Chris Moench on mon 16 jan 12
I've been emailed be a person representing themselves as wishing to purch=
=3D
ase=3D20
a selection of my work for a shop in Helsinki Finland. The initial query =
=3D
was=3D20
very general, asking for referral to my web site, made no reference to th=
=3D
e=3D20
nature of my work which is very specialized, prayer wheels. Said they wan=
=3D
ted=3D20
to select work to purchase off my web site, would send me their credit ca=
=3D
rd=3D20
information and then have a US based shipper pick their order up. I need =
=3D
not=3D20
charge them for shipping.=3D20
I sent my web address. They responded with a list of pieces they want to =
=3D
buy=3D20
and asked for a price quote. One piece they wanted is described on my sit=
=3D
e as=3D20
having been stolen out of a consignment gallery, it isn't available. They=
=3D
still=3D20
indicated no understanding of the nature of my work. I replied asking wha=
=3D
t=3D20
they intended to do with my work and asking for references for other US=3D2=
0=3D
based businesses they had done business with. I also used Google Earth to=
=3D
=3D20
look at the street view of their address. Although it is an urban commerc=
=3D
ial=3D20
street in Helsinki I saw nothing to indicate any kind or retail art busin=
=3D
ess.=3D20
They sent a third email saying they want to display my work in their shop=
=3D
and=3D20
asking again for a price quote and address where their shipper can pick t=
=3D
he=3D20
order up. Again asserting they will provide credit card information as so=
=3D
on as I=3D20
give them a price quote. They did not supply any references.=3D20
My question for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. Can=
=3D
I be=3D20
ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and they=
=3D
take=3D20
care of all the shipping costs and logistics? I'm skeptical of their inte=
=3D
rest. It's=3D20
just too vague and smells like a scam but I can't figure it out.
William & Susan Schran User on mon 16 jan 12
On 1/16/12 12:59 AM, "Chris Moench" wrote:
> My question for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. Can=
I be
> ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and they=
take
> care of all the shipping costs and logistics? I'm skeptical of their inte=
rest.
> It's just too vague and smells like a scam but I can't figure it out.
If it smells like a scam, then it probably is.
Ask them for their web site and an image of their shop, stating you want to
be certain your work is appropriate for them.
Then I wonder if they supply credit card information - number,expiration an=
d
that 3 digit number off the back - call the credit card company and ask if
it is real.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Snail Scott on mon 16 jan 12
On Jan 15, 2012, at 11:59 PM, Chris Moench wrote:
> I've been emailed be a person representing themselves as wishing to =3D
purchase=3D20
> a selection of my work for a shop in Helsinki Finland...My question =3D
for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. Can I be=3D20
> ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and =3D
they take=3D20
> care of all the shipping costs and logistics?
Yes, it's a scam. It's always similar to this - an inquiry=3D20
about your work on the Web, an offer to pay up front,=3D20
vague, and always from another country. They don't=3D20
want your work at all, they just prey on artists because=3D20
artists are sometimes not finance-savvy and are often
desperate enough to take any purchase offer, even=3D20
the dodgy-smelling ones. Billing their credit card=3D20
first won't save you; it's a shell game with the cash.=3D20
Don't take it personally; just posting your work on the=3D20
Web is all it takes to attract them like roaches.
