This one was a bit random, I sussed something was up straight away but wanted to get some info out the guy, so played along for a bit. 🙂
It all started with an email;
On 29 October 2015 at 12:05, Aline Faltas <sambornetals1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello Good day,How are you doing? Please advice if you do web design and also advice if you accept credit cards.
Thank you and expecting to read back from you
Regards
Aline Faltas
Pretty bad english, and the note about credit cards looked a bit dodgy but I played along 🙂
On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 12:52 PM, Olly <olly@X.X> wrote:
Hello,Yes and yes.
Let me know if you require any more information.
Regards
Olly
Didn’t take him long to respond! Hmm, copy and pasted perhaps? 🙂
On 29 October 2015 at 12:56, SamboMetals <sambornetals1@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks for your swift responseHere is the job details
I have small scale business which i want to turn into large scale business now it located in TN and the company is based on importing and exporting of Agriculture products such as Kola Nut, Gacillia Nut and Cocoa so i need a best of the best layout design for it. Can you handle that for me ?. so i need you to check out this site but i need something more perfect than this if its possible .http://www.agroamerica.com.… the site would only be informational, so i need you to give me an estimate based on the site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting and i want the same page as the site i gave you to check out and i have a private project consultant, he has the text content and the logos for the site.
Note:
1. I want the same number of pages with the example site i gave you to check excluding videos and blogs.
2. I want only English language
3. I don’t have a domain yet but i want the domain name as yourtopfarmproduce.com
4. you will be updating the site for me.
5. i will be proving the IMAGES, logos and content for the site.
6. i want the site up and running before ending of NEXT month.My budget is $2000 to $4000
Kindly get back to me with:
(1) an estimate
(2) your cell phone number
(3) And will like to know if you are the owner?Regards
Aline Faltas
At this point, I was questioning whether or not this was real – his first contact with us was dodgy, but this seemed fairly normal, there were a few bits of the email that I wasnt happy with so rather than answer everything I made him aware of some key points;
On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 12:58 PM, Olly <olly@X.X> wrote:
Hello,It is unlikely we could get this live for the end of next month for a budget of $4000.
Please let me know if there is any room to move the deadlines or budget.
Regards
Olly
Then, they sent me this and it was at this point that it went from a 20% possibility of it being a scam, to a 50% chance of it being a scam. Or maybe the chaps English isn’t too good?
On 29 October 2015 at 13:03, SamboMetals <sambornetals1@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks for your response,I am okay with the total cost.. everything sound good and I’m ready to make payment now with my Credit card
I replied;
On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 1:41 PM, Olly <olly@X.X> wrote:
Hello,You misunderstand.
I cannot do this job in 1 month for $4000.
Make it $7,500 and we may be able to help.
Regards
Olly
To which I got a response that was a bit confusing, it almost lowered the probability of it being a scam by 10%
On 29 October 2015 at 17:49, SamboMetals <sambornetals1@gmail.com> wrote:
Ok how long will it take you to complete the job if i pay $7,500???
Hmm, thought I would be straight up with the guy just in case it was a paying customer;
On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 9:51 PM, Olly <olly@X.X> wrote:
Hello,Being realistic, it would take us up till the end of the year.
And anyone that promises otherwise is probably lying 🙂
Regards
Olly
Then, BOOM;
On 29 Oct 2015 23:46, “SamboMetals” <sambornetals1@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks for your response,I am okay with the total cost.. everything sound good and I’m ready to make payment now with my Credit card.I understand the content for this site would be needed so work can start asap.. but i will need a Little favor from you and the favor is that I will send you my credit card to charge for the sum of $16,500.00 plus 3% Cc company charges, You will deduct $7,500.00 for the design of the website plus extra $100.00 as a tip for handling perfect work for me and you will send the remaining $8,000.00 to the project consultant that has been handling all my consultancy and she has the text content and the logo for my website so once she receive the $8,000.00 she would send the text content,videos and logo needed for my website to you..
I would have love to make the payment directly to her,but she dont have the credit card facility to accommodate.so work can start asap,Sending of funds would be after my payment clears into your account.
Kindly get back to me so we can proceed with payment as soon as you ready to make a start.Best Regards.
As if by copy-and-pasted magic, here came the payload!
Ive seen similar scams before, but not heard of them targeting UK based web design companies!
Hopefully no one will fall for this as its clearly a scam, they have probably stolen a credit card or bought a number off the internet and i would bet my years salary that the “Consultant” is actually him with a wig on.
Please let me know in the comments below if you have received an email enquiry like this, and ill publish the comments to hopefully help other people avoid being ripped off by Aline Faltas, with the email address;
BTW I did reply after his last email;
To: SamboMetals <sambornetals1@gmail.com>
Hi,
No thanks, scammer.
Kind Regards
Olly
Until next time! 🙂
EDIT: 10/08/2016 – Our Sambo metals scammer has struck again!
I was emailed by an individual who was on the receiving end of this scam but via a slightly different angle – Read here!
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