Recently my area rug cleaning business was targeted by a scammer.
Now even though this particular scam is used to victimize area rug cleaners, variations of it have been used on carpet and dry cleaners around the world.
Take a quick read through the email I was sent and right after you do I’ll show you how it breaks down:
*******************************************
From: john ben <”scammer1″@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:00:33 -0700
To: (withheld to avoid harvesting by spambots)
Subject: rug cleaning
Goodday
This is john ben, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in WI USA down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to BC now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in WI USA to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regards,
john ben .
*******************************************
Okay, let me first say that I just cut and pasted it exactly as it was sent to me (complete with punctuation and grammar errors). It’s only one of at least a dozen attempts I’ve had so far this year.
It’s a slick attempt to sucker me in to feeling bad for this guy and help him out. A lot of red flags come up with this email which I’m sure you spotted – but that’s not the point.
What’s important about this example is that it shows scammers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. You can see how they targeted it directly to my type of business. They spun a story in an attempt to make it believable in order to get me to respond. Even though this particular example reeks of fraud, you can count on this evolving to the point where the fraud will be more difficult to detect.
This scam really is a world wide problem. Here is an example my friend Andi from the UK forwarded to me:
*******************************************
Forwarded Message —-
From: peter boboe <”scammer2″@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 14:41:52
Subject: Rug Cleaning Needed !!!
Hello good day this Michael Wilson i would like to know if you do rug cleaning at your shop and accept credit cards actually am relocating from my old house down to your city and i would like to know how much will 10 x 14 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet,i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,the private delivery guy can have the rugs move down to your shop for the cleaning,Actually i wouldn’t be able to do the delivery and pick up due to the nature of my illness but have made a booking with a private shipping guy that will be delivery the rugs to your end and pick its up after you have the cleaning done is that understood and let me know the type of credit card you accept also email me with your shop address.
email me at “scammer2″@hotmail.com
Best Regards,
Wilson
*******************************************
Both these emails are just a variation of what’s known as the “Check/Payment Processing Scam.”
There are two ways this scam works, one with a credit card and one with a check.
First the credit card version
1) you get an email requesting a quote on rug cleaning
2) You email back with a price
3) you get a request for your telephone number (or you just get sent another email)
4) if you give out your telephone number there is a good chance you’ll get a TTY call (telephone service for hearing impaired) where an operator acts as a translator for the two of you. Or you may just get another email
5) Either way the scammer is looking to build up trust, tell you they accept your price and give you a legitimate credit card number to cover the payment plus some extra to cover shipping
4) You process the card (which will run through just fine) and after that you are requested to use Western Union (key factor – no recourse) to send money to a private “shipper” so the rugs can be delivered to you for cleaning
5) No rugs ever show up, the credit card turns out to be a stolen number and you’re out any money you sent the “shipper” which is the whole point of the scam
The check cashing version
1) you get an email requesting a quote on rug cleaning
2) You email back with a price
3) They tell you that they accept your price and will send you a check (i.e.money order, cashiers) to cover the payment plus the shipping
4) You receive the check and after it clears you you are requested to use Western Union (key factor – no recourse) to send money to a “shipper” so the rugs can be sent to you for cleaning
5) No rugs ever show up, the check turns out to be fraudulent and you’re liable for the bad check (and out any money you sent the “shipper”) which is the whole point of the scam
What you may not realize is that if you cash a fraudulent check you may be guilty of passing a counterfeit check, money laundering or worse. Clark Howard did a piece on his radio show about a man in California who was arrested for cashing a bogus check. In other words, by merely attempting to cash the check, you could go to federal prison.
http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2006/09/21 ( scroll down to: How the BOA blunder went down)
So, the check you receive is no good, even though it appears to be a legitimate cashier’s or other type of check.
Most fake checks look so real it’s been reported that bank tellers are being fooled. High quality printers and scanners can make checks look real and some even contain authentic-looking watermarks. These counterfeit checks can be printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. Even though the bank, account and routing numbers listed on a counterfeit check may be real, the check still can be a fake.
These fakes come in many forms:
* cashier’s checks
* money orders
* corporate
* personal checks
If you deposit the check and wire the money, your bank would soon (several days to as long as 6 weeks) learn that the check was a fake. And when the check finally clears the system and bounces, you’re out the money because
* the money you wired can’t be retrieved, and
* you’re responsible for any check you deposit — even though you can’t know whether they’re fake or genuine
The recent troubled economy has created a lot of desperate people which helps explain why the Federal Trade Commission wants you to know that counterfeit check scams are on the rise.
So here’s my question to you:
What do you think we can do to prevent this scam from claiming anymore victims in our industry? Have you ever received a scammer email like mine? I’d like to hear your thoughts or comments on this topic – so be sure to leave a reply in the section below!
56 Responses to “Area Rug Cleaning Scams – Can You Help Stop Them?”
I’ve had this scam attempt no less then a dozen time now.
Looks like they are getting better at this and are also targeting dry cleaners. The reason this works so well for the cleaning industy is that rugs costs hundreds of $ to courier around the country.
How bout if you cut and paste any solicition letter onto the blog,.. lets figure out how to stop these crooks dead in their tracks!
