Unfortunately this post is not very fun or light hearted. I recently became a victim of a scam, but fortunately realized the fallacy before I entered serious financial trouble. A man by the name of Peter Woodgate emailed me to say he and his fiancé live in the UK and are getting married in Lake Tahoe. They would not be able to visit Tahoe prior to the wedding and would like a wedding coordinator to take care of the details. A few emails later, he disclosed that he would be sending me a check in the amount of $45,000 to pay for all wedding expenses. I asked to setup a phone meeting to discuss all of the details, he emailed me his number.
I was a little suspicious as most people with a budget of $45,000 wouldn’t just hand over a check in the full amount. They also would have much more interest in the type of flowers, style, and vendors booked. So, I googled the phone number (01144-704-579-8736) and sure enough it was a scam. The idea is that he sends over the “cashiers check” and then asks you to wire some of the money back. He then has your bank account number and hacks away, stealing all of your money!
Hopefully, nobody falls for this scam!
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34 Comments
Hello,
Thanks for the info about the Woodgate Scam… He has contacted our catering company here in New Orleans, and thanks to your blog, our company did not fall for it!! I will spread the story to all event planners in the New Orleans area.
Many Thanks, and God Bless,
C.G.
Another Scam – I just received this email this morning. As the email is filled with incomplete and confusing sentences, it is obvious this individual is sending a template. This persons supposed name is Owen Wright and his email reads as follows:
Hi,
My Name is Owen Wright, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.we would be arriving seven days before the wedding day.
The wedding is expected to hold first week of October, guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks.
You are to arrange for a Videography,Music Entertainment, Photography,Officiant,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.Payment Option is Credit card If you have a credit card Machine.
Best Regards,
Owen Wright
I received this yesterday:-
My Name is Dr Eric Lichtenheld, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.The wedding is expected to hold on the 20th November,2009 and 35 to 60 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 20th November which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography ,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and
us.
Best Regards,
Dr Eric Lichtenheld.
Here is another email to be aware of
Hello,
I’m looking for an experienced wedding planner or coordinator that can handle my wedding as i have promised my fiancee that it will be a memorable one and i have budgeted $25,000 for the wedding so, What can your establishment offer with regards to the request above?
I would like to know what is required cost implication and any other thing that will be require for a successful wedding for the month of October 10th 2009 is the date for the wedding.
Kindly get back with your budget via this email (atkins111@yahoo.com)with details.
Best Regards,
Paul Atkinson
+447045782803
Hi Elaine,
I received the same email on the 9th of August from Dr Eric Lichtenheld , i replied him saying we do not plan our client’s wedding without having atleast an intial consultation with them in person.
He replied me this morning with the email below.
Hello,
Good to read from you, this shows that you really know wedding planning too well.I am glad to tell you that we have concluded all payment arrangements for the wedding and will need you to kindly note the following information before we proceed with the wedding arrangement.
I will send to you my credit card details that will cover the cost of our booking,and the necessary arrangement for me and my guests.Moreover, i also made an arrangement with a logistics agent who will take care of all our traveling logistics to include.
1) Flights
2) International Airport transfer
3)Transportation logistics during our stay
However,because of security reasons and confidentiality reposed on you and because they do not have credit card facility,we have decided that only YOU will have to handle the credit card information.So,once you receive my visa card information,you are required to charge the total amount of {10,000.00Pounds} then deduct your deposit which is {2,500.00 pounds} and send the balance of {7,500.00 pounds) to the logistics whose information will be forwarded to you once this is confirmed So confirm this and provide me with your
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS
3. PHONE NUMBERS for records and card payment
You are also to deduct the card fees and taxes involved in processing this amount.
PLEASE CONFIRM IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OK AND REPLY PROMPTLY TO ENABLE US PROCEED.
NOTE:THAT I WILL SENDING YOU THE OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY REQUIRE.THEY WILL BE SENT AS SOON AS I GET YOUR REPLY TO THE PAYMENT/WEDDING ARRANGEMENT
Regards,
Eric & Donna
They’ve made there way to Canada Too!
My Name is David Banks, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony. we would be arriving seven days before the wedding day.
The wedding is scheduled to hold on last week of October 2009, guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks. You are to arrange for a Videographer, Music Entertainment, Photography, Officiating clergyman/Priest & Church, cake, flowers and hall. If there is any of this items that is beyond your capacity, you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Payment Option Credit card? I hope you accept credit card payment.
