I received an email that is a new twist on an old scam. I've had my share of the Nigerian "Send Me Your Beautiful (insert name of piece)" emails.
The catch is that the amount is always more than the artwork costs, so I must send back the
difference. Now, I don't know how many artists are that dumb or hungry to fall for it, but
apparently there are enough to make the scam worthwhile.
ANYWAY, this new one comes along, and since it's been a REALLY crappy month, and I'm
REALLY bored, I figured "What the Hell...let's play.".
So, what follows is the sequential emails...my comments are in bold maroon.
The eMail That Started It All
Good Day,
I am pleased to contact you, My name is Blossom Scofield, from Brugge in Belgium.
I saw your profile as sculpure teacher,hence, my purpose of contacting you.
I just mail to confirm if my 16yrs old son (James) can join you in your tutor
while he is in US as high school exchange student. It is his desire to be a
carver and I so much would love his dreams to come true and I am ready to support
him both morally and financially.
I will want you to give me the price of the tutor for 6 months as I
will want the tutor to hold either once or twice in a week.Note that my son
once had a tutor in April who lost his wife in a car accident and decided to
stop teaching in order to take proper care of his family.
Additionally, please give me your address or the address of where you
normally teach your students, so that I can have idea of where the lessons
will be taking place, as we are presently out of USA, but arrangement have
been concluded for him to come to USA.
Awaiting your swift response.
Blossom Scofield
My Response
Note that I did not give any personal information. Instead, I wanted to see
if (s)he is paying attention, and what kind of response I got back (not
what I expected, as you'll see, but proof it's a scam).
Oh, and say my "friend's" name out loud...(grinning)
Hello Madam Scofield,
Thank you for your interest in considering me to tutor your son.
It's an honor, indeed, to be asked to foster the budding talent of a young person.
We may have something in common....I have a dear friend by the name
of Matt Bator, a very accomplished wood sculptor, who lost his wife earlier
this year.
Mister Bator was handling things very well, until his right hand began going numb
from overuse, and he was forced to knock off as it was very difficult to manipulate his
wood with no feeling in his hand.
Would this be the same artist you are referring to?
Perhaps you could give me some additional information on where your son will be
living as an exchange student, or are you attempting to enroll him in an area school
based on where his carving tutelage will be conducted?
Thank you once again for your interest,
Sincerely
Lori
Blossom's Response
Well...pretty obvious (s)he didn't read my email. I can't recall telling her
about my abilities or location...
FORM LETTER
All bets are off, now...time to have some fun...
Lori,
Thank you for your prompt response and your readiness to tutor James, my son.
James has elementary education and speaks good english, he is a fresher (a beginner),
just enrolled for two weeks with the other teacher, I mentioned this in my first email,
so he is a fresher. At the moment I want him to learn for 6 months, thereafter we shall
know what next line of action would be, but definately he is going to go further.
James is ready when you are and I am equally ready to give all my support. I spoke
with my husband and we both would suggest twice a week lesson for a begginer like
James, so I want us to settle for this if you think it is fine.
I want to believe this is the address where the tutor shall be taking place, as
I have already told James about this and he is ready to start, I have equally sent
it to my Cousin Steve, that stays in your location and he said to me that it is ok,
he shall be driving James to the lesson and will be picking him up after each class;
he is presently out of USA to Australia and he should be back any moment from now and
will come together with James for the first lesson. I am impressed by your description
of yourself as a teacher and would be glad if you tutor my son.Yes, I want to believe
you are the type of instructor for him at this level.You will not only teach him how
to carve but will also be his role model, I hope you understand what I mean.
(Role Model??? ANYbody who knows me also knows this is terrifying).
As for the price it is not a problem, please let me know how much you charge per hour
and send to me the total amount for six months (twice a week), name to write on your
check, the address to send it to and your phone numbers. I guess a US bank certified
check is alright. James will be ready to live the moment am able to conclude this
arrangement with you, that is, finding a good teacher for him.
