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Monday, March 12, 2012

Scam Email: Ruby Sanchez

Here's an email I got this morning from an artist:

Hi there,
I just had an enquiry to buy two paintings from my website. I replied thinking it was genuine, but googled the email address to see if I could find out who they were - and found your blog. I've attached my email as you have asked. Fortunately it didn't go beyond getting my hopes up at selling two paintings, but I think it's great what you've done, so if I can help other artists before it goes too far, then I'm happy to.
Kind regards,
Steph
 
From: Ruby Sanchez [smithwhite06@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry

Hi,

Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

Rainy Afternoon  and   Dodging the Showers

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,
Ruby Sanchez.

Second Email:

From: Ruby Sanchez [smithwhite06@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: Artworks Inquiry

Hi Steph ,

Thanks so much for your response to my query about those creative works. I will like to  proceed with the purchase of both pieces . Can you pls get back with  what inspire you to make the pieces.

I will look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,
Ruby.
 

56 comments:

  1. I googled up the ruby email before replying to her request and found this site thanks to you. I am not a victim.
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, thanks for posting this email. I have received the same email and I thought it was scam. Now I am sure thanks to a bit of checking and this site confirming it. Keep up the good work.

    Naomi.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,
    I too have received an email from 'Ruby Sanchez' wanting to buy three of my works. I replied thinking it was genuine, and mentioned prices and the sizes of the works. I did not give away any details regarding my bank or cards of any description though. I did not disclose the galleries the works are being shown at, nor any addresses, mine included. Thank heavens this site came up whaen I googled the name 'Ruby Sanchez'. I hope I have not gone too far. I will not be replying to any more, that's for sure.

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  4. Hi thanks for posting this email. Received the same email yesterday and thankfully came across this website. Continue the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I applaud you… I have also been a recent target of Ruby. Something seemed 'off' and I googled, thankfully found this. I have just alerted all my art contacts and will refer them here. Thank you.

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  6. Hi, looks like Ruby is doing the rounds! I recieved the same emails from Ruby, on Friday and again on Tuesday. Thanks for the info, it was nice to think I had a possible interested buyer, even if it was fleeting.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Me too! Ditto all of the above - the name and the email address not matching in any way made me google "ruby sanchez". The first site that came up was urban dictionary - the definition of "ruby sanchez" on that made the rat smell stronger - then I found this site. Keep up the good work - will spread a warning in my networks.

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  8. Thank goodness I found your site, I was becoming a bit suspicious about this enquiry I had, and now I know that it is a scam,

    Thankyou

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  9. Me too! Ditto all of the above. I thought it was a genuine buyer of my art work. A friend tipped me off. I googled the name.
    Reply.

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  10. Me too, but as a Sofia Howard.

    Hi,
    Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on yourwebsite and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.

    I will appreciate an urgent reply.

    Best Regards,
    Sofia Howard.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I got the same one also from Sofia Howard. Big Scam!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for the posting, we almost became her victim too...

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  13. I'm an artist in Massachusetts and was hit by Ruby/Sofia/David Howard
    ­
    just wanted to let you know I filed a complaint and I really appreciate your work in providing the information.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm currently "in conversation" with Doris Howard, even tho she's in the middle of moving from New Jersey to London and about to give birth. I wonder who you reported this scam to - perhaps we can catch someone if my wierd check ever turns up (apparantly the Post office returned the first one.) It would be good to catch one of thes *********s.

      Delete
  14. Well, I gone a bite far... closed the deal and Ruby did send a "cheque all the way from UK" and the amount was double of the actual price, suspected a scam. Thank God nothing happen.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Got the same email, the exact same language. They now say they are sending the check..by FedEx..I have thought it was screwy all along, but went along.. I haven't responded to the email about receiving the check yet, which is supposed to arrive today???
    SHould I take it to the bank??

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ruby Sanchez is going by a new name now : Sophia Howard. She contacted me on March 20 as Sophia Howard using the email address davidhowardd01@gmail.com. She used the same line about "creatives works."
    A few days later, she continued our conversation, but with the email address davidhowardd08@gmail.com and name Ruby Sanchez. She quickly emailed me back and said Ruby Sanchez was her name before she married.
    Ruby/Sophia sent me a check that was $2500 over what the painting cost, and asked me to wire it back to her, which I did not. At this point I realized it was a scam and coming across your website confirmed it. Thank you for reporting on this.
    The check came via FedEx, from an address in North Carolina, and a completely different name. The name on the check was the International Buddhist Progress Society and that address was in California.
    Sophia gave me two additional addresses, one in NJ (107 West Passaic ave
    Rutherford, NJ 07070) and one in London (41 Queen's Gate Terrace
    LONDON , SW7 5PN)

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is an old scam and has been around for years--sending the artist a foreign check for more than the agreed price then requesting the artist wire back the difference. A few weeks later, after the check makes it way through the banking maze, it turns out to be worthless. I make it a point to mention to possible buyers that I only accept checks in the agreed amount and that I wait until the check clears before any artwork is shipped. That drives away the crooks. Not that I wouldn't like to drive a good #12 hog bristle filbert brush through their black hearts. . . .

