Phishing at the Wedding

So our big band gets this request for a quote to do a wedding - small ceremony in a private residence for about 15 guests, less than an hour of music. Full big band in a house? No worries. He is fine with live, Zoom, or a prerecorded video. We offer a live quartet and agree on a fee of $600 with a $200 non refundable deposit.

The band is going to be paid by a family friend who is anxious to pay the entire fee up front as soon as possible. This whole deal is weird enough that I want at least the deposit ASAP, so I send him instructions on how to submit the payment. Within hours he responds that the family friend has sent the check but accidentally included the wedding planner's fee as well. Would I please send that fee to the wedding planner as soon as I receive the check?

I suggest that he simply send me a new check for the right amount. But alas, the family friend has left town (in the past few hours) and will not be able to cut a new check for days. And the poor wedding planner has some expenses due that must be paid immediately.

I am so sorry, but something has come up and we will not be able to perform at your wedding. Good luck with the wedding and the upcoming marriage. Now, where was that address for the FTC website?

Be careful out there.

It's a scam. Our band gets these occasionally, too. Different stories weddings vs birthdays vs retirements vs corporate events vs private parties. But the same baseline scam.

"Consider that a divorce."-AS.....That is terrible.

Nothing like a bit of fraud to start the day lol! This is why we don't deal with cheques at all, they can bounce or get cancelled or this skullduggery can happen. Cold hard cash (paid in full on arrival) or bank transfer (paid in full before arrival). No pay, no play.

I've only had one wedding where the couple had zero intentions of paying us but the scam got rumbled at half time when and it nearly got very very ugly when no cash materialised. We were about to go home and the venue were about to kick them out for involving them in it. Luckily for them the grooms sister was a doctor who paid us in full.

LarryJ said:

Now, where was that address for the FTC website?

Click to expand...

get 'em!