I recently received an email from a potential client seeking couples therapy:

Subject: hI
Message: Hi, I got your website while searching for a couple/family therapist/counselor directories through google. I and my wife need your service, please can you confirm how much you charge per session/appointment? Please respond as soon as you can so i can get back to you with details. Thanks

The sender gave me an unusual first name, no last name, an icloud.com email address, and 000000000 for a phone number. Oddly, the message was sent from a Canadian IP address: 159.203.41.216

I answered, listing my fees and asking the person where they were located.

The reply I received over two weeks later raised even more red flags. ...continue reading →