Hello fellow SA therapists. I have been contacted by a Scam artist
and I just wanted the rest of you to be aware. I received an email
stating that another therapist in Italy had a client that was coming
to the US for a modeling job and that the client would need massages
while she was here. To make a long story short....th client wanted to
send the money for the massages in advance via money gram and that
the check would be for $5950.00 US (Obviously well over the amount
for her scheduled massage sessions) and that I was to deposit the
money into my personal bank account, deduct the total amount that I
would be owed for the sessions, and send the remaining balance to a
modeling agency in Chicago. She wanted me to do this because it would
cost way more money to send two separate money orders from Italy than
it would to send just one to me and have me send the rest on to
Chicago. Basically, I would be doing her a huge favor.

Then, just at the beginning of this week, I received a newsletter
from AMTA about this same scam, not necessarily with the same
players, but the jist of it that I would be sent a huge check
(cashiers check, money order, money gram) to deposit into my account
and then be responsible for sending the balance on to whomever. The
check would clear through my bank and weeks later would be found to
be counterfiet and I would be responsible for all of the money.

I have heard this scam applies to not only MT's but anyone that
provides services, products, whatever. I just wanted to warn you so
that you do not get taken for a ride. Legit clients will pay for your
services at the time they recieve the service and you should not have
to do any work to get paid what you are owed. Hope this warning
helps.

In health,
Julie Carcanagues, LMT