Friday, I had an email that I was suspect of the content. Today I am sure! Someone is trying to scam me. This is my second scammer email in the past year and a half that I have had. Luckily, I have been on my toes.
First Email:
From: ballet ryan (balleyryan@gmail.com)Second Email:
Subject: Enquiry
Hello [my name],
My name is Ballet Ryan and am from South Carolina and Was going through your works and love this piece.
What's your final price for it and am really interested in purchasing the piece.
Thanks and i await your response.
Ryan.
From: ballet ryan (balleyryan@gmail.com)
Subject: Re: Enquiry
Hello [my name],
Thanks for your prompt reply.I really appreciate your detailed breakdown and frankness on this.
Unfortunately, Im on my way to Mexico on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks, I
would have come to inspect the piece personally. Im taking your word for true on It though .
Im okay with the price, I think it worth it anyway. If you'd like to know, Im relocating to the UK soon and I'm trying to gather some
good stuff for my new abode. Im buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP as i will be responsible for the shipping (payment) of the piece to my new abode in UK.
However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff from the US,to get set for the pickup of the piece from your
place as I MIGHT be delayed in Mexico depending on how things goes.
Thanks,
PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address and also your phone# so I can get certified check prepared
and have it sent out to you ASAP.
I received the same email....this week.
ReplyDeleteI received the same email from Ballet Ryan..I must get at least one of these a month
ReplyDeleteBelow is an email I received from Ballet Ryan. Why would they want to go pick up money from Western Union? -Michael
ReplyDeleteFrom: ballet ryan [balletryan@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 1:59 AM
To: [my name]
Subject: Re: Mood Indigo
Hello [my name],
Thanks for your prompt reply.I really appreciate your detailed breakdown and frankness on this.
Unfortunately, Im on my way to Mexico on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks, I
would have come to inspect the piece personally. Im taking your word for true on It though .
Im okay with the price, I think it worth it anyway. If you'd like to know, Im relocating to the UK soon and I'm trying to gather some
good stuff for my new abode. Im buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP as i will be responsible for the shipping (payment) of the piece to my new abode in UK.
However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff from the US,to get set for the pickup of the piece from your
place as I MIGHT be delayed in Mexico depending on how things goes.
Thanks,
PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address and also your phone# so I can get certified check prepared
and have it sent out to you ASAP.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThey will always eventually insist on this part of the scam because once the money is picked up from Western Union at their end, it is completely untraceable... and they like being untraceable.
The trick for them is to get the victim to send the money via Western Union and then how fast can they pick it up before the victim, the bank, or the credit card company figure out everything on the scammer's end is fraudulent. But then it's too late and it will be the artist who loses their good money.
Some basic rules are never do a deal where you are paid more than the amount and forwarding that difference to some other entity. Never do deals involving Western Union. Never do deals involving some third party shipper of their choosing. Don't assume because a credit card number clears that it is good. Get the billing address of the card from the credit card company and see if it matches. If it doesn't, don't proceed.
But back to you, glad to see you didn't fall for it.
Do they actually have someone come pick up the painting?
ReplyDeleteNo. That never happens. They are not interested in the items and make up their address, the name and address of the shipping company - they make up everything... except how to send them your money via Western Union, which again - once picked up is completely untraceable. If Western Union changed the way they did business so it could be traceable, that would put a huge crimp in the scammer's business. Western Union doesn't seem to care they are the haven for scammers worldwide.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, they only care about the cash being forwarded, they don't pick up or deal with the items at all.
Just received similar e mail..then googeled to check him out and came up with this. Thank you everyone for posting..I gave him my phone number before I realized what was up. Oh shit
ReplyDeleteRose
Same email came to me...before I realized gave him my phone number...thank you everyone for posting
ReplyDeleteRose
Rose,
ReplyDeleteI've mentioned elsewhere here on the blog a fun game to play when the scammer has your phone number and is bothering you via phone is when they call say, "Oh good it's you. I've been asked to record this conversation for evidence. What is the next step you want to take?" They will hang up darn quick. They hate coming out of the shadows. They melt when you shine a light on them. They don't care if you've figured out they are a scammer - it's a numbers game to them and they'll just move on to the next potential victim... but they do hate thinking someone is going to be able to track them down.
Better news is you are not going to lose any money on them!