Thursday, February 26, 2009

Internet Scams: Fake Orders and Freight Company Inquiries

Below is an e-mail tread that tracks the evolution of a scam. It's from a Larry Wedge, who suggest he's a business person in Sweden. I became suspicious after he asked that I e-mail a very generic sounding address about getting freight charges. He then called me 3 times on Tuesday, and 3 times yesterday. After I sent him the e-mail asking for detailed info, he stopped calling. Notably, what number did he call from?

Larry's phone number: +233278525083

I looked it up, and +233 may be the country code for Ghana. Quite far from Sweden!

Wikipedia has a nice article about how these scammers string you along, and eventually get your money:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_fraud

Stay clear.

.....................................

Hi Larry,
Thanks for the call this morning.
We need a few things here to move forward. I need this information to complete required paperwork here in my office. I appreciate your time on this.
1) What is your office telephone number in Sweden? Do you have a company website?
2) What is the name of the shipping company, its address, and its contact info?
3) Do you plan to use the messenger bags as gifts, to sell them in a store, or something else?

We appreciate your business.
Thank you,
Jason

On Feb 24, 2009, at 2:51 PM, larry Wedge wrote:


Hello
I will like to order 200 Qty of the bags@ $7,998 I will like you to contact (exportfreightco@gmail.com) with your store location, the total weight on the bags , the delivery address below and request for a freight quote. Please let me know how much it will cost me in totality to have these bags order and shipped.

Stortorget 2-4,SE- 831 30
Ă–stersund (Sweden)

Kind Regards
Larry Wedge

--- On Tue, 2/24/09, Jason Solarek wrote:
From: Jason Solarek
Subject: Re: Special Order.......
To: larry.wedge@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 4:14 PM

Dear Larry,
Thank you.
To confirm, you'd like this bag:
Correct?

Since you are ordering 200 bags, you are eligible for a special discount price.
Normal price:
Discount price:

We do accept credit cards. Credit card fees are not included in this discount
price, and credit card processing fees are added to the discount price. We
appreciate your understanding. We also accept checks, although this may take
longer to process.

How would you like to proceed, sir?

ps–How did you hear about us?

Thank you!

Jason


Jason Solarek


On Feb 23, 2009, at 2:04 PM, larry Wedge wrote:

>
> Thanks for your reply ,And i went through your website and i will like to
order Amsterdam Airport Netherlands AMS Messenger Bag with the price of $39..99
and i will like to order 200pcs and i will like you to email me back with the
total cost for the 200pcs excluding freight cost..Hope to hear from you soon
>
>
> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, Jason Solarek wrote:
> From: Jason Solarek
> Subject: Re: Special Order.......
> To: larry..wedge@yahoo.com
> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 6:41 PM
>
> Hi Larry,
> What items would you like?
> Can you please send me a website link to the item you'd like?

>
> Thank you!
> Jason
>
> On Feb 23, 2009, at 11:53 AM, larry Wedge wrote:
>
>> Thanks for you email,And i will let you to email me back with the
price of each so that i will let you know quantities i need from you Thanks
>>
>> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, Jason Solarek wrote:
>> From: Jason Solarek <
>> Subject: Re: Special Order.......
>> To: "larry Wedge"
>> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 2:34 PM
>>
>> Dear Larry,
>> Thank you for writing me.
>> What location would you like written on the bag?
>> How many of the bags would you like?
>> Thank you!
>>
>> Jason Solarek

>>
>>
>> On Feb 23, 2009, at 5:52 AM, larry Wedge wrote:
>>
>> > GOOD DAY,
>> > MY NAME IS LARRY WEDGE AND I AM LOOKING TO ORDER TO
SOME(Travelling Bag
>> Model No.:CTO905) WHICH WILL BE PICKED UP FROM YOUR STORE.THESE
(Travelling Bag
>> Model No.:CTO905) ARE TO BE
>> SHIPPED TO MY NEW COMPANY IN (SWEDEN) WITH THE
>> SHIPPING I WILL RECOMMEND A SHIPPING COMPANY TO YOUR LOCATION FOR THIS
PICK UP
>> ,CAN YOU GIVE ME THE PRICE OF THE (Travelling Bag Model No.:CTO905)
THAT YOU
>> HAVE FOR SALE.
>> >
>> > DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARD FOR THIS ORDER?
>> >
>> > HOPE TO READ FROM YOU SOON AS THE QUOTE IS READY.
>> >
>> > COMPANY NAME: Larry&Son..Co.Ltd
>> > COMPANY ADDRESS: Stortorget 2-4,SE- 831 30 Ă–stersund (Sweden)
>> > COMPANY LOCATION:
>> Sweden
>> > THANK YOU,
>> > LARRY WEDGE
>> >

15 comments:

  1. Michelle from England sent me this message this morning:

    Hi Jason,

    I’m writing to thank you about your blog about the internet fraud scam involving “Larry Wedge”. If it hadn’t of been for your blog coming up when I google searched the address, we would have probably pursued the sales lead.

