Scam Library @ Virtual Assistant Forums Created
Posted by remoteadminservices on December 7, 2007
I am a member of the Virtual Assistant Forums.
There was a brief discussion regarding scams of late and it was suggested that some form of database should be created so when a Virtual Assistant has any suspicions of a possible scam to check the group and see if there is a pattern or duplicate email.
Bless the owners of the forum that they created a sub-forum for users to post their received scam letters. So far there are only two listings, and my oh my! Mr. Todd Mayer seems to be rather popular today. Let us hope others who kept their old emails will be good enough to add to the list.
Membership is required and I think one has to do an ‘x’ number of posts in order to view this forum. A small inconvenience perhaps, but well worth it and get a chance to network with other fellow VAs.
Jennifer Smith said
Mr. Todd Meyer has resurfaced as Ted Grant in the e-mail I received today. This is what I received:
Hello, my name is Ted Grant. I operate a consultancy
firm here with name and registered address as follows:
Xpress Solutions, 37 old Lilly BLVD, London NE7 9KP.
A client of mine who is due to arrive in the United
States in few weeks time is interested in your virtual
services. Can you tell me a little more about your
mode of operation?
If interested, please reply
Thanks
Ted Grant.
Jen S said
I have a VA website and I have received the same email that is described here from Ted Grant. Thank you for creating this forum and saving me the hassle of this scam!
_________________________
Hello, my name is Ted Grant. I operate a consultancy firm here with name and registered address as follows: Xpress Solutions, 37 old Lilly BLVD, London NE7 9KP.
A client of mine who is due to arrive in the United States in few weeks time is interested in your virtual services. Can you tell me a little more about your mode of operation?
If interested, please reply
Thanks
Ted Grant.
_________________________
Scam Alert: He’s Baaaaaack! « Remote Admin Services said
[...] by remoteadminservices on January 7, 2008 Thanks to a recent comment from the Scam Library post, our illustrious Todd Mayer is now Ted Grant. Kudos to Jennifer Smith for letting us know [...]
Francie Royer said
I have received an e-mail from one Alfred Lombardo. I am so glad I looked up his name as listed on my e-mail. His e-mail says that he has a client who is due t arrive in the US in a few weeks time and is interested in my interperative services, blah, blah, blah. I don’t know how his scam works but I’m glad someone took the time to write a complaint. Thank you.
Phyllis Corella said
I just got one too. He’s interested in my transcription services. I answered him. Curious to see what he says next.
remoteadminservices said
If you checked out the related scam posts. A commenter did reply at one time and you might receive the following response:
If you get something like this, do not reply.
Good luck!
Adele Brinkley said
I received the same email today wanting me to edit over 9,000 pages of documents when his client, Mary Morgan, arrives in the United States. Foolishly, I did reply, but did not give him any specific information. Can someone tell me how his scam works? Thank you.
remoteadminservices said
Good news! The Ink Thinker Blog did a fantastic job in piecing the scam together.
Deb Young said
I received the same e-mail. I have been corresponding with him because I want to figure out how this scam works and how it benefits him. Can anyone explain it?
Cristina Favreau said
Looks like we’re getting the same emails!!!
This is what landed in my Inbox on March 27, from email address tmustmk2@yahoo.com:
Coleen Spalding said
I too have received an email on March 27th 2008 from a Ted Grant initially from tmustmk2@yahoo.com. I won’t go into details how I could have possibly fallen for this SCAM but I did or was just about to. In fact, our communication has gotten as far as me receiving a cashier’s check in the mail today for a rather large amount. This was the final straw that made me stop and think…this can’t be right!
Can anyone advise where I go from here. I obviously need to report this IMMEDIATELY.
I’m guessing I need to contact Yahoo since since he has now changed his email to:
Xpress support services [vixar@yahoo.com]. Do I need to contact the authorities?
I’m also very curiouis just what kind of SCAM this is, does anyone know?
denise said
I found this web site through a google search for vixar services. He contacted me about wanting voice lessons. Music teachers get these scams all the time. What happens is usually they want to send you a very large (and fraudulent, but they don’t tell you that part) cashier’s check for much more than what you are charging, and need you to cash it right away and send them the change. By the time your bank notifies you that the check you deposited has bounced, your cash is long gone and so is the scammer, and you are stuck repaying your bank plus fees. The scammer has your money for nothing.
I have strict policy that I do not give refunds, and that I do not give change from overpayments. Anything over what is due can be applied to future lessons only.
Tom said
Hi all….I found this by searching xpress solutions. I received a FedEx delivery today from this company. In it was a check for $270 drafted form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The number on the check to call is 1-866-301-4656 and when you call that number you basically get an answering machine; after picking option 1 or 2.
The company name on the FedEx envelope is SP Solutions with a Canadian address that doesn’t seem to exist (2006 Old Malone Rd Kahnawake, PQ J0L1B0 Canada, CA)
The stub on the check says:
“Dear Customer, The amount on your check may be a few cents more than the amount you requested. This is due to daily fluctuations in international currency exchange rates. Your balance will always reflect the amount you requested, even though the check you received was for a slightly higher amount. To avoid any unnecessary inconvenience when depositing or cashing this check, if asked, simply explain that this is a payment from a large online service provider and that the funds were sent to you at your request. Sincerely, EPF – Customer Financial Services Hagenauer Strasse 47, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany”
Very strange. I did not request any funds and I cannot find any info on the company or companies.
Anyone else get anything like this or have any advice?
Thanks!
remoteadminservices said
Holy crow that is creepy! Pardon my not getting back to you sooner. My gut reaction in a case like this if you have not done so already is to report it to the authorities. I cannot advise exactly as to whom to contact, but I did find this link that might lead you in the right direction:
http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/scams/a/recol.htm
Good Luck!!