Vanila / General
Be Aware of Scams - Fake Design Jobs (credit cards)
Be Aware of Scams - Fake Design Jobs (credit cards)
Vanila/General · March 29, 2019 at 12:21amBe Aware of Scams - Fake Design Jobs (credit cards)
Vanila / General · March 29, 2019 at 12:21am (Edited 5 years ago)
I want to share this cause it will probably save someone's time in future by not dedicating time to respond on fake website jobs.
I probably got 10-20 emails like this during the last few years. Some I smell out instantly that are scams by the way they wrote email. Some of them instantly try and ask if you accept credit cards (that's an alert).
This scams are also known under names Overpayment Scam, Third Party Payout Scam, Payment Reversal Scam and Advanced Fee Scam. The Fraud Prevention department at credit card payment processor Stripe put it like this:
Designers such as yourself are common targets for a type of scam known as a Third Party Payout. Essentially, the scammer makes a payment (generally in the thousands) for a project, and pays more than they need so you can then transfer money direct to a third party (e.g. a consultant, graphic designer, etc). I imagine your correspondence with your ‘client’ has been along these line. As I’m sure you’ve figured out, the fix is that the card used is stolen and the third party is actually the scammer. So when the legitimate cardholder disputes the payment the business is left holding the bag on the money retrieved from their account and what they transferred to the scammer.
Why Credit Cards? Well, they probably have stolen credit cards, and wan't to make use of it. You wonder, but how they will get money, cause they pays you?
Well, depends on scammer level, but at one point they will ask you if they can send you more money, and you return them via some other method. Some rush instantly and ask you about that.
Here is example below of the moment he ask for "favor"
“I want to pay the printer some amount to get materials and work started so they can meet up with set deadline but they do not have facilities to accept credit card payment So I’ll add the extra amount to your deposit and once everything clears into your account, you will take your deposit and help me send the remaining amount to them the sum of $3,390 i will be responsible for the credit card charges and tax and there is also a $100 tip for you.”
However, this one I missed to recognize, and it took me quite good amount of time to respond properly on emails and even build proposal for him. Honestly, it was my fault cause I didn't Google his email instantly. I had chaotic days of multi tasking, and even I had that in mind to Google it, i felt tired, lazy in that point so I didn't. And that cost me spending time and hoping of getting that cost effective project ^^.
Initial email from scammer
Name: James Kruse
Email: [email protected]
Hi, i am James, i would like to know if you can handle website development for a clothing store?Get back to me so i can send you the details.Thanks!
Than after my response of asking to share more details, he sent this:
Hi Stefan,Thanks for getting in touch. I would like you to review the details and get back to me with any question you may have.Here is the project details, well i have a small clothing business for both male and female which i run here in Nebraska, now am trying to expand the business and i want you to build an informational website for it for advertisement, drive traffic to my physical location, and to increase my sales rate..so i need you to check out this site but i need something more perfect than this if it's possible http://www.missrebel.co.uk. the site would only be informational, so i need you to give me an estimate .The estimate should include hosting and i want the site to have not more than 5 pages ,since it is informational. I have a private project consultant, he has the text content, images and the logos for the site.Note:1. I want only English language2. I don't have a domain yet but i want the domain name as Nobleclassicwear.co3. You will be updating the site for me.4. I will be providing the images, logos and content for the site.5. I want the site up and running before ending of next month.6. My budget is $2000 to $5000Thanks,James
Next time you get email for potential work, be sure to research with who you are talking with, by looking for his full name and email on Google.
They shows unders this names and emails (will be updated):
Name: James Kruse Email: [email protected]
Name: Kent Walter Email: [email protected]
Name: Luis Lee Email: [email protected] Phone: (732) 893-0731
Name: leon gregory Email: [email protected]
Name: james morgan Email: [email protected]
Name: julian johnson Email: [email protected]
Name: Dan Larry Email: [email protected]
Name: Charles Rodwell Email: [email protected]
Name: Michael Thompson Email: [email protected]
Name: David Dojcak Email: [email protected]
Name: Willie Jame Email: [email protected]
Name: Able Jay Email: [email protected]
December 16, 2019 at 9:13pm
Phone image of Home desired to be designed.
Phone License. Researched a Wisconsin license. The second photo should not be blackened out. It's crazy how they go these lengths to scam.
My apologies for the grammatical errors. It pissed me off more to tell the story. Yes, a $100 tip was insulting. Who needs a tip with a 12% contract on gross build-out?! The Dummy. :-) However, it's important that people are aware. I hope my detailed post will help someone else. I called the police fraud department, my bank, and QuickBooks for advice. Not one entity was familiar with this scam. I just kept searching and came across this page. Thank you for the person that started this thread. Merry Christmas. Let's be safe on our journey as we provide good service to honest clients.
