strange request for quote and followup

Bob Jewett

Bob Jewett

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I'm not really asking for help with my game, but I'm wondering what other instructors think of this email. I'll anonymize it. How would you respond to it?

Bob

Hello,thanks for the message. I would have loved to bring Z for "meet and greet"interviews before the first lessons which I think is a normal way to book for the lessons but am in London right now for a new job appointment.So,it will not be possible for me to come for the meeting. Z will be coming for the lessons from my cousin's location which is very close to you. Actually,Z and my cousin are currently in Europe and won't be back until September 26.I want to finalize the arrangement for the lessons before they come back to the states because that was my promise to Z before they left for Europe.Z is a beginner but has a strong passion for pool and will really love to work hard with you.

As for the payment, I want to pay for the six months lessons upfront which is $960 and I'm paying through a certified cashier's check.Hope this is okay with you?I would be more than happy if you can accept Z as one of your students and start with him by September 27th.Looking forward to hearing from you again.

My best regards. X Y.​
 
I've received a similar email a year or two ago. The story was a bit different.

I suspect both are scams. I didn't respond, and would recommend you don't.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I'm not really asking for help with my game, but I'm wondering what other instructors think of this email. I'll anonymize it. How would you respond to it?

Bob

Hello,thanks for the message. I would have loved to bring Z for "meet and greet"interviews before the first lessons which I think is a normal way to book for the lessons but am in London right now for a new job appointment.So,it will not be possible for me to come for the meeting. Z will be coming for the lessons from my cousin's location which is very close to you. Actually,Z and my cousin are currently in Europe and won't be back until September 26.I want to finalize the arrangement for the lessons before they come back to the states because that was my promise to Z before they left for Europe.Z is a beginner but has a strong passion for pool and will really love to work hard with you.

As for the payment, I want to pay for the six months lessons upfront which is $960 and I'm paying through a certified cashier's check.Hope this is okay with you?I would be more than happy if you can accept Z as one of your students and start with him by September 27th.Looking forward to hearing from you again.

My best regards. X Y.​
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Tell 'em you only accept Western Union for international payments. If they are legit, you can pick the cheese up without exposure as opposed to a Cashier's Check
 
Mark Avlon said:
I've received a similar email a year or two ago. The story was a bit different.

I suspect both are scams. I didn't respond, and would recommend you don't.
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I have the same suspicions. I did respond, but I'll proceed with caution. I expect the next thing that will happen is that Mr. XY will send me a bogus check, which he expects me to deposit, then he will ask for a refund. If I send the refund, I will likely get the "cashier's" check back as bogus a few days later. If it starts to go down as I suspect, I'll see if the police have any interest.
 
Bob, there were several instructors that got a similar e-mail a year or so ago. There was a long thread in the BCA instructors forum on the BCA website.

Ignore it. I don't see anything good coming out of it if you have anything to do with these people.

Steve
 
Neil said:
Besides being a scam, $960 for 6 months of instruction??????? Outside of the free instructors, I'm the cheapest I know of, and I would tell him to stick it.;)
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That settles it. I'm going to raise my rates to $3/hour.:wink:
 
pooltchr said:
Bob, there were several instructors that got a similar e-mail a year or so ago. There was a long thread in the BCA instructors forum on the BCA website.

Ignore it. I don't see anything good coming out of it if you have anything to do with these people.

Steve
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I think you're right. The latest wrinkle is that Mr. XY is going to have a client of his who owes him money pay me, but the amount will be more than the $960 and I should send the remainder to XY. Of course now if XY actually exists, it is Mr. JK, the client who has written the bad check.
 
The BCA sent out an e-mail today regarding this.
Absolutely, a scam.
It's been tried before.

Steve
 
tell him you would be happy to do as he asks, but his friend will have to meet with you to drop off the check at a nearby nudist colony. then leave him "hanging", so to speak.
 
Bob,

My wife works for an attorney. Her boss just received a cashier's check in the amount of $289,000 which he was supposed to deposit and then forward the money to his "client's" ex-wife in Korea. He showed the check to the bank and it was, of course, bogus. He has talked to the police and the state bar, but no one seems to be interested in doing anything about it. I guess they have too many like this to chase.

It's a shame; you could've been ripped off and no one would even care.

Roger
 
I would tell him that I would be glad to have Mr Z as a student. Send the check to Mr Z and when he arrives that the both of you can go to a local bank and he can cash it and then give you the money.

Tell him that you only accept cash payment from your students the day of the lessons and that you don't accept money in advance for lessons, It is on a daily basis. The reason is because pool players come and go and you don't want to get paid for services not rendered and/or refund money that you may not have available.

I don't think Mr Z will show up after you tell Mr XYZ your MO.

If Mr Z does show up with a check and insists that you take it then I would call the authorities to check it out.
 
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New Scam

I've recently been getting phone calls and an email from Ghana. I haven't answered the phone calls but the email asked about lessons.

Are any other instructors receiving calls or emails from Ghana?
 
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