Received the same e-mail. I have a Pilates studio in Phoenix

Several of us (all PMA members) received this same e-mail. We have Pilates studios in Bozeman, MT.

I got the exact email to the letter for the same dates etc I'm a PMA member in Seattle

I got a variation of the one about Sergio Riveto (like above), and a different one from a Ms. Cremas Crist whose daughter would be visiting a friend in the US. I'm in Portland ME and am a PMA member, but another studio in town (non-PMA) got the Cremas Crist one as well.

Have just read the scam mail, and am in stitches from laughing so hard. Which self-respecting international photographer would admit to using a pathetic yahoo account for his professional communication?? Furthermore, in this day and ages, who has ever heard of a professional photographer who did NOT have his own equipment, who could not afford to make one call to a pilates studio to make an appointment, and who did not have a credit card???

The same thing happened to me. They sent postal money orders through a currier. We did not except the DHL package and returned it. I called the Secret Service and they are aware of this type of scam. I have a Pilates Studio in Las Vegas.

Got the exact e-mail too for the exact name and dates. Also am a PMA member in Dallas. Guess the scammer is finding out Pilates instructors are not so gullible.

I received the same scam e-mail several weeks ago. Not only did I turn it over to the proper authorities but I notified the PMA via e-mail, phone messages and in person at the PMA conference. No reply or interest on their part. Pretty sad!

Seriously?!?! You gotta be kidding me! No respectable international professional would ever be caught DEAD writing such a crummy email, and no intelligent and business savvy Pilates professional would ever buy into this...I wish I could stop laughing from the lunancy!

I received the same emails. The first one seemed okay, but the mention of US postal money orders.... The second one was clearly phony. My studio is located in New Haven, CT. I was advised to report it to the FBI. They told me that Pilates, yoga, massage therapists ,and such businesses are being targeted now as they may be more easily "duped" as they are in caring industries.

I received a similar e-mail from a massage therapist and Pilates teacher in Milan, saying that her "model" client would be in Arkansas for a few months and would be needing Pilates.
Here's the e-mail she sent.
Hello,
How are you today? my name is Mrs Annalisa Eustace, i live and work here in italy, i am 36yrs old. I have been doing massage since 1989.I do a deep relaxation massage in which the muscles relax without pain. I also do energy massage that helps people feel great when I am done. I am certified to do pregnancy massage. I have lots of happy clients here in italy. i have a client Mr Sergio Roveto A model here in italy. he will be coming to the U.S in two weeks time for a modeling job and he will be residing in Arkansas temporarily until the neccesary arrangement for her job has been made before he leaves ,he will be needing 1hr Private Pilates Session 2days per week for 6weeks .

Mr Roveto asked me to come with him to the US but i told him i would not be able to go with him to the US as i have a course i will be going for in a week time and because i dont know much about Pilates . I promised to help him get a good Pilates Teacher in your Area.

Pls tell me a little more about your self,how long have you been doing Pilates ?and would you be able to provide him Pilates ?

Pls i need you to get back to me with the amount you charge per session and also let me know if he can pay you via Us Postal Money Orders?

Pls send your reply to my personal email address ( lisaeustace@yahoo.it ) because i do check it frequently.

Thank you very much and do have a nice day..

Annalisa Eustace
Via Mercato ,
1,20121Milano
Italy


I feel like SUCH an idiot. I wrote her back and gave her phone numbers and info about my qualifications. What should I do?
Barbara

The same thing happened at my studio - Pulse Pilates - in Boca Raton,Fl. We were excited for the "Itailian Stallion" until he asked us to wire money to Dubai! Male Model - give me a break!

Received this same e-mail re; Mr. Roveto. I am a PMA member and have a studio in Lincoln, NE.

I got the same e-mail. I have worked with clients from other countries as well as done business over the web for years. Here are a few guidelines.