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  18. My message is above, I called the FBI, who sent me to the Federal TRade Commission, who took all my information, and told just to shred the check.

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  19. i got the email but he/she went by Joy Howard (david howard as email)

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  20. Unfortunately we didnt research enough and the Howard's took money from us. Same people, Sofia, David and their assistant Richard Gallo. We thought it was strange but allowed for the check to clear but we still got screwed. The check came from Diversified Business Communications. The business is aware of the issue as they have been informed of this from others who have been scammed. Their emails were very in depth and personal, lengthily and intelligent. Trust your gut in these things. And, of course, never use western union. All of the flags were there and now we're kicking ourselves in the ass.

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  21. Just got my email today from "Joy". Complete crap. I've attached it below.......

    "Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
    "Four Flower Vase" and "Bud Vase"
    I will appreciate an urgent reply.
    Best Regards,
    Joy Howard."

    ReplyDelete
  22. wow thank god for the internet, i got the email today from miss joy howard with the david howard email... good to know

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  23. And thank god more and more people are learning to search first before losing any money or items.

    We'll all keep posting these things publicly (thanks to everyone who contributes their comments and experiences) and hopefully more and more people will find them in the search results before they become a victim.

    So glad you did not become one!

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  24. Hi the same happend to me but I said i need a money order or a bank cheque befor i would send the paintings and only gave my P.O. Box address. You wont belive they sent me a Nab bank cheque, which looked real to me but was for $2,900 more than i wanted. My husband said it was a scam but i didnt belive it and said well if it clears it must be ok. Well he took it to the Nab bank and there was no invisable line or what ever they have and it was much bigger than the real one, and as my hubby knew i wouldnt belive him got the bank to ring me. He said I would have had to pay a dishoner fee if we had put it in our bank, and then the frude Poilce would have been out to see me.
    What they wanted me to do was send a email saying you sent to much, and send them back $2,900, befor waiting for the cheque cleared. then I would have been well out of pocket. boy Im glad my husband was more awear than i was.

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  25. Same here...email from Joy agreeing to buy a painting for $2500...email address was davidhowardd08@gmail.com. What a**holes. I'm glad I had the sense to google the email address.

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  26. Got the exact same email from "Joy" for two of my paintings. Email used was wilzcharlesp@gmail.com . I googled the name to see if they were legit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got the same last month from wilzcharlesp@gmail.com. Now they are using the name "Lisa" instead of "Joy." Thought everyone should know!

      Delete
  27. I got an email this week from Joy Howard, email address davidhowardd08@gmail.com
    I did respond to the first email, and said if she was interested I would bill her via Paypal. I've never had an issues using Paypal in terms of getting scammed, and usually just saying that's my method of billing ends the conversation if it is a scam. I did google the email address first, but this site didn't come up until I did a second search today... not sure why. I did have a strong suspicion based on the wording that it wasn't legit!

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  28. I got an email from Joy at davidhowardd08@gmail.com as well. Thanks to everyone for posting about this. With all of the misspellings and strange grammar I thought it was a scam.

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  29. Happened to me too - email from Joy Howard, David Howard. It did sound fishy (language) and so I Googled their names and this site came up. The email was written to me exactly as it was with the others above me. Glad I caught it when I did. I think I just wanted to believe it was for real, as I could sure use the money. Glad I didn't get sucked in.

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  30. I, too, received an email from Joy Howard. I had a funny feeling and so googled the email address. Ugh.

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  31. I got the same email from Joy on April 16 with a follow up today. Something seemed odd so I googled the email address and found this site. Thank you.

    Does anyone know where these people are from?
    And what would happen if their original check cleared?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Got the exact same email from "Joy" for two of my paintings. Email used was wilzcharlesp@gmail.com . I googled the name to see if they were legit. Guess not.

    ReplyDelete
  33. For the person above, some times the check will clear, mostly it will not. Banks are getting better at recognizing these fraudulent checks. But sometimes they clear and maybe 10-15 days later the bank will figure out its a fake and withdraw that money from your account again. So it's always worth having them find out before you deposit it.

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  34. Thank for posting this -- it has saved me a lot of time and $!!. Mine was from Joy at the the david email address. I googled the email address and found myself here. THANK YOU!!! it was sent april 15th and wanted and URGENT reply.

