Monday, October 31, 2011

IMPORTANT!!! ALL SELLERS BEWARE!

There's a scam artist out there trying to get you.... and his emails go a little something like this... I have copied and pasted mine in here so you get the idea...... (When he realized I was on to him, he went back and deleted the ones he had sent to me- but the dumb ass forgot about my sent box!)

Day 1:
On 09/30/11, John Benson johnbenson1990@hotmail.com wrote:
Hello,My name is John Benson,I want to place an order in your store,I will like to know if you ship to Philippines .Do you accept credit card?.Get back to me with your website/price list.I will await your prompt response.
Best RegardJohn Benson
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011
From:
To: johnbenson1990@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Order Inquiry
Hi!
Sorry.... when I first looked at this it almost looked like a virus?! I hope I am wrong!

Yes I can send to the Philippines. And you can order from my store here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Katiesclaycorner
I do believe you can pay with a credit card directly there! Thank you for your interest!

Katie:)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On 10/12/11, john benson wrote:
Dear Katie,

Good to read back from you . below are the Items I want to order,

Birdhouse- Dollhouse Miniature
50 Quality

3 Miniature Birdhouses- Dollhouse Miniatures
50 Quality

SHIPPING ADDRESS
1)My Customer's ID # : D7LO231101LOP
2)Delivery Full Address:
16 Ayala Avenue,
Makati City,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1226

Concerning the shipment,the likes of UPS,FEDEX and POST OFFICE always don't take care of the charges down here. Charges like handling, customs duties,tax etc. I have experienced such situation before and I don't want to be the victims of such a thing again. I will be glad if you contact this freight forwarder LECH TECH LOGISTICS for shipping quote.The shipping company will arrange the pick-up of my order from your store,so you don't have any stress to face in shipping processing at all.Here is their email address ( lechtech44@gmail.com) ,Not that I can't deal with the shipper directly,but they always prefer to deal with the store where they will be doing the pick up in other to reduce the customs duties and other charges.They have a way of preparing their shipment documents whereby the custom duties payment on this goods will be reduced and if I wanted to pay for the custom duties and other charges, at times it is 40% of the whole package amount.I do trust LECH TECH LOGISTICS ,if not I wouldn't have recommend them for my shipment.They are very reliable and fast.They will take care of everything including Handling, Customs duties,Tax, Insurance etc.Contact them to obtain a quote and get back to me in the format bellow:

COST OF THE ORDER
COST OF THE SHIPPING FROM LECH TECH LOGISTICS
TOTAL COST (ORDER + SHIPPING)
Once I have these details from you, I will get back to you with my credit card information,so you can charge and make the necessary shipping arrangements.
Regards,
Benson

NOTE:The freight company will need these 5 information to get you a quote,so provide them with the details bellow:
1)My Customer's ID # : D7LO231101LOP
2)Delivery Full Address:
16 Ayala Avenue,
Makati City,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1226
3)Pick Up Full Address : PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS
4)Weight Of The Consignment : PROVIDE ORDER WEIGHT
5)Momentary Value Of The Consignment : PROVIDE ORDER TOTAL COST
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011
From:
To: johnbenson1990@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Items Needed.............................................................Contact Shipper

Hi John,
After I picked myself up off the floor, I'm really going to have to re-read this again. I'm sorry... I've never had an order this big, and am a little speechless right now...... I honestly thought this was spam from the beginning......

I can totally understand the customs issues and will contact lech tech log. and see what I can find out on my end. When I ship stuff overseas, I try and mark it as a gift so people don't have to pay that charge........but then again I generally only ship a few at a time....

As for your order, which birdhouses are you referring too...... I make several kinds and several colors..... What did you have in mind.

I usually don't check this account, but now that I know I'll be expecting another email from you.. my next reply won't take so long... Sorry about that!

Thank-you!

Katie
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

On 10/21/11, john benson wrote:
Dear Katie,

Have you Contact Lech Tech with this information i gave you?Remember Lech Tech ( lechtech44@gmail.com) will need all this information below

1)My Customer's ID # : D7LO231101LOP
2)Delivery Full Address:
16 Ayala Avenue,
Makati City,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1226
3)Pick Up Full Address : PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS
4)Weight Of The Consignment : PROVIDE ORDER WEIGHT
5)Momentary Value Of The Consignment : PROVIDE ORDER TOTAL COST

Best Regard
Benson
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011
From:
To: johnbenson1990@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: RE: Items Needed.............................................................Contact Shipper

Hi Benson...

I have Not contacted them yet, because I am still unsure of what it is that you want so I don't know how big the box would be or how much it would weigh. Nor do I know how much it would cost because I am a little unsure of what birdhouses you are referring to. I make several and I make them as I go, generally no 2 are the same. Once I get a little better understanding of what you want, I can call them with a better understand of the information you want me to give them. If you go to my store site you can tell me which birdhouses you are requesting?

Katie
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On 10/25/11, john benson wrote:
Dear Katie,

I just got your email right now,Just give me any good ones that can make me happy and get back to me Asap thanks a lot.


Best Regard
Benson
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
And it was about right here when I found out that the whole thing was a scam.......
which you can find here:
http://stopartscams.blogspot.com/2011/02/scam-email-andrew-roundy.html
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Well Hello MR John, or whatever your name really is....

