Beware of Fraudulent Studio Bookings

[Dave Labrecque]

I got this email from someone a couple weeks back:


Hello, I am Mr. Craig Ladwig, I want to have a studio session booked in your studio from 7th June 2008 to 20th day of the same month excluding Sundays 8hrs per day. Please get back to me with your total cost so that we will proceed with booking immediately for our recording. Sincere regards, Craig Ladwig.

We went back and forth a few times. He was getting ready to send me a big check. I decided it was time to check this out. I found this thread (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig) on Gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig

Interesting. The long and short of it is that after you deposit it, you think the check's cleared your bank, so you pay some people that he wants you to pay from the alleged fees he's sent you. After you pay them (from your account), the overseas check he sent you turns out not to have cleared after all. A common scam, I guess, but now it's being directed specifically at recording studios.

[Grekim]

I got a very very similar email. I told the person my studio was unavailable, but could he please send me more information so that I might recommend another facility. I received some additional information - a jazz band coming from Asia that wanted to work in the studio for like 10 hours a day for 9 days straight. And it was all to be overdubbed. Overdubbed jazz :) I had a good laugh. Well, a few days later I got the exact same email as the original. I said once again I was booked. My internet computer completely crashed (needed an XP re-install etc etc) recently. So I may have downloaded a virus from this source, who knows. Watch out!!

[bcorkery]

I actully talked with the guy. I never set up the 3 week session he wanted, just gave him a HUGE estimate and he never called back. :p

Hey, if I'm going to lock down the studio for that long at the inconvenience of my regular clients, I want it to be worth my while.

[CurtZHP]

Several years ago, I was selling an analog mixer online. I got an e-mail from some clown in the UK who was going to send me a certified check for considerably more than the price of the board. I was to send the difference to some third party to whom he supposedly owed money.

I told him to get lost, and that his finances were his business, not mine.

I was a bit suspicious from the get-go, since the board was just a Tascam 16 channel board, and I was only selling it for a few hundred bucks. Not the sort of thing to warrant an overseas transaction.

I later saw an article similar to the one mentioned here. The check they send you is no good, the third party doesn't exist, and you've already shipped them the gear.

My dad actually knows a guy who lost a boat to one of these scams.

[Sean McCoy]

I got this email from someone a couple weeks back:

Hello, I am Mr. Craig Ladwig, I want to have a studio session booked in your studio from 7th June 2008 to 20th day of the same month excluding Sundays 8hrs per day. Please get back to me with your total cost so that we will proceed with booking immediately for our recording. Sincere regards, Craig Ladwig.


We went back and forth a few times. He was getting ready to send me a big check. I decided it was time to check this out. I found this thread (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig) on Gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig

Interesting. The long and short of it is that after you deposit it, you think the check's cleared your bank, so you pay some people that he wants you to pay from the alleged fees he's sent you. After you pay them (from your account), the overseas check he sent you turns out not to have cleared after all. A common scam, I guess, but now it's being directed specifically at recording studios.
I had an almost identical exchange with one of these scammers a couple of months ago. It was mostly believable, until he said he was sending me a check and I needed to front a large portion of it to the interpreter we would need since the band was Greek and spoke no English. I politely told him I would only pay out money if he were willing to make a payment via Paypal, and that was basically the end of it. Wierd that an industry full of barely-making-it entrepreneurs would be targeted like this, huh? I guess we've gained a worldwide reputation as desperados.

[Marvin]

I've received quite a few of these actually. I realised that it was some sort of scam, since I didn't believe that they would come to my tiny studio in Sweden from Senegal, Russia, or Nigeria... but I never figured how the scam would play out. Now I know! I never answer these letters, just keep them in a special folder for laughs. :)

Latest example:
Dear friends,we are a group music from senegal and we have already some album and we need to come make ours next album in your studio so we need some information about it .So we are waiting your repley weet very impatiente . Have a nice days dear friends. CONTACT:00221 77540 23 44. dakar-senegal.

// Marvin

[AudioAstronomer]

Enjoy...

http://www.419eater.com/

[lofi studios]

my studio is just a hobby, so when somebody tries to book in its just a question of 'whens your next gig? i want to see if i think i can work with you ...' stopped a few of these dead, also saved me a few wasted days in the studio with kids that have money but no tallent:)

[Dave Labrecque]

I had an almost identical exchange with one of these scammers a couple of months ago. It was mostly believable, until he said he was sending me a check and I needed to front a large portion of it to the interpreter we would need since the band was Greek and spoke no English. I politely told him I would only pay out money if he were willing to make a payment via Paypal, and that was basically the end of it. Wierd that an industry full of barely-making-it entrepreneurs would be targeted like this, huh? I guess we've gained a worldwide reputation as desperados.