The above is subject to adjustment. If there is any other thing that could be added to make the wedding unique, it will be welcome.
Great Regards
David Banks
43 Wimpole Street London
W1G 9SR,
LONDON. UK.
+447045721602
The most recent scammer:
Hello,
My Name is Michael Sandler i need an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 16th of Febuary 2010 and 50 to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you. You are to arrange for a a venue for the wedding a place for the reception ,Videography, Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability, you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Pleas get back to me via my personal email which is michaelsandlermail@ymail.com
Best Regards,
Michael Sandler
michaelsandlermails@ymail.com
ive had three this week all different names and types but all scams
the names were
kenneth smith
David mark
Dr Melvin Hughes tel +447011147797
they just dont stop!
My budget was to be $70,000.00! I could really tell that the ‘tone’ of the two emails was “Next Stop Identity Theft”. Thanks to everyone on this site for helping.
—–Original Message—–
From: Mr M. Smith [mailto:m.smith231@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 6:03 AM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Planner needed
My Name is Mr Smith Kenneth, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.The wedding is expected to hold on the 22nd May,2010 and 50 to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 22nd May which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography ,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it.
Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Smith Kenneth
Second email:
Hi,
Thanks for your email,
The Budget of the entire wedding arrangement is $70,000.00 and the wedding would be taking place in one of the hotel within your Location
Good to read from you, this shows that you really know wedding planning too well. I am glad to tell you that we have concluded all payment arrangements for the wedding and will need you to kindly note the following information before we proceed with the wedding arrangement.
I will send to you my credit card details that will cover the cost of our booking, and the necessary arrangement for me and my guests. Moreover, I also made an arrangement with a logistics agent who will take care of all our traveling logistics to include.
1) Flights
2) International Airport transfer
3)Transportation logistics during our stay
However, because of security reasons and confidentiality reposed on you and because they do not have credit card facility, we have decided that only YOU will have to handle the credit card information.So,once you receive my visa card information, you are required to charge the total amount of {$10,000.00} then deduct your deposit which is {$3,000.00} and send the balance of {$7,000.00) to the logistics whose information will be forwarded to you once this is confirmed So confirm this and provide me with
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS
3. PHONE NUMBERS for records and card payment
You are also to deduct the card fees and taxes involved in processing this amount.
PLEASE CONFIRM IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OK AND REPLY PROMPTLY TO ENABLE US PROCEED.
we are presently in offshore oil work in the Ocean between UK and Norway and would find it very difficult to receive or make call.
Here is our address.
Smith M Kenneth
39 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
United states of America
Joyce Trimberger
200 Montgomery St.
San Francisco,
CA 94104-2902
United states of America
Best Regards,
Smith Kenneth
1st Contact with (Mr. Smith M Kenneth
From: Mr M. Smith [mailto:m.smith231@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 5:37 PM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Planner needed
My Name is Mr Smith Kenneth, I am looking for an experienced wedding
planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of
people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.The wedding is expected to hold on the 22nd May,2010 and 50 to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 22nd May which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography ,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Smith Kenneth
2nd Contact by e-mail
From: Mr M. Smith [mailto:m.smith231@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:33 PM
To: Info Center EE
Subject: Let me know
Hi
Thanks for your email,
I will be needing the following for my wedding
Accommodation: 20 double rooms for my guest
Food and beverage at your reception: 4 course menu for
Music: Piano, Organ, Strings, Harp, Recorded for the ceremony
Alcohol: champagne
Rehearsal and a rehearsal dinner on Friday 21st
Number of Guest: 60
Wedding colors: Blue
bridesmaid gowns colors: Green or pink
Tuxes colors: Black
Bridal gown colors: White
I budgeted $60,000.00 for the entire wedding arrangements both my Guest Fight ticket that would be coming from UK, Germany, Australia and USA. Get back to me so that I can conclude with my sponsors before payment is sent to you for immediate commencement of your services to us.
Regards
Smith
3rd Email Contact
From: Mr M. Smith [mailto:m.smith231@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 11:38 AM
To: Info Center EE
Subject: Get back to me
Hi,
Thanks for your email,
Good to read from you, this shows that you really know wedding planning too well.I am glad to tell you that we have concluded all payment arrangements for the wedding and will need you to kindly note the following information before we proceed with the wedding arrangement.
