Personal Trainer Scam

If you're a trainer, martial arts teacher or sports coach you should be aware of a scam that is spreading internationally.
I was contacted by someone who pretended to be a potential client, who wanted a series of training sessions for several people.

This is the potential way they scam you - script below
1. They contact you with an enquiry
2. You confirm a price etc.
3. They ask you to charge their credit card as usual, plus also add an amount which they need you to forward to their "logistics agent" who does not take credit cards. The extra payment is for travel and accomodation. (this should ring major alarm bells, as nodody would ever ask you do this).
4. You then forward the extra amount to the agent, who would then do a runner with your money.You get a charge back from the original stolen credit card and as you took the amount over the phone, you don't have a leg to stand on, making you liable. The amount will be about £8 grand.

The scam is of course quite obvious, but many people must fall for this. Remember the old saying "If is sounds too good to be true....."

Here is the original e-mail:-

Philip Howard philiphoward19@gmail.com sent:

Hi
I'll be in the country with my friends for a one month vacation. During our stay, we would like to book for 3 weeks classes for 1Hr each day, Monday to Saturday (morning or Evening hours) for 6 persons.
As part of our plans to keep fit during the vac, we need Private group training. Do you have a training studio/facility where you conduct the classes? What Forms of Fitness Program do you teach best?