Scam Alert: Crooks target area wedding vendors

Yes I had one of "The Emails" from Engr Randy Wrye...googled immediately and found this site but thought I would play them along just to see how far they would go...after a few mails I got them to a stage where they asked for my details and wanted to send me their credit card info (stolen no doubt).I ignored 2 requests and then I got a phone call from a guy with an African accent claiming to be Randy Wrye. I put the phone straight down but now wish I had kept him talking and run up his phone bill as he was calling from an OIL RIG! lol...99% of the scams out there are from these people and they must be stopped !!!...I know what I think of them but I'm just too lady like to say.

We just received the same email scam as listed above:

"Thanks. I'm really very glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.

My Fiancé and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I will need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 31st October 2009 (wedding date is flexible).

We have a budget of about $45,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent aside us, I am also expecting 40 to 50 other guest from UK, USA, Asia.

Below are other requirements we’ll need.

My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold.
For flowers: majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we'll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
For music, a DJ
Food, a buffet will be perfect.
3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks: open bar
Accommodation for out of town guest (15 single or 10 doubles from for the wedding night only)
Wedding time: 4pm to 9pm.

Both the wedding and reception will be in same venue.
Please let us know if any of the above will be difficult for you to arrange so we can work it out.

I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.
I'm presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you.

Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.

I await your response.
David Roy"

I found it totally amazing that this guy takes the time to write personal emails to wedding venues to inquire about details. We have corresponded 3 times! No contract or money has been exchanged but I am not going to contact him any more.

I just wanted to post this email so others can see how widespread this scam is!

we are from mackay, qld, australia and received this exact email last week from DR GIBSON WHYTE! dates are exactly the same so beware!!

Lorene wrote:

I am still playing up to this guy....I have a "signed" contract (although it's obviously a computer generated signature). I've told him the funds should be deposited in my bank tomorrow so that he can send me the info for his "logistics agent" - hopefully getting that info will help track where the money is going too. And I've also told him that I've put some venues on hold for him to review! I've filed a report with the FBI Internet Scam Services and have a lawyer friend with connections who is going to help me try to track them down. I know my chances are slim to none...but it's worth a shot!

i too have received emails from a person who calls himself Dr. Gibson Whyte from England just this week.

We received this email last month and he replied again last week. He's going by the name of Dr. Gibson Whyte from England and his fiancee Daisy will be getting married in the Buffalo area. Their budget is 45,000 USD. If it sounds to good to be true remember it usually is.

I received this email below on June 26:
Thanks. I'm really very glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.

My Fiancé and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I will need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 26th September (DATE IS FLEXIBLE). We have a budget of about $45,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent who’s in charge of our travel arrangement. I am also expecting 40 to 50 other guest from UK, USA, Asia.

My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold. For flowers, pink and red roses should be fine. She loves red roses and we'll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful. For food, a buffet will be perfect. If there be any more information needed from me, do let me know. The wedding is a civil wedding.

Please see more requirements below.
Videography for 4 hours,
Music Entertainment (DJ or solo singer) for the entire ceremony and reception,
Photography for 4 hours,
Officiant,
cake (4 tier fruit cake)
accommodation for out of town guest (10 double rooms for the wedding night only)
flowers for the bridal party (4 people)
assorted wine and beer
wedding time: 4pm. reception should follow immediately till 8 or 9pm.

I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.
I'm presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you.

Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.

I await your response.
Dr. Gibson Whyte

Yup...Dr. Gibson Whyte is a very busy man! He also has $45K USD to spend with us here in Canada! What is the scam? Using a stolen credit card for a downpayment and then requesting a refund? Lot of creativity wasted.

I cannot believe that this guy has been getting away with this scam!! I am an event coordinator in New Orleans, and my company received the same request from Peter Woodgate a few weeks ago...
From: Peter Woodgate [mailto:woodgate.peter@yahoo.c o.uk]
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:33 AM
Subject: Detailed information
Thanks. I'm really very glad to hear from you. It is the wish of my finance to get married in your area and I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact that I do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements.
My Fiancé and I will be arriving 7 days before the wedding and I need you to also make arrangement for our accommodation. I’ll need you to book 2 double rooms for us for 7 nights and one honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding 31st October 2009 (wedding date is flexible).
We have a budget of about $45,000 USD which includes payment for your fees, all the other vendors you will be working with and that of our logistic agent aside us, I am also expecting 40 to 50 other guest from UK, USA, Asia and Africa.