Yep. Same scam. The Greek thing.

[Dave Labrecque]

On a similar note....

Just yesterday I received an email with some sort of Pay Pal wording in the subject line.

It was a confirmation of something I never bought, but was indicating that I had paid for it. The bait was to click on something to protest the mistake, which would link to a virus of some sort....according to Pay Pay.

So be careful out there. Trust me, no email strangers want to use any of our studios. Anyone that can fly from Asia or Greece to record can afford a higher profile facility.

Mark

Gotta watch those emails with fake links. I thought I was pretty good at spotting 'em, but I got caught by a fake Bank of America email. Don't ask me why, but I got sucked in, clicked on the link, started entering my passcode... :o

[lofi studios]

1145pser... sh@t, forgot myself for a min:o

[Cary B. Cornett]

Just yesterday I received an email with some sort of Pay Pal wording in the subject line.

It was a confirmation of something I never bought, but was indicating that I had paid for it. I had a couple of those some time ago. I reported them to Spamcop (they were unsolicited, and they were supposedly about commerce, so I figured I could stretch the definition of UCE that far). With any luck, I at least caused them to have to find another ISP or email handler...

[Dave Labrecque]

By the way, what is your passcode?

Mark

Ha! Think I'd fall for that? Not a chance I'm putting that out, publicly. What are you, nuts?

Look for a PM from me.

[Pedro Itriago]

Hey Dave! I've got some beachfront land I'm selling, do you want in on the action?

This is just a modified version of the Nigerian scam. The original one was with large funds from a guy over there needed to send overseas so he could use them, but you have to pay him back most of it while he would give you a cut for your "troubles"

Nice to see they've changed the tuine a bit. Seems that people still fall for this. It's like pyramid schemes.

On a similar note, has anybody here in the group recived a private forum message like this? I've received 2 already:


"hello Pedro Itriago,
I am new to your forum and wanted to say great job and hello."

[lofi studios]

nobody sends me messages:( but maybe a naming would not go amiss? if its genuine then welcome, if its not, heres a stone, crawl back under!!

[Sean McCoy]

I got that same PM. It included a link to a retail website.

[UpTilDawn]

Got that message too..... didn't bother to read much further than seeing the link.

DanT

[Dave Labrecque]

Got the PM, but you forgot your bank account numbers. For security purposes, please include your credit card numbers as well, so I can verify your identity.

Mark

I'm on it. Sorry for any inconvenience.

[Dave Labrecque]

Hey Dave! I've got some beachfront land I'm selling, do you want in on the action?

This is just a modified version of the Nigerian scam. The original one was with large funds from a guy over there needed to send overseas so he could use them, but you have to pay him back most of it while he would give you a cut for your "troubles"

Nice to see they've changed the tuine a bit. Seems that people still fall for this. It's like pyramid schemes.

On a similar note, has anybody here in the group recived a private forum message like this? I've received 2 already:

Yes, I got two from autograph2u with that text. On Saturday and Sunday. Seemed kinda odd. I don't remember a link, though.

[Pedro Itriago]

Yes, I got two from autograph2u with that text. On Saturday and Sunday. Seemed kinda odd. I don't remember a link, though.

Think we were lucky enough not to receive the link

[Jay Q]

Gotta watch those emails with fake links. I thought I was pretty good at spotting 'em, but I got caught by a fake Bank of America email. Don't ask me why, but I got sucked in, clicked on the link, started entering my passcode... :o

This is why I view all mail as plain text. The scammer scum send HTML mail so you just see some link without knowing where it goes, but with plain text, you see the actual hyperlink itself. See a domain name other than the legitimate one being represented? Don't click.

Jay

[Bud Johnson]

I recieved msgs from autograph2u as well.

[Pedro Itriago]

Whatdaya know! the link is there. I just didn't see it becasue a) I saw it in my mail's inbox and I pay no attention but to the body and b) the link is way down

[Dave Labrecque]

Think we were lucky enough not to receive the link

I just checked those PMs. There is a link at the bottom, as part of the signature.

