Possible Scam?

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H

HarryGMCPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 15, 2004
Posts
797
Loc
Northborough, MA
Does this look familiar to anyone? Got it in my mail and seems fishy. Came under the heading, "URGENT" Only opened it because it came to my dump mail account that feeds from the website.


HELLO CUSTOMER SERVICE
MY NAME IS JAMES NEO AND I WILL LIKE TO PURCHASE PICTURE FRAME AND I
WANT
TO KNOW IF YOU CAN GET ME THESE SIZES Brushed Silver Metal Frame with
Acrylic Glazing
Approximately Frame 29 x 21 Image 21 x 14 Inches.. DO ALSO ACCEPT MAJOR
CREDIT CARDS AS MODE OF PAYMENT? HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU
JAMES NEO

I know I have read threads about this type of thing in the past.... thanks for any help.

Harry
 
It's your dime Harry, but I would bet that, if you get a customer out of this, it would be your signature line come true!!

Watch your six!!
 
1. Check the address header to see if it was addressed to you, or if you were blind-carbon-copied.
2. Note the poor grammar. Could be a sign of a foreigner trying to scam you.
3. Note how you were addressed: "Hello Customer Service." If someone was really contacting you because they had visited your website and wanted service, is this how they would address you?
4. Note that no return address, contact info, or location was given. Would a real customer not say something like, "I'm in Smallville, and could I pick it up Thursday?"

It probably wouldn't hurt to reply and ask how he would pick it up. He already has your email address. You'll probably be told that he would like it sent to his mother's house in Nigeria.
 
GOOD DAY ! MY NAME IS MR.CECIL MORREN AND I WANT TO KNOW IF U CARRY CLEAR GLASS.I WANT TO PURCHASE CLEAR GLASS SIZE 40 BY 40 THICKNESS OF 1/8 AND I NEED 70 PCS .

SO I WANT U TO GET BACK TO ME WITH THE TOTAL COST INCLUDING TAX SO THAT I CAN PROVIDE U WITH MY MASTERCARD TO BILL FOR THE WHOLE AMOUNT SO THAT CAN FINALISE THE TRANSACTION.

ALSO I WANT TO INFORM U TO EMAIL ME WHEN THE ORDER IS READY SO THAT I CAN COME BY AND PICK THEM UP.

EMAIL ADDRESS }- Cecilmorren@yahoo.com

WISHES U ALL THE BEST IN BUSINESS AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM U SOON .

BEST REGARDS
MR.CECIL MORREN


I got this email a few days ago.
Sounds suspicously like the phone calls some have been getting.
 
But ya gotta ask yourself Deb, ......................... does he own a kayak???

Well, does he??:icon19:
 
We get about 3 of those per day, because we're near or at the top of the google searches.
Usually I reply and suggest that they come in to the shop for an exact quote and obligation free design estimate, and that this is an item we do not currently offer by mail order.

I suspect most of those are some sort of fraud. They will usually ask for a large quantity of a single component, such as glazing.

Mike
 
hello Artists,
my name is Tracy Martins, i will like to order for
a piece of your art work from your gallery as giftsfor my parent who are celebrating thier 30th wedding annivasarys , so i will be gald to haveyour reply asap, i will be glad if you can send me your website address to choose or send me four of your product that is availble for me to choose . payment will be make by a chashier check.

Waiting to read from you today.

thanks
Tracy Martins.


I have gotten at least two a week like this. Its a scam. Some are more belivable than this.
 
Scam e-mails

Hello everyone,

I have a bit of input. I used to work at an ISP and received a ton of questions about scam/junk e-mails.

I saw some good suggestions.

#1 being the BCC (Blind carbon copy)
If you check the e-mail header (In Microsoft Outlook, right click on the e-mail and go to options, at the bottom of that screen you'll see a section called "Internet Headers". In Outlook Express, right click and click on 'properties' then the 'details' tab.)

If you see a bunch of "to:" e-mail addresses are, chances are that this is not a legit e-mail.

#2: Grammar
Over the years there probably has been a steady decline of proper grammar, but hopefully your customers/potential customers will not use "u" instead of "you".

#3: Any question about legitimacy, reply with another question
Phone number + address. If they can't give you a phone number and address to contact them, don't deal with them.

#4: Forms/hidden messages
Alot of junk e-mail is created by use of forms.

"Hello my name is Frank Neo, I'd like an order of ____ please charge my mastercard" -- sounds a little fishy

"hidden messages" Last name Neo = Neo = Matrix the movie = pretty good chance this is a junk e-mail.

Again though, any question about legitimacy I'd at least follow up so you don't lose a potential sale.

Regards,
Rob
 
Sounds like "swiss cheese" to me - lots of holes in it!!

Don't bite - isn't worth the energy! or the problems you may encounter with your computer.

Roz
 
They've hit the Canadians!!!

Hey everyone!

Yeah So we where hit last night, not through email and not through telephone. Someone faxed us a letter. I will quote it for you:

Thank you very much for your time and effort today for you to read my email order. Now i will like to order some Picture Framess. Also let me know if you have models in stock for Picture Frames .Please email me the prices including surchages for using a MasterCard. I am really looking forward in doing business with you.

Hmm......I think we have models in stock...any one have models? As well his fax cover sheet isfrom LA, California and and there are 2 different emails! Thank goodness the english is so broken or I would have fallen for this (kidding!)

