I don't know if any of you have encountered this email, but apparently it is being sent out to artists:
"Hello,
I am Page Jocelyn, i came across your items on the advert website and became interested in ordering from you.
i will like to inquire on the items you have for sale because i will be buying it for my new apartment.
I will like to see different pictures of the types of Items available and my method of payment is by Bank Cheque.
Hope to hear back from you soon.
Regards
Page Jocelyn"
After several emails back & forth my husband made it clear to her that we have a website that she can look at and choose the art that she would like to purchase. She decided on a painting and agreed to the price. We gave her the address that she should mail the payment to, and she said that she would. Then today we received an email from her saying that her financial administrator had sent us a check that was meant for someone else, by mistake, but that we shouldn't destroy it or send it back but deposit it. This put up a red flag for us, so we "googled" her name and a dialog came up indicating that there are several other aliases used for the same scheme. If you deposit the check, they would have your bank information. Of course we will not deposit it (if and when we receive it), but just wanted to know if anyone else has had this experience.
Comments
Jacki,
Having a private or unlisted number does nothing to stop those robo type calls. They are set up to call all numbers that are connected to a certain prefix. My number is 853-xxxx. The robo caller will call all numbers beginning with that prefix whether it's private, unlisted or not.
I had friends years ago when we lived in New Orleans that moved to the Florida panhandle. I lost track of them. When I wanted to contact them I googled them or whatever search engine was available back in the mid-90's. I found both of them---address, phone, city, state. I called and reconnected with them. Her husband was a sheriff's deputy at the time in Florida and asked how I got their number. I said I found it online. She said, "so much for having an unlisted number!" So unlisted and private don't even protect you from being found online, or at least at that time it didn't. They had a private number due to his work but it was not fool proof.
$1500 per unsolicited phone call? Why am I working? I could be rich on all the calls that come into this house. We have an unlisted phone number yet we must get several calls a day. Life alert, home security systems, lowering my credit card interest rate are the ones I get the most. Sometimes I have messed with them. For the home security system it says that one of my friends has referred me. So, when I finally got a human on the line I asked which of my friends referred me. If someone really did using the person's name would be a good selling point but they have no name. The person said to me I don't have access to that. Another time the robo call said that due to the high number of break ins in my area it would be a good idea to buy a home security system. When the person got on the line I acted like I was all scared about the break ins happening all around me. I asked them where were these happening and how close to my house are all these break ins. Of course, what can they say? Pretty much, we just let these calls ring and we don't answer them. Thank goodness for call ID.
We did get one phone call where the person told my husband that our computer was in danger and he had to get in front of the computer now! He thought maybe I called someone to fix my computer. A few days earlier I had mentioned that something was acting funny. Since I was home he handed me the computer. This guy was very bossy and was talking to me as if my computer was going to blow up the city. I knew that there would be no way that he would know if my computer was in danger. (They make house calls?) So, in quizzing him to see what he was trying to do I finally asked him what exactly was wrong with my computer. He said if I tell you will you get in front of your computer? I said no, I will call my brother in law who works for Unisys. And then he hung up. The bad thing is these people trick people into following their orders. If it never worked they wouldn't waste their time doing it.
I meant to put the link in - https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_for...
The emails don't bother me much but I absolutely hate getting interrupted with a bogus phone call. All of our phones, including the cell phones are on the do not call list. Anytime I get a solicitation or scam phone call I immediately file a complaint with the FCC. One complaint doesn't do much but if many people are reporting the same type of call the FCC will investigate. The FCC also allows you to charge $1500 per phone call in violation of the do not call list. Good luck getting it but I find that answering these phone calls with "where do I send the bill" generally results in no repeat calls better than asking them not to call anymore.
I never open any email when the subject line starts with "Re:" unless it's someone that I have been corresponding back and forth with already!
They probably know you are good at getting the word out to a large quantity of people already! After all, you have all of use!
A friend received one of those calls. She's strictly a Mac user. She strung the guy along with "following directions" and supposedly logging into their web site until it was time to power down and restart the computer. Of course the start up noises are completely different. The guy just hung up on her after hearing the Mac start up ;-)
I got the Microsoft Customer Service call a few years ago too.
I told the guy the funny thing was that I had a Mac Book! He asked if anyone in my household had a Microsoft based computer. I told him I had one but I deliberately disabled it from being able to get on the Internet because it's for design only! He told me to have a good day and hung up Hahaha
Did any of you get this one:
Re: Great Offer in Qatar.
In response to our expanding operations in Qatar, we need the services of construction professional to work with us and actualize our
Corporate goals. Consequently, we need Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, Electricians, Masons, carpenters, Landscape Architects, HSE
Engineers, Crane Operators, Plumbers, Heavy Equipment Operators (drivers), HVAC Technicians and engineers, Foremen and supervisors,
accountants, Teachers, Computer Scientists, secretaries and administrative officers. Our salary is attractive and accommodation is
assured.
If interested, apply by attaching your CV (resume) and application letter to this email:
medgulfconstruction.companywll@yandex.com
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Joshua James Fiore
Human Resources Manager.
On the other hand, maybe they thought I was a construction worker, doesn't seem they are looking for any artists. Sorry, folks.
I received a similar message and referred them to my website. Also mentioned I do not use second shippers. So many of these have poor English grammar. Even though I am familiar with the variation of spelling, they generally give themselves away in other ways so there is rarely a question. Delete. I love the phone message about "Have you traced them yet". Pure genius. LOL Love it!
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