Credit card photo scam

Internet scams that target photographers have been around for years. Over the past couple of years, there’s another scam involving credit cards.

Posing as a customer, a scammer will ask to hire a photographer for an upcoming event but only if the photographer accepts credit cards. If the photographer agrees to the work, the “customer” will then mention that they also need to pay another event supplier who doesn’t take credit cards.

The scammer will offer to send extra money to the photographer which the photographer can use to pay that other supplier. To tempt the photographer, the scammer will promise the photographer a couple hundred dollars extra for their trouble.

The scammer will use a stolen credit card to pay the photographer’s fee, the other supplier’s fee and the extra money for the photographer’s trouble. The unsuspecting photographer will be told to pay the other supplier immediately – it’s urgent! – but only in cash through Western Union.

After completing the credit card transaction, the trusting photographer will send their own cash to the mystery supplier who, in fact, is the scammer. Of course, the credit card transaction will later fail and the photographer will lose whatever money they gave away.

This month, I received three such e-mails:

Hello could you tell me about what services that you offer for birthdays or wedding also do you accept credit card payments? Thanks Gary Steers

Hope its been a pleasant day with you out there, i am Gary Steers and I will like to know the type of services that you offer for birthdays or wedding anniversary also do you accept credit card payments? Thanks, Gary Steers

Hope it’s been a pleasant day with you out there, i will like to know the type of services that you offer for birthdays or wedding anniversary also do you accept credit card payments? Ryan Grant

The second e-mail, above, included a Toronto phone number which, when called, went immediately to a machine that said, “Call rejected” and then disconnected.

This credit card scam is also run through text messaging (and here).

Another one received in July 2018:

I’m John Alex.How are you ? I’ll like to know if you are available in August 25 for my family reunion (5 hours photo coverage).Also i want family portraits done for all the families coming together for the reunion.and do you accept credit card four payment.