Recent reported tactics include:
•Potential new client calling to book several appointments at one time (usually looking to pre-pay them all).
•New client calling from outside the state (sometimes outside the country) with exaggerated travel details.
•New client indicating payment is to include the cost of paying for a driver.
•Client over-paying for the session and asking the massage therapist to refund them via check or cash.
In such instances, the credit card used to pay you may be stolen and they may be looking for your account number to continue their theft. Call local police to report possible fraud or scams.
[Source: AMTA]
- Another tactic, in addition to the above, is offering to pay by certified check. If you accept and deposit, it may take several days to a couple weeks for your financial institution to find out the check was fraudulent, and will remove those funds from your account.
- Some of the scams claim to be from someone hearing impaired and can only communicate by text or email and/or is in the hospital.
Here are a few examples:
Hello This is kelvin bowen,I want you to work for my co workers, we are construction company ,we just finished a contract and all my co workers need body massage before we commence another project get back to me as soon as possible thank you.
I want table massage for 10 people on the 12th 13th, and 14th of December,I have a driver that will bring people to your office,and how much do you charge per person for an hour?
Hello this is Ross Feinstein and I will like to know if you do Body Massage Service and do you accept credit card? If so text me back now.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0350-text-message-spam
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/cashier.asp
You can forward scam emails to [email protected]
"File a Consumer Complaint" can be filed with the FTC at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/
If you have received a scam contact, feel free to share contents in the comments.