Scam Alert: UK Vacationers Seeking Dance Classes in Toronto
Several dance institutions on Toronto have reported receiving email from a person overseas seeking dance classes and hotel stays for a group of visitors to Toronto. The messages are very similar, but come from completely different email addresses and senders. The message is usually of this format:
How are you doing today ? My name is name . I want to book dance classes with you.
Our vacation in your country will last for some number of weeks and within this period, We shall be needing a dance classes. The dance classes shall be in any of the following; list of dance genres. Do you teach any of the above?
Do you have a training facility where you conduct classes? We also need guest rooms or any 3* or 4* star hotel accommodation Our stay will last some date range.
I would love to know the possibility of working with you during our proposed holidays. Do you accept credit cards? Kindly send me the following;
: total cost for the whole classes
: hotel cost for six single rooms
: Name of the Manager/OwnerYour swift response is highly needed.
Best Regards,
Name
Address
London, UK
If you are a dance studio or teacher and receive a message like this take heed. The address given is usually in London, and they are usually rather non-specific about the type of dance they want to learn. They don’t care what they’ll be learning — just anything will do!
The scam usually involves “booking” something for quite a large sum and then getting the dance instructor to cash a fraudulent cheque which is made out for more than the agreed upon amount of the lessons.
Be wary if they send you a cheque for more than the amount you negotiate and then ask for the difference back or ask you to send the difference to a third party such as a travel agent. More info about the scam here:
This post has 77 comments
August 23rd, 2010
Well thanks to all of you reporting this stuff. I thought it sounded fishy and now I know!
August 24th, 2010
We have dove hunting leases in South Texas, Paul Howard emailed me looking to book for a large party… same set up with the third party bit…. CROOKS, TURNED IT INTO THE FBI….
September 5th, 2010
Arvel Thurman or Paul Howard names are used. This scam that targets professional dance teachers is run by criminals in West Africa. It is a variation of a similar scam involving weddings photographers, violin teachers, martial artists and hotels. The criminal poses as someone looking for dance lessons for a groups. He contacts a professional dance teacher to book a set of group lessons. Then he/she sends a large cashier’s check as payment. The check is larger than the amount of the lessons.
October 28th, 2010
Another one!
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From: Goldman
Subject: INQUIRY
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 1:48 PM
Greetings,
I found of your info while i was searching for a professional dance teacher and i want to believe you are a dance teacher/instructor a reliable one with a good teaching experience.i have been contracted to book for 10 persons that will be coming from Dubai they would like to book for 2 weeks dancing lesson for 3 hours each day Monday to
Saturday (morning hours) for a group of 10. GROUP lessons (LET ME KNOW THE NATURE OF DANCE YOU TEACH)?
they are asking for 3 hours per day for 2 weeks – Monday – Saturday. A total of 36 hrs,while they await their performance within your state.
they will be arriving on the Date of 1st FEBRUARY till 15th of FEBRUARY 2011.what is your payment options? Hope you accept credit cards?
how ever,an agent has been contracted for their accommodation and flight logistics.so all am asking of you is to get back to me with the Grand total cost for the whole of their training in your facility for the period specified.
Your prompt reply will be appreciated.
Regards,
Owen Goldman
P.O. Box 7841
Sudbury, L18 8BY Liverpool.
Cell: + 447 024 036 871
Fax: +448-712-563-610
February 8th, 2011
I just received this exact one today. Thanks for posting this scam and warning other teachers & owners!!
March 14th, 2011
Another letter written as below by these same scamsters to hospitals offering Cosmetic Surgery. They possibly provide stolen credit card numnbers, and it is possible their so called agents collect the cash from Hospitals. Thereafter obviously, the Hospital shall be found to have wrongly charged the credit card
Hello,
Having considered the cost of your services and my wife’s condition,i have decided to proceed with payment due the fact that i will not be there with them.
I will send you my credit card details so that you charge for the deposit payment of 2000 USD
I have contacted a travel agent that will take care of their travel arrangement and the needful during their stay.
Due to respect and confidentiality reposed on your hospital and your profession, i have decided that i will send you the credit card details so that you charge for your
services and the service of the travel agent.
I want you to charge a total of 8,000 USD from my credit card. You deduct 2000 USD. for your services and send the balance of 6,000 USD to the agent so that he will start their flight bookings and hotel arrangements.
The rest of the payment will be completed before surgery.All the charges that will be accrued during this transaction
will be deducted from my credit card. I hope i can trust you.They will arrive for consultation on 21st of April 2011.
confirm this instructions and get back to me with your direct mobile phone number.
If you have any question do not hesitate to write me.
Best regards,
Arvel Thurman
November 25th, 2011
Here’s another one! A bunch of beginners under contract to do a dance show?
Who don’t even know what style of dance they will learn? ???? SURE
=================================
Greetings,
I found your information while surfing for a dance instructor within
your location.how ever,i want to believe you are a dance
teacher/instructor reliable with a good teaching experience.i have
been contracted to do this booking and it is my wish to book with you
for a group of 10 students coming from DUBAI,as they are preparing for
their contracted proposal to do dancing performance within your
Region.
kindly get back to me with the kind of dance you teach along side with
the cost for 2 weeks dance lesson.how ever, they will be starting on
the date of 1ST FEBRUARY through 14TH of FEBRUARY 2012.
for 3 hours each day Monday to Saturday (morning hours) a total of 36hrs.
Further more,they are all beginners.a prepayment will be made to you
as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability
is confirmed by you.hope you accept credit card?Your prompt reply will
be appreciated.
Regards,
Bill Gordon
Contact Info:103 Cotton Exchange Bldg
Old Hall St, Liverpool, Mersey side L3 9LQ, UK.
Cell: + 447035966258
Fax: +448-712-563-610
March 21st, 2012
We have received similar things in London in the past. They were sent from locations outside the UK and were for students to study in London. I know of several dance organisations contacted but this was several years ago. I have heard nothing recently.
March 22nd, 2012
Dance studio in Moscow, Russia. We have the very same message. Thх for sharing.
May 14th, 2012
Hi, We are from Penang, Malaysia. We received the same request from Bill Gordan n luckily we think that its too fishy then when i try to search the address i found this page for the warning! Thank God! U guys safe us!