-Snail=3D
Steve Slatin on mon 16 jan 12
Chris -- If it smells like a scam it probably is.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AThis one do=
es sme=3D
ll quite=3DA0a bit; the usual scammer methodology=3D0Ais to follow up with =
incr=3D
easing excitement, 'growing' the=3D0Ashipment to something really big, then=
g=3D
iving you the=3D0Acredit card number (likely a stolen card, but not necessa=
ri=3D
ly)=3D0Aand the next day the "local shipper" shows up and needs=3D0Amaybe 5=
% of=3D
the total price to do "customs clearance"=3D0Aor "special packaging" or so=
me=3D
thing of the sort.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AAnd needs to be paid in cash!=3D0A=3DA0=3D=
0AThen you p=3D
ay up, the goods disappear (into a landfill, most=3D0Alikely), the CC charg=
e =3D
is refused=3DA0 (card bogus or stolen) and =3D0Ayou're left thinking "what =
kind=3D
of criminal steals a full order of =3D0Aprayer wheels just to skim 5% of t=
he=3D
value off the top?"=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AWell, to the anonymous scammer (probably=
in a =3D
third =3D0Aworld nation, and just using a fake Finnish address for=3D0Aprot=
ecti=3D
ve coloration) the cost of scamming you is=3D0Aslight, and the margin is=3D=
A0pu=3D
re profit, which he=3D0Asplits with the friend who plays "local shipper."=
=3D0A=3D
=3DA0=3D0AAnd, as we learned from the housing melt down, there=3D0Aare peop=
le out=3D
there who will burn your home to the=3D0Aground in order to steal the scre=
en=3D
door.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AInternational shipping scams are quite the rage now --=
=3D0Acre=3D
dit cards are often used in the process -- low-value=3D0Afinancial crimes g=
et=3D
little police intervention, and it's a=3D0A"seller beware" world out there=
.=3D
=3D0A=3DA0=3D0ASteve Slatin -- =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AN48.0886450=3D0AW123.1420482=
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A______=3D
__________________________=3D0A?=3D0A=3D0AI've been emailed be a person rep=
resent=3D
ing themselves as wishing to purchase =3D0Aa selection of my work for a sho=
p =3D
in Helsinki Finland. The initial query was =3D0Avery general, asking for re=
fe=3D
rral to my web site, made no reference to the =3D0Anature of my work which =
is=3D
very specialized, prayer wheels. Said they wanted =3D0Ato select work to p=
ur=3D
chase off my web site, would send me their credit card =3D0Ainformation and=
t=3D
hen have a US based shipper pick their order up. I need not =3D0Acharge the=
m =3D
for shipping.
Steve Mills on mon 16 jan 12
This IS a Scam.
The Credit Card is almost certainly stolen, the shop doesn't
exist...........I could go on!
This sort of thing surfaced around the turn of this century and was
initially African based.
Our company was very nearly had big time. After we were conned out of about
$70 worth of colour, the Credit Card Company security division spotted what
was happening and got in touch with us! We were lucky they were on the
ball!!
On their advice we adopted a policy of insisting that all goods were paid
for IN ADVANCE by International Sterling Cheque (the same will exist for
the US $) and would only be dispatched to the customer AFTER the funds were
*securely* lodged in our Bank Account.
We were subsequently contacted by several persons in other countries for
several years after, asking to buy from us using credit cards, but after we
sent the above Conditions of Sale Information to these "customers" we never
ever heard from them again.
We did sell abroad on many occasions, but the purchases were always paid
for and "cleared" well in advance of dispatch and the customers often
became "Regulars"!
.
Once bitten, twice shy!!!
Steve M
Bath
UK
On 16 January 2012 05:59, Chris Moench wrote:
> I've been emailed be a person representing themselves as wishing to
> purchase
> a selection of my work for a shop in Helsinki Finland. The initial query
> was
> very general, asking for referral to my web site, made no reference to th=
e
> nature of my work which is very specialized, prayer wheels. Said they
> wanted
> to select work to purchase off my web site, would send me their credit ca=
rd
> information and then have a US based shipper pick their order up. I need
> not
> charge them for shipping.
>
> I sent my web address. They responded with a list of pieces they want to
> buy
> and asked for a price quote. One piece they wanted is described on my sit=
e
> as
> having been stolen out of a consignment gallery, it isn't available. They
> still
> indicated no understanding of the nature of my work. I replied asking wha=
t
> they intended to do with my work and asking for references for other US
> based businesses they had done business with. I also used Google Earth to
> look at the street view of their address. Although it is an urban
> commercial
> street in Helsinki I saw nothing to indicate any kind or retail art
> business.
>
> They sent a third email saying they want to display my work in their shop
> and
> asking again for a price quote and address where their shipper can pick t=
he
> order up. Again asserting they will provide credit card information as
> soon as I
> give them a price quote. They did not supply any references.
>
> My question for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. Can
> I be
> ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and they
> take
> care of all the shipping costs and logistics? I'm skeptical of their
> interest. It's
> just too vague and smells like a scam but I can't figure it out.
>
Elisabeth Maurland on mon 16 jan 12
It's a scam. These scams are getting more and more specific, so they =3D
seem legit, but they are not specific enough (obviously they have no =3D
knowledge of the business they claim to be in (art)). That's why it =3D
seems fishy.
I asked the same question on Clayart a while ago and got varied answers. =
=3D
But the main clue is that they will pick up. That's how all the scammers =
=3D
operate, I think. I don't know how it works out for them, but I guess it =
=3D
does.
It used to be the scammers had poor English and were from Africa. Now =3D
they claim to be from Western countries and the English is often good. =3D
The scammers have just gotten better.=3D20
I didn't dismiss "my" scammer out of hand. I asked "her" to pay via =3D
Paypal, (she wanted to use credit card), and I never heard from her =3D
again. I don't know if Paypal is ironclad, but certainly this scammer =3D
was not prepared to go through that.
