Fishy e-mail from a customer... should I be concerned?
 

I handle customer e-mails & inquiries for my dad's business and got this e-mail reply from a customer after I gave him a quote for his request...

Basically this guy is coming from the UK & has booked a limo in Toronto..

-------------------------------

hello Andrew,

However, subsequent to our discussions via messages, i
wish to let you know that i am finally able to proceed
with the payment for our reservations.

I have a loan/claims payment duely processed for and
accepted, through the help of my wife (who is from
Quebec), to enable us purchase a property. It is being
arranged and executed by my financial agents through
my agents in your country. Our submissions have been
evaluated and collated, and i have received
affirmation that it has been approved, pending
release.

The value of my loan is for $150,000
To this effect, i have informed my financial adviser
to effect a part payment to you covering $3,000
directly for the strecth limo , and to send the
balance
payment to me/my family here in london. this is
because if the money is sent direct to me here in
london, it will take a very long time to clear through
my bank (up to 8 weeks), and with the variations in
currency, it will take longer for conversion rates and
all.

This way, i am able to achieve the states goal in
record time because payment is via certified
check/bank draft for immediate cashing, i will need
you to forward to me the following information, which
i can then forward to the agent of the company, to
enable them mail this payment of $3,000 for the
booking of your services:

your full name, contact/mailing address, direct
contact telephone
number, and your bank name,

Once i get this, i will forward to them and instruct
them to deduct your charges ($3,000) from my approved
loan, and to prepare this certified check/draft and
mail to you via express mail immediately.

I will appreciate if you act asap, due to time
limitations on my side. our programme has been
shifted. it now starts on the 20th and ends on the
30th

------------------------------------------------

I'm about to e-mail him back requesting some additional information such as pick up and drop off addresses, hotel address etc and make a few calls to try and confirm this. His eagerness to pay so quickly and so far in advance of the service kind of has me concerned. We never invoice customers until after we've provided the service.

I also find it wierd that he's asking for the bank name in order to mail a check...

This guy could be part of some phishing scam or he could be legit. Does anybody else see a red flag or am I just being an idiot?

It's a known scam.

red flags every where

scammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

If he tells you that much in an Email imagine if he was in the Limo with you!!!!!

He sounds as nutty as a fruit cake:helpme

Scam for sure:(

:2 cents: :2 cents: :2 cents:

bigtime scam

nigerian scam... they will send you fake check and you'll be out of money

Quit testing your scams on us... :)

Sounds that way to me too.

it seems very nigerian scam-esq... but he's not asking for banking info... it's not like there is anything he could do with the name of the bank... unless they try to scam the bank into giving them more info... pretty sure he needs last few of social or biz tax id before the bank will give him any info though... i've had enough of this for tonight gonna work on some other stuff...

dude . dont even think about contacting him in any way . forward the unfo to your local police or just toss it and forget about it. he already has your account number he just needs name addy and bank name to empty the account..

:uhoh...

watched this same scam happen to an ex-girlfriend, but they were pretending to buy your car. They even send the check. it's been around for YEARS.

DON'T DO IT. IT'S FUCKING FAKE. :thumbsup

The silly dick forgot to ask you for your account password.

Lyn

big time scam....

All bollocks SG... dump it.

This guy talks too much.

Scam....

i want to probe him for more info. i'm gonna ask him for a # for either himself in london or his supposed wife in quebec and tell him i'd like to discuss the arrangements over the phone. Need to "confirm" addresses, pick up drop off locations, flight #, airline etc. Hell I can have his supposed wife in Canada call the toll free number. This should be good hearing his reasons for not wanting to give any numbers.

or how bout "in order to protect our limos from international terrorists, we request that you fax in a copy of your passport, driver's licence, photo of yourself with a "fan sign" and your utility bill". please and thank you.

scammin fucks

sounds like a scam to scotty

it looks good to me.. i'd go for it....

I've got this uncle in Iraq, he's working with the Nigerian government on penis creams and female aphrodisiacs... Should I put you in touch?

He is not asking you to send him the balance of the over an over payment (the new twist on the Nigerian 419 advance payment scam). He might be legit and is just expalining to you why you will be receiving a check from a different entity.

I would go ahead with the deal and be sure to take the check to your bank and have it verified BEFORE you render any services.

nothing than lots of red flags

Looks fake to me, HOWEVER. How can they scam you with

full name, contact/mailing address, direct
contact telephone
number, and your bank name,

I mean this is not hard to find from someone....WIth this info, you can't do a thing can you? (at least not in The Netherlands)

Looks very very fishy.

Like I said go ahead with the deal and my guess is that the check will be delivered on a Friday or Saturday then he will contact you with a sick wife story and ask for a refund less whatever your fees is for cancellation. And ask you to send the fund via Western Union because he has to leave right away due to the family problem.

Otherwise if all is well just do the deal and get the check verified by your bank.

Do the deal and report back to us so we can keep on the lookout for scamms...

fucking scam.....:(

I was thinking the same as well unless he's gonna try to contact the bank and try to get info from them... as i said above i think they may at least need the last four dig of the business tax id (not 100% sure though). I mean all the info except for the bank name can be found in the domain's whois.

In The Netherlands even tax id's are listed above invoices....And you can't do a thing with it...

Anyway, I wouldn't 'try them out' tho :)