I will be sending our credit card details that will cover the cost of our booking,and the necessary arrangement for me and my guests.Moreover, i also made an arrangement with a logistics agent who will take care of all our traveling logistics to include.
1) Flights
2) International Airport transfer
3)Transportation logistics during our stay
However,because of security reasons and confidentiality reposed on you and because they do not have credit card facility,we have decided that only YOU will have to handle the credit card information.So,once you receive my visa card information,you are required to charge the total amount of {$10,000.00} then deduct your deposit which is {$3,000.00} and send the balance of {$7,000.00) to the logistics whose information will be forwarded to you once this is confirmed So confirm this and provide me with
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS
3. PHONE NUMBERS for records and card payment
You are also to deduct the card fees and taxes involved in processing this amount.
PLEASE CONFIRM IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OK AND REPLY PROMPTLY TO ENABLE US PROCEED.
we are presently in offshore oil work in the Ocean between UK and Norway and would find it very difficult to receive or make call.
Here is our address.
Smith M Kenneth
39 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
United states of America
Joyce Trimberger
200 Montgomery St.
San Francisco,
CA 94104-2902
United states of America
Best Regards,
Smith Kenneth
Then I got suspect something was too good to be through and google the CA address and found this website, Thanks God and you guys to report it. Kay
So glad this is here – I was begining to become suspect of this Smith M. Kenneth when I was looking for a way to process his credit card and his “Sponsers” wouldn’t use a PayPal account for the transaction. This explains it all!! I was about to ask a friend to use her POS to do the credit card transaction, so glad I googled the girls address!! I love the internet for this reason!! Thank you so much as I have swapped emails with this Smith for about 2 weeks and I was starting to worry when he was talking about the transaction and not the $5,000 I had upped my price to from my original $1,200.00 in the binding and legal contract!! UGH, scams but so happy to know about this one before anything worse was to happen! I really have about 15 emails from this guy, if you think it may be to good it is!!
It happened to me in Walla Walla. Here is the email:
My Name is Mr Smith Kenneth, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.The wedding is expected to hold on the 22nd May,2010 and 50 to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 22nd May which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography ,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it.
Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Smith Kenneth
SCAM! Thanks for the notes!
Thank you for disclosing this scam. Everyone shall be careful now.
Here is our letter that we received via email to our Bed and Breakfast in Savannah, GA
Hello,
I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding
and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding
ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 11th September,2010 and about 50
guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might
choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial
deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by
you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 5th September which is
the final day of the booking. You are to arrange for a Videography, Music,
Entertainment,Photography, Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know
so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response
as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our
accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Floyd.
To All,
He has now “left” the US and Canada and “hit” the British Virgin Islands. We have received a number of these requests previously. From the time I read that the wedding colour is blue and the brides maids dresses are green all red lights starts flashing. However – I “played” the game for a set of emails. He very kindly gave me his address in NY as Morgan Smith and his fiancee name as Joyce Trimberger. Just for fun I googled her name and guess which is the only site that came up??? This one!!
No need for me to copy his email as it is 100% identical to most of the above, including typos and wrong punctuation.
Hello I am here in Northern Ireland and our naughty scammers are reaching out to here!! It is shocking that the mails that they sent me are almost word for word!!! i am so disappointed. Weddings are true love and happiness, romance and roses, and it is heartbreaking to see people may try and ruin it!! beware my fellow planners.
I was contacted on June 8th by a scammer named Jimmy Miller. Saying he needed an experienced wedding planner to plan a wedding for 9/13/10 for 50 guest and that his budget was $50,000 – ok how weird. He lived in Europe and wanted to get married in Fullerton California, I found similar emails he sent other wedding planners with the same information just diffrent name, guest count and budget.The weirdest thing was how he wanted to make a credit card payment so bad, all he said on emails was if I was going to get the credit card machine. Poor person nothing better to do than to waste our time! well he did not scam me, thank god! So wedding planners be careful!
They have hit Australia! Not for wedding planning!
Here is what I got. I am all to careful thou so I knew exactly that this is a scam!
Good day,
Hello
I am Mark smith. A tourist. I want to hire for your vehicle along side
with a profession driver for a group of tourist.
We are 10 in number and will be coming for a Tourism in your state.