Below are other requirements we’ll need.
My fiancé decided that the colour for the wedding should be white and gold. For flowers, majority of pink and red roses. She loves red roses and we'll want lots of them at the wedding. Please feel free to introduce any nice flower of your choice to make the venue more beautiful.
Food, a buffet will be perfect. 3 or 4 tier fruit cake
Drinks:

Wedding is a civil wedding We will include the ceremony set up with chairs, white carpet isle runner, columns with floral arrangement, and a microphone with podium.

Civil marriage celebrant
Videographer for 3-4 hours

Photographer for 3-4 hours

Venue: out door or indoor

Bridal party: 2 bridesmaid and 2 groomsmen.

Flowers for bridal party

Accommodation for out of town guest (15 single or 10 doubles from for the wedding night only)

Both the wedding and reception will be in same venue.

I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that I can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.

'm presently in Iran for a world health organization program which will last for another month or two and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you. We can absolutely receive payments via credit card, and also send contracts and/or invoices via fax or email, whichever is more convenient.

Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.
I await your response.

Peter Woodgate.



I was about to accept his payment, and was unsuccessful in reaching him via phone with the contact number he gave me. Luckily, by googling his contact phone number, I came across numerous blogs stating that this was a wedding scam!! Thank you so much for preventing others from falling victim to this rip off!!

I am Gibson Whyte, from London England. I am
writing to get information
on wedding/reception venues and also so in need of the services of a
wedding planner.
Vivian and I are planning to have a wedding in October 2009 (any date in
October will be fine) and will require more information on this as we
plan also to have the wedding in your region. We are looking for a
venue and planner to help us plan our wedding/reception.
40 to 50 guests are expected to attend. Please advise on weather
conditions and the possibilities of rain.
Please note that you (wedding planner) is to arrange for a food,
Videography, Music Entertainment, Photography, Officiant, cake and
flowers, decoration etc.
Please do confirm this date and get back to me.
Thanks for your anticipated response
Best regards,
Gibson Whyte.
Wow. Unbelievable. Carbon copy of the original e-mail as in above. Dr. Gibson Whyte. Got suspicious with the 'logistics agent' and the change in the usage of very good English to very bad English. When I googled the name, these posts came up. Thanks to everyone who posted their comments on this scam.

Lemme get this straight - you still gave him your bank account knowing that's what he is scammng for?

He must have a lot of times on his hands aboard that oil rig.

dear all

we just received the same email, they are still around, please be carefully with this people

since first email i already confused,they only gave the credit card information,it is very dumb.

please be aware from the sick people like this

I have recently recieved an email from the same chap, I employ four bouncers if you ever find him ha ha . I am located in England where this scam is now being used

I have had emails all week from each and everyone that has been stated on this site.

it is very annoying, I have just started out in this business and now its very hard to know who to beleive.

amanda ardley
Ardley Weddings & Events Ltd

I am in london, and have been receiving emails from a Mr Randy Wrye, who is currently on an oil rig in iraq, same email as all of yours, will only send payment via credit card and as i do not currently accept them has now insisted that i get a PoS machine.

This is really infuriating and wasting my time, I have had daily emails from various people regarding bookings, all of which have been male, which i did find odd anyway.

I hope nobody falls victim to any of these scammers, and they are caught very soon.

thank you for this site as i really was thinking this was a potential booking, and now will not waste any more time on Mr Wrye.

thanks girls

Amanda Ardley
Ardley Weddings & Events Ltd

Hi
i am geting same emails details as you, I asked him if he had the appropriate marriage licences and passports and visa's as its a requirement by law to give notice of intent to marry in the uk and he stated he did not need licenses, thats what gave him away, he said he could only pay via credit card, told him I dont have a POS machine and he said i need to get one today, ha ha yeh right, also asked him what his fiance was called and could I not contact her to arrange to meet up to discuss wedding arrangements but he never responds to that.

sick people, hope they get caught son before someone looses a lot of money.

Amanda
Ardley weddings & Events Ltd

Sally wrote:

I took have received this email and this time Randy Wyre is planning a wedding in lincolnshire and lives on an oil rig, hence the problems with communication (no telephone numbers etc supplied).You may be interested to know that he is planning a different colour scheme this time (red, gold and white) and has a generous budget of £40,000!
Don't fall for it, he's only after your bank account details....

