Here is a scam that is so telling - sent to an "undisclosed list of recipients" (aka huge spam list) and apologizing upfront for not remember your website (they have no way to track the websites of hundreds of thousands of people they spam every day, and really they are not visiting the websites in this case anyway).
What they need for the scam are people to reply to the email and say that's okay... here is my website url. And THAT way when the scammer continues on the steps of the scam, they can make Round 2 of email exchanges a lot more personalized so you believe they are a real buyer when they are not. Then they WILL go to your website and pick out specific artwork to "buy".
In this way, they keep their own efforts efficient and the least amount of work for maximum gain.
What is their gain? With a fake story they will eventually overpay for something and ask the money be forwarded to their [fake] shipper, because they are moving or temporarily out of the country or whatever. And (here comes the kicker), it will need to be wired to them. Hard untraceble cash wired directly to the scammer, who then disappears. While the victim then learns, too late, the original money was either a counterfeit check or a stolen credit card.
How do you avoid this scam? Two simple rules:
1. NEVER accept overpayment for any reason. Just don't.
2. NEVER EVER EVER (can I throw one more in for good measure?) NEVER send money via wire transfer - for any reason. This is the crux of the scam and if you don't do this, you'll be safe from at least this scam.
Check out this scam email:
-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian Hermes [adrianhermes@outlook.com]
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Sent: Thu, Jun 5, 2014 2:19 pm
Subject: Inquiry and request about your work of Art
Good morning,
I was able to view your work from the website you had it displayed in and unfortunately for me i kind of lost the website but i stored your contact,i will like to ask if you have a piece(s) for sale and can you kindly re-direct me to your website. i will be awaiting to read from you soon.
Thanks
Adrian
Thursday, June 5, 2014
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Thank you for this. I was in the early days of an emails with ' Adrian Hermes' right after an open studio event. Thanks for saving me time & frustration!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your work! I will pass on your site... and you might like this article as well that i found when researching what I thought might be a scammer email from Eric Anderson. http://www.kathleenmcmahon.com/info/scammer-names.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for this site! Not sure if this is the best way to send you new scammer info, but I just received an email from mrbdominican1@gmail.com. I blogged about it and his emails in my weekly blog, feel free to copy and paste for the world so nobody else gets duped!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a artist and this was sent to me today. I googled the name and your site came up for this scammer.. Thank you for the information. They need to stop this game.
ReplyDeleteAdrian Hermes adrianhermes@outlook.com
Fri, Jun 27, 2014 3:59 pm
Thank you so much for your response, i really appreciate your efforts towards my purchase.I have finally seen the pieces that am interested in purchasing and i must say and confess to you that you really have a lot of attractive works i would have loved to make more purchases but presently there are limits to my budget so i will be needing the works in the links below
FS1824-1 18" x 24" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$23.40
FS2024-1 20" x 24" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$24.70
FS2030-1 20" x 30" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$31.80
FS2430-1 24" x 30" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$35.20
FS2436-1 24" x 36" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$38.90
FS2448-1 24" x 48" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$57.20
FS3036-1 30" x 36" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$55.70
FS912-1 9" x 12" Red Label Canvas 3/4"
$10.50
Secondly I must say that the time you put into the making of those piece paved a way for it"s uniqueness and attractiveness, the piece will be with me personally and i am sure it will add tranquility and vigor into the building and to those who come visiting,Also as regards payment i would like to use this opportunity to inform you that payment would be made out to you and drawn from an my domiciliary account in order to avoid delays, so the cheque that would be sent to you for the payment of the items would include the cost of the item plus shipping fees which means it would cover the cost of the piece and shipping of the piece.I also have some collections to be picked up from a province close to you,so as soon as the cheque as cleared your bank and funds have been made available to you,i would need you to deduct your own funds for the piece and then have the remainder of the funds sent to the shipment broker that will come over to your location
to pick up the works from you as soon as funds have been made available to you and have it delivered safely to me at my residential address in the I would inform the shipment broker as soon as i hear from you .They will just come over at a particular time and day of your choice to your area to pick-up the piece and then have them delivered to me, so if this is okay and fine by you i would be needing the following information's from you before the payment can be made available to you and i will be needing your contact details and phone number for the shipment broker
Regards
Adrian
Adrian Hermes
33 Coventry Street
London, W1D 6BS
United Kingdom
adrianhermes@outlook.com
This is happening to me right now! This is the last thing I need in my life I thought this was for real and sent it to a few people and waiting to be responsive to it! NOW I have everything waiting on a check and ordering of the product! SHIT I feel like a complete fool. Thank You for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI have one mysterious buyer who found my number online. I did some digging and the address is a house for sale and the person asked for products I don't sell. I knew right away it was a scam, especially because the person only would send check and won't send to my pobox. They resent a correct product but the email is scripted as the first email just changed the product info. So call Connie didn't even respond to my questions in my reply.
ReplyDeleteBeware of connie_heinz@outlook.com! !!!
Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me....I was going through your ITworks online and find some nice product which i will love to order from you , I should have ordered them from my former itworks Distributor , But she do not sell any more, I will love to make you my new itworks Distributor ,I will be mailing check to you for the ORDER as i don't operate debit or credit card and i am a deaf woman ,Bear in mind that you will received the payment and clear at your bank before you submit my ORDER.Kindly get back to me with your details as required below for immediately issuing of the check.
Name on Check :
Complete Mailing address : ( PLS NO P.O BOX )
City:
State:
Zip code Phone number (Make sure your cell number is included):
Below is the items i want to ORDER from you and Im okay with the retail pricing :-Get back to me with the total price of items , plus the shipping fee to my address along with your details for immediately issuing of the payment
1 QTY of the : ( Harley - (Dual-Action Vibrator) )
2 QTY of the : ( Heart Throb - (Heated Massagers With Bullets )
The Order will shipped directly to my full name and address below once you might have received and confirm the payment.
Connie Heinz
295 Lakewood Pkwy,
Buffalo NY 14226
Thanks
Connie