In the cake world, itaEUR(tm), sometimes called a Nigerian Scam, is often referred to as the aEURoeHappy Wedding LifeaEUR scam. This refers to a message the scammers want to be written on the wedding cakes. The cons are not limited to cake and bakery businesses. They can also be used by anyone selling anything online. The same scam has been used to sell ballroom gowns and cake decorating classes, as well as cars.

What is the actual working of it?

These scams are almost always similar: the buyer contacts you via email or through a relay operator using the TTY service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. You are offered a substantial amount of money (either via credit card or cashieraEURTMs check), usually at least $500, more than what you charge for your product. You are asked to pay the aEURoecourieraEUR $500 cash at the time the courier collects the product. You will always be charged for the entire amount, plus bank charges, if the credit card or cashier's check is fraudulent. The scammer leaves with $500 (or whatever the amount is) and never picks up his order.

Watch out for these telltale signs:

TTY Relay Service orders. TTY Relay service
Emails that have strange grammar or spelling.
Requests for large orders that are made in very little time, typically within two weeks.
Any involvement with aEURoecourieraEUR, aEURoeshipperaEUR, or aEURoerefrigerated trucksaEUR.
Orders that seem too good to be real. When was the last time you received a $500 cake order from a real bride?
No matter what the price, they don't care.

This is a real scam:

Hi, You will need to bake a 5 tier chocolate or strawberry cake that can serve 250 guests or more. The cake must be covered with fondant or buttercream and an inscription (HAPPY MARIAGE LIFE) should be written on it. You must have my cake ready to pick up on the 29th August 2008 at 11 am. Please let me know whether you could fill in the date on my behalf. . Please reply back to me and let me now if you could fill in the dates for me. I will then send you all the details, including a picture of the cake i would like to have baked for me. Thank you and God bless. Fernado

You would receive this if you were to make the mistake of replying with a quotation:

Hello , Thank you for your quote. I want to bake the cake with gumpast and have it handmade. I'd like to take this opportunity to inform you that i am sending a private shipping agent down to pick up the cakes at your location from my wedding reception. I will give you my credit card information to process the $1,862.50 amount (cake $1262.50 plus $600.00 shipping fee). Please reply as soon as you can. Once again, thank you. God bless you. Alex.

ItaEUR(tm), although tempting, is best to ignore the email. Do not reply. This lets them know that they have a good email. A scam involving cake decorating is similar to the aEUR: someone comes to the U.S. and wants you to give them two days of cake decorating classes! The scam is identical to the one for cake decorating lessons.

Nigerian Cake Scam