Dusty
http://www.rugbadger.com
866 885 7847
Hey there Dusty,
This scam is so tiring. We don’t get letters, we get phone calls from a supposed deaf person. We get called at least once a week. The thing is when a person is using Relay to communicate there is no way to stop them. This is their way of getting around us knowing who they really are. The callers pretend to be hearing impaired and I’m certain that the Relay Operators are as frustrated as we are. As soon as I tell the “caller” I’m aware of your scam…..they hang up. What a surprise.
I don’t know how to put a stop to it other than making sure all that do rugs and even those that don’t are made aware. And if we would all stop talking to them that would help too. I know in the states that the authorities have been contracted in several states but there really isn’t much to be done about it. Until of course you have been suckered.
Kati
Here’s an email response the day after I had a “hearing impaired relay” phone call with this person. This was May of 2010.
Once we asked for their contact info, we never heard from them again.
Hello Mike,
Thks so much for taking your precious time with me on the relaycall , i really appreciate it . Much as i would have really loved to give you a call directly, i can`t cause am hearing impaired and my husband that would have done that is presently in the hospital `cause he had accident last week. Pls send me your full address where the shipper would be delivering the rugs .
What i was trying to explain to you on the phone when i called was that i would really be needing your assistance, i will like you to do me a favor cos the shipping agent that will deliver the rugs does not accept credit card and they have not been paid and i will undergo a surgery in 2 days time,that is why i want you to assist me with this.
I will give you my credit card to charge for the amount of $1,450 out of which u`ll keep $400 as deposit and help me send the $950 via western union money transfer to the shipping agent that would be delivering the rugs, as well the remaining $100 will be western union transfer charges and when you finish the cleaning services, you`ll write me an estimate and i would either be paying you the balance in either cash or credit card when i come around to pick up the rugs from you after my full relocation
Thks so much once more as i anticipate your usual swift response in due course with an update.
Warmest Regards,
Hilda Williams ( Mrs )
It must work somewhere or else the scammers would change tactics. We just report the emails as Spam and when we get the TTD calls, we just tell the operator it’s a scam and the caller hangs up. Since we started telling the operator it was a scam first thing, we haven’t been called since.
I gave the emailer the address of the Watsonville Police Department to send the check to.
We have received several of these by email and relay phone calls, often receiving several each day. We responded to the last call and the last two emails (copying a friend who works for the local police department) as follows, “We appreciate your request, but due to the nature of your request, we believe fraud is involved and we have forwarded your information to the local authorities.” It seems to have stopped the calls and the emails–at least for now–and we haven’t received one in several weeks since.
Maggie, that’s rich!
Yes even in Alaska we get this garbage…..so far they have been easy to recognize and we have not lost any thing but a few minutes of time. That being said tho I also would be interested in a way to filter them towards my junk mail but these guys have all the right words to get by the spam filters…..On unwanted mail I just write not at this address and when they get it back the post office chargesthem for another stamp and they quit most of the time. I am open for any ideas…..
Dusty & Fellow Cleaners
We’ve also been targeted a number of times via email.
Seems like this guy keeps busy hoping to lure an unsuspecting company in. Hopefully he isn’t having an success.
Jeff
Expert Cleaning Services
Calgary,AB.
http://www.expertcleaningservices.ca
We also have received the same emails n phone calls here in Idaho and I know of a rug cleaner in Bozman Montana that has received them I also gave them twin Falls police address I have made calls to most rug and carpet cleaners in my area warning them that’s all I know that I can do
Last month someone called us and wanted us to clean a bunch of rugs i mean a bunch of high value rugs
but before they brought them in we would have to send/ wire then a check for the Lead and then we would have to fax a I9 form and then we would receave the rugs! I asked where could we see them first with a bid! and then they hung up on me and they never called again i tried to trace the call but it was not the nunber was not available .
We too have gotten the call and email and the rug cleaning. Only once though. All the details are the same as I have read in the other comments. I like the idea of giving them the address of the local police department! I think that would be a good start to get some pressure on them.
Rug Cleaning Macon
carpet cleaning Macon
a funny thing happened to me today i recived an intresting email today first time ever:
Hello,
This is Barry Barton,i will like to know if you are available for Upholstery Cleaning,Stain Removal,Rug cleaning and Water Damage Restoration now because i just brought a house and i want to do the general services of the whole house.
Please let me know if you have time for it and do you accept credit card payment for service,thanks i will be expecting your reply back asap.
Best Regards
Barry.
the girl in the office didnt know who this guy is so she anwered the email:
Hi Barry,
Yes we cover all those services by qualified technicians to IICRC standards and would be happy to give you an on site no obligation quotation at your convenience – Melbourne metro area. If you are outside this area, we can pass on a reputable contractor to assist.
Regards..Sandi
his answer back was:
Hi,
Thanks for your reply back,i need your help i just brought the house and i want all the house service done because have be looking for a good specialist for that and can you go into the house and write me an estimate for that.
Let me know so that i can give you the full address of the house,i also need a little favor from you because haven’t make the full payment for the house am still owing the Formal owner of the house sum of $3000 to balance up and do you accept credit card for deposit payment,i will be expecting your reply back asap.