I have Googled your Lech Tech and Found a wonderful site explaining who you are and what your up to.... and I just wanted to say Thank-you for F*ck*ng up my week. You know I am a single Mom with a really bad Heart trying to take care of 3 kids and when I saw your order I was so proud of myself. I can NOT begin to tell you how crushed I was when I found out the whole thing is a scam! Shame on you!!! What a terrible thing to do to people! Didn't YOUR Momma teach YOU any better? "Just give me any good ones that can make me happy"..... what kind of crap is that? Well Buddy..... Try this some where else..... My chest hurts, my feelings are hurt... and Now I'm Pissed! Thanks!

Best Regards my Ass!
Katie


What a Joke!
Like I said......
BEWARE OF PEOPLE LIKE MR. BENSON! Or whatever his name really is......

20 comments:

rosanna said...

Dear Katie, I receive mails of this kind almost daily and I immediately throw them away.
They usually ask me to send things in strange places, difficult to reach and to control.
I am very sorry for your grief,this kind of people deserve the worst.
A good hug from me, Rosanna

The Old Maid said...

I am so sorry to read that, Katie!
Your miniatures are great and I am sure I am not the only one who loves them. Stay proud of yourself and your works, no matter what.
Hugs to you

Margriet said...

I'm so sorry this happened to you!!
Hugs, Margriet

Norma Bennett said...

Oh dear, what a shame you had to waste time and energy on this little scam. The first alarm bell goes off when a business (LechTec) has a Hotmail address, you certainly did the right thing in Googling it. I suspect what they really want is your address details, it's probably not about the product at all. Sending you a big hug, a really squeezy one!!

Caseymini said...

Katie, I have had several letters like that in the past and I don't even have an etsy shop! I wonder where they get their mailing lists. It is obviously a large operation. It is a shame that these people don't just go out and earn their money like the rest of us! Thank goodness you found out in time!

Flora said...

I am very sorry for your misfortune, indeed: Thanks for sharing all the information. I am also a mother, and even if I have a wonderful husband, we both know how hard it is to go on every day, with dignity and sacrifice, so you have my full understanding of your current state of mind :-(
Mini hugs, Flora

Whittaker's Miniatures said...

WOW Katie this is shocking! GOod for you with that reply, made my day, and unfortunatly he hasnt been brought up any better and will try it again the arse! I dont believe people like this and dont know how they sleep at night, and people who put viruses on PC's too, they are all scum! Lots of Hugs Kate xxx

cockerina said...

dear, sweet Katie, honey, do not be distressed, these people of shit is trying to fool anyone, but is too stupid! Many in the world have already discovered the scam, you bless the sky because you've noticed he!
read here:
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?p=130130
I receive every day letters testamentary to want to give me millions of $ unless I know them .. madness!
the important thing is knowing that we are strong and resist temptation.
no one really gives anything!
these people just want to get to your credit card, then, be careful to respond to their letters "bait" ...
anyway, thanks for having given news!
kisses, Caterina

A. Wright said...

Wow Katie I'm so sorry to hear that you got caught up in this garbage. I'm glad you went looking into it and didn't get scammed. Thanks for sharing to alert others.

(rofl - the CEO of my former employers name is John Benson, I knew that guy was up to something)

Mary said...

Katie, I'm so sorry that you have been through so much unnecessary stress. What a horrible scam, get you excited about a large order and hope that you don't notice that they don't really care about the product at all. I'm glad that you recognized it for what it was and didn't fall for it. Thanks for warning others, that's the only way to end this kind of scam. Try not to let it upset you too much, take care.

Tabitha Corsica said...

Artisans (especially those who have an online presence) should be very suspicious of buyers who request a large quantity of merchandise, sight unseen. It might be very exciting to receive a request for for such a large order but bona fide dealers seldom, if ever, work that way.

Most people figure these things out before they've invested a lot of time or lost merchandise/money in this way but there are always enough who fall for it to make it worthwhile for the scammer...

Thanks for the warning, Katie!

Kathi said...

Thanks for sharing this Katie. I'm sorry you had to endure the disappointment. Your one of a kind miniatures are WAY TOO WONDERFUL to be stolen!
Shame on him!!!!!

Rosamargarita said...

Oh Katie, siento leer que lo has pasado mal, aún cuando hay más personas buenas que malas, las personas malas se las ingenian para hacernos pasar malos ratos
Recibe un abrazo

Lady Jane said...

Years ago when I was making things to sell on busy bee crafts. I received a similar happening. Mine was from Nigeria. It is so disappointing to realize there are such jerks out there. My hubby hated to burst my bubble but he said ignore it. I did what you did looked up the co on the internet and was very unhappy to read all about these scams. I am glad you didnt get caughtup in it. Cheers, LJ

Witchkrafting with Kat said...

SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME LAST WEEK WITH A 'CUSTOMER' WHO TURNED OUT TO BE JUST A CON. REALLY UPSET ME SO I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. BEST WISHES TO YOU AND I HOPE CARMA GETS THIS PERSON!

Anonymous said...

I received the same email today :(
Lucky I google his email address and found this.
Im so sorry this happened to you.
A thousand thanks for the warning, Katie!

Lena said...

Thanks for sharing this information, Katie!
I am sorry this was happened to you.
Hug Lena!

Sans! said...

Good thing you did with this warning post. Your work is fabulous, so take heart. There is always similar scams like this for all kinds of businesses. When things seem too good to be true, they usually are.

I am also thrilled to read that the little one is already 13. :). do you know I still have everyone's names on my mailing list ..lol. From the time I posted the legos :). Please give him a birthday hug from me.

I am glad I can comment again on your blog.

Ana Anselmo said...

That's terrible!!!! Thanks for telling us!
hugs

Anonymous said...

oh no they are still going I got one today from a David Mark will they never leave us alone??