Emailers to be aware of as I have had emails from all of them regarding wedding bookings

Hope these help some of you to avoid

Mike Ashley - dr.mikeashly09@gmail.com
Owen Fletcher - owen.fletcher103@gmail.com
Paul Atkinson - Lasareservationagencies01@gmai l.com
randy - wrye - randy-wrye01@yahoo.co.uk
Frank Anderson
David Walter - davidwaltermail@ymail.com
David roy - maildavidroy@gmail.com

Just got the same email in Chch New Zealand ----------seems like a nice guy??????????

BEWAARE SCAM...now he is interested in getting married in MA....

Hello Again,

Its nice of you to respond to my inquiry. It is the wish of my finance to get married . I have to give in to her wish and due to the fact i do not have any one there, you will be responsible for all arrangements which includes choosing the venue . The date of the wedding is 17th of november 2009

I will be arriving with my Fiance 14 days before the wedding and hopefully by then, we would have given you all the information required to make that day a memorable one.. Most of the questions you would want answered will be treated by my fiance . What i want to do basically now is to secure your services and that of the other vendors so that as soon as She comes back from Asia , she will be in touch with you to let you know what she requires.

We have a budget of about $90,000 USD and i hope this will be enough to plan a memorable wedding.

Aside us, i am also expecting 70 to 90 other guest from Europe and Asia . I am working with a logistic agent that will take care of their arrival and accommodation arrangements.

I need this wedding to be a memorable one and it does. It is a christian wedding so you will have to make arrangement with any officiant to bless us. Any priest or officiant will do just fine.

I need you to get back to me with a total estimate that will cover this arrangement so that i can make a deposit payment to enable you start arrangements as time is not on our side.Let me know the list of other vendors that you will be working with and what it will cost to retain their services for the required time.

I am at an oil rig in Iraq now and the only means of payment that will be possible for me from here will be via my Credit card. I hope this will not pose any problem to you..

MY INFORMATION

Name: Mr Leonard B Frank
ADDRESS: 14-22, Coleman Fields, London , N1 7AD
OCCUPATION:Chemical Engineer

BRIDE: Jennifer Anderson
ADDRESS: 102a, Popes Lane , Ealing, London , W5 4NS
OCUPATION: Human Resource Manager

WEDDING DATE: 5th of September 2009

BUDGET:$90,000

NUMBER OF GUESTS: 70 to 90

TIME OF WEDDING: Noon

RELIGION: Christian / Pentecostal

VENUE: Indoors

RECEPTION: Same as venue

BRIDAL ENTOURAGE: Best Man, Maid of Honor, 5 Groomsmen, 5 Bridesmaids, 2 flower girls, 1 Ring Bearers.

THEME:.........

COLOR MOTIF: PEACH

MUSIC IN RECEPTION: Romantic, Shaina Twaine (From this moment)

BAND: Soloist

MEAL: Buffet (Continental)

MOTIF: A tri color combination (Peach, Peach Orange, Royal Blue)

INVITATIONS: NOT YET READY

GOWNS AND TUXES: READY

WEDDING DOCUMENTS / LISCENCE: still being secured

HOTEL RESERVATION FOR GUEST: TO BE HANDLED BY MY LOGISTIC AGENT

VENDORS NEEDED:

Caterer (cake should be tower top; 5 Steps)

Photographer (Digital, should be shown immediately on reception)

Videographer (AVP-audio visual presentation of your pre-knops)

A Professional Mc

A Jazz and Pop Soloist (Female)

Souvenirs: organizers, mugs, pens, umbrellas

Bridal Cars (Limo)

Decorator: Bridal Bouquet, Boutonniere for groom, basket of flowers for the flower girl, decoration of the bridal cars, elegant table set-up, floral centerpieces, decorated seats, water curtain.

Beautician: Hair, Nail (Full make up package)

NOTE: We will like doves, wedding should be simple but elegant, flowers should be colorful, and more flowers at the reception than in church.

Get back to me as soon as you have the estimate so that we can start of all preparation for my wedding.

I await your response . You can call me anytime on +447035943483

Best Regards,
Leonard B Frank
+447035943483
011441414162477

im so glad that my intuition told me something was wrong with the email i received from randy wrye......

marrying julie anderson 7th oct. the wording just seemed off and i didnt like that they were requesting me to take 12k deduct my 4k and then pay their travel agent - very strange!! so i googled and look what i found! thankGod!!!!