MilwaukeeRocks.com - Milwaukee bands, Milwaukee Clubs and Venues, Milwaukee shows, Musician classifieds, Milwaukee Music, and more.

PLEASE BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SCAMS. The large majority of transactions in the classifieds and booking shows are legitimate. However, I've had reports off and on of possible and probable scams committed by people using MilwaukeeRocks.com. There's not much I can do about them except make you aware of them. And if you run into something suspicious, let me know.

Anyone offering you a large amount of 'extra' money or offering to direct deposit into your bank account should be regarded as a fraud and a scam. You should never give your bank account, passwords, social security number, credit card number, or even birthdate and full name to ANYONE when responding to a classified ad on any website.

Anyone wanting to pay you via WESTERN UNION should be considered as a probable scam. Western Union scams have been around a long time. Please click this link and see this GREAT advice on avoiding scams from CraigsList. Also, check out the Consumer Fraud Scams page on WesternUnion.com.

Recognizing scams- Most scams involve one or more of the following:

inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction

In short, follow up. Call the place where the supposed event is going to take place. Make sure it exists. Make sure the event is booked.

Here is a sample scam email: (notice how he attempts to gain your trust by saying he is a priest)

Hello,

How is Business,

My name is Donald Joseph I am presently in the UK here i work as a videographer & Priest.

The reason why i am contacting you is that my wife sharron will be Celibrating her 40th Birthday Party soon, precisely on the 13th of May 2007 ,please check your avalability for this date becouse I will like you to take care of the Music aspect of the event.

I came across your profile and am impressed with your services,experience,your kind of music of course is okay by me.

The venue address of the event is 257 east 2nd street ASHIPPUN WI 53003 We are expecting about 80-100 guest & itsgoing to be an indoor party.

The party starts 12pm-5pm according to our program of the event.

You are to start performing when it is 1pm till the end of the party. There will no be any dance from guest nor familly for any reason what we only need from you is for you to just give us interesting music. All expenses would be taken care of by me;Please I want the best service from you, because she is my only wife & i love her so much. So your best production is needed at this occasion.

Pls Let me know your CHARGES to work for 4 Hours on that day,1pm -5pm when the event will be ending,moreso let me know how you plan to move down here with your electronics?

I will want to put it to your notice that i will take care of your hotel only if requested from you,please let me know how many of you will be comming for this event?

I hope to read from you soon & also to have your service QUOTE which will only include your travel,feeding, and your service fee. I look forward to your response and also your price package so that i can make quick arrangement of paying you a deposit payment so that you can book my wife event on your calendar.

Pls email me back asap.
Best Regards

Priest Joe

------------------follow up email---------------------------
Hello my friend,

Many thanks for the contact detailes,Contract, and all the plan you have in mind regarding the upcomming event.abut the contrcat paper u can just attach it as files and e mail to me and i also wanna let you know that the party gonna come up in a small hall.

This is how the payment will be made to you,I will instruct my associate to mail out a payment on your details in the amount of 4000$and once it deliveres to you by the UPS and deposited it into your account,Remove your deposit amount as planned and help me make the transfer of $3000 to the Food Caterer who will be responsible for the Cook and also for the Drink at the party.

I will want you to bring along the remainder of money with you after you are done with Your own part of money and aslo the food caterer's fund.

I hope to trust you with this splitting of fund and let me know if you have some western union outlet arround you where you can easeally make the transfer to the Cook.

I hope to read from you to know if you can be trusted with this or not,

Best Regards,

Priest Donald