Another Credit Card Scammer tries his luck
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7:34PM Ben Wong Poh (email: benwong0.info@yahoo.com.hk) is not very original. He's all but copied word for word his mate "Eric Wallman's" scam email. Probably the same dude!!
These scammers steal credit cards then set up elaborate arrangements with unsuspecting small businesses with the lure of getting a good sale. The arrangements usually have the scammers paying a lot more, using the stolen credit card details, than what is required for treatment/goods etc. then asking that the balance of funds be transferred to a third party, usually a travel agent or in this case the translator.
You'll get an email like the following
Greetings!
I hope this email meets you in good health and spirits.
My name is Ben Wong Poh. I would like to get a quote as well as book beginners classes with you for a group of 8 on the following dates:
Thursday,June 30, 2011 through Thursday, July 7, 2011 (8 days).
We would be coming over for a business meetings and negotiations. This is going to be our first visit and first experience as well. After discussing with the others,we decided on having two sessions per day with four (4) in each group.
One hour of matwork and one hour of equipment each day for eight (8) days for the following time slots and dates:
Thursday,June 30, 2011 through Thursday, July 7, 2011 (8 days).
Thursday,June 30 7:30am-9:30am OR 12:00pm-2:00pm
Friday, July 1 8:00am-10:00am OR 10:00am -12:00pm
Let me know if this is ok with you so we can proceed with the booking as soon as possible. If not, let me have your own suggestion.
Please kindly get back to me with the quote or price in the format below:
8 mat classes ( per class) =
8 equipment classes(per class) =
Drop in registration per person =
TOTAL Per Person =
1.) Total Package per person =
2.) Total for all for all 8 people for a total of 128 classes=
3.) Payment option
Types of credit cards accepted:
4.) CONTACT DETAILS (for my records and documentation):
You full name
Address
Phone/Mobile numbers:
Fax:
NB: Do you do yoga sessions or any other fitness classes (please indicate)? If yes, please kindly advise the quote for your services as well.
Best Regards
Ben Wong Poh
45 Castle Peak Road,
Tsuen Wan, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Then the responding email to any quote you might reply with:
Hello
Thanks for the reply. We want your instructors to teach us on those dates in your stuido. The fitness classes should be as a group. I would be leaving very soon for Greece for a conference. So, in order to fully secure the arrangement before I leave, I would send the credit card details to you for a deposit of $2,000
I also wish to inform you that I contacted an agent/translator to handle flights logistics (ticket, flights insurance, international airport transfers and accommodation) on our behalf. The translator would assist us during the conference and business meetings with our clients as well as during the sessions with you. As we would have members that don't
understand/speak English language. We have also decided to make a deposit payment to him so he can as well as secure our flights and other logistics. The details would be sent to you as soon as we have confirmed the arrangement with the agent.
I would be sending the credit card details to charge the total amount of $11,500 . This amount would include the deposit for your services and $9,500 for the translator for our flights and travel expenses. You are to make the charges because he has no credit card facility and I can't disclose my credit card details to more than one person as the whole funds for this booking and other logistics has been credited into the credit card.
So, since you have the facility to run the charges in your office, I would send the card details and then authorize you to charge the total amount of $11,500 plus taxes and bank charges from the card. Once the funds has been credited into your account, you deduct the $2,000 as deposit for your services while you forward the $9,500 to the translator. His details shall be sent to you as soon as you confirm the funds in your account.
NB: Please kindly confirm that the arrangement is ok with you so we can proceed with the booking proper. I would also need you to prepare all invoice and contract in my name.
ALL CHECKS AND BALANCES WOULD BE MADE WITH YOU 1 WEEK BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL
Regards
Ben Wong Poh
For more info go to ACCC website
Reader Comments (23)
Hi City Clinic staff, thanks for posting this. I run a Sydney-based mobile massage business and almost fell for a very similiar email above. The English was perfect and it had me wondering whether such a booking could be right....so glad I did my Google search! Again, thanks for the blog. Samantha
Hi,
Thanks for posting this as well. I just received an email and nearly fell for it.
Same letter, nearly word for word.
Blessings.
Thanks for posting this. I just got the same email from this address TODAY: benpohwong4@yahoo.com.hk
Greetings
My name is Wong Ben Poh. I live in Hong Kong. My Fiancée and I want to get married this year in December. As part of my surprise package for her, I decided on having a distance wedding with her. We would be coming over for the wedding and would appreciate it if you could assist us in the planning. This is because I don't want to plan the wedding alone and I don't want to forget anything (besides the fact that having a wedding planner would take off some stress). Any help will be truly appreciated.
Type of ceremony: Civil wedding
Date: 9th or 10th of December 2011
Invited guests: 40 guests maximum
Please kindly get back to me if ANY of the above is open for booking as well as the services you can handle/provide so we could discuss more on the wedding proper. I would appreciate a swift response as I am very busy person and wish to conclude on the wedding arrangements as soon as possible. Do you have any wedding package for my perusal?
