Complaint Review: Wisdom Production - Los Angeles California

I replied to an AD on Media-Match.com for a production company is looking for a editor to prepare videos, and upload to you-tube. I was contacted by Matthew Coleman ([email protected]) and he gave me a brief outline of the kind of work I was going to do and asking for a rate. I gave him one and asked for more details, but he never answered, instead he asked for my contact details and told me I'll be paid in advance and the payment was being processed.

The next email gave me these instructions: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello James,

I am very Happy to inform you that payment has been sent to you via Ups Courier , You should receive it earlier today. As soon as you have the check, proceed to your bank to get it cashed. Deduct $450 which will cover Expenses and fee for first set of videos you shall be receiving. The Most important part is that you should have the reminder of the money Sent via International Money Transfer { Western Union } to our freelancer in United Kingdom who will sort out payment to various individuals to get copies of original videos from them. The videos shall be immediately mailed to you via UPS Courier as soon as they receive payment from their end. Below is the Name of the Agent you have to send the Balance:

REMIT FUNDS TO:

Mrs Deb Brandt 3 Mill Lane London , United Kingdom E3 3DU .

As soon as you are done with the transfer get back to me with the details below:

1. Sender's name and Address as used to fill the Western Union form. 2. Total Amount sent 3. Money Transfer Control Number { MTCN }

You can also scan me the receipt of the Transfer for Reference. I hope to work with you for a long while. thanks

Regards, Matthew Coleman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I was suspicious, so i did my homework, I checked LA County if a Wisdom Production name has been file, it was. Then I checked his address, it existed. Finally I checked online on Scam Watchdogs, this site, Scambusters, and general google search, nothing. So I told him transfering funds was not part of the deal, and if he insisted on have me do it I wouldm't be comfortable working with him. He replied: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> James,

Sorry for any inconveniences caused you ,it wont happen again,actually it was a mistake from our sponsor as the funds had already been issued and sent in your name. However pls kindly process the payment as soon as you receive it and have the remember balance sent to our freelancer. Thanks and God bless

Best regards Matthew Coleman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A reasonable, and probable mistake so I dismissed my gut (bad idea by the way) and received the check, it had a watermark indicating it was authentic, and I deposited it. When it was suppose to clear, WESCOM(my bank, they rock by the way) immediately froze my accounts, the banks verification system flagged the account on the check as closed. WESCOM puts a 3day hold on checks over $150 dollars, leaving only $100 or so dollars available till it clears. without this hold I would owe $1705, instead of $100 or so from purchases made during the hold, if WESCOM didn't have that policy.

P.S. He's really pissed he didn't get his money. I'm using Pay-Pal for ALL payments issued through the net or ads from now on. Protect yourself and NEVER get checks through mail, go electronic through pay-pal. I was lucky.