FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2008
Have You Safeguarded Your Sign Business From This Persistent E-mail Scam?
Have You Safeguarded Your Sign Business From This Persistent E-mail Scam?
14 Ways To Instantly Spot The Red Flags Hidden Inside Your E-mails
Sign businesses across America are still being targeted by a growing number of e-mail scams. Unfortunately, some sign shops have already fallen victim costing them thousands of dollars out of pocket.
And since these internet thieves usually live abroad in places like South Africa, there’s virtually no chance of getting justice. Once you know what to look for, you can easily spot these e-mails a mile away. Here are a couple of recent examples copied and pasted with all the misspellings and grammar mistakes;
HELLO CURTOMER SERVICE,
MY NAME IS REV.BILL HUFFMAN AND I EMAILED TO FIND OUT IF YOU SELL BANNERS AND IF YES..CAN YOU GET ME A CUSTUM SIZE 30 INCH BY 30 INCH AND THE TEXT COLOUR SHOULD BE IN RED WHICH SAYS “Save The Children” WHILES THE BACKGROUND WHOULD BE WHITE. ...EMAIL ME WITH THE PRICE OF 70 PCS PLUS TAX.. .. .SO THAT I CAN AND PROVIDE YOU WITH MYMATSER CARD TO BILL FOR THE WHOLE AMOUNT. AND AFTER PAYMENT WHEN EVER ITS READY FOR PICK UP IT WILL BE PICKED UP AT YOUR LOCATION..WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
BEST REGARDS.
BILL HUFFMAN
And here’s another …
Hello,
My nam eis Rev.Mac Roger and am contacting to know if you make wood signs with the attach file,and size 8"x24".So i want you to give me a Quote on 100 Qty with the below spec:
- A solid wood signs with letters cut in or out
- It must need block, serif or decorative lettering
- I want you to provide me the sign structure
- I need a wooden sign thats painted on or has vinyl on it
- The lettering words are (but as for me and my house.we will serve the Lord)
Moreover i want you to give me a price Quote 100 qty which is going to be delivered in the Church Orphanage Home in West Africa (Ghana), and also advise me the method of payment you do accept.Hope to hear from you soon with your contact cell phone number were i can reach you for more info.Stay Bless!!
Rev.Mac Roger
Peace Chaple Church
Since we’ve received so many different e-mails like this, we’ve identified 14 common traits that can help you easily avoid falling into this trap;
- Is the e-mail from a “Dr.”, “Reverend” or “Pastor”?
- In the top “To” line of the e-mail, does it have another sign shop’s e-mail address?
- Is the quote request “Urgent”?
- Are they “polite” throughout the message?
- Does it mention the signs are for a church, orphanage or other non-profit entity?
- Is the English “broken”?
- Is there a quote request for a quantity of several pieces? (50, 100, etc.)
- Are they asking, “What method of payment do you accept?”
- Do they ask for your name and/or phone number when it’s already available on your website?
- Are they making a request to pick up the order at your location even though it seems as if they are out of the country?
- Does the e-mail say they will make some sort of shipping arrangements?
- Do they leave out their contact information?
- Do they refuse to give up their phone number no matter how many times they are asked?
- Do they ask you for the Authorization Code from the credit card transaction (so they can access your account information!)?
So if you get an e-mail like this, what should you do? Of course, that’s entirely up to you but we just mark and delete these e-mails as SPAM because we’ve learned first hand that any action you try to take beyond that is a complete waste of time.
www.signsRus.com
7360 Cross County Road, Suite 103
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: 843-552-5252
E-Mail: sales@signsrus.com
Website URL: www.signsRus.com
