Good work Kathleen. Thanks for taking the time to compile the scam list. Just received my first scam this morning from:
Cynthia Hilson [cynthilson@gmail.com]
The original email is below.
Received: from unknown (HELO cloudmark1) (10.49.16.75)
From: "Cynthia Hilson" [cynthilson@gmail.com]
Subject: artworks purchase
Date sent: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:06:00 -0400
Good day to you.
I am so excited that I came across of your work on internet search,I am interested in purchasing these creative artworks from you.....................
The Valley,Logging Road,Green Apples,Creole Cabin and Portrait of a Jug
Let me know their various prices.and how much discounts are you going to give?I will be happy to have these selected artworks hung in our new home in South Africa.As well,I want you to take out the shipping cost.I have been in touch with a shipping firm that will be shipping other house decoratives.
We are traveling from our Seattle home to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Money Order or Cashier`s check in US funds that can be easily cashed at your local bank,please let me know on how to proceed for the payment of the creative artworks.
I will await your advise on how to proceed.Have a wonderful day.
Take care,
Cynthia Hilson
Hi
ReplyDeleteI am an artist and I have to thank you Kathleen for your blog about scam, I received this morning an email scam from a "Cynthia Hilson" who wanted to buy 3 paintings from me and I
felt it was kind of weird, I googled her name and found out in your blog that it has been used for scam. I'm kind of paranoid so I'm not sure I would have been scammed so easily but I really appreciate to have found so fast a answer to my doubts.
Do you think it should be useful to denounce this scam to the "cyber crime" site of the FBI or do nothing?
many thanks again
Erika
Erika,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear you did not get scammed and saved time getting that validated.
It's been my experience that the authorities don't prioritize this crime, and they don't really consider it a crime until there is some financial loss (and I don't want people to get to that point), but it is also true if no one ever reports these, they have no idea the scope of the problem. So its really up to you, but I recommend keeping your expectations low.
Glad to hear the blog was of help.
I also received this identical e-mail 11-2-11. Thank you, Kathleen, for posting this.
ReplyDeleteBeverly
Got one dated November 1, 2011
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with people of today. Requested she call but she would not!!
Yes, a scammer isn't going to call unless they have a way they can not be traced. Some scammers do bother victims by phone once they feel they've convinced their victims to actually forward money to them via Western Union and they are waiting for that transaction to be placed, but it's rare because they do not want their location to be traced.
ReplyDeleteAnd not calling you tells you this is not a normal customer so it's only further validation that it IS a scam.
My friend got this exact email from a Cynthia Hilson too and at first didn't realize it was a scam. Her response was followed by at least a dozen more emails with weirder and weirder circumstances. Then Cynthia's "husband" in accented bad english called at 7am weekend morning from a restricted number and made not much sense.The weirdest part and the biggest red flag was my friend got a "check" for thousands more than the prints the were worth so she looked it up online and so glad we found this! scam indeed. Thank you anti-scam samurai!
ReplyDelete