by wtysky
Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:44 pm
I am a translation freelancer and the scammer first sent me an email to offer a translation job about $300, stating more than one jobs will follow. Then she sent me a cheque by mail to my address, with the amount of $2815 USD . The company issuing the cheque is a real company in MA, USA and the bank is a real bank in California, USA on the cheque. Then she asked me to cash the cheque into instant cash and deduct my service fee, sent the rest $2500 to a person with the name "Shawn Pantoga" by west union, claiming the excess is given by the company to help her father out, who has been sick on bed. I suspected the scam since she never disclosed any contact information, no matter in email or in the mail by post office.
The forum also helps me a lot since I found the name repeated in many scam reports.
I attached her 6 email communications as below for your reference:
1 st email from the scammer:
How are you?..I'm Sarah by name; I'm in need of your translation
service; English to Chinese. Let me know if you will be available.
2nd email:
Well i think am ok with the Quote and i will be sending you a Cheque
which will get to you in 3 to 4 working days. If this is acceptable by
you; do get back to me with your full name and address so i can make
the payment as soon as possible.
3rd email:
Thanks for your mail, and sorry for replying you late. I had to travel
to attend to my dad; his on a Sick bed. In regards to our agreement
you will receive the cheque this week, i sent it out already but its
in excess due to the fact that I just came in possession of some more
documents which I will like you to work on for me. I can not send them
right now until I get back home and I must say they are in the same
volme as the one you are working on now. So, when you recieve the
cheque deduct the payment for this translation and hold on to the rest
for the subsequent translations. I hope you are okay with this?
As soon as you recieve the cheque please let me know.
Happy Val Day.
Have fun.
Sarah.
4th email:
Thanks for the information provided; I will mail out the Cheque to you
first thing Monday morning; so i want you to keep eye on it and let me
know when you receive it ok.
5th email:
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:01:09 -0800
> Subject: Please Treat This Urgently Today!!!
> From: [email protected]
> To:
>
> How are you doing today? and thanks for your mail and i want you to
> deposit the Cheque for instant cash at your bank and here is the name
> and address below where you will wire the remaining fund to through
> western union after you have deduct your money
>
> Receiver Name - Shawn Pantoga
> Receiver Address -925 agness illahe rd
> City:Agness
> State- Oregon
> Zip-Code.:97406
> United States.
>
> As soon as you wire it i will be waiting for the western union
> details,hope to read from you soon.
>
> I wish you a pleasant day ahead.
>
> Kind Regards.
> Sarah.
6th email:
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:36:13 -0800
> Subject: Re: Please Treat This Urgently Today!!!
> From: [email protected]
> To:
>
> I really understand your fear about the issue of the Cheque thing; and
> am so sorry for the urgent changes in course of the second assignment
> which has been canceled. The company will not be happy to cancel the
> Cheque since they are helping me out and the excess fund will be to
> take care of my Dad which i think i told you about. His still on a bed
> sick.
>
> Please i want you to try all your possible best for me today if you
> can deposit it in your bank and request for an instant cash so the
> excess can be wire today to take care of my dad ok or probably if you
> have the Cash with you there.
>
> Looking forward to hear a good news from you asap.
>
> Thanks for your trust and understanding.
> Sarah.
The forum also helps me a lot since I found the name repeated in many scam reports.
I attached her 6 email communications as below for your reference:
1 st email from the scammer:
How are you?..I'm Sarah by name; I'm in need of your translation
service; English to Chinese. Let me know if you will be available.
2nd email:
Well i think am ok with the Quote and i will be sending you a Cheque
which will get to you in 3 to 4 working days. If this is acceptable by
you; do get back to me with your full name and address so i can make
the payment as soon as possible.
3rd email:
Thanks for your mail, and sorry for replying you late. I had to travel
to attend to my dad; his on a Sick bed. In regards to our agreement
you will receive the cheque this week, i sent it out already but its
in excess due to the fact that I just came in possession of some more
documents which I will like you to work on for me. I can not send them
right now until I get back home and I must say they are in the same
volme as the one you are working on now. So, when you recieve the
cheque deduct the payment for this translation and hold on to the rest
for the subsequent translations. I hope you are okay with this?
As soon as you recieve the cheque please let me know.
Happy Val Day.
Have fun.
Sarah.
4th email:
Thanks for the information provided; I will mail out the Cheque to you
first thing Monday morning; so i want you to keep eye on it and let me
know when you receive it ok.
5th email:
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:01:09 -0800
> Subject: Please Treat This Urgently Today!!!
> From: [email protected]
> To:
>
> How are you doing today? and thanks for your mail and i want you to
> deposit the Cheque for instant cash at your bank and here is the name
> and address below where you will wire the remaining fund to through
> western union after you have deduct your money
>
> Receiver Name - Shawn Pantoga
> Receiver Address -925 agness illahe rd
> City:Agness
> State- Oregon
> Zip-Code.:97406
> United States.
>
> As soon as you wire it i will be waiting for the western union
> details,hope to read from you soon.
>
> I wish you a pleasant day ahead.
>
> Kind Regards.
> Sarah.
6th email:
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:36:13 -0800
> Subject: Re: Please Treat This Urgently Today!!!
> From: [email protected]
> To:
>
> I really understand your fear about the issue of the Cheque thing; and
> am so sorry for the urgent changes in course of the second assignment
> which has been canceled. The company will not be happy to cancel the
> Cheque since they are helping me out and the excess fund will be to
> take care of my Dad which i think i told you about. His still on a bed
> sick.
>
> Please i want you to try all your possible best for me today if you
> can deposit it in your bank and request for an instant cash so the
> excess can be wire today to take care of my dad ok or probably if you
> have the Cash with you there.
>
> Looking forward to hear a good news from you asap.
>
> Thanks for your trust and understanding.
> Sarah.