[Dave Labrecque]

This is why I view all mail as plain text. The scammer scum send HTML mail so you just see some link without knowing where it goes, but with plain text, you see the actual hyperlink itself. See a domain name other than the legitimate one being represented? Don't click.

Jay

I almost always hover or do what it takes to see where the link goes, just like you say. It's interesting to see how they try to make it look legit, but it's pretty easy to spot, typically.

I still got caught, though. Must've been a busy day or something. I think most organizations, like banks, will tell you they'll never send you a link to your account, but will ask you to sign in normally.

[Warren]

DAVE :eek:

What has happened to your face? kinda like looking in a mirror.:p
Are you OK?
Is that what long term use of Enzyte does to you?
Even so maybe the benefits out weight the downside.:o

Might be time to see your doctor about the abuse of Enzyte.

Just messing wit cha.

[bcorkery]

I recieved msgs from autograph2u as well.I got 2 and dumped 'em w/o even looking. If I get multiple hits, it's generally spam.

On a related note, I've been getting 7-10 recorded messages a day from loan companies, I think. Usually blocked or out of state unknown numbers. If I do answer, there's eaither nobody there or a long pause before, "Your business ahs been approved blah, blah, blah ..." It's getting pretty bad. I put my number on the "do not call" list but it doesn't seem to help.

Any creative ways to stifle this action?

[MMP]

Somewhat on topic:

I was in Manhattan in January for some V.O. sessions and had my debit card number stolen. What was odd though, was I hadn't used that card the whole trip.

I think what happened was my computer was hacked while I was connected to the unsecured hotel wireless network. I believe there are now rings in major cities that buy a room for a night and hack into people's computers and I am quite positive this is what happened to me.

Be safe out there, folks.

Regards,

MM

[Pedro Itriago]

What happened was that the Enzyte man went to see a lawyer instead of a doctor

[Arco]

check out hotspot vpn (http://www.hotspotvpn.com/)as a way of securing your laptop internet use away from home..



Somewhat on topic:
I think what happened was my computer was hacked while I was connected to the unsecured hotel wireless network. I believe there are now rings in major cities that buy a room for a night and hack into people's computers and I am quite positive this is what happened to me.

Be safe out there, folks.

Regards,

MM

[studio-c]

By the way, what is your passcode?

Mark
LOL:D

[studio-c]

Somewhat on topic:

I was in Manhattan in January for some V.O. sessions and had my debit card number stolen. What was odd though, was I hadn't used that card the whole trip.

I think what happened was my computer was hacked while I was connected to the unsecured hotel wireless network. I believe there are now rings in major cities that buy a room for a night and hack into people's computers and I am quite positive this is what happened to me.

Be safe out there, folks.

Regards,

MM
I always subscribe to the porn sites from home before my trip, and so I'm never entering my Visa info from the hotel...

kidding :D

[studio-c]

This happened to me a few years ago.

I got the money back from the bank, but it took awhile. The bank wouldn't tell me who the rogue merchant was. The local police seemed disinterested and tried to pass it off to another department.

Mark
Same here. Before they even told me, they'd sent me a new Visa along with a letter to that effect. The only new (unknown) vendor was a charity that funds preschools and elementary education in Tijuana. I hate to think that. But yeah, they don't tell you who it was, which is kind of dumb. I ended up severing my relationship with the charity, which feels kinda bad.

[Pedro Itriago]

LOL:D

What an easy passcode!!!!!

[Scott Anthony]

Hi,

Just got this seconds ago...

-s

-----------------------------------------------------
Nolan Ferguson. sent a message using the contact form at
http://www.viewing-room.com/contact.

Hello

I want to book a studio session for my clients in your studio.

Name of the gospel band: Heavenly Voice of New Generation.
Band group country: Vietnam
Number of the Band Group: 5 people.
Music Type: Gospel Acappella
Number of days: 12 days from 23rd of May to 6th June 2008 excluding
Sundays.

Please do reply with the total cost of your services you can find my
contact details at the bottom of my e-mail. Feel free to call if you have
any further questions to ask.

Nolan Ferguson.

Address: 120 Crescent Gardens,
Wimbledon Park, London SW19 8AJ
Cell: +44 70457 90076
Tel: +44-702-409-3067
Fax: +44-700-596-1818
E-mail: nolanferg@gmail.com

[Sean McCoy]

Boy, I'd jump on that one! Communist Vietnam is well known for its soulful gospel music scene! Isn't Chakha Khan from there?