Oh, and his phone number changed (3) times in two weeks. The phone dropped in water; it was the excuse. Right! He used Google voice. This will make it hard for anyone to find him.
Almost forgot... His email address was [email protected]
December 17, 2019 at 6:04pm
@dionne I am sorry to hear that you were almost a victim of this scammer.
I believe he took you quite good amount of time and energy, because at the first you believed it was a real. Same for me, he took me time and energy for talking with him, creating a professional proposal and so on. My bad that I didn't google his email right away.
That is one of the reason I created this thread, so other people who Google it can find this post and realize it's a scam before even respond to him.
Thank you for sharing this story as well, with his details and email. This will help further people who search for it and confirm that is about credit card scam/fraud.
Take care and all best in future!
December 17, 2019 at 9:03pm
April 27, 2020 at 4:58pm
Hi Stefan - I just received an email from Joseph A.Styler - and decided to google as it sounded fishy. Thank you so much for posting and creating this thread. Saved me time and a headache.
+
The initial email was this one:
+
Joseph A.Styler <[email protected]>
Greetings, I'll like to know if you can handle Brochure and Logo Design for my personal company? Kindly get back to me so I can send you more details regarding the full scope of the project.
sincerely Joseph A.Styler Sent from my iPhone
+
I asked for more info and got this:
+
Thanks for the prompt response. Am Joseph by name and got your information from Clutch.co. I only have little details then you can decide on designs but I want the color to consist of Black and Gold with an image of an ancient chair. I want a very mature and presentable design and my budget for this project is $3,000- 3,500 .
For the Brochure, I want a double folded 8.5"x11 brochure and I can only supply the text content and photos but all are with my project consultant but the logo and brochure will be designed by you and the due date for the project is 12th of June 2020. The company name is LAREDDO’S FURNITURE INC and is based on importing and exporting of furnitures.
Thats all i can provide from my end and I need a more perfect Job. Kindly let me know the total cost of the Brochure and Logo Design if it will cost more than I budgeted.
NOTE: My website is still under construction and will be completed soon.
April 28, 2020 at 11:07pm
@bean Thanks for sharing your experience and scammer messages here. As you can see how helpful was for you googling that email and finding that its scame, instead spending days on creating proposal and who knows, maybe get scammed at the end.
I am glad you found it and that this topic served the purpose of creating it.
May 9, 2020 at 7:52am
Hi there! It’s been a while since I wrote anything last time. But I have a question. Have you ever heard about avisualdesignllc company? They sent me an email with amazing offer. But asking for filling up some weirds forms like what is my Facebook account name, Instagram my marriage status etc. Questions that they don’t need for working together. Have you ever met them or have you ever received an email? :)
May 9, 2020 at 11:17am
@kolkowskimikolaj That's very suspicious.
@kolkowskimikolaj Those Facebook/Instagram/marriage questions are like someone would like to hack you and steal your identity and money, social engineer you, or it's like FBI or government that has direct access to Facebook data
those are not related to any real jobs
May 9, 2020 at 1:09pm
@xet7 Yea. The first form was like name, last name, phone number, email Facebook address so it is like... ok nothing to hide. But before anything asking people about IDs again, data again, payment method etc. It made me think. Sadly to late, because they already have my name, surname and social addresses, however, nothing what is forbidden or secret :p so... I guess it will be fine. I will let you know If they say anything about this licence number to prevent this happening in future. Thank you!
May 10, 2020 at 5:07am
I received and email a few weeks ago - Hello, I'm sun wills and I'll like to know if you can handle Brochure and Logo Design for my company.
Kindly get back to me so i can send you the details in full. Thank you.
email: [email protected]. I went back and forth with him for a while. And after agreeing to a 8k quote (I was suspicious) he asked a favor for me to pay his project manager but he couldn’t use credit card wanted to use check. I then googled and came across this - THANK GOD! I wasn’t going to pay his vendors but if I had taken any payment - who knows what would have happened!!
Oh yeah he was going to add 4K for his project manager (Conveniently 50%) and 3% more for fees.
May 13, 2020 at 1:20am
So happy I found this! Also happy to know my gut was spot on.
When I pushed to set up a call, he texted me. So then I just called him and could barely understand a word he was saying. Happy I didn’t waste too much time, but now I’m PISSED!
May 13, 2020 at 5:23am