| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Asking for opinions on a message I received Thread poster: Iris Shalev
|
|---|
Iris Shalev 
United States
Local time: 10:00
Member (2007)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Hello,
I just received a message through ProZ.com with a job offer. Since I have lately received a lot of scam emails, (and the memory of recently falling for a scam agency's offer and doing a job for which I will never see payment is still painful), I now mistrust everything that's been sent to me from someone I don't know.
I hope I'm not doing anything against the forum rules, but here is the message:
"Dear Madam,
I would like to receive an offer fo... See more Hello,
I just received a message through ProZ.com with a job offer. Since I have lately received a lot of scam emails, (and the memory of recently falling for a scam agency's offer and doing a job for which I will never see payment is still painful), I now mistrust everything that's been sent to me from someone I don't know.
I hope I'm not doing anything against the forum rules, but here is the message:
"Dear Madam,
I would like to receive an offer for the translation of the
text contained in the html pages telated to the following
links.
[long list of links to separate pages of a website]
The fact I do not send you a normal text i send invitation
to get in touch with the atmosphere of xxx site with
the purpose to make the best translation.
For the same reason I would like to ask you, before
starting the translation, to dedicate a while to visit the
site. I do not need a literal tanslation. You are invited to
make a free translation whenever you consideri t useful to
transmit a sense of trustworthy and reliablility, with an
almost ancient courtesy
Of course, considering the request of a special care and
the small quantity of the the text to be translated, I do
not expect a normal offer/word.
If you accept the work I inform you that have no problem
to pay in advance. Please send me your bank data to make the
payement."
There is just a name, no contact information whatsoever. I find the whole thing a bit strange and suspicious - why are they so eager to pay in advance? The only time someone's actually offered me to pay in advance, it was a 'money whitewashing scam' that I only just escaped from. I don't like the spelling mistakes, I don't like the 'not expecting a normal rate', I don't like the lack of contact information. I've emailed back and said that I first need to have proper contact information before I can say anything useful about co-operation.
I would like to have some support and advice from (more experienced) collegues, please... What do you all think of this message?
Thanks and regards,
Iris. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
Spain
Local time: 18:00
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
| | | | Celine Gras
France
Local time: 18:00
English to French
+ ...
| Looks like the old scam | Feb 4, 2010 |
where they send you way too much money and ask you to send it back, while they actually did not send any... I'd steer clear too!
| | | | Brandis (X)
Local time: 18:00
English to German
+ ...
| surely it sounds like scam.. | Feb 4, 2010 |
Even I have recd. the same yesterday evening. Brandis
| | |
|
|
|
David Young (X)
Denmark
Local time: 18:00
Danish to English
Emma Goldsmith wrote:
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
Me neither, it stinks to high heaven - bin it!
| | | | Iris Shalev
United States
Local time: 10:00
Member (2007)
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
... that's what I needed to hear, I suppose! As I was writing the message, I was actually thinking: why am I even asking about it..? But it helps to hear my thoughts echoed!
[Edited at 2010-02-04 12:35 GMT]
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 17:00
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| and the website is? | Feb 4, 2010 |
Sounds like a classic case of money laundering to me - they pay you, then they say "Sorry, don't need it done after all, please refund the money paid"
But I'm intrigued to know a bit more about the website. Is this really relevant:
Iris Shalev wrote:
transmit a sense of trustworthy and reliablility, with an
almost ancient courtesy
I doubt that it is in fact their website - is there an address on the site you could contact to (a) get more info if it is a legitimate request, or (b) warn the owners that their site is being used in a scam?
| | | |
David Young wrote:
Me neither, it stinks to high heaven - bin it!
Sounds like one of those scams where they steal your name (lol)
| | |
|
|
|
| | Iris Shalev
United States
Local time: 10:00
Member (2007)
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Furniture site | Feb 4, 2010 |
It's a website about design furniture. Yes, I've also been wondering what the "sense of trustworthy and reliability, with an almost ancient courtesy" is about! It's a good idea to contact the site owners to ask/inform them, I might do that.
Thanks!
| | | |
Iris Shalev wrote:
(...) I now mistrust everything that's been sent to me from someone I don't know.
(...)
There is just a name, no contact information whatsoever. I find the whole thing a bit strange and suspicious - why are they so eager to pay in advance? The only time someone's actually offered me to pay in advance, it was a 'money whitewashing scam' that I only just escaped from..
It sounds as though you have already decided.
On the other side - it's only an email, ask for more info, a phone no., postal address, company registration details, etc if you want it (I would). Perhaps they are offering to pay in advance because they have read on translator forums about how hard it is to trust anyone, the agony of wondering if a new client will pay us, etc. If they pay too little, or indeed too much (the classic scam move), then just stop the relationship there.
| | | | | Revealing your e-mail | Feb 4, 2010 |
Charlie Bavington wrote:
On the other side - it's only an email, ask for more info, a phone no., postal address, company registration details, etc if you want it (I would). Perhaps they are offering to pay in advance because they have read on translator forums about how hard it is to trust anyone, the agony of wondering if a new client will pay us, etc. If they pay too little, or indeed too much (the classic scam move), then just stop the relationship there.
Mailing them back would only reveal one's e-mail address. So I'd rather dispose of supposedly scam messages immediately.
| | |
|
|
|
Iris Shalev
United States
Local time: 10:00
Member (2007)
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I have emailed them... | Feb 4, 2010 |
... asking for more information. But I haven't received an answer yet. I am inclined to think it's a scam, but maybe I'm wrong. I hope so!
| | | | Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:00
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
| It's just an email... | Feb 4, 2010 |
But this is how viruses are spread. Do not click on any link from an unknown source, identity theft is easy and very lucrative for these people. Only send bank details on your invoice. TM English is a sign the source is from abroad, (China, Nigeria, the homes of recent scams). Even if it is a bona fide job offer, how can you communicate effectively with someone who really doesn't know English? Better safe than sorry.
| | | | | Agree with everyone | Feb 4, 2010 |
Iris Shalev wrote:
It's a website about design furniture. Yes, I've also been wondering what the "sense of trustworthy and reliability, with an almost ancient courtesy" is about! It's a good idea to contact the site owners to ask/inform them, I might do that.
Thanks!
I would also steer clear, since the email is too long and without any background information, such as, Hello, I am XX, a project manager at YY Translation Company. And I don't like the usage of "sense of trustworthy and reliability, with an almost ancient courtesy" which totally doesn't make sense to me. Maybe it's because my English is not that excellent, I can't understand the last part "an almost ancient courtesy". Would somebody kindly explain, or should I post this phrase on KudoZ?
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Asking for opinions on a message I received | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
