Hotel Booking Scam reboot....August 2013

Hi, just getting a whole bunch of scammer keywords into the Googlesphere. I run a guesthouse and have just had an attempt at one of the overpayment scams - not sure how they work this one though as they were offering to pay by cheque (instead of card) so not clear how I would lose out if the cheque actually clears - if anyone can clarify how this one works please contribute by replying.

Anyway here are all the juicy keywords in the email thread that hopefully google et al will pick up so others suspicious enough to search on it will realise it is a scam:

From: David Muller [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 06 August 2013 10:23
To: [redacted]
Subject: BOOKING CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS.


Dear [redacted],

I write with great pleasure to thank you for your kind reply, and also to inform you, that the delegates have met today and after considering other prices we got from different facilities, the prices you have offered for the Standard rooms has been accepted, so the delegates have decided to lodge in your accommodation facility for that specified period of Check-in Date-9th of November, 2013 to Check-out-Date-30th of November, 2013 (21Days).

Kindly be notified that we are getting a direct company sponsorship for the vacation tour, therefore our sponsorship authorities are going to make an advance payment to you with an European certified cheque of the amount £9,000 plus bank charges to cover the cost of your accommodation services and other logistics arrangements (flight tickets,meals,car rentals,and vacation tours) required by the delegates for that period we will be lodging in your place.

Once you confirm the clearance of the cash in your account, you will receive instructions on what to do with the balance of the money. Provide your details so that you will receive the company's bank cheque and confirm our reservation with you;

(1). Your full name OR company's name as to be written on the cheque;
(2). Your address for the delivery of the cheque payment;
(3). Your valid telephone number for further correspondence;
(4). Your fax number if you have any;


PLEASE NOTE THAT; The reason for sending the European cheque to you is that our sponsor's company has approved a memo that one certified cheque payment of the company's account, should be issued to cover all the expenses during our vacation stay in your accommodation facility and since you are the first service we have secured, we decided to forward the cheque payment to you.

FIND BELOW THE DETAILS OF THE DELEGATES FOR THE BOOKING;
(1). Dr. David Muller,....Date of birth:10/09/1967........Passport Number: AL978120055
(2). Dr. Andre Morri,....Date of birth: 25/05/1965........Passport Number: BC115479192
(3). Ms. Florence Gates,....Date of birth: 15/10/1973........Passport Number: AG412094671
(4). Mrs.Jane Clarke,....Date of birth: 20/06/1964.........Passport Number: AD601926987

Your swift reply with the rental contract agreement will be highly appreciated, while we hope for a memorable stay in your place.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operations.

Yours Faithfully,

David Muller
Holtye Road, East Grinstead,
West Sussex,
RH19 3DZ,
London,England
+447741392581.
E-MAIL: [email protected]





FYI; THE ATTENTION OF THE DIRECTOR OR MANAGER OF THE ACCOMMODATION FACILITY SHOULD BE DRAWN TO THIS E-MAIL!!!

________________________________________

From: [redacted]
To: 'Andre Morri' <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 11:34 AM
Subject: RE: ENQUIRY

Thank you for your enquiry,

Yes we can accommodate your party for those dates. In our standard rooms this would be £4116 or £4536 in our superior rooms (assuming two people in each room).

Other combinations are available.

Kind regards,

[redacted]

From: Andre Morri [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 30 July 2013 15:42
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: ENQUIRY


Dear Sir/Madam,

I humbly tender my enquiry to know if you have availability to lodge 4 guests in your accommodation facility for the period of three(3) weeks we will be staying in your area;

Check-in-date: 9th of November, 2013
Check-out-date: 30th of November, 2013
Number of days: 21 days
Number of persons: 4 adults
Pets: No pets
Meals: No Meal
Smoking : No Smoker


kindly advise if you have availability and tabulate the prices of your apartment that will sleep 4 persons. i will appreciate if you offer discounts on your prices.

However, owing to the flexibilty of our dates, you can tender an alternative dates if you are fully booked on the requested dates for their consideration.

Thanks, while I expect your prompt reply.

Yours Sincerely,


David Muller
Holtye Road, East Grinstead,
West Sussex,
RH19 3DZ,
London,England
+447741392581.
E-MAIL: [email protected]

This will be an 'Overpayment - Fake Check Scam'.

The check/money order will be fake, forged or stolen. Banks like to clear checks for customers as quickly as possible, so they may show some or all of the proceeds of the check in your account before the bank knows for sure that the check is legitimate. In some countries or states, banks are required to release the proceeds of checks into accounts within a certain number of days. When you see the money in their account, you may think that everything is fine, so you send off the money for the extra amount. Some time later, the bank realises that the check is forged or stolen, and debits your account for the FULL AMOUNT. You are financially responsible for the entire check and will be out any monies sent to the scammer.

I decided to do a bit of scammer baiting so here's the next bit of the thread....


From: David Muller [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 06 August 2013 18:29
To: [redacted]
Subject: Re: BOOKING CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS.

GO [redacted] YOUR MOTHER

________________________________________
From: [redacted]
To: 'David Muller' <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 6:02 AM
Subject: RE: BOOKING CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS.

Many thanks.

The information you have requested is here: viewtopic.php?f=43&t=74768

Enjoy!