[Bud Johnson]

Boy, I'd jump on that one! Communist Vietnam is well known for its soulful gospel music scene! Isn't Chakha Khan from there?
Too late! I already called and stole the booking!;)

[Bud Johnson]

The whole thing reminds me of when I "WON" a brand new Honda Prelude. Problem was it was from Honda in Europe.
Shipping was a meer $2500.
I submitted the scam to the FBI s site at the 1st mail. Kept them communicating for about 6 mails over 3 weeks, forwarding each to the FBI.
Eventually the FBI told me to cut it out, that they we're too busy, and had no cooperating counterpart in Europe to follow thru. Fun for a while though.

[Dave Labrecque]

Pedro informed me of Smilin' Bob''s legal problems. Apparently there's some question of his product's efficacy. Whoda thunk it? :o

[bcorkery]

I got this email from someone a couple weeks back:

Hello, I am Mr. Craig Ladwig, I want to have a studio session booked in your studio from 7th June 2008 to 20th day of the same month excluding Sundays 8hrs per day. Please get back to me with your total cost so that we will proceed with booking immediately for our recording. Sincere regards, Craig Ladwig.

We went back and forth a few times. He was getting ready to send me a big check. I decided it was time to check this out. I found this thread (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig) on Gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/153377-our-studio-being-scammed.html?highlight=Craig+Ladwig

Interesting. The long and short of it is that after you deposit it, you think the check's cleared your bank, so you pay some people that he wants you to pay from the alleged fees he's sent you. After you pay them (from your account), the overseas check he sent you turns out not to have cleared after all. A common scam, I guess, but now it's being directed specifically at recording studios.OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?

[Sean McCoy]

OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?
$20 isn't much of a carrot for a two-week lockout! My response would be, "how stupid (or desperate) do you think I am?" But then I've gotten pretty cynical in my old age. :rolleyes:

[Ian Alexander]

OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?
Hold it. It might be a legit deal. Maybe Mr. Ladwig didn't get any joy from Dave in Tucson, but he's heard San Diego is nice. But I doubt it. Watch your backside. Don't get into the situation where they "received a check for 10,000 bucks, which they are countersigning over to you. Can you return the difference by overnight mail?" That's where they get you when the check for 10k is made outta rubba and you've already sent them several thousand. I know you know this Bill.

Might be a good time to establish a policy that anyone who books more than one full day of studio time or isn't already an established customer pays up front in cash or money order. If payment isn't received and cleared one week before the start of the session, the time is no longer booked.

Or maybe a policy that says that By Corkery Recording prefers to work with local clientele who might actually become repeat customers.:)

[MMP]

Watch out for bogus money orders, too. Also, be aware clearance for overseas checks can in some cases take weeks. It is this time delay that makes these scams work in the first place.

If it wasn't in the interest of the banking industry, this could all be changed seeming banking is done electronically anyhow. It is the margins made by the banks on these artificial delays in the banking system that keeps transactions at a snail's pace.

So, the reason you can be scammed like this is that the banks are scamming us in the first place.

This radical thought brought to you by:

MM

[Dave Labrecque]

OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?

You could deposit it. :)

I'd be interested to see if you can get any money out of this attempt to defraud you. That's be nice.

[Warren]

OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?

If that is all he is willing to offer you to lock down your studio for two weeks, He is out nothing if he decides he can't get a baby sitter and your studio gets nothing for two weeks. I'm am sure you have a lot invested in time and gear and that is worth a heck of a lot more than $20.00.

I would tell him half up front (one week) than make sure that that check can clear than the rest before the second week starts, after all he is a new client.
Next time around you can give him some latitude.

my .02

[DominicPerry]

OK, I just got a $20 check from this guy. Now what?

There's no way this is anything other than a scam. Who'd book a whole studio for two weeks and pay $20 up front? No-one. It doesn't make sense. You'd pay nothing or you'd pay a day or 10% or a week in advance. But not $20. Bin it, forget it.

Dominic

[DaveS]

I personally would NOT cash that check. When it comes back to him it will have your account info and your banks routing numbers on it.



Dave
Recordable Media Services

[bcorkery]

:o eh I mean $20K. Heh, heh :o

[bcorkery]

Seriously, I've got the check in my drawer. What you said, I've considered but others have gotten the same email from this Craig guy from the UK. I sent him an emial letting him know that his scams are all over the web. We'll see how he responds.

