by MarkCarl
Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:58 am
Hello all, first time caller, long time listener. Here is an e-mail I received from the would-be scammer, Donald Dunbar of Tulon De Mexico. The e-mail came from [email protected].
I replied for kicks, said "sure, let's see what you got", knowing that it was very likely a scam. Here was his reply, from [email protected].
Replied with bogus information, aside from the e-mail and my P.O. box. Here was his response.
Sounds cheeky so far. I went along and said "okay, happy to do business with you." I signed his letter of agreement and emailed it back to him. I asked how I would be contacted by his customers. His reply:
About a week later, I check my mail to see I have received a PNC Cashier's check in the amount of $9,500. The check was enclosed with a letter asking me to email both Donald Dunbar and Perry White (the sender). His email is [email protected]. The check looked genuine: the watermark was visible and the width of the paper seemed about right. However, one major component was off. I searched Google images for other PNC cashier's checks, for comparison. I found one where the check number was only several numbers off from the one I had in my hands. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but essentially my check number was 850400318 (example) while the one on Google images was 850400590 (example).
This was enough to convince me that the check was indeed counterfeit. After closer inspection, I realized that the numbers on the bottom of the check (routing, account and check numbers) were not properly aligned with the rest of the check. So the scam became apparent; he wanted me to cash the check and send him the money before it came back as counterfeit. I never bothered to deposit it, knowing it was fake. I emailed Donald B. Dunbar letting him know that my bank placed the check on a 5 business day hold, meaning the funds wouldn't be available for about a week. He seemed a bit flustered, but responded with possible key information:
March 11th came around and I told him the check came back counterfeit. Surprisingly, he responded:
This was his final response. I still see him come up on Gmail (available to chat), so I figured I'd out him; force him to create new identities with a new company.
Here are all the names and e-mails associated with his attempted scam.
I hope this prevents this imbecile from scamming anyone in the future.
Attn,
Due to increase in demand for our products in North America and South America, we request your support and partnership in receiving payments from our customers.
You will be rewarded with 10% of any amount collected from customers on behalf of our company.
If this is acceptable, please send your message to the email address below:
Email: [email protected]
Sincerely,
Donald B.Dunbar.
TULON DE MEXICO, SA DE C.V.
Calle 30 No 2715 Guadalajara, Jalisco
44940, Mexico.
I replied for kicks, said "sure, let's see what you got", knowing that it was very likely a scam. Here was his reply, from [email protected].
Thank you for your prompt reply to my email. Tulon De Mexico, SA de CV is a private company categorized under Blast furnaces and Steel Mills manufacturing and we are located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Some of our products include Iron and steel mills,cutting tools, machine tool accessories and measuring devices.The sales of our products has expanded enormously throughout North and South America, as a result, we need your partnership and services so we can reach out to our customers in your region for quicker and easier payments and transactions, before we finally open a branch in your country.
As our representative, you will be offering us "Collection Services" from our customers throughout North and South America.As indicated in our previous email, you will be rewarded with 10% of any funds collected from any transaction on behalf of our company.
If this is acceptable, please send me the information below for proper documentation and contacts.
Full name:
Full address:
Company name (if any):
Company Address (if any):
Phone Number:
Fax:
E-mail:
Sincerely,
Donald B. Dunbar.
Executive Director,
TULON DE MEXICO, SA DE C.V.
Calle 30 No 2715 Guadalajara, Jalisco
44940, Mexico.
Replied with bogus information, aside from the e-mail and my P.O. box. Here was his response.
I would like to use this medium to inform you that I have reviewed your details and I am very impressed with your response so far.We are currently having some huge federal tax issues with our company accounts here in Mexico and the case is still in court.We wish to use our company account in business again only when the issue at hand has been resolved,hence we need a collection agent to receive international payments on our behalf at the moment.
We have been communicating with our customers and Debtors closest to your region lately, we have informed them that you will be handling our payment collection from henceforth and that any further payment communication should be directed to your address provided.
I look forward to working with you.Please keep me informed whenever you are contacted by any of our customers so that i can guide you on what next to do.Please see the attached letter below.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Donald B.Dunbar.
Executive Director,
TULON DE MEXICO, SA DE C.V.
Calle 30 No 2715 Guadalajara, Jalisco
44940, Mexico
Sounds cheeky so far. I went along and said "okay, happy to do business with you." I signed his letter of agreement and emailed it back to him. I asked how I would be contacted by his customers. His reply:
Thank you for the signed agreement letter.The process is very easy,you will be contacted by our customers by any of the contact means you provided,especially when they are ready to make payments.All you have to do is contact me via email whenever you are in touch with our customers and i will assist you with further instructions on what next to do.After two or three different transactions gradually you will get used to the whole procedures.Thank you.
About a week later, I check my mail to see I have received a PNC Cashier's check in the amount of $9,500. The check was enclosed with a letter asking me to email both Donald Dunbar and Perry White (the sender). His email is [email protected]. The check looked genuine: the watermark was visible and the width of the paper seemed about right. However, one major component was off. I searched Google images for other PNC cashier's checks, for comparison. I found one where the check number was only several numbers off from the one I had in my hands. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but essentially my check number was 850400318 (example) while the one on Google images was 850400590 (example).
This was enough to convince me that the check was indeed counterfeit. After closer inspection, I realized that the numbers on the bottom of the check (routing, account and check numbers) were not properly aligned with the rest of the check. So the scam became apparent; he wanted me to cash the check and send him the money before it came back as counterfeit. I never bothered to deposit it, knowing it was fake. I emailed Donald B. Dunbar letting him know that my bank placed the check on a 5 business day hold, meaning the funds wouldn't be available for about a week. He seemed a bit flustered, but responded with possible key information:
Thank you for the update,March 11th is fine by me.Once you have the funds available i want you to send the sum of $8,000 to my agents in Sweden via Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:
1. Name: Mark Alback
Country: Sweden.
Amount: $4,000.
2. Name: James Ericsson
Country: Sweden.
Amount: $4,000.
Please carry out this instruction as soon as you can (preferably march 11th). I will inform my agents about the transaction.I want you to send me scanned copies of the western union slips for the two transactions via email for my confirmation.Thank you.
Regards,
Donald Dunbar.
March 11th came around and I told him the check came back counterfeit. Surprisingly, he responded:
I got your email and i am trying to clear up the situation with my customer.I do not seem to understand what is going on here.I will get in touch with you shortly.
This was his final response. I still see him come up on Gmail (available to chat), so I figured I'd out him; force him to create new identities with a new company.
Here are all the names and e-mails associated with his attempted scam.
Donald Dunbar
Donald B. Dunbar
Perry White
Mark Alback
James Ericsson
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
I hope this prevents this imbecile from scamming anyone in the future.