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Jim
Saint Paul's Church, Jarrow, UK Speaking Scam?
Earlier this week we received this email inquiry:
"I am Bishop Mark Jarrow, presiding Minister of the Saint Paul's Church, Jarrow, United Kingdom. We are pleased to inform you that we would like to engage Jim for a speaking event here in Jarrow at the Church conference coming up on the 27th, 28th & 29th of January 2012. The conference is tagged: 'Big things: How to start small'
Please we would like you to convey to us Jim's availability for one of the dates as it can fit in your schedule.
Also, please we would as well appreciate if you get back in-touch with us in ample time so we can start corresponding the details."
When Heather responded that I am not available, the response was that they'd move their entire conference to accommodate my schedule!! This sure sounds like a scam. Anyone know what their angle is?
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Ann D., Bonnie W. and 2 others like this
You, Ann D., Bonnie W. and 2 others like this
7 comments
Sean
Sean O. • Hi Jim,
Sorry I did not see this earlier.This is indeed a scam. You will note that the date of the event is almost immediate. That means that everything needs to be done in in a rush, so in spite of them offering your full fee and executive travel, they will need your credit card info and passsport number to make the reservations and travel arrangements. (do you see where this is going?) These scams (yes plural) over the past few years seem to all be on behalf of a UK organization, such as a church or a college. Several CAPS members from all over the country have received the recent round.
Jim
Jim C. • Thanks, Sean. I appreciate you confirming what I thought was the case and explaining how the scam works. I thought I'd heard of a variation of this in the education sector a few years ago.
Happy New Year!
Nina
Nina S. • Jim, Sean, thank goodness I followed my own intuition re something being "rotten in the state of...UK!" re this one. Just got this invitation myself. And although this invite came from the U.K. I smelled a rat, so trawled the web first and luckily came across your conversation. Many thanks to you both, and to Heather, too, for saving me time, money and identity (if I'd fallen for it)! Will definitely spread the word some more. Thanks again and all the best in 2012! Nina
Sean
Sean O. • Nina, Glad to help you confirm that this was a scam.
Bob
Bob P. • I received it as well and did actually respond - ugh! They typos and fact I could pick any topic, $9500 fee, etc were clues... Also got another a week later from a United Methodist Church in the UK same time frame. I called NSA and they referred me to a blog where I posted it as well.
Kelly
Kelly W. • I received the same. As an Anglican, I was quite thrilled to be invited UNTIL I saw that it was to be the next day. I was thrilled with the website and was sure my friend Sally had suggested me when she was working in theUK last summer. It made sense. Then I called Sean and Jim's offices and was re-assured. thanks for all that. I wonder what the poor bishop is going through...
Robert
Robert W. • While I realize there are many people living in the UK and other countries that do not speak perfect English--and there is no judgment in that--it is a good first clue that the language is not entirely smooth. While there are many good people who do not write perfect English, and a scam artist COULD use perfect English and still be looking to get your personal information, the language in most of these scams reveals people for whom English is not their first language (often people from Nigeria, Central Europe, or Asia). But language or no, the best defense is, as many have noted: look for rushed deadlines and VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY!