Scam or not?

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this question, so please let me know if I need to move it.

There was an ad on Craigslist that I responded to, but now that I'm further in communication with the OP I'm entirely not sure if it's a scam or not, hoping that some of you might have an idea. Here is our email correspondence:

Here's the original post:
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Freelance Videographer Needed (Phoenix)
A freelance videographer is wanted for mathematics/English short video tutorials production. The ideal candidate would be someone with a good work ethic and positive attitude that is also organized and has good communication skill.

The videographer + editor is charged with producing the video content that will live in our website and social channels. You will be filming mathematics/English teachers and then working on the videos to produce the desired result.

If interested, Please email a cover letter and/or Resume. Please ensure that the subject of your email is the same as the title of this ad to ensure prompt response from the appropriate department.

Thank you.

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My first response:

Hello there!

My name is Tac Coluccio and I do professional photography and videography here in the valley. I've been blessed to work with many large companies in a variety of different industries and would love the opportunity to work with you as well. Here's a link to my reel so you can see some of my work- https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=P5KjQdTPLlk

I also encourage you to take a look at my photography website, www.TacCPhotos.com, to get a better idea of my shooting style and what my business stands for.

Per your write up I imagine the teacher on either a white backdrop in a studio or in a classroom with a whiteboard/document camera- is that kind of what you're going for?

Thanks for your time, looking forward to hearing back from you!

Best,

Tac

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His reply:

Hello Tac, and sorry for the delayed response. This email is to formally acknowledge the receipt of your application for the Videographer position at Care-E-dot Foundation. If you wish to be considered for this position, please read further carefully and get back to me.

Care-E-dot is a non-profit online platform intending to provide a completely free library of video educational tutorials. we are currently on an educational mission in northern Phillipines to improve the standard of rural education in the region. And so we are looking to create series of educational video tutorials using a new innovative teaching solution called the lightboard method, which will allow the local teachers here to continue to watch long after we are gone. This tool, called a “lightboard” allows an instructor to create unique and visually engaging video tutorials. So we will like to hire a videographer that understand how this works and can set it up, or one that is willing to learn. Example of the lightboard mathematics tutorial can be seen on https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=R5Koc3QukYc&​t=4s. We intend to provide a mix of video and text-based materials starting with math, science, and english, and then expand to other subjects as time goes by. We intend to create a platform that will prepare students ahead by giving them a solid foundation in the subjects we offer before they move on to a more advanced course elsewhere.

Your responsibility will be to locate a space where we can set up the lightboard studio, so that the tutors can simply come in and tutor while you record and make corrections in post production. We will be covering every cost from start to finish. We will be making hundreds of five-minutes videos, so due to the lenght and amount of work involved here, it will be unwise to rent a studio at an hourly rate. So if you are able to set it up at your personal residence or rent a space where we can set up the production studio, then that will be great. If you are fine with option one, then we will also be paying you for your space. Whatever the case is, we are more than willing to adjust.

I have a contact at Wal-mart that can professionally build us the lightboard with adjustable height to accommodate tutors of varying heights. They can also supply whatever equipments is needed to set up the studio once we settle for a space. So if you would like to proceed with this offer, Please send all further replies directly to keridot@outlook.com for a prompt response. Thank You

Bi'nh Dac Kien
Care-E-dot Foundation

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My reply:

Hi there,

This is very intriguing and I am interested in learning more. In the building of my current office there is a vacant suite we can rent and use for a studio.

Are you local to Arizona yourself or is there somebody else within your organization that could stop by and discuss details?

Thanks for your response!

Tac

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His reply:

Hey Tac, i am not local to Arizona, but plan on moving there when my assignment here is done which will be in three months. I will like to have video production done close to me, that is why the ad was placed in Arizona.

It's good to know that you have a space so close to you already, so It will make a lot of sense setting up not too far away.

I plan on booking three tutors a day to tackle three math problems each daily. Each tutor will have thirty minutes for each math problem, meaning each tutor will have overall time of 1Hr 30Mins. The precise time needed to solve the equations will be the five minutes you'll film, the other 25 will be to correct errors and so on which I can't really envisage much. So in terms of foot traffic at the studio, you will be filming three tutors daily.

The first step will be to get the lightboard shipped to your residence. I opened negotiations with a group at Wal-mart, to have the board professionally built and delivered. So let me know how you will like us to proceed from here. I will like us to begin setting up the space this week.

I would like to keep the communication via email since I am currently traveling with loads of work. More so, It allows me a more thought out response as I do not have to respond to questions instantly. So get in touch asap. Thank You

Bi'nh Dac Kien
Care-E-dot Foundation

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My reply:

I'll need to get with my landlord and figure out pricing and how renting that space would work, I'll do that today.