ARRIVAL DATE: 20th September 2010
DEPARTURE DATE: 30TH September 2010
As i do not know what kind of Vehicle my group will like to use for our
tourist movement so it is better i make a deposit of booking then when
we arrive we all can come together and select the best Vehicle we can
use for this movement So i will like to make a deposit of GBP 1,200
POUNDS as an initial deposit for the booking of the Vehicle Via My visa
credit card. Please once the is confirm by you please get back to me
asap for the arrangement.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 30TH September 2010 when
we arrive which is the final day of the booking.
For more information, please call me to discuss to discuss further as we
don’t have much time with us Thanks and have a nice day.
Kind Regards, Mark Smith
london
United Kingdom .
+447011147797
THEN I REPLIED WITH WHICH STATE ARE YOU VISTING JUST TO TRICK THEM AND I GOT THIS
Hello,
Thanks very much for your email and also taking time to give me a detailed about the inquiry that that I made today about renting your car that we will be using for our tourism movements that will be coming up on the month of September from the 20th to the 30th which is already at the corner and we all can wait to come for the trip.
As the service that you will be rendering to us we will be needing two sedan cars or a minibus which will be able to contain all of us with our belongings that we will be using for the tourism movement and I want to make it clear to you we will only be using your vehicle for a maximum of 6 hours and not travel more than 30 kilometers daily as for our place of visit we will only be visiting places of tourist interest to us and sight seeing only within the the city and we will be requiring if the driver with be equipped with GPS for easy movement.
So I will like you to get back to me with estimated cost for your services for a period of 10days so that i can make a prepayments via my credit card thanks.
Mark Smith
60, Rumford Rd ,
London ,
United Kingdom .
+447011147797
Seriously I am over this people.
Good luck all and lets hope that the scammers get scammed and we all don’t!
Thank you for the info, i googled the whole mail.. He was called James Cole in this one..
I work in a castle, for weddings etc. in Holland!
Just got a call from a Dorothy Stewart. She said she lived in Michigan and her fiance lived in Africa. His name is Tim Hudson. They wanted me to make all the arrangements. Said there was 20 people in their wedding party. His daughter was from Russia. Her wedding color was blue!!!!!! As you can tell from other posts online this is the biggest clue to the scam. When they wanted to pay my deposit with a cashier’s check I ended the phone conversation. I told them i take cash or paypal. She said that might take a couple of weeks to set up. I then sent an email telling them that I will not pay any vendor directly. I haven’t heard from them since I sent the email.
March 27, 2011 7:20 AM
There are new email scams on the loose and targeting Canadian planners… be ware the names Ramson Taylor and Kimberly Reeds (ramsontaylor1@gmail.com and kimnramson@gmail.com)… I recently received an inquiry from the above “person” inquiring about planning services… $40k USD budget…20-30 guests from US, UK and Asia… mentioned he is currenty at a world health organization program for the next 1-2 months in Iran and the only payment method he can use is credit card… The rest of the email falls into line with most of what is written here in other comments.. in fact, almost verbatim!
Beware, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Do your research online and ask around…but honestly at the end of the day if your gut is telling to stay away, it’s probably right… so trust it!
Hi my name is John Benfield; My girlfriend is a wedding planner for sicily recived an email from ramsontaylor1@gmail.com and kimnramson@gmail.com as above requesting a wedding service. After investigating i have seen it is complete scam PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW UP ANY ENQUIERY FROM THIS MAN.
By the looks of it it has been going on for a couple of years. Thank you to all previous comments to help realise this was a scam
John Benfield
Hi,
Unfortunately the scam for Mr Ramson Taylor is further afield, I live in Oregon in the US and I received an email from “Ramson” identical to Amanda K’s email. As I was hit by a scam last year which I took to the Secret Service I was already on the look out for emails that were poorly spelt or where the grammar was poor, I mean, who starts an email with Greetings? lol Luckily I was suspicious of the one last year and I took their cashier cheque but didn’t bank it, I am now the proud owner of a forged cheque!!
Keep up the good work warning people.
Toni
I am really glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.
My Fiancé (Kimberly Reeds) and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I’ll need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 15th October 2011 (wedding date is flexible).
We have a budget of about $40,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent aside us, I am also expecting about 20 other guest from UK, USA and Asia
Below are other requirements we’ll need.
