Another SecretShopper scam via ProZ mail RIGHT NOW Thread poster: Woodstock (X)
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Woodstock (X) 
Germany
Local time: 08:11
German to English
+ ...
Dear ProZians,
Please do not fall for this scam! The guy who sent the e-mail is still registered as a ProZ member and still online at ProZ as of RIGHT NOW!
The text:
"Evaluation Job in Germany 09:20 UhrWeniger Informationen
"xxxx" An:"ProZ.com Member"
| | | | Woodstock (X)
Germany
Local time: 08:11
German to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | For some reason only part of my post is showing above | Jan 14, 2012 |
There must be some problem with the tags.
Here is the rest:
"...
I have an evaluation project in Germany which involves me
communicating with someone who understands English and German.
Could you please inform me if you are available for any day this
month?
More information about this evaluation is below.
I am an agent working with Secret Shopper® Europe.
We are currently searching for English speakers in EUROPE to help
u... See more There must be some problem with the tags.
Here is the rest:
"...
I have an evaluation project in Germany which involves me
communicating with someone who understands English and German.
Could you please inform me if you are available for any day this
month?
More information about this evaluation is below.
I am an agent working with Secret Shopper® Europe.
We are currently searching for English speakers in EUROPE to help
us with our survey.
Currently, we have been paid to evaluate the services of a
prestigious company which
is the WESTERN UNION. " etc. etc. Quite a bit more detail is in the e-mail, but it is the typical advance-fee fraud pattern.
This is really getting out of hand, and I hope something can be done by the ProZ administration to stop this. Just deleting the profiles is not enough. I think that at this point law enforcement authorities should be notified because these guys often belong to bands of hardened criminals/organized crime, not just some doofus out for a quick dollar. Just check http://www.snopes.com/fraud/topscams.asp or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Scams
Why not alert new members when they register? That might discourage these scammers from registering in the first place in addition to alerting new members to these risks. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Usch Pilz
Local time: 08:11
English to German
+ ...
| Stop them, please! | Jan 14, 2012 |
Woodstock wrote: This is really getting out of hand, and I hope something can be done by the ProZ administration to stop this. Just deleting the profiles is not enough. I think that at this point law enforcement authorities should be notified because these guys often belong to bands of hardened criminals/organized crime, not just some doofus out for a quick dollar. Just check http://www.snopes.com/fraud/topscams.asp or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Scams Why not alert new members when they register? That might discourage these scammers from registering in the first place in addition to alerting new members to these risks.
I totally agree with Woodstock. Just had the same thing in my mailbox and told them I would alert the community.
I am really annoyed about these frequent insults of our intelligence.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 08:11
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Woodstock wrote: There must be some problem with the tags. Here is the rest: "... I have an evaluation project in Germany which involves me communicating with someone who understands English and German. Could you please inform me if you are available for any day this month? More information about this evaluation is below. I am an agent working with Secret Shopper® Europe. We are currently searching for English speakers in EUROPE to help us with our survey. Currently, we have been paid to evaluate the services of a prestigious company which is the WESTERN UNION. " etc. etc. Quite a bit more detail is in the e-mail, but it is the typical advance-fee fraud pattern. This is really getting out of hand, and I hope something can be done by the ProZ administration to stop this. Just deleting the profiles is not enough. I think that at this point law enforcement authorities should be notified because these guys often belong to bands of hardened criminals/organized crime, not just some doofus out for a quick dollar. Just check http://www.snopes.com/fraud/topscams.asp or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Scams Why not alert new members when they register? That might discourage these scammers from registering in the first place in addition to alerting new members to these risks.
Only part of my post showed up at first try. But eventually it worked.
http://www.proz.com/post/1873334#1873334
His sender profile http://www.proz.com/profile.php/1531613 has the following entry:
Blue Board: ATTENTION - SCAMMER! / SECRET SHOPPER SCAMMER
His BB Record leads to another profile
Primary profile xxxThomas Guilf
which was removed by site staff.
Perhaps it's time that ProZ. site moderators also remove his main profile.
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Woodstock (X)
Germany
Local time: 08:11
German to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Hallo Thayenga | Jan 14, 2012 |
Thayenga wrote:
Perhaps it's time that ProZ. site moderators also remove his main profile.
Agreed. I opened a support ticket about this earlier, but I guess the staff are still asleep (different time zones). I don't think it was coincidence that the scammer posted on a Saturday morning. "Sie kennen ihre Pappenheimer!" They probably know by now when the support staff are on duty.
If you look back over previous Scam threads, it's shocking how many people still fall for them. Not necessarily this one, but scams targeting translators are increasing for a reason - they find lots of victims among us.
Something must be done, that much is certain.
Added on edit: In another Scams forum thread it was pointed out that it is a very bad idea to respond to these types of e-mails at all, even if you know it is a scam. These are mostly not individuals, but organized criminals who will target you again and again if you respond. You also do not want people like that having any details about you, including your e-mail address. Period.
[Edited at 2012-01-14 12:00 GMT]
| | | | | Scam alert on Secret Shoppers' internet site | Jan 14, 2012 |
Secret Shoppers themselves put the following alert on their homepage:
"Mystery Shopping Scam Alert!
If you've given someone your money to mystery shop or have
heard about "mystery shopping" scams involving MoneyGram
or Western Union, please see our Scam Alert page."
| | | | Natalie
Poland
Local time: 08:11
Member (2002)
English to Russian
+ ...
MODERATOR SITE LOCALIZER | Blue Board record specially created | Jan 14, 2012 |
Thayenga wrote: His sender profile http://www.proz.com/profile.php/1531613 has the following entry: Blue Board: ATTENTION - SCAMMER! / SECRET SHOPPER SCAMMER His BB Record leads to another profile Primary profile xxxThomas Guilf which was removed by site staff. Perhaps it's time that ProZ. site moderators also remove his main profile.
Hi folks,
This Blue Board record has been specially created to link there known profiles so that people could check them. I will add more information to this record later today.
All known profiles linked there are blocked; if they would be removed, you would not see any scam alert.
Natalia
[Edited at 2012-01-14 13:44 GMT]
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Thanks Natalie and also thanks to the many members who submitted suport tickets after receiving this scamming message. This is the community's first line of defence. Actions are taken as soon as a scam report is processed.
Education is a key word here. The proZian community is educated and most freelancers know about risk management. This forum and other tools have been used to raise awareness on scams but there is room for improvement here.
Regards,
Enrique
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