OK, here's another one

Post scam emails to warn other rental owners, or if you are not sure if an enquiry is genuine, put it up here and see what others think.
louiseddie
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:43 pm

OK, here's another one

Post by louiseddie »

Message from Kathy Sams
Hello Owner, how are you doing today? I want to know if your place will be available from 16th of Dec to 20th of Dec.Kindly get back to me as soon as possible.
Kathy

Looks like a scam to me with that greeting and that ending but need your help to be sure! Thank you!
FelicityA
Posts: 2816
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:54 pm
Location: Cotswolds
Contact:

Post by FelicityA »

Really no way of telling for certain yet, although the 'how are doing' thing is what the India based scammy telephone calls usually have as an opener. I would just proceed with caution for the moment. All will soon become clear but of course if through a listing site they may be just phishing for your email address for their next venture .
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greenbarn
Posts: 6146
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 6:41 pm
Location: The Westmorland Dales, Cumbria

Post by greenbarn »

I’d go 99.16% scam.

The name suggests someone with a first language of English, but the message is clearly not written by someone whose first language is English.

Scam markers:
It starts with “Hello” (following that with “Owner” puts the scam-o-meter into the red sector immediately).
“how are you doing today?” A typical non English speaking person’s notion of what an English speaking person would use as a general greeting.
“I want to know if..." another attempt to sound like a native English speaker, but no native speaker would use the phrase.
“...if your place will be available” Two things - “your place” saves having to tailor the scam message to the actual property, and a native English speaker would be far more likely to say “is available”.
“Kindly get back to me as soon as possible” Says it all really.

I’m not sure why my scam-o-meter came up with only 99.16% certainty; I must get it checked out!
FelicityA
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Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:54 pm
Location: Cotswolds
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Post by FelicityA »

Good analysis greenbarn. I was being too generous in giving the benefit of the doubt. Basically, step away from the computer, louiseddie!
louiseddie
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:43 pm

Post by louiseddie »

Thanks guys, and here's our answer! :-)

I just read your message and i want you to know that I am presently in Japan for our company's Project. I'll like to complete the reservation before i get home. I'll make an arrangement with our Accountant to make and mail a Check for the full amount through Regular Mail so we can be assured of our reservation. I don't have access to a bank transfer nor have a paypal account.. I can only instruct my Accountant to issue you a check and send to you for easy cashing at your bank so i hope you can understand. So provide me with the information she need below:

She will need the above information...
Your Full Name,
Billing Address {Not P.O.Box}
City
State,
Zip code
Phone number / Cell phone
Get back to me as soon as possible.....
zebedee
Posts: 1270
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:57 pm
Location: yorkshire dales

Post by zebedee »

So now we know a 0.84% tolerance on a scamometer still provides complete accuracy in its results! :D :D
FelicityA
Posts: 2816
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:54 pm
Location: Cotswolds
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Post by FelicityA »

Aha. Worth it for the entertainment value and the satisfaction that you spotted it from the off and are officially scam-proof.
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greenbarn
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Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 6:41 pm
Location: The Westmorland Dales, Cumbria

Post by greenbarn »

So a standard overpayment scam, cheque drawn on a foreign bank etc etc.
Not very imaginative.... :roll:
Wirksworth13
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 6:24 am
Location: Derbyshire

Post by Wirksworth13 »

Me too - I just read your message and i want you to know that I am presently in Japan for our company's Project. I'll like to complete the reservation before i get home. I'll make an arrangement with our Accountant to make and mail a Check for the full amount through Regular Mail so we can be assured of our reservation. I don't have access to a bank transfer nor have a paypal account.. I can only instruct my Accountant to issue you a check and send to you for easy cashing at your bank so i hope you can understand. So provide me with the information she need below:

She will need the above information...
Your Full Name,
Billing Address {Not P.O.Box}
City
State,
Zip code
Phone number / Cell phone
Get back to me as soon as possible.....
Have a wonderful New Month
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2016 at 2:08 AM
First foray into this malarky
https://www.facebook.com/StayAtStemples/
Wirksworth13
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 6:24 am
Location: Derbyshire

Post by Wirksworth13 »

Just thinking about the reply I would like to send!
First foray into this malarky
https://www.facebook.com/StayAtStemples/
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Casscat
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Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 10:43 pm

Post by Casscat »

I'd probably reply saying: "Yes, a check/cheque will be perfect! I realise a lot of successful, international businesspeople have no access to modern day payment methods. Could I trouble you to make it out for a much larger sum than I have requested so that I can send the 'overpayment' back to you? Is that okay? It's just that I gain a perverse pleasure from being treated like an utter f*ckwit and you would be doing me an immense favour. Thank you *smilie face*"
Ecosse
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Post by Ecosse »

Casscat wrote:I'd probably reply saying: "Yes, a check/cheque will be perfect! I realise a lot of successful, international businesspeople have no access to modern day payment methods. Could I trouble you to make it out for a much larger sum than I have requested so that I can send the 'overpayment' back to you? Is that okay? It's just that I gain a perverse pleasure from being treated like an utter f*ckwit and you would be doing me an immense favour. Thank you *smilie face*"


:lol: however, I suspect the 'subtleties' in the message would be missed and the cheque would arrive all the same.

Still, one less cheque from a stolen cheque book going straight into the bin, rather than to an unsuspecting innocent party is no bad thing...
Wirksworth13
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 6:24 am
Location: Derbyshire

Post by Wirksworth13 »

I said I was unable to accept a cheque from her or her ACCOUNTANT but perhaps one of the thousands that she had attempted to book with might be able to. I also thanked her for wasting my time...........

In hindsight, perhaps too subtle..........
First foray into this malarky
https://www.facebook.com/StayAtStemples/
Stewart
Posts: 131
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:32 pm
Location: Fife, Scotland

Scamming SoB's

Post by Stewart »

The acid test for me is that if they haven't looked at the realtime (SuperControl) booking diary in the cottage site and the enquiry e-mail looks like a "fill the gaps" pro forma, it is a scam. Similarly an insistence to pay by anything other than CC, BACS or PayPal sets of the bells.
Essar
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Location: Bournemouth
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Post by Essar »

I knew it was a scam straightway; scamommymeter not needed,
it was the phrase "how are you doing today?" - English learnt from watching old "Friends" episodes, ticularlee the character Joey!
"Write something, even if it's just a suicide note"
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise"
"As for my amnesia, I've had it as long as I can remember"
Real name: Steve
Gender: Male
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