 Sessions per week for 6 weeks when she arrives.
Ms Monica asked me to come with her to the US but i told her i would not be able to go with her to the US as i have a course i will be going for in a week time, so i promised to help her find a good massage therapist in your Area.
Pls tell me a little more about your self, how long have you been a massage therapist? Would you be able to provide her with the massage sessions from the 25th of this month to the 6th of December, 2 Sessions per week for 6 weeks?
Pls i need you to get back to me with the amount you charge per session and also let me know if she can pay you with a Certified check drawn from a US bank?
Do send your reply to my personal email address { brancoroberto70@yahoo.it } for a quick response as i do not check this email always.
Till I read from you remain blessed.
Roberto Branco
712 Via Mercato,
1,26129
Milano Italy
Advertising Company Takes Money, Doesn’t Deliver
9/21/2009
Alert Regarding Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising)
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) members have reported entering into a contract with the company calling itself Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising). This company purportedly disappears at times and reappears under a different company name. This company has taken our members’ money but has not provided the advertising that was contracted for. The company sells printed ads on restaurant placemats and phone book covers and appears to have a policy that it will charge yearly for the ads even if a yearly renewal was not agreed upon. In some cases the ads are never printed.
We advise ABMP members to check out any complaints that may be on file regarding a company that you are considering for advertising contracts or for other business relationships. Watch your credit card accounts for any unauthorized charges, and take steps to report these unauthorized charges to your credit card company as soon as possible. Go online and Google the company’s name, or contact your local chamber of commerce to research for any reported complaints.