Yoga and a fraud experience

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Yogi's,

 

I was recently contacted by " someone " in the UK to teach his wife yoga who was

to be on a

holiday here in my town, Amherst, MA. At first I ignored the emails, but he was

so persistant

and beleivable, I went ahead and felt I had nothing to loose!!! So I told him it

would be

$2,000 for 3 months of private lessons. He sent me a check for $4,500, a Wells

Fargo check.

I emailed him back and he said send the $2,500 back Western Union to this

address in the

UK. So I went to the bank, Bank Of America, and they said the money would be

available the

next day. I went to the bank the next day, and the teller said " the check

cleared " . I withdrew

the money, went to Westen Union and maied back $2,500 plus $125.00 for the fee.

A week

later I was notified the check was counterfit!!!!

 

To add my misery Bank Of America wanted no part of it, and b/c of that

" overdraft " I had

several overdraft fees, and the retruned check fee and no sympathy from the

bank. The whole

ordeal cost me $3,000!!

 

I am sending this out publicaly to warn everyone of my experience. And I think

he might of

found my name on the KY web site, the only one I am on, where he knew where I

lived and

my e mail address. A few people have found me on that web site which made it all

beleivable!!

[Guest guest]

Owww! never no checks ;that's pretty much a rule of thumb ;especially from people far away .that was too trustful! j.j.k

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[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Karen,

 

Oh no! What a shame ! Thank you so much for telling everyone about

this.

 

I have had about a dozen such solicitations over the last couple of

years. Since I own a studio and have a web site - AND advertised in

Yoga Journal - I receive every junk mail and commercial venture

related to yoga possible in email and paper mail. I receive so many

solicitations about everything that I have become a bit wary about

yoga and new age businesses, too.

 

(From my experience, I'm convinced that those using the directory in

Yoga Journal are mostly other yoga related businesses - and perhaps

scammers. I have received legitimate requests from folks using the

IKYTA listing.)

 

I wrote back to the first email I received about these private

lessons too, as yes it did seem legitimate. This was about a son

visiting - and I just wrote them back that when he came to town he

could contact me. And I did not hear again.

 

You - or one of the responses to your message - also let us know

that Yoga Alliance is not screening emails but just passing them

along and I think that's good information to let them know about.

 

Have you inquired about whether your business insurance might cover

you from such a loss?

 

I really feel badly for you with this - urrgh!

 

Sat Nam,

 

Elizabeth (Gurumukh Kaur)

http://www.YogaHouseStudio.com

Washington DC

Join us for a Level 2 Mind & Meditation Nov 2007 with the Sada Sats

 

202 285 1316

[Guest guest]

We have received these solicitations before. They are really like

the Nigerian mail scams since they give you " extra money " in return

for your " good " money. Actually, my wife has received them. I

suspected they may be scams but you never know. I told her to treat

it in a business like fashion. In other words, be nice when

responding. Also, treat the suspected scammer like anyone else. As

someone else indicated, tell them you will see them when they

arrive. If they want to pay, tell them you need the correct amount

of money. Make sure you get your business needs met.

 

GuruBandhu

 

Kundalini-Yoga ,

" yogawithelizabeth " <yogawithelizabeth wrote:

>

> Sat Nam Karen,

>

> Oh no! What a shame ! Thank you so much for telling everyone about

> this.

>

> I have had about a dozen such solicitations over the last couple of

> years. Since I own a studio and have a web site - AND advertised in

> Yoga Journal - I receive every junk mail and commercial venture

> related to yoga possible in email and paper mail. I receive so many

> solicitations about everything that I have become a bit wary about

> yoga and new age businesses, too.