by steve02a Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:18 pm
Last week, I received a text msg to my phone and the person asked "do you do computer services?" I relied saying Yes. And I do...my business is IT Consulting and computer repair. He replied saying "ok great. what is your email address?" figuring no harm there since anyone can get my email address ,I gave it to him.

His first email was:

Hello,
Thanks for your reply. I have some Hp PCs(Intel Pentium M) since we currently have a major breakdown on most of our systems and I thought it was best to have a general upgrade and maintenance. (I will be providing the software needed). Below are the things needed to be done one on each laptops:

1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Window 7 with Service Pack 1 (sp1)
3 Install Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
5 Adobe Acrobat Reader
6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, CD Rom, floppy, etc.

The Laptops are in Indiana and will be shipped over to you from there.I am contacting you because we are about to have a branch office there in your city .We will move the Computers to you and after fixing, they will be shipped to out branch office there this is why i'm searching local Computer expert to fix it there. I have a reliable shipper whose service I' ll employ to bring down the laptops. The shipper will bring down as well as pickup the laptops when you are done with fixing them. My shipper will be coming with the necessary Software for the installations of the Computers with both the Operating System,Microsoft Office and the Anti-virus for each computers . Also the windows CD's are licensed and i have all the other software mentioned available.

So the question is can you really carry out this task from your place presently?Get back to me with your total cost for the services of 6 units of Hp PCs(Intel Pentium M). Please note that i have all the software with the licenses available with me for the job.

I await your urgent response so that i can put the arrangement in order. Hope to read from you at your soonest convenience.

Best Regards,


I replied back saying Yes, I can do this job. I work under contract. I gave him my price and stated to please send me your contract, shipper information and contact, and please provide your contact information - since in his signature line, he only put his name and phone #. I also told him only accept either cash or certified check (if he's dumb enough to send cash in the mail).

His 2nd email is:
Hello,
Thanks for your response, I got the contract for this project and am sub contracting you to handle this for me because i also have other projects which am handling and i need to hire the service of reliable people like you to do.I will instruct my project supervisor to prepare a check for you on your name and address.

My company uses a mover that offers 100% refund for damages incurred during shipment. But among their numerous safety policy is to ship items only where 'payment for shipment'( to and fro) is paid directly from location of shipment. Therefore, I will include the cost of shipment with the payment I would be sending to you.The payment would be delivered via US postal service. I will supply you with the tracking information as soon as it is mailed out. You are to deduct your charge then send the remaining to the moving company. They will deliver the PC and come back to pick it up as soon as you are done with it.I will need the following information in order to send the check and shipping of the laptops to your Location.

Full Names:
Mailing Address(No P.O.box):
Apartment No if any:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Home Phone Number:
Cell Number:

Please make sure all the information provided is correct and complete in order not to lose any shipment mail to you once you are been confirmed for this job. You will be contacted on phone for further clarification.

Hope to hear from you at your soonest convenience.


What do you think? Scam? I'm on the fence on this one. I never do business like this. Never have, never would probably. He is going to send me a check. Of course, if I try to cash it and it's a fake check, I'd assume the bank would tell me. when the shipper shows up, I'd just say refused to accept delivery. If the check is real and I actually get money - I'll be happy to pay the shipper and perform the job.

What do you all think?
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by Dotti Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:31 pm
100% scam. The check will certainly be fake.
In fact, this exact scam has been around a while, as you can see here:
http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=24038

Please post the email address the scammer is using.

Of course, if I try to cash it and it's a fake check, I'd assume the bank would tell me.


Sure they will, when they realize it--which would be long after you have sent money to the "shipper."

I'll actually just copy one of my own responses from the other thread, as it is still very much applicable:
It is common in the US for people to consider a check cleared when a bank hands out the cash. That's not the case.

By law, a bank has to make cash available a certain number of days after the deposit (depending on the type of check) if they have not found the check to be fraudulent. So when the bank gives you money--it doesn't mean the check has cleared; it merely means that they haven't proven it fake yet so they have to give you the cash. Ironically, this law that makes these scams possible is intended to protect the consumer, by keeping banks from holding on to your money for excessively long periods of time.

In reality--a check can take weeks or months to get through all of the necessary verifications, particularly if it is written on a phished or stolen account--because there will be a period of investigation while it is determined whether the check was really written by the account owner. Your bank does not have to tell you if an investigation is ongoing, so you won't know. If at the end of the investigation, the check is found to be fraudulent, the originating bank will take the money back from your bank, who will in turn take the money back from you--and they can turn around and charge you fees for depositing a bad check in the first place! This can happen weeks after you think the check has "cleared."

when the shipper shows up, I'd just say refused to accept delivery.

There is no shipper, and no computers. It's all about the cash.

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by Bubbles Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:35 pm
Welcome to ScamWarners steve02a I am sorry to tell you it is a scam. Look at this topic: viewtopic.php?f=43&t=24038 It is almost identical and it will explain the scam to you.

If you notice, the scammer doesn't know where you operate from until you tell him, yet he is going to open an office there. Scammers will try to exploit anyone. Don't continue to converse with them. If they send you a check, do not deposit it, it will be a forgery, and you will be liable for the losses the bank will have.


Beaten by Dotti. :D

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.
by steve02a Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:39 pm
Hey All,

Thank you so much for your replies and guidance. Usually I'm pretty good at catching these scams since I see them in email every now and then, but this one caught me off guard. Now, of course, if this scammer wants to send me cash - I'm good w/that - but not to my home address! I'm tempted to use a PO Box and tell him I only accept cash, but I'm sure he'll ignore me then. Really though, I'll just delete his email and continue life...without being scammed. Thanks again everyone.
by rigdriver Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:56 pm
scammmmmmmmmmmmm.. they will prolly send you fake postal money orders and you are screwed both ways the orders are no good and you are oput the money ya sent his buddy the fake mover lolol

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by vonpaso xlura Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:31 pm
He is not in Indiana. He is in West Africa. It's obvious from the way he writes.

Please post his email addresses. Other potential victims search for them.

... ni los estafadores heredarĂ¡n el reino de Dios. 1 Cor. 6:10
by ab222 Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:29 pm
i go this message
Hello my love,
how are you doing this morning? how is family and work ? i hope everything is fine with you my love? honey i have read the mail you received from bank and the mail you send to our lawyer as well. honestly i am very happy and i must thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are doing to see that bank transfer this money. honestly i know that my God is in control in this transaction please i want you to speed our lawyer up so that he will not delay the documents because bank is waiting . I will like to stop here my love, as soon as you hear from our lawyer, i will like you to inform me okay!

I wish you a lovingly weekend
with many many kisses
Salimata
by Bubbles Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:17 pm
Please give us more information, such as the email address this message came from.

If you have transferred money, you undoubtedly know that you have lost the money. If you have not sent money, do not send it. It is a scam.

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.

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