Fraud on Email

[Paul_Guraedy]

Recently I have had a number of email messages entitled something along the lines of Order Request or such.

Hello
This is David and I will like to order ( Downdraft Work Bench ).Do get back to me with the types and cost for the ones you do carry and let me know if there is an extra cost when using visa or master Card.Kindly get back to me with your name Are you the sales manager or the Owner?

Regards....
David Mills

They have all been woodcarving related and the only woodcarving sites I have visited in the last couple of monts is WCI and a few websites of our members. I know that this is an effort to obtain money and/or free supplies. Apparently, someone is visiting our board and picking up email info. Usually this type activity is a shot in the dark and sent to many addresses.

Just wanted our members to be aware of this activity and am curious about any others receiving the same type emails.

[cb1959]

Thanks for the info. I get several simular but from different sources. I guess the old addage goes, ain't nothing free and most of mine offer "free" or super discounted items. With a catch for sure!

[Tom Ellis]

Thanks for the heads-up Paul. Buy the way, I like your new avatar.

Tom

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Paul_Guraedy

Recently I have had a number of email messages entitled something along the lines of Order Request or such.





They have all been woodcarving related and the only woodcarving sites I have visited in the last couple of monts is WCI and a few websites of our members. I know that this is an effort to obtain money and/or free supplies. Apparently, someone is visiting our board and picking up email info. Usually this type activity is a shot in the dark and sent to many addresses.

Just wanted our members to be aware of this activity and am curious about any others receiving the same type emails.

So how can you tell that this is a fraud??? I see nothing to indicate that this person is looking to steal stuff from you or any one else, for that matter. Just my opinion.

[Josef]

If Paul does not sell/advertise Downdraft Workbenches for sale on his website or here, it is a not a big leap to guess it is fraudulent in nature. I would always be suspect of such a thing, no matter how innocent it may appear. Even the bad grammer is a give away.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Dull Knife, as Josef noted the fact that the only thing offered for sale on my website are a few Christmas Ornaments with the proceeds going to charity is enough to make one wonder about being approached with an order for anything else.

More importantly, this is a variation of several other "rip-off" schemes that have happened to members of the Forum. One of them was successful in that a valuable carving was lost. Luckily, this person decided to cut his loss, when they asked for currency on the overpayment amount, and he did not respond but the carving had long-since been shipped.

I suppose it is possible that this is ligit and somehow the guy mixed me up with someone else. But, I would suggest that payment be received and verified through whatever financial organization is involved before shipping anything. And if the amount received is in excess of the price.........forget it.

[bob easton]

..........

[Paul_Guraedy]

Bob you are correct in that publishing my email address makes it somewhat easier for these “scoundrels” to send messages like this. I disagree that it is asking for this sort of problem. I receive maybe 2-3 emails a month of the scam type. Considering the number of places on the Web where my email address is posted you would think that I would get a lot more. Scam filters seem to be catching most of them and it is not a great problem. I only posted this message as an advisory to those who may not have encountered something of this type….as my friend who lost a valuable carving. Most I delete without opening and never respond to recommended sites from emails. I also never respond to “touchy feely” emails and never forward anything directly. If I want incoming information to go to someone, I cut and paste.

The Private Message system offered here on WCI is a help but photos and long messages cannot be sent through this system. Sure, I can p.m. asking for an email address or wait for someone to contact me asking for mine (if it were not posted), then send an email, wait for a response….etc.

I prefer to go ahead and post one of my email addresses. Should it become too much of a burden, I will create another. In the meantime, I have two email addresses that go out only to trusted friends and my family. I have my sons, both are IT specialists, check my computer on a regular basis for anything I am not familiar with. The internet can be a bothersome, even dangerous, thing. But, it is also a place offering an incredible amount of information. In the past 15 years, I have picked up only one Trojan and no other problems. That was a number of years ago before I listened to my sons.

The problem that irritates me the most is coming from business sites. I surf for information on a particular location and the next day have dozens of emails from travel agencies.

[Jim Arnold]

The bad grammar is very common among scammers. Its red flag number one. Others to look for are 'certified bank checks' 'send the overpayment back' 'my company will pick up' 'I'm interested in your item'.

The more you sell online, the more scammer attempts. The one sure fire way to not get scammed is not to ship anything until the check clears or get a Paypal merchant account (its free!) to handle credit card purchases. Sometimes there is a third party involved with art sites that act as an escrow account...while I've never had a problem with them, I always hold my breath until they pay me. When doing commission work, I won't lift a chisel until I have 50% as a down payment...it has always been surprising to me that most people will pay in full up front, sometimes many months in advance.

Its all just part of doing business nowadays...seller beware!

Thanks for the info. Paul!

Jim

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Thanks for the heads up Paul !

Dave