I can't find anything about the Care-E-Dot Foundation online, do you have anything that I can look at? I'm interested to learn more about what you guys do.

Also, what is your budget for this work? Do you already have the tutors lined up?

Thanks!

Tac

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His reply:

The foundation is new, and I am also in need of a web designer to build some online presence for the foundation and boost our online images across some social media platforms. So for now, other than the facebook page I created, there's nothing else.

I do not already have teachers lined up for the project, the first step in to secure a space, then while we initiate the lightboard build, we will put up an ad for a math tutor around the studio. This is my plan, and should be a problem. But if you have any suggestions, feel free to share.

As per budget, Since we won't be selling anything at the space and there will be no need for any form of marketing, then there will be no need to be in a highbrow area. The budget for the space is $1000/monthly for a decent, noise-free area.

I planned on paying the videographer $200 per five minutes video. This is negotiable, so get in touch quickly.
Thank You

Bi'nh Dac Kien
Care-E-dot Foundation
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It looks too early to tell to me. Just be aware of the check scam:

https://www.bbb.org …ymentscam-10034-NY/269095

So far they haven't asked you to pony up startup funds or asked you to pay other individuals on their behalf, which is usually the MO on scams. Just Google various keywords in your correspondence to see what pops.

Red flags (just a bit of intuition and wisdom here):

1) Facebook page has no real content, just something thrown together quickly. If you had a vision to help someone, you would fill in the About page, and have real content on the page.

2) Somebody paying $200 for a 5 minute video, from the Philippines even, seems a bit scammy to me.

3) The next thing is that you have space, so they are going to find others that will occupy that space for video? How does that work? What if 20 different people in different areas all sign up, are they going to pay 20,000 out for these "studios", per month, plus pay $200 per 5 min video? That seems like a very huge budget for something that is supposed to be non-profit and housing videos for free to the public.

4) They advertised on craigslist.

5) Anything that seems to good USUALLY is.

So quite frankly, yes this feels like a very elaborate lead-in to the actual scam.

This could be a "sign up many people at once, get their trust, and then introduce the scam" type of scam. At some point as they have a number of individuals waiting to help, they send out a "we need this to get rolling" or "we send you money and you pay someone else" type of thing, do it in mass and then get out.

I always check the English. These are some danger signs:

So we will like to hire a videographer that understand how this works

I will like to have video production done close to me

I opened negotiations with a group at Wal-mart, to have the board professionally built and delivered. So let me know how you will like us to proceed from here. I will like us to begin setting up the space this week.

"Will like to," used this way, isn't found in the writing of native English speakers. They make other mistakes, but not that one. Now, the writer says he's in the Philippines, and he has a foreign name, so you might say "So what?" I'm suspicious because I've seen this "will like to" in scam e-mails before. It must be characteristic of the study of English in some particular location that produces scammers.

Another reason for suspicion is his statement that he prefers to communicate by e-mail. They often say this because (1) they're hiding an accent and (2) phoning will require too much thinking on their feet if you ask challenging questions.

Does Walmart even build and deliver boards? Would this person start negotiating with a Walmart near you before closing a deal with you?

Have you tried his foundation's name in a search engine?

The thing to watch for is his request that you pay someone, like a subcontractor, with part of the money he sends you. If that happens, get out. He'll send you a check for more than that amount, but it'll be worthless. This procedure is called an overpayment scam.

Too many warning signs and OhLook covered it quite well. The most obvious to me is the suggestion of negotiating a custom product with Walmart. It's as if they tossed Walmart in because it's an American company known everywhere and you'd be hard pressed to follow up and check in on it.

One test you could make is to ask for details about the person's contact at Walmart, perhaps suggest you know a store manager at one of the local Walmarts and that you might be able to help ensure quality and price is right using your friend who's always been willing to lend a helping hand in the past .......

I agree that it's really too early to tell for sure, but it's stinking a bit. When the request comes to pony up $$$ with a promise to pay back comes, then you'll have the real answer. My advice, proceed with extreme caution. Release no info banking or finance info or send any $$$. My alarm bells go into overdrive whenever I see something like "i am not local to Arizona, but plan on moving there when my assignment here is done which will be in three months". This sound like a setup for the next level of negotiation. I'll be there in three months, can you cover finances until I arrive?

Thanks everybody, very helpful thoughts. I replied again and offered to get him in touch with my landlord to secure the space himself, so we'll see if he responds. I'm sure as heck not going to be on the hook for that additional rent!

