A classic scam...

Internet scams aren't new.  Chances are that you get them in your email all the time.  This version of the classic email scam isn't new to me, but it might be to you:  

Hi,

My name is Mr. Mike Mcgeeb .I am planning to have my wedding ceremony on April 9, 2009 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Marshfield Missouri, 515 East Washington Street, Marshfield MO 65706 .  I am looking for a good photographer who will come and do the snap shots on the D-day.  

I came accross your listing on the net and decided to contact you. I want to know your charges for the following required services if you are to work for between 6 and 8 Hours on that day.  We will select the best 100 copies of different snaps photos in both black and white and coloured and in Two main sizes and dimensions which is required for my personal use at home,

1)16" x 12" (405 x 305mm) approx. including post and packaging
2)12" x 10" (305 x 204mm) approx. including post and packaging
3) I want just one Panoramic images size 18" x 6.5" (457mm x165mm) 30 10x8 prints in album.  coloured Snapped in the church and at the reception.  I want is for me and my wife, Our parents, the officiating ministers and our guests.

I will be requiring your service for atleast 6 Hours at both occasions (church and at the reception). The church is Holy Trinity Catholic Church - Marshfield Missouri 515 East Washington Street, Marshfield MO 65706 . If you are out of Missouri, I will pay the transportation charges to and from the party venue so I want you to indicate in your email if you are out of Missouri and state what it will cost you to get transport to Marshfield Missouri so that we both can work it out and also the total amount you will receive for the whole services at the occasion.

We will have the photographs snapped at the wedding forwarded to the Publisher of a Magazine Company in U.S so they could feature it in their celebrity journal so due to this, I want the pictures neat and nice.

However,I will be making the payment by means of a Check. Let me have your full Names, Address, Phone Number, where the Cheque will be mailed to for the payment.Moreso, should you be out of state, the Hotel accomodation will be provided for by me. Waiting to read from you soon as regards this.  Thanks and have nice day.

Regards.
Mike  

Well, I have received emails like this in the past.  Usually, it is some preacher from an African country that plans to hold his big wedding anniversary party in america and the church or city is funding it.  Some of the details are different (like the anniversary year - 35th, 40th, 50th), but the idea is always the same.  

They want you to say that you'll book their event, out of state (so it's harder for you to check out it's validity).  They send you a check, often way too big for what you requested.  It turns out that the Church sent you the money for photos AND for booking something else (like music, reception room, etc), and you'll need to send back a couple thousand dollars.  Their money order was fake, your money order was real.  You got scammed!  

The fact that they are specifically seeking out photographers to scam is interesting.  They know this is more believable than the lame emails about some foreign bank employee (or relative of a king/president/whatever) getting access to $3 million USD, and wanting your help to move it into a US account (you are supposed to get a big cut of the cash for your effort).  

Just remember, things that sound fishy ARE fishy.  And if any of you think this is a legit request, I'd be more than happy to give you the guy's email address.  He's your client, if you want him.  I know better...