Find Your Flower Shop Network received emails from the Connecticut Florists Association and Michigan Floral Association this morning about the same scam. Florists should beware of any email or phone call wanting the florist to provide flowers that will be picked up by a private shipper. Below is the scam florists are receiving.
[SCAM MESSAGE] I am Marc Gluckman by name and i will like to order for 4 big bouquets flowers for my UNCLE wedding and i want the price range of $300 per one Approximately 26″ W x 41″ H and the color should be in bright summer color, it will be pick up by a private shipper on the 19th of december and want them arranged in vaces so can i have the total cost that now so that i can pay with my card now so i want you to get back to me with your contact phone number and also with the total charges and if you are available on that day so that we can make the arrangement.
We have dealt with this scam as well about 2 months ago. The caller posed as an operator for AT&T who was supposedly reading a typed message from a hearing impaired caller . They wanted us to make 6 large bouquets for $300.00 each for a wedding. The arrangements were to be picked up by a private shipper. Basically we were asked to bill their credit card # the cost of the arrangements and the private shipper’s fee and then go to a Western Union and wire back the money of what the shipper’s fees were. These scammer’s tried this with us 2 times. After the first call we alerted all of our employees to this scam and fortunately didn’t fall victim! The old saying is “If it sounds too good to be true it is!”
There is an email going around as well – it’s requesting wedding planners but they have been sending it to anyone connected to weddings. I got sucked in and responded, but when I received the last email when they asked me to look after all financial because the travel agency didn’t have the capability – that sent off the red flags and bells. I responded “nice try” and that was the last I heard.
The email will look something like this:
I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who
will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of
people who will be attending the wedding ceremony. The wedding is
expected to hold on the 7th of November 2009 and 50 guests are expected
to attend.
As I do not know what the guests might choose for
their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for
this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you. You
are to arrange for a venue for the wedding (its a civil wedding), a
place for the reception ,Videography, Music
Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any items
that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company
can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much
time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region
more convenient for you and us. I look forward to your reply
After many emails this was the one that clued me in:
Hello,
Good to read from you. I am glad to tell you that we have concluded all payment arrangements. I will send to you my Visa credit card details that will cover the cost of our booking, and the necessary arrangement for the guests.. Moreover, we also made an arrangement with a logistics agent who will take care of all the guests logistics to include.
1) Flight bookings
2) International Airport transfer
However, because of security reasons and confidentiality reposed on you and because they do not have credit card facility, I have decided that only YOU will have to handle the credit card information. So, once you receive my visa card information, you are required to charge the total amount of {9,500 Dollars + bank charges} then deduct your deposit, which is {1,500 Dollars},and send the balance of {8,000 Dollars} to the logistics agent whose information will be forwarded to you once this is confirmed. So confirm this.
Also get back to me with the below for record purpose.
Full Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
You are also to deduct the visa fees and taxes involved in processing this amount. PLEASE CONFIRM IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OK AND REPLY PROMPTLY TO ENABLE US PROCEED. I’ll send you the requested information in receipt of your ability to meet this arrangement.
Best regards,
Jones.
we also had a request from a at&t operator they wanted 20 dz. long stem roses in a vases wanted to know the price for this also wanted our e-mail to talk to us so i gave it to at&t. then the client sent me a e-mail wanting me to also send 950.00 to western union for a delivery service to pick- up the roses . we deliver duh!!!! so it was a scam to get $950.00 out of us my replay was “the roses are no problem but we offer delivery so no delivery service was needed” that was the last time i heard from them
I dealt with the person thru the operator who was working with a hearing empaired about 2 months ago, the credit card they used would not go thru , i tried it 3 times and the person on the other end ended our conversation with “My credit card is good!” but lucky for me I didn’t understand the western union thing and the caller wanted silks to be sent to Georgia. I haven’t heard this before until I checked this out.
THIS IS ROBIN FROM THE ABOVE COMMENT, THEY CALLED ME ON 10/12/2009, THE LADY THAT WAS USING THE CARD, SHE SAID HER NAME WAS KIM LEAH, SHE WAS USING A VISA , WITH THE EXPIRATION DATE OF 02/10 , LAST 4 DIGITS 5451 , SHE WANTED TO SPEND 1700.00 DOLLARS ON HER CHARGE, SHE WANTED IT SENT TO GEORGE WORLEY AT 3441 RUTHERFORD ST., GREENILLE S.C. 29622. SHE GAVE ME HER EMAIL DKR485@YAHOO.COM, SHE WANTED IT SENT WESTERN UNION, ON 10/20/2009, THIS CARD WOULDN’T GO THROUGH SO SHE GAE ME ANOTHER A MASTERCARD, WHICH EXPIRES04/10 THAT CARD ENDING IN 7529. THE RELAY PHONE OPERATOR NUMBER WAS 1-800-855-0000 STARTING AT 9:29AM. I SPENT ABOUT 3 HOUR AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE HER FOR MY TIME ONLY 15.00 BUT THERE WASN’T ENOUGH FOR THAT EITHER. I TOOK GOOD NOTES IF ANYONE WANTS TO PRESS CHARGES.
I had the 4 Large wedding bouquet call by ATand T operator for a hearing impaired person. I\’d never received a call like this before. They wanted 4 arrangements at $300.00 each for daughters wedding and wanted to arrange for pickup by private carrier. I told the operator we deliver that there was no need for private carrier to pick up. The person was typing online to att operator. She responded to them with my message and then they went off line. I stayed on the phone with operator for a few minutes longer when she told me then that that has happened serveral times in last month. She knew it was a scam and called it out anyway because they are required to do so. It\’s a shame people use a system for the hearing impaired to try to scam others.
I received a Phone call as well from someone posing as a TTD operator for a Dr. Ken Loop whose Daughter was to be married on June 12th and needed 4 $400 dollar vase arrangements that were to be 41 inches tall and 26 inches wide in bright colors. I private shipper would come and pick the arrangments up. I had a lot of trouble with the operator, I managed to get the “deaf Persons” email address(kenn_loop02@yahoo.com) I wrote him and told him I would be more than happy to fill the orders and I would take his credit card # via email. He told me He needed me to do him a favor, his carrier would not take his credit card and could I western union this carrier $2500 dollars. I did not respond.
You were smart to check out the validity of the caller.
I run a wedding flowers business from home and use a phone with caller ID. I have had this person or persons try to contact me three times in the last week. I did not answer the phone when I saw it was an 800# as I thought this was very usual. Caller did not leave a voicemail on any occasion. I’m glad I found this information here! Thanks!
So here it is June 22, 2011 and we have gotten the email scam above…We are in Pennsylvania and we are just now getting these emails….I got the red flags when the items were mis-spelled and the wrong grammar is used. I just dont understand with the email addressess and all the technology why these people arent caught and put out of business?? Something to watch for .