Never give personal information over the web that you would not put on your website. I have worked with clients from Kuwait and Taiwan so it is is not unusual to receive an e-mail from overseas, however credit cards and cash are international.

Never accept payment in advance from anyone that you have never met in person or through a third party.

These people find you through your websites. If your studio is on the web be careful and use common sense.

Do you really think that a normal person would arrange their Pilates sessions before leaving their country to go to a city that they are unfamiliar with or send money to someone they have never met. Oh and expect that you would give them change back.

Got the same request, sounded fishy from the get go. Grateful I could use my studio's information. Seattle/Edmonds, WA

Just to let you know, it's still going on. Got an email a couple of weeks ago from a woman looking for private sessions for her son, "Jeff" while they were here on vacation around Dec. 15. Kept demanding my home address, which is on my "advert" as she put it. After requesting her to call me to discuss over the phone, the emails quit. Geesh, what's next?

The scammer figued out that the fitness trainers are not gullible, so he has targeted tennis instrctors..concidentally, I just read your site like a week ago. below is the letter I received today.

Hello,
> How are you today? my name is Mrs Mirella Fedele, i live and work here in italy, i am 36yrs old. I have been doing physical therapy since 1989.I work in homes, pools or fitness facilities. I do a combinatition of functional fitness, core work, aerobics and strength training . I have lots of happy clients here in italy. i have a client Mr Camillo Agnello A model here in italy. he will be coming to the U.S in two weeks time for a modeling job and he will be residing in Kansas temporarily until the neccesary arrangement for his job has been made before he leaves ,he will be needing 1hr Tennis Training 3days per week for 6weeks .
>
> Mr Agnello asked me to come with him to the US but i told him i would not be able to go with him to the US as i have a course i will be going for in a week time and because i dont know much about Tennis Training .so I promised to help him get a good Tennis Trainer in your Area.
>
> Pls tell me a little more about your self,how long have you been providing Tennis Training?
> and would you be able to provide him Tennis Training?
>
> Pls i need you to get back to me with the amount you charge per 1hr session and also let me know if he can pay you via Us Money Orders?
>
> Pls send your reply to my personal email address ( fedelemirella@yahoo.it) because i do check it frequently.
> Thank you very much and do have a nice day..
>
> Mirella Fedele
> Via Mercato ,
> 1,20121Milano
> Italy

I got the same e-mail for tennis lessons in Milford Ct, definitely sounds like a scam.

I had a similar scam sent to me in the UK last year. It was for pilates lessons for a 'daughter' visiting the Uk. Cheque to be paid in to my account & me to forward the remaining sum after deduction of Pilates costs to another account for the travel costs of the 'daughter' to come to Seaford. Keep well clear. Cheque will bounce after you have forwarded the money..

Yep, I got the daughter one, too ... although I think it might have been through my NSCA personal trainer link! The ones that sound funny .... I respond from a second yahoo account that I have set up. I've never gotten a response back when I ask for details about their fitness! I guess scams just move from one field to another. Cheap to set up, and anything they get is a bonus. Sad, sad, sad.

I have just had the same email.

Hello,
How are you today? My name is Mrs Maria Powley, i live and work here in Chicago, i am 36yrs old. I have been doing massage since 1989. I do a deep relaxation massage in which the muscles relax without pain, I also do energy massage that helps people feel great when I am done. I am certified to do pregnancy massage. I have lots of happy clients here in the US. I have a client Miss Zaneta Bieciuk A Model here in America, She will be coming to the England in a week time for a modeling job and she will be residing in West Midlands temporarily until the neccesary arrangement for her job has been made before she leaves,She will be needing 1hr Private Pilates Session two times a week for 6weeks

Miss Bieciuk asked me to come with her to England but i told her i would not be able to go with her because i will be going for a course in a week time and because i dont know much about pilates,So i promised to help her get a good Pilates Teacher in your Area.

Pls tell me a little more about
your self,how long have you been doing Pilates? and would you be able to provide her Private Pilates Session?

