Whilst catching up with emails one morning, I spotted what looked like an enquiry appearing in my inbox. I opened it, and straight away my alarm bells were ringing! It was a John Lewis Scam!
It was addressed to me (not personally, but in a generic fashion) and claimed to be from Gabriel Jude who worked in the purchasing department at John Lewis. It looked reasonably legit, the email wasnt some crazy @yahoo.co.in or anything like that, in fact they registered the domain;
www.JohnLewisStores.uk & he had gabrieljude@johnlewisstores.uk.
Easy to trick someone not in the know, as a lot of internal/company emails dont use the domain the main corporate website is on.
Amazingly, I had another email almost identical to the first but from Robert Collins, also in the Purchasing Department in John Lewis (apparently) except this email was from robertcollins@johnlewisstores.co.uk, not just .uk.
I guess it’s the same people but i must be on multiple lists? Either way ive replied, lets see if they get back to me 🙂
Email 1;
from: Gabriel Jude <gabrieljude@johnlewisstores.uk>
reply-to: Gabriel Jude <gabrieljude@johnlewisstores.uk>Compliment of the Seasons.
John Lewis Plc is a UK Wholeseller and retailer shop. We are looking for new products to buy, create new partnership with companies dealing with different products.
Could you please send us your catalog through e-mail to learn more about your products and wholesale quote.
We hope to be able to order with you and start a long-term friendly and solid business partnership.Our Payment Terms is within 15 days as we operate with all our suppliers .Waiting for your response.
Gabriel Jude.
Purchasing Department.www.johnlewis.com
Email 2;
from: robertcollins@johnlewisstores.co.uk
reply-to: robertcollins@johnlewisstores.co.ukHi,
John Lewis Plc is a UK Wholeseller and retailer shop. We are looking for new products to buy, create new partnership with companies dealing with different products.
Could you please send us your catalog through e-mail to learn more about your products and wholesale quote.
We hope to be able to order with you and start a long-term friendly and solid business partnership.Our Payment Terms is within 15 days as we operate with all our suppliers .Waiting for your response.
Robert Collins.
Purchasing Department.www.johnlewis.com
As you can see, practically the same even with the same typos.
A quick google of some of the key info and it seems its been going on a while with varying domains and varying success;
- Different domain, same issue: https://www.thebrokersite.com/news.php?a=584
- Different domain(s) same issue: https://www.thebrokersite.com/news.php?a=635
- Same scam, different email wording: https://lkml.org/lkml/2018/5/8/960
- Times article about someone they scammed: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crooks-posing-as-john-lewis-reps-steal-prams-worth-200-000-pwh00kdr5
Remember, if its too good to be true, its probably a scam.