The broken English was a red flag, but he was clear that he's from the Philippines, so not sure what to think about that. I'll look out for the overpayment scam, I like the idea of offering to help with the Walmart end... Funny thing is I actually DO know the store manager at the closest Walmart, he's a good friend.

I would agree with most everyone else. Seems a bit "scammy" but I don't see anything put forth at this point that verifies it. Just proceed with caution and common sense, maybe it will end up being a lucrative gig.

jra wrote in post #18740262
I would agree with most everyone else. Seems a bit "scammy" but I don't see anything put forth at this point that verifies it. Just proceed with caution and common sense, maybe it will end up being a lucrative gig.

I am pretty positive that a lottery ticket will have better odds!

One could contact Liquidstone, a member here on POTN, to see if he knows anything like this in the Philippines. Perhaps request some info about Philippines where this person is situated and then verify that.

Lol...you are probably correct. The only thing that seems odd and holds out a bit of hope is that so much information has been exchanged without the usual scam request being mentioned (such as fronting money or cashing a check where part of it is to be sent elsewhere, etc...)

TacCPhotography wrote in post #18740219
The broken English was a red flag, but he was clear that he's from the Philippines, so not sure what to think about that.

He says he's from the Philippines.

I wonder how Mr. Kien might respond if you offer your friend's service in arranging this construction project that nobody here seems to be aware is up Walmart's alley.

That is indeed a good catch, I missed that aspect when going through the email exchange. Wal-mart will build something... that is quite funny indeed. The only thing our Walmarts can build here are long lines due to self-checkout lines that don't work, and all the clerk-based lanes all closed. They can build a pretty extensive "asset protection" department too, in order to catch all the thieves at the stores.

Thanks everyone, I think the scam just came out in his response... He asked me to sign the lease, I told him I was uncomfortable with that and gave him my landlords information for him to reach out, then I offered my Walmart friend. This is what he said:

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Sounds good. I think i can understand you do not want to handle the leasing of the property because it will require some paper works which you think should be handled by me. No, problem, I will reach out to her today, and will let you know how it goes.

It's good to know your friend works with Wal-mart, however, I have already begun negotiations with a different group, and it's the technical group, so they'll handle this better for us. However, they want payment via the walmart to walmart system, so i believe your friend can come in handy here.

So the plan now is, while I work out the lease, I will Assertsoft LLC mail you a check to cover for a deposit payment for your services and also a deposit payment for the lightboard, so that once you receive the check, you can make a deposit payment to the group building the board via walmart. I will get their details over at the appropriate time. I will write Nita and revert back to you, so let me know a name and an address where I can have them mail the check to. Thank You
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I haven't see Nita yet, but when I do I'll ask to see if she actually got a message from him. That whole thing about me paying the Walmart dudes is probably the overpayment scam, yes?

TacCPhotography wrote in post #18741478
Thanks everyone, I think the scam just came out in his response... He asked me to sign the lease, I told him I was uncomfortable with that and gave him my landlords information for him to reach out, then I offered my Walmart friend. This is what he said:

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Sounds good. I think i can understand you do not want to handle the leasing of the property because it will require some paper works which you think should be handled by me. No, problem, I will reach out to her today, and will let you know how it goes.

It's good to know your friend works with Wal-mart, however, I have already begun negotiations with a different group, and it's the technical group, so they'll handle this better for us. However, they want payment via the walmart to walmart system, so i believe your friend can come in handy here.

So the plan now is, while I work out the lease, I will Assertsoft LLC mail you a check to cover for a deposit payment for your services and also a deposit payment for the lightboard, so that once you receive the check, you can make a deposit payment to the group building the board via walmart. I will get their details over at the appropriate time. I will write Nita and revert back to you, so let me know a name and an address where I can have them mail the check to. Thank You
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I haven't see Nita yet, but when I do I'll ask to see if she actually got a message from him. That whole thing about me paying the Walmart dudes is probably the overpayment scam, yes?

There is no question this is a scam, and exactly what we called out, it is a drawn out scam to rope you in and make you think have an opportunity there. There is no opportunity here at all. You cash the check, you send payment to others, your received check bounces, your payments went out, you are screwed... Not even an overpayment...

I would report this to Walmart customer service as a scam so they can watch out for it from their patrons. It used to be Walmart used Western Union for peer to peer payment, and either bought that up, or made their own, so this is how they intend on scamming people out of money.

TacCPhotography wrote in post #18741478
That whole thing about me paying the Walmart dudes is probably the overpayment scam, yes?

Bingo!