One of my Favorite ZenCart clients got a large order via e-mail. Unfortunately it was a scam!
Here was the original email (client info has been deleted):
-------Original Message------- Subject: Quote request Below is a list of my order: ((Several part numbers and quantities)) Please come back to me with the estimated total cost of this so I can make my payment via my credit card, so do worry about the shipment to Thailand, I will have the shipment Arrangement for removing these items from your place through my shipping agent. IF YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE GRAND TOTAL FOR MY ORDER AND ALSO OF ESTIMATED WEIGHT OF THESE ITEMS FOR SHIPPING AND WHY PICK ARRANGEMENTS. Custer Trading Company Batty 12/15 Convent Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2 332 8360-3 Fax: +66 (0) 2 331 6268 ------------------------------------------------------------- My ZenCart client told the scammer to use the shopping cart as all info he needed was there. The next email from the scammer had the hook: -------Original Message------- Thanks for getting back to me on time. I will have the order picked up from your facility's. I have made an arrangement for the pick up of this order right from your location through my shipping agent in order to avoid the shipping responsibilities because presently i already have some large merchandise with them which they will be handling the shipping together with the order from your store,so be informed that the shipping agent will be responsible for all the documents and permits required for the exportation of my order they will handle all the tax & custom duties including insurance as well because all will be dully paid for by me . They have got similar items shipped to me here successfully,having discussed with the Shipping Agent , the nature and size of the quantity of these items i was charged $965 for the shipping cost,i will need you to do me a favor as explained below : This shipping agency is presently set up to receive payment via credit card as they are upgrading their credit card facilities,so what am asking from you is to charge my credit card to the grand total cost of the order including the shipping cost,and as soon as the funds is being deposited to your account,you can then send the shipping part of the whole payment to the shipping agency's office via Western Union Money Transfer and their representative in USA will come for the pick up. Here is the breakdown of the total amount of money you are expected to charge from my credit card: TOTAL COST FOR THE ITEMS : $1050.00 SHIPPING FEE : $965 CREDIT CARD SURCHARGING FEE : $100 WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER FEE: $50 THE GRAND TOTAL COST : $2,165 I will send you my credit card number for you to be able to get this full payment charged instantly as well as the shipping fees,the payment would be for both the items and the shipping cost. As soon as I have the receiver information for the shipping fee from the shipping agency,i will forward it to you as soon as the shipping agent receive the shipping fee,they will schedule the time for the pick up once the order is being paid for and ready for collection. PLEASE CONFIRM SO PAYMENT CAN BE MADE TODAY AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. I am waiting to hear back from you ASAP. Thanks for your co-operation. Regards Alan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The text in red is the scam.... You charge the "customers" credit card for about 2 times the order. Then you pay for shipping to an "agent" of the buyer via "Western Union Money Transfer". What happens next your credit card payment will get frozen (if initially accepted) but money you send via western union is GONE! (and you can't get it back)... So beware of new good customers just popping out from nowhere based overseas. The ratio of cost of your goods to the buyers shipping is NEVER 100% (unless you are shipping to the Moon!). Finally, never send any money via Western Union to cover buyer fees! Use a bank wire transfer to receive payment for overseas orders. Use Google to verify overseas addresses, phone numbers, and business names. None of these Googled well: Custer Trading Company Batty 12/15 Convent Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2 332 8360-3 Fax: +66 (0) 2 331 6268 The name Alan Hunter had many Google listings from Thailand so it was impossible use the name to get any useful information... **************** Seller beware! |
1 comments:
Thanks for posting this. I received the same thing from my website two days ago. I do not use a shopping cart, just a contact form to order stuff.
Thanks again.
Bruce
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