Payment Request, is it real???

[fiddler]

The Polish-speaking person should be someone that has been on TiMS for a while... obviously, given the scams that have already been exposed, there are scam artists lurking in TiMS.
.Ted

[alby]

i agree i'm not comfortable with this either. i don't think the real Lugya as a director would personally contact and ask for money. it's like president of our local hospital emailing us and asking for money.
my original contact has been doctor simka and i was given prices as below:

Offer for patients suffering from MS
-vascular specialist consultation with non invasive diagnostic procedure (color doppler and MRV) ..............................................................................................................................300 euro
-vascular specialist consultation with non- and invasive diagnostic procedures (angiography)
.....................................................................................................................................1100 euro
-vascular specialist consultation, all necessary examinations and an endovacular procedure (PTA)............................................................................................................................3500 euro
-vascular specialist consultation, all necessary examinations and an endovascular procedure
(1 stent implantation)..................................................................................................4200 euro
-vascular specialist consultation, all necessary examination and an endovascular procedure (2 stents implantation)................................................................................................4700 euro

based on the above info only i already got my hotel also.
i hope this is not a real email, it worries me.

in the email i was also told that i would receive another email tomorrow with the bank account number.
sorry to be skeptical but with so much internet fraud it's hard to beleive anything.

[fiddler]

Alby, it is difficult to follow this thread and understand who sent what to whom, but Dr. Simka's patients have never been asked for money up front, and since Dr. Ludyga works for the same organization, I find it hard to believe that they would suddenly change the method of operation.

I don't know who you have been communicating with, but I would NOT send any money to some bank account on the direction of someone who says he is Dr. Ludyga. If that ever was Dr. Ludyga's e-mail address (and it's a very strange one), it's not impossible that it has been "hi-jacked" by someone who is now preying on people on this site who have indicated an intention to get on the list for an assessment and treatment. Before sending any money, you need to be sure who you are communicating with. The unfortunate thing is, it's not unimaginable that some people on this site are scam artists pretending to be fellow contributors who will "seed" the CCSVI forum with phony e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

*sigh* What a world we live in. So many good people on this site, but all it takes is a few sickos to spoil things.

[Becia]

yes i will call them on monday

[Richardk]

With so much internet fraud, one gets suspicious of any request for money transfer. I just received an email from t.ludyga(at)poczta.fm, the .fm is country code for Federated States of Micronesia, and I got it in my junk mail, so I am not sure if it’s fraudulent or not.
The email provided the cost of procedure with 4 night stay in a 4 star hotel and procedures.
Has anyone wired money by this kind of request? Or whoever has gone there paid it over there? I have already arranged for my hotel stay, and I was planning to pay by credit card right on the spot. This could very well be a legitimate email but as I said, with so much fraud one can’t be so sure. Could whoever had such experience say something?

Alby...did your email ask you for your date of arrival, and did you know this date before?...as I mentioned I found it odd that in my email I was specifically asked for this date whereas all that I knew from my confirmatory email from Dr S was that it was sometime in August

Richard

[alby]

Let me first emphasize that this could very well be a legitimate email, i don't know, but it's shocking non the less, particularly for those who are going to be there within a week or so.

here is the email::::::::::::

Dear Sirs,

In the attachment included is information on prices valid since 25th January 2010.

The hotel price includes stay of the patient in single room with breakfast, costs of the stay of accompanying person has to be covered exclusively. The hotel name is Park Hotel Diament http://www.hotelediament.pl/strona,h5,main.html .

Therefore we kindly ask to send the payment as soon as possible as well as your arrival and deparure dates, hours, the airline and airport name (Pyrzowice-Katowice or Balice-Kraków). This is necessary to make a pre-booking at the hotel. The account number will be given on Monday. The payment should amount to 6 900 euro, if for medical reasons angioplasty or stenting cannot be performed the difference in payment will be refunded.

Kind regards,

Tomasz Ludyga
Director of EuroMedic Specialist Clinics


here is the attachment::::::::::::

We kindly inform you that due to increased costs of medical insurance and costs of clinical researches, we have to change the price of Liberation Treatment (CCSVI) method. New price also includes transportation and part of accommodation costs during your stay in Poland. We have decided to cover non-medical areas with our assistance to increase performance of the Clinic and to shorten the waiting time for the procedure.

Since 25th January 2010 the costs will amount to:
 6 900 euro : angioplasty with stenting – 1 stent (if more than one stent is placed, each additional stent costs 500 euro)
 6 400 euro : angioplasty

The price includes:
 Vascular surgeon/angiologist consultation
 Color Doppler ultrasound examination
 MRI examination
 Endovascular procedure (angioplasty or stenting)
 introductory consultation with the leading doctor
 4-night stay in 4-star hotel (breakfast included)
 Transportation to the examination and procedure facilities (Doppler, MRI, surgery)
 Transportation from/to Pyrzowice (Katowice) or Balice (Kraków) Airport
 EuroMedic personnel assist during your stay
 telephone hot-line assistance

 If for medical reasons angioplasty or stenting cannot be performed the package price amounts to:
 2 700 euro : Full diagnostics with phlebography
1 800 euro : color Doppler ultrasound and MRI examination




Best regards,


Tomasz Ludyga
Director of EuroMedic
Specialist Clinics


END:::::::::::::::::::

i dont think me or anybody else who is already scheduled is ready for this sudden change, i think we all want to pay there and then, especially when some of us were given price info by dr. simka. to pay a few months in advance doesn't make sense to me.
and yes i know my arrival & departure dates.

[Richardk]

There are many people on TIMS who have indicated they are going to see Dr S...if they all receive the same email that Alby and I received, then there may be some truth to it...if however only a handful do, then it likely is a hoax, so please let us know, anyone else receiving a similar email

Richard

[lilaclomax]

I would be very cautious too. I have already booked my hotel and travel arrangements for March, plus I believe that for those who have already been sent payment details from Dr Simka then those still stand. I queried paying by credit card at the hospital and the reply was that is acceptable.

[Algis]

Be EXTRA careful - Usually nobody ask to pay in advance "on an email notice" tho I can be wrong.

But with a careful study and some good English; it would be easy to get many people's email and fake it... If even 10 persons "bite" and pay the guy/guys will vanish with 69,000€ For a 100 emails and some careful reading...

Be VERY CAREFUL

[Asia]

It looks to me that the email account has been hi-jacked. They really shouldn't use those free accounts anymore. They aren't safe.

[Becia]

i am sure this email is fake, nobody ask to pay in advance "on an email notice", the email address looks like real one but the mail is going to different one (my husband checked this as hi is comp specialist), folks be careful!! i will call to reception on monday, i tried yestarday but no one answered
take care
becia

[Rainbolt]

I agree this sounds like a hoax but it also sounds lime someone on the inside of the doctors office is involved and I think one would be wise to contact them and let them know that someone is giving away or using themselves, patient details and using them in a means to steal money from patients!

I'd also forward the email onto Polish law organizations as soon as you gain confirmation that it is indeed fraudulent!

[MrSuccess]

Error on the side of caution



Mr. Success

[Richardk]

Just to make things more interesting....I emailed the Tomasz Ludyga email to Dr Simka for his response...to which he responded today that I was scheduled for the procedure the second week of February, rather than sometime in August....so this new scenario may well be the real deal.

Richard

[fiddler]

But RichardK, your posting is not clear: did he comment on the validity of that e-mail from (supposedly) Ludyga?
...Ted