Story: Inquiry or scam

In 2019 May 15th, I received an inquiry. His name is Mark Lowery, gmarklowery@gmail.com.

Hello, I’m Mark. I’ll like to know if you offer design services, do let me know. Thanks!

I responded to it as same as usual. Then, I received the reply below.

It is detailed; it’s a newly established company. Do drop your cell number for easy communication.

The company is really based on sales of furniture such as Ottomans, Desk lamps, Sectional, Buffets & Sideboards, Counter & Bar Stools, Kitchen Cabinet, Sofa, Office Chair, Accent tables, King bench bed etc.

The company name is VEEHAUS

My Website Is Under Fabrication Which Would Be Registered Soon.

The Full Text Content And All Images For The Catalog Will Be Submitted To You By The Project Consultant You’Ll Just Handle The Layout.

The Brochure Should Be 24 In Pages (Including Front And Back Cover) Because I Have Lot Information, Approved And Crosscheck Text And Images.

The Size Of Brochure Should Be 8.5 X 11.5.

I’ll want you to add to add my mission, value, vision, etc to the catalog, I’ll have it sent to you.

He asked me to create a logo and brochure. I asked about VEEHAUS, meaning, target audience and brand attributes. He replied below.

VEEHAUS is a modern and stylish brand name

VEEHAUS To Me Is A Metaphor To Illustrate Secure And Intimate Relationship.

Using the German word for ‘haus’ gives this name a certain European flair, and suggests contemporary architectural excellence and interior style. The Vee- could of course reference the letter v, or to the v-shape so often found in buildings and architecture. Veehaus is short, modern and very, very cool.

Whosoever Purchase Our Furniture Should Be Guarantee Of Relish And Convenience’ That’S What It Should Mean To My Customers.

What Makes VEEHAUS Uniques To Customer/Location Is That There’S No Other Furniture Company Nearby Also It Name And Style.

PURPOSE OF BUSINESS:
The Purpose Of My Business Is To Bring Modern Furniture That Will Provide Pride For Everyone.

WHO MY BUSINESS SERVES:
My Customers And Others Who Are Willing To Patronize Our Company.

WE HAVE AN INSPIRING PERSONALITY

MY BRAND SHOULD REPRESENT “HIGH QUALITY OPTION”

THE TONE OF THE BRAND SHOULD BE “FRIENDLY”.

MY TARGETS AND MISSION:

My mission is to serve consumers and industrial market segment with leading edge product that will satisfy their needs in functionality, comfort and style.

My core values are Autonomy and Growth.

Most of our customer will be from the age of 35 and I will like to target their income demographics.

I want my company to be perceived as Professional, I want them to know that we offer best prices and there’s a discount for every product when you are buying more than 3 pieces.

I would like to compete with other furniture company. My main competitor is IKEA, my favorite products is Accent Tables.

For colors I would like Red, Orange and Brown (let me know what you think about that).

In the next Decade I would like my company to be known worldwide.

Important elements that I would like to stress are: Friendly, Modern, High Quality, Intimate, Secure, Convenient, Effective, Efficient, Value.

It looks real project. I didn’t suspect it.

What I created – Part 1

The emails above are already so long, but this is only 1/5. He also sent me images by WeTransfer. There were many discussions until July 4th.

I estimated around US$3500. I was serious. I organized the information and submitted an initial PDF below. It was 14 pages total.

Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus

In the process

As a freelance, we have to charge the fee to clients 50% upfront. He tried to send money to me by eTransfer. Not only my fee, but he also tried to send me an additional $3000 for another creator who lives in Canada. It sounded little weird at that time.

In the process, he asked me to create a Quickbook account. It’s free for a month. I am a Wave Accounting user. So, I didn’t want to mess my accounting, but I did. He tried to transfer the fee, but it failed. Secondly, he texted me his card number. I didn’t want to know it, but he sent it. Then he asked me to charge him from my account. I did, but I couldn’t.

Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus

What I created – Part 2

It’s rush, he initially said that. He was willing to pay 50% upfront. Therefore, I was creating the first proof at the same time.

You can see the image above. I thought the transfer succeeded. Because Wave Accounting sent me the email, but it was not. I didn’t know until the day after. I submitted the first proof for 47 pages after I received the email.

Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus
Open Bookmarks Co. Blog Cafe Vancouver Freelance Scam Veehaus

Conclusion: Why do I share it now?

This story was over half a year ago. I was just upset at that time. I didn’t lose money, but I wasted time. To be precise, I was charged a monthly fee by Quickbooks. I lost $10 meaninglessly.

In 2020 March 24th, I received email below.

Hello, Do you render graphics services?

regards,
Nicole Hamilton

I responded to it and I received the reply below.

Hi, Here’s what I’m looking to have done.

it’s a newly established company so I’ll be needing brand Visuals

The company is really based on sales of furniture such as Ottomans, Desk lamps, Sectional,

Buffets & Sideboards, Counter & Bar Stools, Kitchen Cabinet, Sofa, Office Chair, Accent tables, King bench bed, etc.

The company name is “Adornlyf”

My Website Is Under Fabrication Which Would Be Registered Soon.

The Full-Text Content And All Images For The Catalog Will Be Submitted To You By The Project Consultant You’ll Just Handle The Layout.

The Catalog Should Be 44 Pages (Including Front And Back Cover) Because I Have Lot Information, Approved And Crosscheck Text And Images.

The Size Of the catalog should Be 8.5 x 11.
I would be needing just the digital version.
You will be in charge of the catalog update.
I need a’ flipping book’ version.

See below are few samples

WEST ELM CATALOG LINK
https://view.publitas.com/westelm/september-2018/page/1

IKEA CATALOG LINK
https://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/US/en/IKEA_Catalogue#/pages/

https://fliphtml5.com/pbnxv/edyi

I’ll want you to add to my mission, value, vision, etc to the catalog, I’ll have it sent to you.

I didn’t notice it at first, but it’s the same as VEEHAUS. I still don’t know what their purpose is.

I wrote the blog for protect other freelance and graphic designers.

Postscript

*Update: April 1st, 2020

I received another inquiry from Toronto. He asked me about logo design. After a few emails, he asked me for information to sending a check.

How do I know this client is real or fake? I was really not sure. The process was too smooth. I asked him about the social media account, especially LinkedIn. He didn’t respond in 4 days. This confirmation may work for everyone.

A fake client normally doesn’t create a fake name account on LinkedIn each time. It bother them. If the client does not have LinkedIn account, but s/he want to starts a business, this is red flag, I think. 

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