scam/spam?

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

The info he's asking for may be exactly the kind of info he'd add to his website.

Indeed, in the same way that he scraped content from Model Mayhem (see links in previous posts).

Tim Polster · February 14th, 2011, 05:18 PM

I think the best way to verify anything is to ask for a meeting or phone number (as you did). If they grant you one of these you have eliminated a lot of the fraudsters to begin with.

The Paypal suggestion is good because a bounced check will cost you from your bank fees.

Josh Bass · February 14th, 2011, 09:28 PM

Well, I am not at all surprised. I think I will simply cease responding at this point.

The most disappointing thing is that after years of scamming these folks have still not teamed up with an evil genius native English speaker who could actually help them not be so obvious.

Cynthia Granville · February 22nd, 2011, 10:29 PM

Of course I do get legitimate emails that are spelled just about this badly.
I also got the same two emails...wonder how they found us? I'm curious, so I've sent only information that he could obtain from public records and given him the Paypal/cert check wording...wonderful suggestion, I've been burned by bad checks before though have never fallen for the "return my overpayment" scam...and will report back if I hear anything further, which I doubt.

Cynthia Granville · February 24th, 2011, 12:36 PM

Here we go...Chris nailed it, it's one of those we-sent-you-an-overpayment scams. Just received a Fedex with a check for about seven times the amount I would have been owed for the job. And an email asking me to confirm delivery and deposit the check "at an ATM for immediate availability of funds" (i'm guessing this is so that a teller can't note that the check is bad), send them a copy of the deposit slip, then receive further instructions from them. i'm hoping that the amount is large enough that someone will actually prosecute them...there are numerous websites where one can report these scams such as FTC, and i'll be contacting everyone. in case someone actually wants to follow up, i should be able to stay in contact with them for a bit as they ignored my instruction about sending a certified check, money order, or paypal.
i'm a little disappointed, as a crime show buff :-), that they're not more sophisticated about this. it's not a particularly believable looking check, the company name doesn't relate to any they've mentioned (in fact, it's a dry cleaner!), and they didn't question when i simply declined to send them any personally identifiable info. they didn't even ask for a W9....

Craig Seeman · February 24th, 2011, 01:11 PM

If you want to tweak them, tell them the check has been confirmed bad and they need to resubmit funds to you through Western Union. If you really want an "incident" you can say the bank wants to forward the check to the FBI. If they're dumb they'll panic.

Dave Blackhurst · February 24th, 2011, 02:26 PM

Let me guess, return addy out of Canada? They busted a group up there in the great white north a few years ago for the same scam, I'm guessing they got out of the pokey, and are at it again, got one labelled as a "secret shopper" scam, drawn on a TX bank account of a legit company (that had NOTHING to do with "secret shopping, i'm quite sure!). It's made the news here in the LA area, so I'm guessing they are pretty busy sending out fake checks!

February 14th, 2011, 09:28 PM	#18
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Well, I am not at all surprised. I think I will simply cease responding at this point. The most disappointing thing is that after years of scamming these folks have still not teamed up with an evil genius native English speaker who could actually help them not be so obvious. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

February 22nd, 2011, 10:29 PM	#19
Cynthia Granville Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Weehawken NJ Posts: 51	Re: scam/spam? Of course I do get legitimate emails that are spelled just about this badly. I also got the same two emails...wonder how they found us? I'm curious, so I've sent only information that he could obtain from public records and given him the Paypal/cert check wording...wonderful suggestion, I've been burned by bad checks before though have never fallen for the "return my overpayment" scam...and will report back if I hear anything further, which I doubt.

February 24th, 2011, 12:36 PM	#20
Cynthia Granville Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Weehawken NJ Posts: 51	Re: scam/spam? Here we go...Chris nailed it, it's one of those we-sent-you-an-overpayment scams. Just received a Fedex with a check for about seven times the amount I would have been owed for the job. And an email asking me to confirm delivery and deposit the check "at an ATM for immediate availability of funds" (i'm guessing this is so that a teller can't note that the check is bad), send them a copy of the deposit slip, then receive further instructions from them. i'm hoping that the amount is large enough that someone will actually prosecute them...there are numerous websites where one can report these scams such as FTC, and i'll be contacting everyone. in case someone actually wants to follow up, i should be able to stay in contact with them for a bit as they ignored my instruction about sending a certified check, money order, or paypal. i'm a little disappointed, as a crime show buff :-), that they're not more sophisticated about this. it's not a particularly believable looking check, the company name doesn't relate to any they've mentioned (in fact, it's a dry cleaner!), and they didn't question when i simply declined to send them any personally identifiable info. they didn't even ask for a W9....

February 24th, 2011, 01:11 PM	#21
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: scam/spam? If you want to tweak them, tell them the check has been confirmed bad and they need to resubmit funds to you through Western Union. If you really want an "incident" you can say the bank wants to forward the check to the FBI. If they're dumb they'll panic.

February 24th, 2011, 02:26 PM	#22
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: scam/spam? Let me guess, return addy out of Canada? They busted a group up there in the great white north a few years ago for the same scam, I'm guessing they got out of the pokey, and are at it again, got one labelled as a "secret shopper" scam, drawn on a TX bank account of a legit company (that had NOTHING to do with "secret shopping, i'm quite sure!). It's made the news here in the LA area, so I'm guessing they are pretty busy sending out fake checks!

February 14th, 2011, 05:18 PM	#17
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	I think the best way to verify anything is to ask for a meeting or phone number (as you did). If they grant you one of these you have eliminated a lot of the fraudsters to begin with. The Paypal suggestion is good because a bounced check will cost you from your bank fees.