Warning about strangers, offering you a profitable job. They will send you a cheque over a high sum in advance. Cashing the cheque at your bank will not be a problem, but it is paid only under reserve, what most bank clerks will not tell you. Some days later the stranger will make up stories to make you transfer back some of the money. The reasons are usually to pay for fees, taxes, equipment, rentals, models,...etc. Days after you have made the transfer, your bank will tell you that the cheque is not valid. The money you have already transfered back, is lost. I did not fall for this trick, because I was warned - but many others did. I played the game to record the correspondence via email. During this time Mr. Smith called me several time to make sure that I believe his story, which I never did. Here you find his mailings in chronological order:

Hello,I am Laurence Smith from UK. I have a Fashion job (Assignment) for you.My client wants to update her Catalog with her monthly release Fashion outfitsand i am interested in you for the shooting. I am a Model Agent by professionwith about a few years experience. Find all details of the job,once you mail mewith your interest ..Regards Laurence Smith myfirm07@yahoo.com Hello, Thanks for your swift response and pardon me for my late reply. It is my greatpleasure reading that you are interested in the Photo shoot. May i ask how longyou have been in business?.You can also send me more of your previous works, that would be of greatadvantage to securing the offer. I am watchful for stiff, cookie-cutter staging. Great pictures look natural and easy.My Client want to update her catalog with some latest photos and finding asuper photographer would give one confidence of a perfect job done. JOB LOCATIONThe shooting would be held at a rented studio in Connolly Dublin,the name and address of the studio will be forwarded to you before the date of theshooting. SERVICE DESCIPTIONCatalogue/One year DATA DELIVERYA contact sheetwith 6-10 pictures each cut / setting should be provided at thesame day of the production.Selected raw Files should be available for download 2 days after production byFTP Server EQUIPMENTWe have made provision for Light requirement(profotos generator,proheads, striplights e.t.c).All you need is to come with is your digital camera.The job would only take a few days,we have 12 outfits to showcase by 3models. Our budget is 6,000 Euros daily or its equivalent,this includes anyassistant you might want to pay to come along.Dont forget that you would be coming to Dublin ,be rest assured we would beresponsible for your hotel and travel.The date for the shooting is not fixed yet, I will have to make arrangements for the shooting ahead from now. Once the arrangements have been made, i will contact you via email with the exact date for the shooting.I await to read from you soonest. Tell us what you think. Greetings,Laurence Smith ++44 7552301287 Hello,To be honest this is my clients maiden catalogue edition.so a lot of work hasto be put into it. We did indeed see some of your work and we are impressed,and we feel you have just the right professional imaginative skills we are looking for, be sure that you would be given the free right to direct the shoot,we would give our opinion when needed. We can make do with raw files on the final day of shooting. Our client Cinderella Bridal are a store in Tipperary Ireland stock an up to the minute collection of ladies formal wear and most of all thier specialtywhich we would concentrate uponis their wedding dresses. They are going on the mainstream market and have their personal brand which would be on display early next year. As stated the budget is 6,000Eur Daily we have booked 3days for the entire cast and shooting.We would provide travel and hotel accomodation for you and your assistant. You are free to give us your quote i believe we would reach an agreeable stance. I anticipate your response, tell us what you think.Thanks, Laurence Smith myfirm07@yahoo.com Hello, top of the day to you,I believe we already have everything covered, We can make available 20% Advance,which you would receive from the finance company.To do this the finance company of Cinderella Bridal (Our Client) would needsome information to effectively make the payment.You would receive a cheque, madeout to you, kindly send your details as thus:Name:Address:Telephone(s):Note that this catalogue would be my clients maiden edition,am counting on you to do an excellent job.I await your immediate response so that i can fax the details over for prior consideration.I anticipate your response.Thanks, Laurence Smith myfirm07@yahoo.com At this time, a cheque arrived via mail. The expected amount was 20% of 3x6000,-Euro, which is 3600,-Euro. But the cheque was made out over 9000,- Euro. Why such a huge difference ? Read on to find out. Hello, This is the 4th day now and i have been trying earnestly to reach you. no success whatsoever..I am sure that the cheque has been delivered to your address,i do really need to know. Kindly get back. Regards, Laurence Smith Hello, Going by our discussion on the telephone,here are the listed equipment we are hiring(lighting equipment;a Pro 7a 2400, 3 Proheads, 3 redheads, 1 Profoto 7 foot reflector, 1 Softlight reflector white 65°, 1 grid reflector 7° with grids, 1 snoot and 1 background reflector) i hope these equipments are ok tell me if you need a studio engineer and any other equipment not listed. At DieselModels we pride ourselves with great work,My creative assistant Ms Anjana is away in India to see family who were affected by the attacks,she would discuss further on the creative side of things. Most important is for the pictures to come out looking natural,we do have very professinal models though.Anyway you can check these weblinks for an idea of what we expect in regards what kind of styles e.t.c.(http://www.onewed.com/node/1253984 , http://www.onewed.com/node/1254152 ).. I hope i have covered every detail ,can you please email me if i have left anything.Best Regards, Laurence Smith Hello, Glad to know we are oncourse and the money is already credited into your account,i know it'll be great working with you,all we need to do immediately is book the studio and hiring the necessary equipment,we also need to organise travel for you and your assistant,please send us the name and details of the person travelling with you. You would be transferring 5,350Euros back today.What i want you to do today is proceed to transfer the difference via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER (DEUTSCHE POSTBANK A.G.),because of monetary policies you would only be able to transfer the money in two instalments to myself and my assistant,You can go to 2 seperate offices to do one at a time.the information you need is below,you can also find their offices and i have taken time to find a few close to you. Receivers Name:Elizabeth Johan Address:16 Jordan Street Knott Mill Manchester M15 4PY MTCN #: ????? Amount:2,650Euro Receivers Name:Laurence Smith Address:16 Jordan Street Knott Mill Manchester M15 4PY MTCN #: ????? Amount:2,650Euro After this mail I told Mr. Smith that I would have to wait for about 3 weeks to make sure that the cheque is valid. I never heard from him again....