Like I said, I am presently living in Belgium due to work, I travel a lot and would
like to conclude the whole arrangement before James would come down, only James would
be coming down and will stay with my Cousin. It is good for me to send the payment to
you from here, as soon as I have the details from you I will do just that and James
will commence with the lesson immediately.You can reach me on 0032484972657 should
you have any question(s).
Looking forward to receiving your swift response.
Best Regards,
Blossom Scofield
Okee Dokee...I Can Plainly See My Response Was Read...NOT
Hold on to your hat...(Oh, and sorry Mom, but I really couldn't resist)
It's going to get a bit off-color, so if you're easily offended, then just
stop right here...
(Poor Blossom)...
Dear Ms. Scofield,
I am very glad you found me a good fit for your son's tutelage.
As to cost - I am highly sought after and have far too many requests for
my services to possibly meet them all. Therefore, my fees are set to weed out
all but the most serious applicants. Per your request for my fees - $1000.00 per
day x 2 times per week = $2000.00. This works out to $10,000.00 per month.
The total for 6 months will be $90,000.00.
Lets see how good (s)he adds. Or, since it's a huge sum,
how much overage I'll be offered...I'm thinking once seeing the total, the greed will kick
in.
Your email has come at a very good time, as I am in the process
of paying for an operation. You see, my mother had a sex-change and
now she's my father, but now wants to become my mother again. This is the
last time the surgical team will perform this operation - they said that an innie, changed
to an outie, can only be changed back into an innie one more time. Fortunately,
she had sufficient breast material for the team to fashion a nice set of testicles,
and there is a good chance of them being transformed back into breasts
("Dad" was never really happy with nipples on his nuts anyway).
Upon receipt of your check, I will tell my Mommy/Daddy (or whatEVER it's calling itself)
to go ahead with the operation. I am hoping there will be enough funds left over for
some counseling, as I am very confused as to my own identity at this time.
Please make the check out to my studio (and could you please send this by FedEx Overnight?):
Hairup Mybutt Studio
69 Upsidedown Dr.
Justbite, ME 06969
OK...let's see if we can start costing her some money. Fake
address means I didn't get the check...dang! FedEx ain't cheap....hehehehe
A cashier's check drawn on a US bank account is requested (I have heard of some scams using
checks, and heard that cashier's checks are safe).
Let's see if I get the expected reassurances that this is legit.
Thanks again for your confidence and may my Gods bless you for your timely request,
Hairup
Bet me (s)he doesn't pick up on the plural, and I start getting
the "I'm a good Christian, too!" angle...that always seems to quell any fears of being
scammed. Riiiiiight....Let's all say "Jimmie Bakker" together now...
I DO hope she keeps playing...I have such a story to tell, and it would be a shame
to "lose" her now...
OK...I have an idea here. If any of you reading this happen to get one of these scam
letters, consider playing. If 100 people can get them to send fake checks to fake
addresses by FexEx at say, $20.00, then we will have cost them a minumum of $2000.00.
Now, if we can convince them that we had a typo in our address, and ask they send
another fake check...well...
Haven't Heard Back Yet
Maybe I pulled my guns out too quickly.
So, I sent a follow-up email...I don't want to sound too desperate,
but I think hinting that I had another "offer" (she'll KNOW it's from another scammer
and there's nothing these people hate more is somebody else poaching their prey...
hehehehe.)
Oh, I hope she bites...pleeeze, pleeeze bite...
Hi Ms. Scofield,
I sent you an email on Oct. 10 detailing my fees and my mailing address.
I haven't heard back from you on this matter as of yet. I do need an answer
fairly quickly, as I have another inquiry much the same as yours, and need
to know how to schedule my time. Apparently, U.S. woodcarvers are held in high
regard in Europe - two requests for my services in the span of a week...
what a windfall.
Thank you in advance for your swift reply,
Hairup