Best Regards,
Wong Ben Poh
45 Castle Peak Road,
Tsuen Wan, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
This came in today, July 21, 2011:
My name is Wong Ben Poh. I live in Hong Kong. My Fiancée and I want to get married this year in December. As part of my surprise package for her, I decided on having a distance wedding with her. We would be coming over for the wedding and would appreciate it if you could assist us in the planning. This is because I don't want to plan the wedding alone and I don't want to forget anything (besides the fact that having a wedding planner would take off some stress). Any help will be truly appreciated.
Type of ceremony: Civil wedding
Date: 9th or 10th of December 2011
Invited guests: 40 guests maximum
Please kindly get back to me if ANY of the above is open for booking as well as the services you can handle/provide so we could discuss more on the wedding proper. I would appreciate a swift response as I am very busy person and wish to conclude on the wedding arrangements as soon as possible. Do you have any wedding package for my perusal?
Best Regards,
Wong Ben Poh
45 Castle Peak Road,
Tsuen Wan, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Targeting global events planners. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Warn your friends.
I just got the same post from mr. wong. It wasn't like any of the other scam emails I had received so I replied. and then, I googled. Looks like mr.wong is getting married everywhere lol
I got this email here in Seattle. I posted this link on my Facebook page to get the word out so no one I know falls for this. Very sad (and criminal) behavior!
We just received the same email as the last 2 folks. Thank you for posting and warning.
Owner, Hacienda Vargas, Algodones, New Mexico
i got the same email from mr.wong, at first it's like an ordinary person looking for a help for his wedding. oh my God.... it's a scam...
thank you for posting and warning.. God Bless and more power.
Greetings
My name is Ben Wong Poh. I would be coming into the country for a business
meeting and conference. I would love to get the quote for a vehicle(s) for
15 delegates. This could be ANY of the following: Limousine, sedans,
minibus, vans or a coach. Please let me know what you can offer/types of
vehicles you have.
Date: 27TH OF SEPTEMBER TO THE 4TH OF OCTOBER 2011
Maximum duration of service: 10 hours per day.
The price should be based on a 10 hour/ day. Let me have the quote in the
format below:
Price per hour/:..no price per hour ,
price per 10 hours a day:... no price per 10 hour............
Total cost for 7 days:...... no price per 7 days...........
Types of credit cards accepted:....No credit cards.....
What areas do you cover/operate?..transfers from/to areas from Locarno
Ascona Brissago and the airport- airportos transfers, minibus 15 van 9
people and taxi.
I have contacted an agent that would provide us with accommodation. I will
forward to you our hotel address and times for the car service within 3 to
4 days before our arrival. This is to enable me confirm the final
itinerary with my clients. Our destination is basically from the airport to
the hotel and then to the venue of the conference. Please advise the areas
you cover/operate?
Regards
Ben Wong Poh
370, Jalan 20,
Jaya Kepong
Malaysia
Thank you so much for posting it and warning!!! This time no more weddings,but taxi and minibus transferts... Mara, Switzerland
Thank you all just received the following e-mail ... a real big ugly credit card scammer!!!!
Greetings
My name is Ben Wong Poh. I would be coming into the country for a business meeting and conference. I would love to get the quote for a vehicle(s) for 15 delegates. This could be ANY of the following: Limousine, sedans, minibus, vans or a coach. Please let me know what you can offer/types of vehicles you have.
Date: 27TH OF SEPTEMBER TO THE 4TH OF OCTOBER 2011 Maximum duration of service: 10 hours per day.
The price should be based on a 10 hour/ day. Let me have the quote in the format below:
Price per hour/:........................
price per 10 hours a day:...............
Total cost for 7 days:..................
Types of credit cards accepted:.........
What areas do you cover/operate?.........
I have contacted an agent that would provide us with accommodation. I will forward to you our hotel address and times for the car service within 3 to 4 days before our arrival. This is to enable me confirm the final itinerary with my clients. Our destination is basically from the airport to the hotel and then to the venue of the conference. Please advise the areas you cover/operate?
Regards
Ben Wong Poh
370, Jalan 20,
Taman Perindustrian Ehsan
Jaya, Kepong
Malaysia
I got the same email today.
Thank you very much for your help.
Greetings from Salzburg, Austria
Many thanks for posting this email, we have received it today.
WERE FROM LAS VEGAS THANK GOD I JUST GOT THE EMAIL .HIS SCAMMER THANKS TO THIS POST I HOPE HE WILL GO TO JAIL
Hi folks,
We run a small transport business in Anguilla (Eastern Caribbean) . Mr. Wong Poh's scam email indeed sounded different from obvious others we receive from time to time, but it still arose our suspicion. For a business conference with 15 delegates why would he be needing our services for up to 10 hours a day (riculous). Also why should our business have to collect for another one withj a much bigger sum involved. Enfin we contacted our guys in law enforcement and they put us on to this link. Glad we did. So pass on the warning and beware.
It,s like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
you are doing a great job by alerting people of such scam.Thanks for such post.
thanks for such a nice blog and informing about the credit card scam.Its really nice that they get caught up early without doing more damage.but its nice read also.Wonga
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