Warning new Scammer

[dorijan21]

I just got the text from this #612-843-7588
"Hello can you handle website design for a new company and do you accept credit card payment?
i am Helen David and am hearing impaired.
Hi Helen, yes I can and I do accept credit card okay send me your email so i can send you the info"

On the end she wants me to overcharge 'her' credit card and then send a larger amount that what my services would cost to a 3rd party as a favor.
This is her email:
"Am so glad you responded so i will be glad if you can create my website for me.Here is the job details for the site i want created. the business is a salon and spa but it still a small scale business so i need a best of the best layout design for it.

Can you handle that for me ?. so here is an example site i want you to check out this site but i need something

more perfect than this if its possible http://indocanadasalonandspa.com... the site would only be informational, so E-commerce functionality is not needed on this site, so i need you to give me an estimate based on the example site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting and also i want the site to be on word-press plus

i want the same page as the site i gave you to check out and i have a private project consultant, whom has the text content and the logos for the site so there wont be any delays.

Note:

1. My budget is $3000 to $11,000

2.I want the same exact numbers of pages with the example site i gave you to check

3. i want the domain name as helendavidspa.com, cos i don't have a domain yet

4. Updating of the site will be by you guys

5. the images, logos and content for the site will be provided by me.

6. i want the site up and running before ending of next month.

Kindly get back to me with:

(1) an estimate

(2) Are you the owner ??
"

 

[NYJimbo]

"On the end she wants me to overcharge 'her' credit card and then send a larger amount that what my services would cost to a 3rd party as a favor."

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

That does sound shady but.....what the hell is the point of this scam lol. I know the scam where they send you a fake check that you cash then it turns out to be bad but by then you've already sent the excess funds but I don't understand the point if its a credit card because with a card the funds are validated immediately.

 

[fastremotehelp.com]

I've actually gotten the same scam almost word for word. Loved the "hearing impaired" twist. Had a little fun going back and forth, acting like I thought it was real. I knew I was texting to some Nigerian in an internet cafe somewhere. The goal apparently is to get you to send some cash, probably by western union or whatever. If the card goes through initially, you might actually get access to the funds, but of course in a few days when the credit card turns up stolen, you're on the line for the money. The thing is, the scam was so cheesy, I can't imagine anyone actually falling for it.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I've actually gotten the same scam almost word for word. Loved the "hearing impaired" twist. Had a little fun going back and forth, acting like I thought it was real. I knew I was texting to some Nigerian in an internet cafe somewhere. The goal apparently is to get you to send some cash, probably by western union or whatever. If the card goes through initially, you might actually get access to the funds, but of course in a few days when the credit card turns up stolen, you're on the line for the money. The thing is, the scam was so cheesy, I can't imagine anyone actually falling for it.

Well yeah but they have the card its as good as cash there are better ways to turn credit into cash if thats even really necessary. They say hearing impaired as an excuse not to talk to you directly over the phone and if you insist on speaking on the phone they will call you via a relay service.

 

[Porthos]

f the card goes through initially, you might actually get access to the funds, but of course in a few days when the credit card turns up stolen, you're on the line for the money.

Charge back for sure.

On the end she wants me to overcharge 'her' credit card and then send a larger amount that what my services would cost to a 3rd party as a favor.

The the other money is paid out and bam the charge back.

 

[Romaniac]

Had a similar one, except 13 laptops needing screen replacements, and delivered to me with 'private delivery driver service' - or something like that.

I kept trying to figure out how the heck this thing would work... stolen card came to mind.

They wanted me to charge the card extra for the delivery or w/e. I said they would have to cover the fee for processing all that, so they would have to send that first! I said paypal, gave me some BS about his bank not allowing him to use paypal.

Messed with them a bit more before they gave up.

Punks.

 

[Romaniac]

Another one this morning - same MO:

'Hello, my name is <First, Last>, i will like to know if you do computer repair and i will also like to know if you do accept credit card as a means of payment.'

'Thanks
<First, Last>'

This time it's about needing 7 laptops reformatted, and '...so i will like to know the total cost so i can give you my credit card to run for full payment. Thanks'

 

[TAPtech]

I always reply to these with a quote for some crazy amount, like $30,000 for the website or $1,500 per laptop to be formatted. Usually they don't reply, but when they do, I simply keep replying with a higher and higher estimate.

Goes something like:

Scammer: Can you repair these 7 laptops?
Me: Yes, price is $1,500 each
Scammer: Great, we will need 7.
Me: OK, so 7 times the $3,500 each is $37,000 total
Scammer: OK can I pay with credit card?
Me: Sure we can charge the $437,340 to your credit card.

To be honest they usually bail after step 2.

 

[Romaniac]

Yeah, they really don't give a heck about price.

Tried to ask him to send cc fee payment as 'gift' through paypal.

'i dnt get you do want gift????'

lawlz

 

[Davena]

I received the same text about a year ago, is a scam.