Beware of this impatient, highly agreeable client. Can you say... scam?

A very common scam targeting items for sale on Craigslist, etc., has evolved. Watch how this unfolds. I immediately recognized this as a scam, but cautiously played along to allow the scheme to play out.

I received this text message on May 5th, from a phone number I did not recognize:
"I'm Tom, How are you ? I'll like to know your available date in June  for my family reunion (5 hours coverage). Also i want the family portraits done for the all the families coming together for the reunion. I want you to get back to me with your availability dates and do you accept credit card payment? I'll be looking forward to read from you with your full name."

The grammar is an immediate sign you're not dealing with someone that is being straight with you. My responses are in italics.

What date(s) is your reunion, and in what location?

This came back very quickly:

"Thank you for the swift response. I want you to check if you have available weekends between June 28th- July 11th. If you have a date open i want you to work on the estimate cost for the 5 hours photo coverage from 11am-4pm, and 6-16x20 prints family photo portraits because we have 6 families coming together for the reunion event. The event will be held locally here in the state about an hour or two drive from your location, i will cover the travel expenses. I got your information on the internet and i hope you can handle this event. I will like you to know that i am ready to make the full payment with my credit card so you will be able to make my booking confirmed also i will forward you the event venue once the event planner book the hall, so can you go ahead and give me the estimate now."

First Frame

Welcome to the Beyond the Basics blogspace. This is an extension of the Beyond The Basics Photography Workshops based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This joins our Facebook group, Flipboard Magazine, and Google+ community as our communication vehicles to photographers looking to improve their technical and artistic skills. The instructors and authors of Beyond the Basics are veteran, award-winning professional photographers, each with more than a couple decades of experience.

What you’ll find here is a wide array of articles on techniques, workflow, technology, lighting, business practices, photographers to watch for, trends, and anything else we can think of to help you improve your skills and your images.

The audience for this blog is anyone with a camera, at any level, that wants to learn more about photography. You don’t have to be a professional, or want to be one, to learn more about this art form. We’ll have a number of recurring features on lighting, workflow, and other fundamental skills that all aspiring photographers should master. The most frequently occurring of these will be our “When we shot film” segments. On the surface, it’s a nostalgic look back to pre-digital era of photography. It also examines the practices and techniques of that era and points out why those fundamentals ar even more important to master now.

We hope you enjoy the content that is to come, and welcome your feedback and input on content you’d like to see.