Maybe I'll try to open that new account. Hmmm ... what was Dave's Pin number again? :D

[Jay Q]

:o eh I mean $20K. Heh, heh :o

Wait a minute, Bill... $20k as in $20,000?! Not sure which is funnier... that or $20. In either case, I'm LMAO!

[bcorkery]

Wait a minute, Bill... $20k as in $20,000?! Not sure which is funnier... that or $20. In either case, I'm LMAO!I was laughing at myself at the $20. :D

The $20K is actually scary, not funny. :eek:

[bcorkery]

Just endorse it over to Dave in exchange for cash.

MarkHe sent you his pass code didn't he? PM it to me. :D :) :D

[Dave Labrecque]

He sent you his pass code didn't he? PM it to me. :D :) :D

Here, let me simplify things for you guys:

E-A-T-M-E

[Warren]

Here, let me simplify things for you guys:

E-A-T-M-E

Me thinks you guys are getten to him.:eek:

[bcorkery]

Here, let me simplify things for you guys:

E-A-T-M-E :D :) :D

[Dave Labrecque]

Me thinks you guys are getten to him.:eek:

Nah. ;)

[Dave Labrecque]

I got this today:

Good day,


We want to use your studio for music recording project. Let me know if this date is free in your studio 16th September to 25th September (9 days) so we can proceed with your booking terms and other arrangement. Confirm the availability of the requested time and provide me with the cost for daily block rate in your studio. I will provide you with more details on this project upon receipt of your email.


Regards.


Richard Hyland.
+44 704 578 7174
+44 704 572 3133

[MMP]

Me too....

Regards,

MM

[Sean McCoy]

Darn, I feel left out! :(

Just for fun, email them back and tell them your rate is $10,000 a day.

[MMP]

Well, I will forward your info to the client, because I am unavailable for the session.:D


Regards,

MM

[Sean McCoy]

Well, I will forward your info to the client, because I am unavailable for the session.:D


Regards,

MM
Cool. Just let him know it's payment up front in gold bouillon.

[Dave Labrecque]

I wrote back something like $5000/day for block-out, but the 25th hour is free! :p (does that even mean anything?)

[Sean McCoy]

I recommend getting the client to pay the shipping charges.

Mark
Good idea. And hand-delivered by Charlize Theron.

[MMP]

Is that what they're calling it these days?:eek:

Regards,

MM


Good idea. And hand-delivered by Charlize Theron.

[Sean McCoy]

OK, ya lost me...other than Charlize being HOT!

mark
This is Fantasyland, where there's no such thing as lost.

[Sean McCoy]

Is that what they're calling it these days?:eek:

Regards,

MM
I figured someone would have a dirty enough mind to make that connection (mine obviously is :o ), but I didn't expect it to be you!

[bcorkery]

I got the same email today. I'm also still waiting for Craig Ladwig's $20,000 check to clear.

[bcorkery]

Didn't clear ... surprise, surprise.
I cleared it beforehand and the bank didn't ding me. :)

[Ian Alexander]

I noticed a similar email in my spam folder yesterday. It's still in the spam folder. Even if I thought it was legit, I don't think the band would fit in my booth.

[AudioAstronomer]

I got the same email today. I'm also still waiting for Craig Ladwig's $20,000 check to clear.

Did you really try to deposit it?

[MMP]

My sense of humor stopped growing in the eighth grade, soon after discovering the Mothers of Invention.

Regards,

MM




I figured someone would have a dirty enough mind to make that connection (mine obviously is :o ), but I didn't expect it to be you!

[studio-c]

Same grade as me, apparently :) Growing up is not on my agenda...

[bcorkery]

Did you really try to deposit it?Yeah. I was very clear with the bank that I thought it was a fraud. That's why they're not charging me the usual returned check fee.

[Dave Labrecque]

Yeah. I was very clear with the bank that I thought it was a fraud. That's why they're not charging me the usual returned check fee.

And if wasn't a fraud, they got to keep the dough? I guess that's fair. :p

[Sean McCoy]

My sense of humor stopped growing in the eighth grade, soon after discovering the Mothers of Invention.
Yes, that would explain much. :rolleyes:

[Iain Westland]

Same grade as me, apparently :) Growing up is not on my agenda...

not on my agenda either, 41 going on 18, just