hi we have just received 2 booking scams in the last two weeks
if you are unsure if it is a scam or not you can take some of the information in the email and google it and in the 2 cases below it came up with a scam posting in kiteforum.com plus others
good luck and be careful out there

Hello,
I will love to make inquiries,for a a private kite Surfing lessons for a group of 7 adults for 4 weeks or more,depending on the routine of your classes,this classes will run through the month of Aug through Sept,in between the dates 2nd/08/2010 to 2th/09/2010,if my request is granted,i would be glad to also make plans for training kits if possible or necessary, confirm as well if supplies can be made for the group for there training with you,feel free to make references to us about hotels,guest houses close to your training facility or site ,please advise.What are your payment option ?Do you accept 50% deposit via credit cards?Get back to me in details with necessary information we need to know,enclose the total cost of your services plus $7500 for our medical insurance which will given to our medical doctor for their medical insurance,or an estimate of the cost of this project,i await your suggestions and reply towards our request.hope to hear from you soon.
Regards
Jim Black
United Kingdom
+447011132987



Hello, My name is Mr M Thurston I want to know if there is any availability for 14 students to come to your place for Surfing classes , they are all beginners and their first time surfing. If there is availability , kindly let me know about the dates,quotes and accommodation availability as well.They are looking forward to arrival by 4th October to 17th October 2010, They have 2 weeks to stay for the surfing Classes so that they can learn very well .send me an email to my mail box ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
Arrival Date 4th October
Departure Date 17th October
Time 2 Hours every day
Rooms needed :8 single 4 double (or please advice the one you have available) Regards M Thurston

They have been hitting us thick and fast for the last 3 months - on average twice a week. Total BS and even my spam filter is picking up on it.

Cheers

DK

How would a scam like that work? They are not making any money, just dicking you guys around?..

They want us to charge them for the course + and extra 7.5K insurance - most likely to a stolen visa. They they will ask for a refund in CASH/Cheque etc

Yeah, weve been getting those ones too.

Latelly its been the I need 20 wetsuits here's my credit card number, please send here. I have a freight forwarder that doesnt take credit cards, can you charge me and transfer funds to the freighter through Bestwestern?

Yeah right!!

i will tell you soon as we have managed to get 10k out of there card but am assuming that they want you to pay a third party the 7.5 k insurance then with draw there deposit saying the card is stolen.
i have the bank police doing some sort of sting operation on them
interesting to see what happens

This scam has been around the hotel industry for years, I have hundreds of examples. They basically sucker you into charging a dodgy card then cancel and ask for a refund to be credited by bank deposit. Low and behold a month later the true card owner will call thier bank and the result will be the retailer has to refund the cardholder as well. Could be a costly transaction. Give them the bird the bank can't do much.