Elisabeth
On Jan 15, 2012, at 11:59 PM, Chris Moench wrote:
> I've been emailed be a person representing themselves as wishing to =3D
purchase=3D20
> a selection of my work for a shop in Helsinki Finland. The initial =3D
query was=3D20
> very general, asking for referral to my web site, made no reference to =
=3D
the=3D20
> nature of my work which is very specialized, prayer wheels. Said they =3D
wanted=3D20
> to select work to purchase off my web site, would send me their credit =
=3D
card=3D20
> information and then have a US based shipper pick their order up. I =3D
need not=3D20
> charge them for shipping.=3D20
>=3D20
> I sent my web address. They responded with a list of pieces they want =3D
to buy=3D20
> and asked for a price quote. One piece they wanted is described on my =3D
site as=3D20
> having been stolen out of a consignment gallery, it isn't available. =3D
They still=3D20
> indicated no understanding of the nature of my work. I replied asking =3D
what=3D20
> they intended to do with my work and asking for references for other =3D
US=3D20
> based businesses they had done business with. I also used Google Earth =
=3D
to=3D20
> look at the street view of their address. Although it is an urban =3D
commercial=3D20
> street in Helsinki I saw nothing to indicate any kind or retail art =3D
business.=3D20
>=3D20
> They sent a third email saying they want to display my work in their =3D
shop and=3D20
> asking again for a price quote and address where their shipper can =3D
pick the=3D20
> order up. Again asserting they will provide credit card information as =
=3D
soon as I=3D20
> give them a price quote. They did not supply any references.=3D20
>=3D20
> My question for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. =3D
Can I be=3D20
> ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and =3D
they take=3D20
> care of all the shipping costs and logistics? I'm skeptical of their =3D
interest. It's=3D20
> just too vague and smells like a scam but I can't figure it out.
Elisabeth=3D20
www.elisabethmaurland.com
John Post on mon 16 jan 12
Ask to be paid in Lutefisk, that will assure you are dealing with =3D
someone who really lives in Finland.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
http://www.johnpost.us
Follow me on Twitter
https://twitter.com/UCSArtTeacher =3D20
On Jan 16, 2012, at 11:12 AM, Snail Scott wrote:
> On Jan 15, 2012, at 11:59 PM, Chris Moench wrote:
>=3D20
>> I've been emailed be a person representing themselves as wishing to =3D
purchase=3D20
>> a selection of my work for a shop in Helsinki Finland...My question =3D
for the listserve: is this a scam any of you know about. Can I be=3D20
>> ripped off if I charge their credit card for the cost of my work and =3D
they take=3D20
>> care of all the shipping costs and logistics?
>=3D20
>=3D20
> Yes, it's a scam. It's always similar to this - an inquiry=3D20
> about your work on the Web, an offer to pay up front,=3D20
> vague, and always from another country. They don't=3D20
> want your work at all, they just prey on artists because=3D20
> artists are sometimes not finance-savvy and are often
> desperate enough to take any purchase offer, even=3D20
> the dodgy-smelling ones. Billing their credit card=3D20
> first won't save you; it's a shell game with the cash.=3D20
> Don't take it personally; just posting your work on the=3D20
> Web is all it takes to attract them like roaches.
>=3D20
> -Snail
Soj on mon 16 jan 12
On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:09:44 -0500, John Post =
=3D
wrote:
>Ask to be paid in Lutefisk, that will assure you are dealing with someon=
=3D
e
who really lives in Finland.
>
>
>John Post
>Sterling Heights, Michigan
Give them a certain address in Sterling Heights, Michigan, just in case t=
=3D
hey
come through....
Soj
Bob Seele on mon 16 jan 12
On Jan 16, 2012, at 12:09 PM, John Post wrote:
Ask to be paid in Lutefisk, that will assure you are dealing with
someone who really lives in Finland.
I checked with my bank.
They will NOT except Lutefisk as a payment.
bs
Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on
the same night.
John Post on mon 16 jan 12
> Ask to be paid in Lutefisk, that will assure you are dealing with =3D
someone
> who really lives in Finland.
>>=3D20
>> John Post
>> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>=3D20
> Give them a certain address in Sterling Heights, Michigan, just in =3D
case they
> come through....
>=3D20
> Soj
I have the perfect place to store them. My neighbor has a monstrously =3D
loud diesel truck that he parks right next to my house even when his =3D
driveway is empty. I could store them under the seats in the cab of his =
=3D
truck when he leaves the windows down in the summer...
John
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