Duped by a scammer
Thread poster: Michael Moskowitz
Michael Moskowitz
Michael Moskowitz  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:06
Member (2004)
Russian to English
+ ...
Jul 14, 2018

After 30 days of solid work, amounting to thousands of US$, I just realized that all this work went to scammer, pretending to be Valery Afanasyev of GEF Translations.
I know, I should have been much more vigilant, but he/she/they (who knows?) kept me so busy with the 30-day payment promise, I had no time to check it out.
And would have been so easy: simply compare the domain name, geftranslations.ru, used by the scammer vs. geftranslations.com of the real agency.

Reading
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After 30 days of solid work, amounting to thousands of US$, I just realized that all this work went to scammer, pretending to be Valery Afanasyev of GEF Translations.
I know, I should have been much more vigilant, but he/she/they (who knows?) kept me so busy with the 30-day payment promise, I had no time to check it out.
And would have been so easy: simply compare the domain name, geftranslations.ru, used by the scammer vs. geftranslations.com of the real agency.

Reading other posts now, I see that he/she/they have been around for a while. So, I'm wondering why has the real GEF not taken the matter to the authorities. This is definitely damaging their business.

Look out for this scammer, let's deprive him of our work, maybe he'll switch fields.
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Natalia Pedrosa
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Caveat Emptor! Jul 14, 2018

Dear duped Michael,

First, you obviously failed to do very your homework for starting translation with an unknown client obviously failed to do very your homework for starting translation with an unknown client without a PO/contract.

Second, modern phishing is so easy at fingertip--even a teen can do it just for fun, why believing BS?

Third, now artists take spamming software to kill another simpleton while working in groups at a quick pace--literally there're can be zillions of fake clients/identity thieves, making any refutation and exposing but impossible.

Fourth, there's a reaction to every action and reaction, so why shamefully shifting the burden of proof?

Fifth, in some countries swindlers and fraudsters often con at large and even can come at your place to teach you a couple of lessons, why?


CONCLUSION: Stop lamenting over your missed due diligence
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Walter Landesman
 
Natalie
Natalie  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 15:06
Member (2002)
English to Russian
+ ...

MODERATOR
SITE LOCALIZER
Hi Michael Jul 14, 2018

I am really sorry to hear this, but aren't you at least following the 'scams' forum? Don't you check the outsourcer if he approaches you for the first time?

There were several threads about the scammer, both here and in the RU forum:
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I am really sorry to hear this, but aren't you at least following the 'scams' forum? Don't you check the outsourcer if he approaches you for the first time?

There were several threads about the scammer, both here and in the RU forum:
https://www.proz.com/topic/325105
https://www.proz.com/post/2732606#2732606 (and the whole thread in general)
https://www.proz.com/post/2732609#2732609 (and the whole thread in general)
https://www.proz.com/topic/324103

Natalia
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Walter Landesman
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Gina Ferlisi
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 14:06
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Everyone: protect yourself Jul 14, 2018

Sorry you've been had in such an awful way .

For others:
- check out the ProZ.com Scam Centre
- sign up for notifications from the scam centre to keep abreast of new scams
- read and use the Wiki on this site about Risk Management
- check out every new client, including checking out the possibility of a stolen identity. Easy to do: Google for contact name / company name / email address along wi
... See more
Sorry you've been had in such an awful way .

For others:
- check out the ProZ.com Scam Centre
- sign up for notifications from the scam centre to keep abreast of new scams
- read and use the Wiki on this site about Risk Management
- check out every new client, including checking out the possibility of a stolen identity. Easy to do: Google for contact name / company name / email address along with "scam"

Even if I'm inclined to trust a new client, I normally want to see the colour of their money for a small job before I do a shed-load of work for them. Wouldn't a reputable company already have trusted suppliers for most of their work?
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Jean Dimitriadis
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Dmytro Nehrii
Gina Ferlisi
 
Edward Potter
Edward Potter  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 15:06
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Live and learn Jul 14, 2018

The scammer who stole from you is scum.

Thieves hurt people and economies. And, I might add, they have a negative psychological effect on honest people.

I enjoy watching thieves get punished.

Peace, out.


 
Vanda Nissen
Vanda Nissen  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 00:06
Member (2008)
English to Russian
+ ...
Sorry to hear about your experience Jul 15, 2018

Hi Michael,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Please check the threads shared by Natalie - the scam has been going on for a while. These people have also tried to contact me a few times.

Unfortunately, it is necessary nowadays to check those things - Proz.com, Facebook groups for translators etc. Recently, I was approached by someone pretending to work for a well-known company via a social media platform. I smelt a rat straight away so I did not proceed. Later, I rec
... See more
Hi Michael,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Please check the threads shared by Natalie - the scam has been going on for a while. These people have also tried to contact me a few times.

Unfortunately, it is necessary nowadays to check those things - Proz.com, Facebook groups for translators etc. Recently, I was approached by someone pretending to work for a well-known company via a social media platform. I smelt a rat straight away so I did not proceed. Later, I received an email from a good friend a colleague who saw the person in question in my contacts, he confirmed that my suspicions were correct. A few weeks later I read a post in one of the Facebook groups for translators where our colleague shared their experience about the first time contact with a well-reputable company, and the text sounded very familiar, although the company's name was different. I warned them about my and my colleague's experience and hopefully, the scammer was not successful there.
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Duped by a scammer







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