I will also need you to get back to me
with the amount you charge per session and also let me know if her boss can pay you with a cheque drawn on a UK bank?

Pls send your reply to my personal
email address ( mariapowley@yahoo.com ) because i do check it frequently.

Thank you very much and do have a nice day..

Maria Powley
W Wacker Dr,

Chicago, IL

They are now targetting hypnotherapists. I'm in Ireland.
http://www.stopsmokingmoneybackguarantee.com

Yes i am in Ireland too, a hypnotherapist and they are targetting me too. Thanks for the warning.

Hi, My name is Jill Rowland and I'm a freelance Pilates teacher, working in the Bath area, UK.

Received recent email from Baron Dickson, NY USA, stating son David coming over to Uk for two months and requires private lessons 3 times per week, for duration and didn't details on my website just fit the bill! Must admit sounded a bit odd and too good to be true, but sent back details on availability and request for more specific info re any contraindications etc, as I normally would. Received reply today. alarm bells starting ringing. Gave no info re client, just wanted my personal details and said his business associate would send cheque or bankers draft, thereafter. I must say the email was very poorly written, which again raises suspicions. Checked out via google and found this site - so many thanks.Anyway, sent polite reply stating that I feel it to be professionally inappropriate to take large sum of money in advance, prior to assessing client in person.

Hopefully, my experience may help others avoid getting ripped off.

Received this week. Deleting names because they used the names of real people that I found via google. Also, they attached about 8 photos of a girl that were clearly stock photos of 'young college coed'.

---------

This is E.J.S. I am 19years old and from West Palm Beach, South Florida, United States; and presently a final year Student of French Language and Linguistics at the American University of Paris in France. I am expected to resume my military studies as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York by the first week on November this year. I was advised to undergo a basic training in Pilate exercises prior to my resumption at the Academy, and my father has asked me to get in touch with you and make an inquiry in respect to your Pilate training and exercises. My father is Admiral J.S. United States Navy; he is the current commander of the United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

Due to my outstanding performance in Foreign Language (French), I was selected for a 1 year Military Academic Program at the United States Military Academy (USMA) located in West Point, New York; and will be commissioned a Second lieutenant in the U.S Army at the completion of my Military training program at West Point. I was meant to understand that presently, both the Army and Marine Corps demand officers with more Language skills, experience living abroad in Foreign Cultures, and knowledge of not just modern technology but also the regions where they might be called to serve.


As one of the incoming Cadets, I was advised it’s important to undergo a basic training and exercise program which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility and awareness in order to support efficient graceful movement prior to my resumption at the Academy. My objective is aimed at promoting muscle strength without bulking, balance, flexibility and development of the body from inside out. The training is meant to be a basic foundation program in Pilates and should be able to learn basic exercises, body movements, workouts and techniques such as Centering, Control, Flow, Breath, Precision and Concentration. Upon completion of training with you, I should be able to train and exercise on my own in the future.


I got your information from one of my friends studying here at the American University of Paris in France, her name is Tracey and from United States as well, she told me that she had heard about you. The training is expected to be a 1 hour daily session for a period of 2 weeks. Regarding my accommodation! My father is really happy and very supportive; he wants me to lodge in a Hotel every close to your Gym/training centre as this will give me full concentration, focus and easy access to you during the training period.


Let me know your availability, as my father hopes to get in touch with you in respect to your training fees. I hope to commence the Pilate training with you from 16th till 30th 0ctober, and will be resuming at the Academy on Monday 2nd of November, 2009.


I have enclosed a few copies of my recent photos, not really necessary, but just thought you see how I look. Hope to hear from you asap. This is my alternative email address and don’t usually check it often, but you may reach me through my main e-mail address as stated below: ---@aol.fr

Thanks for your time and stay sweet.

E.J.S.
American University of Paris
31, avenue Bosquet,
75343 PARIS
CEDEX 07, France