Reservation Scam/Fraud

Hello all, I came across this scam 2 days ago and need to let you know.

Most of you have heard of 419-scams and the Nigerian mafia etc.

Now, my girlfriend manages a hostel in Portugal, I did some marketing for the hostel, so my email address shows on some sites.

I received an email some days ago, asking for the possibilty organizing accommodation for 4 adults in single or double rooms for 20 nights in August.
Fair enough I thought, replying with questions etc. 3 emails back and forth, they need 20nights, plus booked transfer to the hostel.
Price would be 2,800€ just for rooms.
I told them the hostel would send them the offer with price and that they would need to pay a deposit by IBAN or credit card. The answer to this email I will post here now, so you see it yourself:

Good day,

Thanks for your reply and assistance so far.I contacted our Bank this morning about the issue of payment and they advised that payment will come by check in order to be rest assured that we have your booking as well as everything being in place before our arrival.All charges will be deducted from the check payment,

However, our bank will send to you a Certified Bank Cheque of 11,000 Euro,that will cover your accomodation expenses and other services needed(like Transportation and otherlogistic miscellanous expenses, it is so because the sponsors of the trip made available only one cheque for all the expences which accomodation is the most important:
Our bank has now been instructed to send you the cheque, so that when you receive it you will cash it deduct the
cost of your services €2.800 Euros and wait for instructions on how to use the refund.
.

The name of the 4 guests :

1) MR. NAIL WHITE
2) MR. KARL JOHNSON
3) MR. JOHN B. MORGAN
4) MR. SAMUEL NEMETH

So,confirm this and provide me with the followings informations which i will immediately forward to our Bank: please make sure that you provide us with the correct and complete address to avoid sending the cheque to a wrong a person.

(1) YOUR FULL NAME (name on cheque)................
(2)ADDRESS (for cheque delivery)................
(3) PHONE NUMBERS.............,

for payment to be delivered to you.

Please remember that this business requires prompt response.I also hope there stay will be made comfortable.

Mr. Nail White

I need to say that I worked in law enforcement world wide and started to laugh when I read the fake guest list.

I replied to that email very friendly that there is no other option than paying the deposit by credit card or IBAN transfer.

The short reply was:

Due to our paste experiences we dont pay by any other means except by check which you deposite in your account and it shows that your bank knows you too.

Nail

What would happen next if you proceed is probably the following

You get a check, lets say those 11,000€. You go to your bank, because they know you, they put the balance onto your account. 2,800€ you happily book onto your room account. A day later or so, you get a call, that due to whatever, that trip for those 4 gentlemen was canceled. They are very sorry for the trouble, kindly let you have the 2,800€, but would need the rest of the money a.s.a.p. wired to them.
Believe me, there are people who would do this.
After lets say 2 weeks, you get a call from the bank, telling you that the 11,000€ check is a fraud, and you are stuck with 8,200€ lost. Never to be seen again.

So, please be very careful. Advise your staff at reception or even friends not to trust these mails.

"I also hope there stay will be made comfortable.

Mr. Nail White"

I will do my best to make their stay comfy in a state accommodation, after I sent this all to my friends in the UK. (IP-Tracing can be fun)