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  35. Joy wrote to me, all the same wording- I ended up sending her/ him information about the work before I realized it was a fake. I did send my address, but no bank account info at all Good to know if any weird checks arrive what to do with them!

    Thank you all for sharing this information.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have been having these emails this week from Denise Green, email spirited.denise143@yahoo.com. Very suspicious when 'she' wanted to pay me 3x more than I asked for and the grammar was terrible even though she claimed to be from Harrow, UK. I think she got my details from my Facebook page.

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  37. I have received the same Joy Howard letter, she wanted to purchase two of my works. I soon received a check for 10 times the amount, I called the bank (credit union) who said it was a fraudulent check. I had been trying to figure out how I was being scammed. Thanks for making that clear - I would have emailed her saying the check was too big - sent her the difference and lost a lot of money.

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  38. Joy Howard tried to get me as well. "She" was very polite, wrote with good grammar and was pretty creative in her story. She said was in Cancun for her sister's wedding, then wound up in the hospital for an almost miscarriage. She said she was very pregnant and moving to England because her husband got another job. The overpayment was the biggest red flag and she tried to be so smooth about it saying her husband's assistant made a mistake because she was sick. It was also postmarked from England with a check drawn off a Vermont Credit Union. As soon as I told her that the artwork doesnt ship and no refund for overpayment would be sent until the check clears, I never heard from her again.... Outwitting a scammer appeals to my vanity more than selling an artwork. lol

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  39. I've had a couple of emails from "Denise Green" using the email ad: spirited.denise143@yahoo.com
    The latest stating her HUGE order:

    ****
    Dear S
    I found two paints interested and i am interested in buying a large quantity. Here below is my order , get back to me with the total amount excluding shipping cost, i do have a shipper that will handle that for me . Also send me your name and address for the payment by Cheque.

    Butterfly freedom ..Acrylics on canvas.>>>50cm x 40cm 7pcs

    Chocoltae and golden sun " crylic on canvas >>>50cm x 40cm 5pcs

    Denise
    ****

    Imagine if instead of being suspicious I'd gone and painted 12 new pieces for her?!?

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  40. Also just had an email from "Denise Green" using the same email address. Wanting to place a large order

    ****
    After checking your wabpage i found the following items interesting. Can you get back to me with the price for each because am buying bulk,give me discount and also include your name and address for the payment by cheque.

    Leia 20pcs

    Monkey boy 40pcs

    Air Force 50pcs

    Surfing Santa 30pcs

    Have a nice day

    Denise
    ****

    This was the second email as the first was just enquiring about prices after seeing details on facebook. I have however decided to play dumb and replied back as follows

    ****
    Hi Denise,

    I’m sorry but we don’t take cheques at the moment. We are only accepting paypal payments at present would this be ok? When were you needing the items by? As I do this at home it could take me a while to complete this order. Whereabouts are you so I could sort out posting costs too. Once I have all these details I will be able to put together a price for you and let you know.
    ****

    I'll let youall know when I get a response.

    ReplyDelete
  41. We have had the exact same thing from Denise Green too wanting to pay us $5100 which was far too much then wanting us to wire the difference to her shipper!! We told her we were not about to be taken advantage of and told her to proceed through paypal with the correct amount if she wanted to proceed! We obviously havn't heard from her since!!

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  42. I've also had the email from Denise Green and only became suspicious when she avoided answering my questions about why she was buying bulk and where the order was for. So glad I found this thread. The same thing, she was willing to pay anything I asked for a huge order and just wanted my address for the cheque.

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  43. Thank goodness I found this. I had the same. I wasn't really getting any straight answers to the questions I was asking! Kate

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  44. Yes me as well, How low are these people!

    *My email*
    I would like to purchase some of your handmade work.I saw some of your work on facebook .Can you send me pictures of available work you have and prices.

    Thanks

    Denise

    ReplyDelete
  45. Dear Kathleen, I am sure I am receiving e-mails from a scammer calling themselves Angela Howard. I searched the web for info on this and came up with your name website etc..I did send the person my address and phone number but will now cease communications. 

    Very grateful for your information and efforts to bring attention to this. Thank you,Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thanks very much for this post (and all the comments too) which helped me work out that I'd also been subjected to this god awful scam. My emails came from the elusive Denise Green - must admit I did feel uneasy when I got the email about the amount she was sending! Wrote back to her expressing my concern at the amount (that was before I read this) and so far no reply back. I'll be shredding the cheque, if and when it arrives and have shared this blog post on my FB page to alert other artists to what's going on.

    Thanks again, very grateful to you all.

