Public Notice
Scam Warning
Check fraud, phishing, and fake-client plays target agencies and freelancers every week. This page is a short field guide. No pity for the scammers.
Documented Case
The Gomez Tapas Check Fraud Attempt
In early 2026, Koford Media was contacted by someone claiming to open Gomez Tapas Restaurant in Houston. The story hit every beat: $5k to $15k budget, grand opening deadline, a private consultant supplying all assets, and payment by mailed check from a third-party investor.
The form came from an IP in Romania while the caller claimed Texas ownership. A physical check arrived for the full project amount. Our bank flagged it. We did not deposit it. No loss occurred.
The playbook matches a standard overpayment check scam: mail a bad check, create urgency, then ask the agency to move real money elsewhere before the check bounces.
Full case write-up: tapasbygomezhou.comNames, contact details, and timeline on the dedicated notice site. Share it if another agency gets the same pitch.
Know the Pattern
Scams That Hit Agencies and Freelancers
Mailed check overpayment
A "client" mails a check for the full project amount (or more), then asks you to forward part of it to a designer, host, or vendor. The check bounces after you send real money. Classic agency and freelancer trap.
Third-party investor payments
Someone claims an investor, partner, or accountant will pay you by check or wire. Legitimate businesses pay from verified accounts tied to the project, not mystery third parties rushing a grand opening.
Fake business, real urgency
New restaurant, law firm, or contractor with no verifiable listing, no state registration you can confirm, and a deadline in two weeks. Story sounds fine. Proof does not exist.
Phishing and fake portals
Links to "pay your invoice," "verify your bank," or "sign the contract" that lead to cloned login pages. Agencies with client access are high-value targets.
Credential and hosting grabs
Requests for your hosting login, domain registrar access, or payment processor keys before a contract is signed. Real clients do not need your infrastructure on day one.
Chargeback and stolen-card builds
Fast approval, card payment, then a chargeback after delivery. Or pressure to start work before payment clears. Get verified funds before meaningful production.
Red Flags
When the Lead Smells Wrong
- Form submission IP does not match claimed business location
- Generic Outlook or Gmail with no verifiable company footprint
- Budget sounds perfect with almost no discovery questions
- Check is the only payment method offered
- Full or excess amount mailed before work begins
- Private consultant will send all assets later
- Pressure to talk only by phone or WhatsApp
- No Google Business Profile, state filing, or real address you can verify
Our Policy
How Koford Media Handles Payment
We are fine taking a check. What we are not fine with is skipping verification. Every payment method gets cross-checked before we act on it.
- +We accept checks. We do not accept them on faith alone.
- +Before deposit, we verify through our bank, payer identity, business registration, and other corroborating sources.
- +Third-party or investor checks get the same scrutiny, not less.
- +We never forward client funds to vendors, contractors, or third parties on a client's instructions.
- +Production ramps only after funds clear through legitimate banking channels.
- +We encourage competitors and freelancers to build the same verification habits. It is not paranoid. It is basic ops.
If you run an agency or freelance practice, build a verification stack before a convincing story lands in your inbox. Competitors and freelancers alike should treat check authenticity the same way we do: verify first, produce second.
If You Get Hit
What To Do Next
- Do not deposit suspicious mailed checks
- Do not forward money to third parties on a client's instructions
- Verify business registration through official state databases
- Call your bank before you deposit anything unusual
- Report to the FTC, IC3 (FBI), or USPS Inspection Service
Phishing attempts and check fraud scammers are welcome to try. We love reporting you to the government.
Legitimate Project?
Real businesses with real timelines still get great work from us. Start on the contact page or call if you need to move fast.