I am a web designer and developer and I wanted to share a recent scam that approached me with the desire to help others avoid the same scam. Please share this with others you know in our industry. http://designsbytierney.com/2016/02/scam-targets-web-designers-developers/
Thanks for sharing this. The likely scam was that they are using a stolen credit card that they hoped would go through on your side and you would then pay his cohort in cash and, ultimately, be out the money that you sent over to them when the credit card company caught up with the theft. As the merchant who accepted the bogus credit card, you would see the payment cancelled and be out the money you sent to them legitimately. This is now called "spear phishing" in which the potential victim is cultivated on a 1-to-1 basis instead of the mass emailings that used to go out from Nigerian princes.
Just another version of: if I buy your Harley will you ship it to me with a stack of other stuff you're going to buy and I'll reimburse you? only I won't but by then the container will be on it's way to me you can't view the apartment until you pay the first months rent - and 10 people turn up claiming to have rented it but the existing tenant/owner has no plans to move and knows nothing about the scam If you don't feel comfortable with a client, move on. A bad client is more damaging than no client at all. Two things I don't like when dealing with clients: the sympathy card, we've helped people out - a lot - but the ones who have proven truly grateful are the ones who state the facts and tell you how they plan to work around the problems (bad credit etc) and don't ask for favours. call me mate, bro or anything that assumes familiarity before it's earned. It's manipulative because they know people don't like to appear stiff and formal and want to earn the respect of others - even if they aren't sure of the person. Do those and my hackles rise