    J x

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  47. THANKS Kathleen~~~~ Just realized I too was being scammed! This time by one 'Joy Howard'. Nearly exact same e-mail as shown on your scam-site. The 'movers' contacted me this morning.Ha! I thought somethin' was up by the broken English but let it pass.

    I punched in the movers address and was very thrilled to find your page with the alert. So THANK YOU. Now I can let this nonsense go and get back to painting!

    Cheers~

    Greg

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  48. Thank you very much !

    I received the email below and put the supposed buyer through the search, which immediately came up with your blog
    ..........

    Dear Diana,

    I keep wondering how much time and effort you devoted into your work to make the following piece a one of a kind and as i can see from the images you sent to me your work as a pleasant and a suiting feeling and am so sure it will bring comfort and happiness into my home and to those that view it. I will be purchasing the following piece listed below

    [name and price of piece].

    [name and price of piece].

    [name and price of piece]

    [name and price of piece]

    [name and price of piece].

    Payment for those piece will be made by UK bank cheque and the money can be withdraw from my account i will be sending £2,500 to cover the cost of the piece and shipping of the artwork i also still have some things to be moved by the mover to me in Denmark.
    I feel it will be will be better if the shippers picking up the my stuffs can come pick up the artwork from you so as to save time and money.

    I would inform the movers about it after have heard from you.They will just come over to your area to pick-up the artwork and then have them delivered to me before i can write out the cheque i will be needing your contact details and phone number to write and send the cheque to you.The address written below can be use to prepare the receipt of invoice for the artwork.
    Thanks
    Jean

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi all,

    I also just recieved an email to my gmail account, and googled their email on facebook before responding as the wording of their email made me think it might be a scam. It directed me to this blog and I am SO glad I looked and avoided being screwed over. The email was from someone named "Doris Howard" and her email said the following:

    Hi,


    Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creative works on your
    website and i will like you to get back with more details if they are
    still available for purchase.


    art 1
    and
    art 2

    I will appreciate an urgent reply.


    Best Regards,
    Doris Howard.

    I can't believe this is happening to all of us!!! So sad.

    ReplyDelete
  50. yes . . . I got a very similar note from "Doris Howard" on May 26th. I especially like the "I will appreciate an urgent reply." HA! when is buying art ever an emergency?

    ReplyDelete
  51. You can add me to the list as well. I received the exact email from Doris Howard. Glad I found this site.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I have another one, I received yesterday, from a guy who calls himself Robert Philippe ( in french).

    PAYMENT DETAILS Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:26 PM
    "Robert Philippe"
    "Gyuri Lohmuller"
    Salut,
    J'apprécie vraiment de réponse rapide. J'espère que je peux faire confiance l'état de l'élément. Je suis d'accord
    avec le prix final (€ 310) et la condition. Je vais vous offrir € 350 pour l'option sans frais d'expédition. Je vais vous
    payer par un chèque bancaire certifié et vous le recevrez dans 2 jours. Le chèque sera de couvrir le coût
    d'expédition parce que la société de transport maritime sera ramasse l'article de votre lieu avec quelques autres
    marchandises qui doivent être expédiés pour moi en France. J'espère que je peux vous faire confiance, j'espère
    que vous n'allez pas me refuser?
    Envoyez-moi revenir avec les détails suivants:
    Votre nom et prénom: (à être écrite sur le chèque)
    Adresse de contact:
    Ville:
    état:
    pays:
    Code postal:
    Numéro de portable:
    S'il vous plaît ne vous occupez pas de n'importe quel autre acheteur, je vais délivrer le chèque immédiatement.
    Concernant l'expédition, j'ai arrangé avec ma société de transport privé et la société de transport prendra contact
    avec vous aussi bien pour un arrangement forte sur le transport maritime.
    Assurez-vous que tous les documents prêts à renforcer une expédition en douceur.
    Espoir de vous entendre dès que possible.
    Cordialement
    M. Robert Philippe
    FAX 44-2072223058
    Téléphone # +447405553057
    # +447031850121
    NB Assurez-vous me renvoyer par courrier élect

    ReplyDelete
  53. Exactly what happened to me! Check arrived for slightly less than half the amount... Then calls and texts came immediately, relentless - Asking to write a check for the overage. The check was so good my bank (PNC) accepted it. Money went into my bank! 3 days later it was pulled out and the calls came in. Had I sent the check and painting I would have been screwed. Mine came under the name Ruby Sanchez and switched to Linda Sanchez out of New York. My bank and I opened up an FBI case, but this happensa - apparently - thousands of times a day so nothing came of it. Wish I'd found this site earlier!

    ReplyDelete
  54. me too from this e-mail:
    Rich Rager

    ReplyDelete