Cole Art

Over the past couple of weeks, I've had a couple of enquiries about "Cole Art, Incs." They're looking to hire people for photographic work. It's a scam: they'll send fake checks or money orders, and want some of the funds to be forwarded elsewhere (actually to them, or an accomplice) via Western Union or Money Gram. This scam looks Nigerian, and the WHOIS record for the scammer's domain backs this up, but the domain name seems to have been registered and the site designed on behalf of the scammer by Emmanuel Ezeali. What with all the scamming going on in that country, Nigeria is a great place to be a web designer, so long as you don't care who you work for, and don't ask your clients too many questions.

   Domain Name: COLEARTINCS.COM
   Registrar: DIRECT INFORMATION PVT LTD D/B/A PUBLICDOMAINREGISTRY.COM
   Whois Server: whois.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Referral URL: http://www.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Name Server: NS1.1DOLLAR-HOSTING.COM
   Name Server: NS2.1DOLLAR-HOSTING.COM
   Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
   Creation Date: 07-nov-2007
   Expiration Date: 07-nov-2008

Below is some sample correspondence which is typical of this scam. Note also the use of UK +4470 telephone numbers -- a dead giveaway that it's a scam.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
[headers unavailable]

Hello Photographer,

Cole Art Incorporated requires the expertise of an experienced
photographer in the photoshoot project.

If interested, Kindly e-mail back to get full job details.

Thanks,
Robert Hills
Project Exec. Dept.
Cole Art Incs
E-mail: robert@coleartincs.com
URL: www.coleartincs.com


---------- Forwarded message ----------
[headers unavailable]

Thanks for your quick response.

As regard the inannament project,Models will be having the photoshoot
with our Art materials {NO NUDITY} to be used as weekly FrontPage advert
for our Art sales advert on international/local magazines and newsprints
in the US and Canada. This is aimed at boosting our sales capacity and
maximizing our % profit in the Art sales business.

Photographer will be required to take snapshots of a model with
different art materials on a weekly bases after each payment has been
received on a weekly basis too.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicant for this position must;
1. Reside in the US.
2. Be an high school graduate.
3. Be above 19 yrs of age
4. Have essential computer skills and access to internet to check and
reply e-mails from us efficiently.
5. Have a valid home mailing address (No P.O.Box) for delivery of
courier mails.
6. Have excellent Knowledge of English and be able to follow
instructions efficiently

_*JOB DESCRIPTION:*_
CONTRACT DURATION:
Contract with photographer will run for 6 months period based on the
outcome of the test photoshoot.
SALARY:
Photographer will earn $400 per photoshoot session which will be paid
prior to the schedule of the session.
OUR FOCUS:
Our goal is mainly set at making maximum % profit in our sales.

I want to know if you are interested in working with us in our advert
project and You stand a chance of making reasonable $400 per Photoshoot
session from this project to start.

More importantly, We and our sponsor are projecting on renting a
Photography Studio with maximum estimated cost of $600 {Half Day (non
exclusive)} for a Studio with either Continuous Light Package or Strobe
Light Package. It will be an added advantage to us if you own a studio
with the stated features that satisfies our maximum estimated {$600}
cost but if not,you will be required to make provision for a standard
studio near your location. This we believe will help as the model
assigned will be coming over to your location for the photoshoot.

Please visit our website on http://www.coleartincs.com/

If interested, please provide us with the following information as
stated below;
*1. Name in full {Which will also appear on payment}:
2. Mailing Address {no P. O. Box}:
3. Mobile Phone #:
4. Alternative{home/office} Phone#:*

Stating the above information will indicate your application for this
job and after your application has been received, your online photo
potfolio will be requested.

Sincerely,
Robert Hills.
Cole Art Concept Incorporated.
A Division Of East Midlands Art And Textiles Association (EMTEX) Ltd
9 Northumberland Avenue,
London, WC2N 5BX.
Phone: +44 (704) 576 4168
           +44 (700) 596 4301
           +44 (703) 184 8520.
Fax:    +44 (700) 596 8203.
E-mail: robert@coleartincs.com <mailto:robert@coleartincs.com>
URL: www.coleartincs.com <http://www.coleartincs.com/>


---------- Forwarded message ----------
[headers unavailable]

Thanks for your e-mail.

You will be required to start this job which will last for 6 month
{renewable at our discretion} after the 1st and 2nd photoshoot. Payment
for the first/test photoshoot which i calculated to be $1,200 will be
issued to you. Payment will also be made to the model that will be
coming for the shoot. After the payment has been recieved at both ends,
the model will travel to your rented studio location with the art
materials to snap with.

This will be sheduled to suite you and will take between 1-3 hours. 5
snapshots will be taken with each art piece {5 art pieces in a
photoshoot session} Positioning and posture of model will be left to
your discretion . Snapshots taken will be presented digitally on CD out
of which we will choose for our advert.  Samples of art piece which will
be used are on our website http://www.coleartincs.com/page.php?page=31 .
This will be shipped to the studio location.  By monday, I will be
expected to have details of the studio location so that we can meet up
with our schedule.

Please, e-mail back as soon as possible so as to comence on this
project.  As soon as we receive your confirmation,Payment for the
first/test snapshot will be issued.

Sincerely,
Robert Hills.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
[headers unavailable]

How are you today? As regards your payment,I have contacted our Client
in the US in respect to the payment and it will be issued to you prior
the commencement of the photoshoot.

We intend to make use of an internationally reknowned model from Spain.
We are working on getting her payment accross to her as it will take
long time to have US fund cashed in her country Spain and we are
concluding that total payment from our Sponsor/client be issued to you .
and you have the photographer paid at her arrival for the photoshoot.

Please e-mail me back as soon as possible if this is OK by you.

Thanks
Richard Moore.