Woodcarving order scam alert

[telecarver]

I want to warn other carvers about a scam that was attempted on me. I received a request for a custom order for two carved doors along with a request for the price including shipping to a specific zip code in Georgia. The scammer specified the specific doors they wanted to order from photos on my website. I replied with my normal reply requesting size and swing of the doors. They replied to me with sizes and swing. I spent a couple of hours contacting the stained glass artist, door maker and shipping company to get prices on the costs and then adding in my time to get a final price. I take a 50% deposit on custom orders which came to $8850. The "customer" agreed to send the deposit check. Everything up to this point was normal procedure for this type of order. I then received a check via USPS Express Mail for $10,000. Receiving a check for more than the requested amount is unusual but has happened before. The check was drawn on the account of The American University in Bulgaria. This along with the amount of the check raised a red flag with me and I had my bank check the validity of the account. My bank verified it as a valid account. An internet search showed The American University in Bulgaria to be a real university. At that point I thought that the order was probably legitimate. With trepidation I deposited the check with the intention that I would not start any work until the check cleared. Two days later I got an email from the scammer saying that the extra amount had been a mistake and they needed $1500 back to pay the installer for the doors and to send it Western Union immediately. At that point I knew it was a scam and sure enough the next day my bank notified me that the check was a forgery.

Ron Ramsey
Hand Carved Doors Fireplace Mantels Architectural Carving Signs

[Joggernot]

Thank you for posting this. Similar things happen on cars and other large ticket items. My experience was with some valuable books paid for by fake Money Order. Pay attention and don't send money until all their checks clear.

Joggernot

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Thanks for posting Ron.

Dave

[TreeWizard]

I'd contact the proper authorities, al inspectors, find out where to send the return $$ to and contact postal inspection. Using the mail to defraud is a federal offense and these scamers need to spend some time in a federal prison.

[Jim Arnold]

Lots of these scams around, but they took the attempt at robbing you to new levels. They will never be caught, I used to take those 'checks' to my local bank and we all would have a good laugh over them. It just makes you ill to go through all that work of preparing costs only to find out they're pulling a scam.

Thanks for posting this.

Jim

[Curtscarving]

Twice a agent for his client would pay me 200.00 over my asking price to cover shiping cost by thier company and that they would pick up the carving pius the 200.00 for shiping-then wanting my bank information for deposit of check - guess what I told them!!!
Curt

[Grayhorn]

Two years ago they were doing this same trick with anyone making archery equipment. Seems they never get tired of trying. Glad you never got taken,

[real good]

thanks Ron,--------Jack

[carverswoodshop]

thanks for posting it, and i believe that is how most of scams operate, by giving you more and then requesting the difference back ,,, very good and now people are aware how it works, again thanks for taking the time to post the story, arleen

[bigEd_H]

Thanks for posting the heads up, Ron. Unfortunately, your experience is not an isolated one. This type of scam has been going on for years now. And... unfortunately, without an occasional reminder now and then, there are people who still fall for it. More unfortunate, most of the perpetrators are outside the grasp of the US legal system.