Blackmoor Vituperative

I own an IT consulting company in Richmond, VA. This morning I received the following email from someone who claimed to want us to service several laptops:

Hello ,

How you doing,I read your description and i am highly impressed in your services,I have some Hp PCs(Intel Pentium IV) since we currently have a major breakdown on most of our systems and I thought it was best to have a general upgrade and maintenance.(I will be providing the software needed).Below are the things needed to be done one on each laptops:

1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 2
3 Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
5 Adobe Acrobat
6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, CD Rom, floppy, etc.

I will like you to know that my mode of payment is by US certified check mailed and address to you from my employer company since I am presently on a business workshop in Panama city,South American and i want you to know that i will handle the shipment myself since i have a shipper from the state here that will bring the laptops to your place,and will come pick them up as soon as you are done with them.

I should have make this a phone order but i have a network problem of where i am and my shipper will be coming with the necessary Software for the installations of the Computers with both the Operating System,Microsoft Office and the Anti-virus for each computers .

However,get back to me with your last asking price for the 8 laptops. I await your urgent response so that i can put the arrangement in order.

Thanks and hope to read from you soon.

The warning flag here is the “US certified check”. I did a quick search, and discovered that this is a typical “Western Union scam” (not that Western Union is in any way at fault: they are simply being used by the scammers). Here is what the scam looks like in operation:

1. First email

2. ---

3. from    Nicole Bagwell <karenww1@live.com>
4. reply-to        nicoleww1@hotmail.com
5. to      nicoleww1@hotmail.com
6. date    Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 5:00 PM
7. subject PC needs repair and installations !
8. mailed-by       craigslist.org
9.        
10. hide details Mar 28 (10 days ago)
11.        
12.        
13. Reply
14.        
15.        
16. ** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY — AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
17. ** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
18. ** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
19. ** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html
20.  
21.  
22. Hello,
23.  
24. I got your resume on  www.craigslist.org and i was just checking if you will be available to repair and install some applications on 12(Twelve) PC .
25.  
26. Get back to me for details if you’ll be available.
27.  
28. Nicole.
29. Hotmail® is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Find out more.
30.  
31. this message was remailed to you via: serv-xtstn-1063755610@craigslist.org

32. ---

33.  
34. Second email
35.  

36. ---

37.  
38. Hello ,
39.  
40. How you doing? and thanks for getting back to me.
41.  
42. I read your description and i am highly impressed in your services,I have some Hp PCs(Intel Pentium IV) since we currently have a major breakdown on most of our systems and I thought it was best to have a general upgrade and maintenance.(I will be providing the software needed).Below are the things needed to be done one on each laptops:
43.  
44. 1 Format Hard Drive
45. 2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 2
46. 3 Microsoft Office Package
47. 4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
48. 5 Adobe Acrobat
49. 6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
50. 7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, CD Rom, floppy, etc.
51.  
52. I will like You to know that my mode of payment is by US certified check mailed and address to you from my employer company since I am presently on a business workshop in Panama city,South American and i want you to know that i will handle the shipment myself since i have a shipper from the state here that will bring the laptops to your place,and will come pick them up as soon as you are done with them.
53.  
54. My shipper will be coming with the necessary Software for the installations of the Computers with both the Operating System,Microsoft Office and the Anti-virus for each computers and i should have make this a phone order but i have a network problem of where i am.
55.  
56. However,get back to me with your last asking price for the 12 laptops. I await your urgent response so that i can put the arrangement in order.
57.  
58. Thanks and hope to read from you soon.
59.  
60. Nicole.
61.  

62. ---

63.  
64. Third Email
65.  

66. ---

67. Thanks for the mail .
68.  
69. I must confess I’m comfortable with the cost and its quite reasonable and affordable and also,i hope i can trust you that to do a good job.
70.  
71. I will be sending you the payment inform of US certified cashier check mailed and addressed to you and regards to this kindly get back to me with your full information (in the format below)to receive the payment so it can be made out on-time.
72.  
73. NAME:
74. ADDRESS(NOT P O BOX):
75. CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:
76. DIRECT PHONE NUMBER.
77.  
78. For clarity,all the softwares will be coming with the various license and key.
79.  
80. Will be waiting to read your mail soon.
81.  
82. Best Regards!
83.  
84. Nicole.

85. ---

86.  
87. Fourth email

88. ---

89.  
90. Hello Jonathan,
91.  
92. Sorry for my slow response to your mail,I was busy making a call to my employer company in the state as regards your payment.My Employer company just called from the state few hours ago informing me that there is no exact check for your payment.
93.  
94. Mind you, a payment of $2850.00 [which happen to be my salary and  travel allowance  for this month of March] has been issue out in your name from my company and  mail to your contact address in which upon receipt ,you just need deduct your own payment  out of the money and help us to send the remaining amount to my shipper who will be bringing the PCs to you for the installations and repairs.
95.  
96. Sorry for not informing you about this before,I guess things will workout as  well.
97.  
98. Hope we can count on you about the payment and your service.
99.  
100. Hope  to read  from you soon .
101.  
102. Nicole.

103. ---

104.  
105. Fifth Email

106. ---

107.  
108. Hello Jonathan,
109.  
110. Sorry for not getting back to you since.It’s just that am However,the payment has been delivered to you few minutes ago via United State Postal Service( u.p.s) and here is the Ups  tracking# of the payment….1Z95V97V2210004613,you can go to  www.ups.com/us to track the package movement.
111.  
112. I want you to proceed to your bank immediately you get the payment to get the payment deposited and withdrawn immediately you get it deposited.
113.  
114. As soon as you get the payment withdrawn ,i will want you to proceed to the nearest western union outlet and get the Balance sent when you deduct your own payment from the total payment sent to you by my employer company and get the rest money sent to my shipper that will be bringing the PCs over to you.
115.  
116. Below is my shipper information that you are to get the balance sent to.
117.  
118. Name  :  Christina  Lynch
119. Address: 4207 Park Avenue
120. City  : Hot Springs
121. State : Arkansas
122. Zip code :71901
123.  
124.  
125. Please do that immediately so that my shipper can come over to you with the PCs and also to sign/receive the necessary document .
126.  
127. As soon as you get the money sent i will want you to get back to me with the Western Union control Number( MTCN),full sender’s name and the actual amount in USD when you deduct the western union charges.
128.  
129.  
130. Moreover,you can go to any of the below  western union outlet in your area today to get the payment sent and for easy transaction :
131.  
132. VALLEY DRUG
133. 208 EAST MAIN STREET
134. Everson, WA 98247
135.  
136.  
137. LYNDEN FOOD PAVILLION #441
138. 8130 GUIDE MERIDIAN
139. Lynden, WA 98264
140.  
141.  
142. Hope to read from you Soon.
143.  
144. Cheers !
145.  
146. Nicole.
147.  
148. PS…Do get the money sent today because my shipper call me to inform me that she will not be bringing the laptops over if she did not received the money today since she will be needing the money today to settle some bills,for documentation and booking the  hotel room she will be staying prior to the completion of the repair and installations.

149. ---

I hope this information saves someone from an expensive mistake.