Justin
 
Sounds like the one we had last year that started on the hearing impaired relay phone system, then, on my request, moved to fax, then to e-mail. I hadn't yet heard about the scams, until I asked about it here. With each communication the "order request" (started out as a quote request, which I wouldn't give) changed, from a dozen small, narrow, wood frames only, to 120+ large, brushed silver metal frames, mats, foam backing and glass, then said to be paid by credit card over the phone, and to send all to Nigeria! Why my shop in little old Carson City, Nevada??? He said he was visiting "nearby" in Nevada, Las Vegas specifically, which is a looong way from here!

All e-mails from him stopped when I said I would communicate no further unless he came to my shop and showed me exactly what he wanted, and if I heard further, I would report to the authorities. He stopped, and I reported anyway, as I had a hard paper trail (fax and printed e-mails). Never did hear if anything came of it, I doubt it.
 
I got a weird one on my home e-mail a couple of days ago. It was to me (Val) from someone I've never heard of, telling me their poor little dog had passed away and thanking me for taking care of it when they were away on several occasions. They said they were sure I would want to know, because they knew I really loved their dog.

I never heard of their dog, nor dog-sat for anyone in years! It was like a wrong number phone call, but instead, a wrong number e-mail.

I thought I'd lost my mind, racking my brain trying to figure out who on earth a dog named "Casey" was!

Was that a Spam mail that got through my spam filter, ya think?
 
Where is the trust?

Why not ask him if he would like your bank account number so he can simply deposit the funds into it when he receives the merchandise. String him along....have some fun!
 
IT IS A SCAM!

Here's my version (received today):

HELLO CUSTOMER SERVICES,
I AM MIKE STANIS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE THIS FRAME INSTOCK 24X36 WOODEN FRAME AND IF YOU HAVE IT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EMAIL ME WITH THE QOUTE AND THE METHOD OF PAYMENT YOU ACCEPT .
BEST REGARDS
MIKE STANIS.

I am going to reply:

How you doin'???

We are not really a framing shop. We're a store front for the Mafia.

In case you need to put the whack on somebody, please let us guyz know.

We also do money laundering, just send the dough over and we can launder it for ya.

Have a good day!
 
Do you guys get the odd solicitor in? we do quite a bit...So one day a guy came in and tried selling me a golf membership. Well my mom had some Arbonne Hand cream here. So I told him that I would buy his golf membership if he agreed to buy 4 boxes of hand cream(cost 3 times more than his membership)...He left quickly...Works everytime!
 
Justin Alvarez said:
Do you guys get the odd solicitor in? we do quite a bit...So one day a guy came in and tried selling me a golf membership. Well my mom had some Arbonne Hand cream here. So I told him that I would buy his golf membership if he agreed to buy 4 boxes of hand cream(cost 3 times more than his membership)...He left quickly...Works everytime!
Click to expand...

We get solicitors all the time -- often from banks or insurance or real estate, or something else completely useless to me (as if I don't yet have a bank or insurance!). Your response is spot on, and I use that alot now -- I tell them that if they aren't preapproved by my franchisor, then they will have to become one of my customers before I'll consider becoming one of theirs. Have you brought me something to frame today?

I also got a very odd visitor a few weeks ago, and you should all beware of this. A woman came in, carrying a metal clipboard and acting like she was on a mission. Announced that she was here to service my credit card processing machine. Well, I never requested any service from anyone, so I immediately asked her who my credit card processor was. She said that her company contracted with a bunch of companies, basically as a sales agent, and the upshot of the whole thing was that she wasn't there to service my machine, she was there to switch my credit card processor!!! Very very sneaky and underhanded, and I wonder how many of my fellow merchants on the street got slammed by her that day. Anyway, I made it very clear that she was on the wrong side of my front door!
 
It generally isn't worth the time or energy to engage a scammer with even a reply email. That having been said, there is a website full of people who have:

http://www.419eater.com/

Some of the steps taken to "prove" the worthiness of the erstwhile recipient of funds, frames, etc etc are incredible.

My favourite:

http://www.419eater.com/html/john_boko.htm
"Incredible Shrinking Artwork"

Cheers
KJ
 
Should be old news to most by now, but just incase!

Most Grumblers are already well advised of this situation but thought I would post this email I just received from LJ:

Dear Valued Customer,

We have received multiple calls from customers alerting us to what appears to be a scam targeting custom framers particularly in the Midwest.

The scam involves a large order for glass and metal frames that are paid for by credit card and shipped outside the United States. The credit cards being used in these instances are stolen.

This appears to be an organized effort, so please be on alert for any larger orders that seem out of the ordinary.

Thank you

Larson-Juhl


If you are on friendly terms with other framers in your area who are not as well informed as we Grumblers, you might want to give them a heads up! (Unless you want to see them get burned that is :smileyshot22: )
 
Cecil Morren

I work in a sign shop in Pennsylvania and we received the following message:

Dear Customer Service
#
###### How are u doing today ?Hope u are fine by wishing u all the best .By the way my name is Mr.Cecil Morren and i want to know if u carry Banners for sale ,If yes i will appreciate if u get back to me with the following sizes 32 inch by 32 inch ,two colours on the banners which is Blue as the text colour Red as the background and also i want u to put Cecil Morren organization as the text .I will appreciate if u get back to me with the total cost of 80 pcs so that i can provide u with my mastercard to bill for the total charges.Wish u all best in business and hope to hear from u soon .

Best regards
Cecil Morren

---The exact same email as a previous post from Deb! I wrote back with a price and he immediately emailed back with credit card info and a place to ship it to - but I just have a bad feeling about him! Has anyone else had any emails from cecilmorren@yahoo.com?

--Laura
 
One thing is a big indicator that this might be a scam:

"Cecil Morren organization", and they have a Yahoo email account??

If you Google this name, nothing comes up by the way. An unknown organization....
 
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