    Many thanks

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jason,

    Thanks for the info. I did a search on the email address exportfreightco@gmail.com and came up with your page. Seems like this person is trying to pull a fast one on us as well. He went by the name Richard Morrison in our emails and gave a phone number of 206-984-4422.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Richard Morris" is still at it. He's still using exportfreightco@gmail.com Thanks for the heads up!
    Dan

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the blog warning about this person. I also received a very vague email requesting info. We don’t offer products/quilts on our website; we are quilting retreat/event planners so I was immediately suspicious about what he actually wanted to order.

    Rhonda B
    www.BeSewCreative.com
    -----------
    suspicious email below

    Dear Sir/Madam,
    This is Richard and I will like to order (quilt)..Do get back to me with the types and cost for the ones you do carry and let me know if you accept credit card for this order,Kindly get back to me with my request..

    God Bless You.
    Richard & Son's Co Ltd,
    Phone# 206-984-4422
    richardmorrison3080@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. i just got one myself:

    Dear Sir/Madam,
    This is Richard and I will like to order (mabef)..Do get back to me with the types and cost for the ones you do carry and let me know if you accept credit card for this order,Kindly get back to me with my request..

    God Bless You.
    Richard Co Ltd,
    Phone# 206-984-4422

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Jason,
    I just received a request for information about our Bamboo-bag products from a "Richard Morrison" with the telephone # you gave. We are a very small business and I am most grateful to you from preventing a wild goose chase or worse!
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello Good Day,

    This is Brent Terhark With regards to your Company i am sending this email Regards to order some (freezer drawers),i will like to know the type and sizes you have in stock and get me the sales price of one so that i will tell you the quantity i will be ordering, and if you accept credit card as a form of payment..hope to read from you soon about my order request......

    With Kind Regards.
    206 984 4422
    God Bless America
    Brent Terhark


    Changed name but not phone number

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got the same letter, but with the name changed to Richard Print. He called me and when I asked where he was located, he replied "Out of State".

      I am thinking of emailing a link to this website. :)

      Delete
  8. the above from Brent is an example of spam–ironically posted on a blog about spam! watch out for the Brent's of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I got the exact same email from Brent Terhark today, almost 1 year after that post... Course it didn't say freezer drawers but everything else was exactly spot on.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi , i just got the same email and wording but lookin for planters, thanks for the heads up on this scam .

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just received an email from Brent Tehark today & an order for over $5,000 of weaving Looms, asking if he could use credit card; THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE HEADS UP!!
    Rose Line Weaving

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just received the same email from Brent. It didn't say freezer drawers but everything else was the same.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I got email from David May,

    Dear Sir / Madam
    >>>>
    >>>> Am Mr. David i got in contact with your company to see if you sell
    >>>> ( Lights
    >>>> ) , if you do i will like you to email me with the picked up price
    >>>> including tax and if you accept Master or Visa credit card as a
    >>>> form of payment, but if you don't have this type kindly email me
    >>>> with the types that you have or the one nearer to the one am
    >>>> requesting or you can direct me to you website so i can see what you have for sale.
    >>>>
    >>>> Best Regards
    >>>> Mr David May
    Woodmead Willows Bridge
    # 19B Morris Street,
    East Woodmead 2191 South Africa

    He then order the products after have me getting a very high shipping cost to South Africa through a fake Zimline freight email address he supplied..
    he paid with credit card and the payments went through.for over 10K USD
    now the zimline freight want us to wire the $2700 shipping fee to Ghana before shipping. he keeps calling me with a cell phone that breaks up and can't understand him. I am not sure if he used a stolen credit card of an address from Wisconsin or what.
    beware I am not sure how this ends up yet but it can't be good. will not be sending any funds or product and not sure what happens to the credit card funds he charged?

    ReplyDelete
  14. December 23rd, 2014 and they are still at it. Using the name Garry Cook at the moment. Please always google the person/company if you are unsure about any order.

    ReplyDelete