My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold.
For flowers, majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we’ll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
For music, a DJ or live band
Food, a buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Wedding is a civil wedding
Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours
Photographer for 3-4 hours
Venue: out door or indoor
Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.
Flowers for bridal party
Accommodation for out of town guest (18 single or 13 doubles from for the wedding night only)
Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm.
Both the wedding and reception will be in same venue.
I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.
I’m presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you.
Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.
I await your response.our response.
Ramson Taylor & Kimberly Reeds strike again! This time in Kansas City, Missouri. Same story. Pretty lame. BEWARE to all.
Wow! Thanks for the heads up! Beware of these guys! After receiving the initial email (which sounds exactly like the ones mentioned above), I responded and this is what I received. Please spread the word.
“Hello
I am really glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.
My Fiancé (Kimberly Reeds) and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I’ll need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 15th October 2011 (wedding date is flexible).
We have a budget of about $40,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent aside us, I am also expecting about 20 other guest from UK, USA and Asia
Below are other requirements we’ll need.
My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold.
For flowers, majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we’ll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
For music, a DJ or live band
Food, a buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Wedding is a civil wedding
Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours
Photographer for 3-4 hours
Venue: out door or indoor
Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.
Flowers for bridal party
Accommodation for out of town guest (18 single or 13 doubles from for the wedding night only)
Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm.
Both the wedding and reception will be in same venue.
I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.
I’m presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you.
Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.
I await your response.our response.”
The above post was for an inquiry into Orange County, California from a Ramson Taylor and his fiance Kimberly Reeds. Wedding Planners beware!
Are you kidding me!! I received the same email as Dave & Kristie about a week ago, word for word (date, color, needs, everything) !! So so very glad that I am paranoid and thought to Google Mr. Taylor. I received his second email asking me to make payments to his logistics person. I’ll research & qualify all vendors but payments I do not make. Wow! Thanks everyone!!
I just received this email and I was skeptical as well. I responded a few times and then decided to google the name and this site popped up. I guess I wont be responding anymore. I dont really know why someone would send out scam emails for a wedding. Thank you for the information though
My first contact with Mr. Fulhorst..WHAT SCAM!!! Thanks god we did our research!
Hello,
My Name is William Fulhorst, my Fiance and I wish to seek your assistance and professional touch in planning our wedding.
The wedding is to hold on the 10th of March 2012{Still flexible though..}.
We’ll need your services amongst other things in the following areas:
a) Plan everything about the wedding
b) Selection of ceremony and reception venue
c) Videography
d) Assistance regarding the cocktail and reception, Floral arrangements and Catering;
e) photography.
f) complete organization of relevant documents
g) Budget Planning & Management
h) Cordination of all vendors that will be involved.
Estimated number of Guest: 70 to 75.
We want to have the estimated cost for the services above,as you will be handling everything from scratch to finish.
Also confirm credit cards accepted for effective payment, ok.
As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks,i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via my credit card(Which you will keep on file) once availability is confirmed by you.
I’ll be happy to hear from you if you can handle this for us, any Other arrangements will as well be discussed along the line.
Thanks,
Engr. William Fulhorst
Second Contact
Hello Tatiana,
Thanks a lot for the mail, i am glad that you are available on that date for us.
Kindly find below other informations that might assist you as i am not able to take calls now(however you can text me on this number (972-7635628 ,that is my mobile number but i am charged for receiving calls which is why i prefer emailing.)
It is the wish of my fiancé to get married in Miami and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements, Also,i would like you to know that we do not have a specific venue in mind and that’s one of the reasons why we have contacted you so that you can plan everything right from the scratch,ok.
My Fiancé and i will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I will need you to book 1 double room for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 10th of March 2012.
We have a budget of about $87,000 which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of the logistic agents in charge of Transportation and flight reservations, I am also expecting 78 Guests especially from UK,USA and Asia.
Below are other requirements we’ll also need.
My fiancé decided that the color for the wedding should be white and gold.
For flowers: majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we’ll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
For music, a DJ.
Food, a Continental dish buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Wedding is a civil wedding,Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours
Photographer for 3-4 hours
Venue: out door or indoor
Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.
Flowers for bridal party
Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm(A better suggestion from you will be considered).
Both the wedding and reception if possible should be in same venue.
