Friday, July 9, 2010

Artist Experience: Dennis Matt Scam Email

Here is basically just a repeat of the Dennis Morgan scam email, with the scammer using a different name and disposable email address. The artist who forwarded this to me sent the full email headers but there was no surprise in looking for the originating IP number in the headers, as the email came from a google mail server because the scammer used gmail.

Kathleen:

I got this email yesterday from a "Dennis Matt," email address of academicss00@gmail.com, which is awfully similar to one listed on your page as Dennis Morgan, phisiology00@gmail.com.   I quoted the listed price of the artwork he was interested in, including sales tax plus shipping.  I also let him know that his poor grammar and "urgency" in purchasing spells "scammer" to me, and that he would have to prove his legitimacy to me before I would do business with him.  Hope this info. helps you and others,

Laurie


Message-ID:
Subject: "Haleakala: Eye of Dawn" (15 1/2" x 33 1/2") Float-mounted and Framed $400
From: Dennis Matt [academicss00@gmail.com]

Hello,

Good day to you over there, My name is Dennis Matt i'm from California and i hope this message finds you well.I was going through your works and my eyes caught this particular piece,i will like to have it for my new apartment this month. please let me know if the piece is available, if yes let me have the detailed price and more information about it. i will be waiting to read from you asap.
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 12, 2010 at 12:35 PM

    I too have received an email from Dennis Matt from the address academicss00@gmail.com. It sounds like trouble to me and with the poor grammer and urgency it smells like trouble as well.
    Artist

    ReplyDelete
  2. lostnutsandfoundboltsJuly 24, 2010 at 11:33 AM

    I just received an inquiry from Mr. Matt below was my response.

    Dear Mr. Matt
    I THOUGHT I SHOULD CONTACT YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -
    I am in a terrible situation I was contacted by the Department of Homeland Security- the organization created after 9/11 and they notified me that they have received word that (academicss00@gmail.com) your email address has been tagged for tracing. I know i shouldn't say anything to you but because you wanted to purchase my work. I feel obligated top let you know that the security forces are looking for you ( and i don't believe this) and will arrest you at any moment. for crimes against honest hard working families. (again, i don't believe this) Please for your safety don't send any more emails, and don't trust any one especially your friends. There are informants everywhere.

    I have been told there is a reward of 2 million dollars for your arrest or capture.

    good luck and leave this moment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. KatieMoeJuly 24, 2010 at 3:06 PM

    Ok - that is funny!

    Thanks for making my day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    Thanks for that! I received an email from Dennis Matt as well. He was inquiring about one of my paintings.

    I knew right away it was a scam, but wanted to see how far he would take it.

    I have in my posession a check for $2100. (The painting was a rather small piece and I told him $200.)

    He keeps pestering me to cash the check. I called the company from whom the check was written from. They said that they had checks stolen.

    My husband and I are attempting to follow up and pursue a fraud case, hoping to catch this guy.

    Y'know, he even sent me an email saying that the post office had "texted" him to let him know that his check had been delivered. The next day, after I hadn't responded, he sent me an email after 11pm saying that he just tried to call me and there was no answer. (WTF! I didn't give him my cell (but it is on my website), I had my phone with me, was awake watching TV. Who in the heck calls anybody that late unless you KNOW they are still up!)

    I'll post back with any other interesting info.

    ReplyDelete
  5. KatieMoeSeptember 13, 2010 at 2:54 PM

    I love that you went all the way to having them send a check. At least they spent *SOME* money on propagating their scam AND once the fraudulent check has been sent through the mail - it IS mail fraud, so you can report it! Congratulations on making THEM lose a little money (the cost to mail the fraudulent check) but not you! I love it!

    Document all their call attempts, if you have caller id make a note of what it says (even if it doesn't specify), the time and all that for when you report it. And if you want the calls to stop immediately, next time they call tell them the call is being recorded for the authorities and how can you help them. Bet they hang up super fast!

    ReplyDelete
  6. cutesarahMay 31, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    so, I recently answered a job ad in my local paper for a administrative assistant position. The guys name was dennis matt his email was dennismatt@hotmail.com. I was very skeptical as he told me that he told me he was business man who worked for a company who helped companies with finanical difficulties and he was opening an art studio. He told me he was away on business in Holland.
    So that right there sent up some red flags so i googled his name and didn't find anything. Well when I asked him for more information regarding his company and where he was from he immediately stopped emailing me. So I decided to google his email address..and thats when I found this site. The fact that he mentioned an art studio, and that his emails were VERY similar to the phishing one's sent out made me think that this is the same guy.I am convinced it is. So be aware that it is not just art scams. These pathetic wastes of space are getting more creative and gutsy everyday. Please, IF YOUR GUT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ISN"T RIGHT CHECK OUT THE PERSON. they are getting smarter (not really but you know what I mean) everyday and I hate to see people taken advantage of. And Please report all frauds, scams, adn phishing attempts. The government keeps track of all these losers and someday justice/karma will
    catch up to them.

    ReplyDelete