If you are listed on the directory of a translators and/or interpreters organization, you have most likely been targeted by scammers or are about to be. Beware, the Nigerian scam is alive and well, and claiming victims every day.
Some of us independent contractors who are interpreters and/or translators, market and advertise on social media. Furthermore, many of us have our names listed in the directories of one or more professional organizations. These directories provide feeding grounds for crooks looking to take advantage of vulnerable, naive colleagues who are anxious to ger work.
Scam email messages are usually easily identifiable. You just need to know what to look for in these “hook” emails sent by the thousands to innocent members of our profession. Make sure you don’t fall prey to these “too good to be true” schemes.
These are some examples of what the messages look like:
- No company name or address
- No initial caps
- No periods
- Poor grammar
- They do not know your language combination
- The file to be translated, if included, is always approximately 11,000 words
- The file to be translated is always the same
These are some examples of how negotiations will be done:
- The rate you provide, however high, is always accepted
- The payment is done almost immediately, sometimes in advance
- The payment is ALWAYS done via cashier’s checks
- The payment is ALWAYS made out for more than what was originally agreed
- The scammer claims a “mistake” has been made
- The “client” asks for reimbursement of the “overpaid” difference
- The victim complies
- The victim gets notification that the cashier’s check is fraudulent
I know of many colleagues that have been taken to the cleaners because of these ruthless criminals. Unlike the well-known Nigerian scam known to many as the “Nigerian Prince scam” (where someone overseas generally claims to be royalty or have access to newly acquired fortunes/financial opportunities) which is easier to spot, these schemes that target translators and interpreters are a lot more creative.
Sometimes the scammers take on other people’s identities that can appear to be “real” folks, thus creating a false sense of legitimacy to its victims. If you receive one of these types of emails, do not reply.
In an article published by CNBC’s Make It in April of 2019, Dr. Frank McAndrew, a social psychologist and professor at Illinois’ Knox College, stated that the reason these scams are so effective is that they present victims with a “perfect storm of temptations.” Exorbitantly high rates and immediate compensation are usually an irresistible cocktail.
While the Nigerian prince-style schemes can cost a lot if you fall for them, investment fraud and romance scams are the most expensive for victims. According to ADT. Americans lost over $26 million to scams in 2018. As long as these scams keep working, criminals will continue to use them to target innocent people.
Please, be careful when opening or responding to emails. Some attachments can infect your computer with viruses so be more careful when opening any files. Also, exercise caution when replying to messages from people who you do not know. Do not provide them with any of your personal information.
Just a word to the wise, if they make it a point to tell you that they found your name in any organization’s directory, be suspicious. It is most likely than not that this will be a scam/spam email. To flush them out, let them know that you only accept payment via PayPal and see if they reply. Don’t be surprised to hear crickets after that.
Where to report:
- https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
- https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/nigerian-letter-or-419-fraud
Sources:
- https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/nigerian-prince-scams-still-rake-in-over-700000-dollars-a-year.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam
- https://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/nigerian/reporting.htm
Until next time… Be safe and stay healthy!
The Traveling Interpreter 