Please let us know if any of the above will be difficult for you to arrange so we can work it out, though email is my best means of contact for now but i will make sure to give you a call from here when i can as we progress, ok.
I need you to get back to me with the Final contract(The notice of intent is good) and how best to proceed so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements and bookings as time is not on our side.
I’m presently offshore and we are currently drilling,which possibly will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card(And not via PayPal as i’ve lost a lot of money there last year when my account was compromised), all taxes and fees will be paid accordingly…if you have a POS merchant account, that would highly aid us as i would prefer to deposit the payments with you while you settle all vendors directly.
I will make sure to sign and scan all contracts to you and will feel better if you manage all payments as i’ll not like the card details to be passed on to several vendors(You can’t be so sure how the data ends up…:)).
Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate and amount payable as deposit now so that we can start off asap with all preparation for my wedding.
I’ll wait to hear from you.
Regards
Engr William.
Can we report them to someone???
Thank you for posting and continuing this thread. I’m sorry to hear those of you who were effected by this, but thank you for warning those of us who could have also been victims.
I have now received one from Engr. William (now Canon). It definitely seemed odd, but once he replied about his wife (we are exclusive to the LGBT community, and we make it very obvious), and the inability to reach him, we felt everything was amiss. Following his inquiry:
Name: William Canon
Email: willcanon1@msn.com
Company: Wedding Plans.
Message: My Name is William Canon, my Fiance and I wish to seek your assistance and professional touch in planning our wedding.
The wedding is to hold on the 24th of April 2012{Still flexible though..}.
We’ll need your services amongst other things in the following areas:
a) Plan everything about the wedding
b) Cordination of all vendors that will be involved.
c) Videography
d) Assistance regarding the cocktail and reception, Floral arrangements and Catering;
e) photography.
f) complete organization of relevant documents
g) Budget Planning & Management
h) Selection of ceremony and reception venue
Estimated number of Guest: 60 to 70.
We want to have the estimated cost for the services above,as you will be handling everything from now till the D-Day.
Also confirm credit cards accepted for effective payment, ok.
As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals/drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via my credit card(Which you will keep on file) once availability is confirmed by you.
I’ll be happy to hear from you if you can handle this for us, any Other arrangements will as well be discussed along the line.
Second reply:
Hello Amanda,
Thanks a lot for the mail, i am glad that you are available on that date for us(We wanted it for 24th due to some personal reasons but if Saturday the 28th will be better, we might have to consider that).
Kindly find below other information that might assist you as i am not able to take calls now(however you can Text or call me on this number (646)580-1061 ,that is my mobile number but i am charged for receiving calls which is why i prefer emailing).
It is the wish of my fiance (Dr. Carol Deleon) to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements, Also,i would like you to know that we do not have a specific venue in mind and that’s one of the reasons why we have contacted you so that you can plan everything right from the scratch,ok.
My Fiance and i will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I will need you to book 1 double room for us
for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding.
We have a budget of about $79,000 which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of the logistic agents in charge of Transportation and flight reservations, I am also expecting about 70Guests especially from UK,USA and Asia.
Below are other requirements we’ll also need;
My fiance decided that the color for the wedding should be white and gold.
For flowers: majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we’ll want lots of
them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
For music, a DJ.
Food, a Continental dish buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Wedding is a civil wedding,Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours
Photographer for 3-4 hours
Venue: out door or indoor
Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.
Flowers for bridal party
Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm(A better suggestion from you will be considered).
Both the wedding and reception if possible should be in same venue.
Please let us know if any of the above will be difficult for you to arrange so we can work it out, though email is my best means of contact for now but i will make
sure to give you a call from here when i can as we progress, ok.
I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements and bookings
as time is not on our side.
I’m presently offshore and we are currently drilling,which possibly will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card(And not via PayPal as i’ve lost a lot of money there last year when my account was compromised), all taxes and fees will be paid accordingly…if you can setup a merchant account, that would highly aid us as i would prefer to deposit the payments with you while you settle all vendors directly.
I will make sure to sign and scan all contracts to you and will feel better if you manage all payments as i’ll not like the card details to be passed on to several vendors (You can’t be so sure how the data ends up…:))….If this is not ok with you, pls let me know asap.
Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate and amount payable as deposit now so that we can start off asap with all preparation for my wedding.
I’ll wait to hear from you.
Regards
Engr William Canon.