@ this point i sow the email and told her not the answer back thank god i sow dusty’s email this morning. they are now in melbourne australia
Here’s a sample from the Oz Forum, if anyone cares to log on over there, there are many receivers of this.
Post new topic Reply to topic http://www.australianforums.biz Forum Index -> Carpet Cleaning
View previous topic :: View next topic
Author Message
Kath_ADSAM
PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:56 am
Post subject: Email Scam
Be aware of emails from mark_pil@yahoo.com
We had one today asking about carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning services required for a house they just bought. They asked if we could charge their credit card $4,000 and then could we wire the $3,000 back to the previous owner… in Nigeria, saying that he had a disability and his uncle would come and meet us to give us access to the house.
PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:02 pm
Just got this one from the same people.
Hello,
This is Barry Barton,i will like to know if you are available for Upholstery Cleaning,Stain Removal,Rug cleaning and Water Damage Restoration now because i just brought a house and i want to do the general services of the whole house.
Please let me know if you have time for it and do you accept credit card payment for service,thanks i will be expecting your reply back asap.
Best Regards
Barry.
So it’s not just the rug industry, but also the carpet cleaning industry, and, no doubt, many other service industries world wide.
And the sad part about it is, YES, they will catch some unsuspecting idiot that thinks he or she can make a quick buck.
Take care,
Shortestwun from the land down under.
I just got an email from mark_pil@yahoo.com
he is also targeting Driving Schools now
On 15/09/2010, at 2:41 PM, mark pil wrote:
Hello,
This is barry,i will like to know if you are Driving Instructor for driver lesson because i just brought a car for my son as birthday gift present and i want him to learn car driving from you,the car types too.
What is your lesson fee charge and i will like to give you my credit card for the payment also let me know the % surcharge fee transaction for the credit card payment too,i will be expecting your reply back asap.
Got a call today & they used the Relay Service for deaf persons. Same deal – 15 10×14 rugs. They hung up after I told them it was a scam. Thanks for the heads up!
Kurt Gilbertson from Orlando sent me a message, “It’s a dead giveaway when they say they have 15 rugs all the same size!
Seriously, I have send messages to the BBB of American and Canada suggesting they get an alert out to all their members, but alas not a peep out of them. I guess they are more interested in collecting dues from their members then protecting from scams :(
I got an email from a scammer here in the UK.
I decided to string him along for a bit to get his hopes up, and when he asked who to send the cheque to, I said send it to my “business partner” Mr J Edgar Hoover, and gave the address as the FBI Hoover Building.
It gave me a little laugh :o)
I was wondering if I was the only one getting these calls. I had the same call 4 times. They were using the Relay System for the hearing impaired. I suspected it was a scam, thanks for the info.
yes i have received the same thing i think it came from craigslist
i posted an add and then email were poring in.
I also was a target of the same scam, same scenario of 15 rugs all the same size which is suspicious in itself. When I insisted on seeing them, there was no real need to do, “Just do your normal great job” was the response back. When I received the credit card information, we ran it and the amount was verified and deposited. When I asked to speak with the shipping co. which was also out of state, I got another Telephone Assisted Operator. As my suspicions kept growing and the complications mounted, I contacted the local authorities. Though they thought it was a scam, there was no active pursuit and they seemed to have cared less.
I had told the party to contact me after the weekend to insure that the monies were in fact there, however it was readily apparent that all of this was fishy. I instructed all my staff that if they called back on Monday that we have notified the local police and they hung up after an interesting comment by the operator who said, “good for you!”
Apparently these operators know full well what is going on but can’t say or do anything. However, it would seem to me that if there was any suspicious activity going on, that possibly these calls could get monitored and recorded. I hate the thought of Big Brother listening to all our calls, so I am ambivalent about giving up this right.
We inform the caller that all credit card transactions have to be completed in person at our office. We avoid any possible ADA complaints &/or violations.
Larry
Sorry you got almost scammed, I led these scammers along one time and even recorded the TTY phone call. I told the scammerthat I processed the 15K to their credit card,(that is what I told them the charge would be, but of coarse i did not really process the card #)
The scammer was then very insistent that I send then back the “shipping” charge by western union and were on me for days.. of coarse what i was doing was getting as much info on their address for receiving the western union monies and then I gave it all to the local authorities of the state in which the check was to be wired. Funny part was when I got a couple of calls back through the TTY operator and the scammer started to call me a ripe off and was going to prosecute me because i had not sent the western union payment.
I never heard a word back as to if the authorities did anything with the info. I am guessing nothing was done. I continue to be appalled at the continuing criminal activity and hope that everyone will continue to get the word out to other cleaners so they don’t fall victim to this fraud.
Perhaps when a TTY call comes in, we should announce that “due to a recent outbreak of fraudulent TTY calls, this call is being recorded.” Watch how fast they hang up…
I have had 7 phone calls in the last month and I tell them I do not accept credit cards and they hang up . I am tired of them wasting my time. Let’s figure out how to catch these losers !!
Mike
Good one Mike, that will certainly get them to hang up in a hurry.
What do you think about using this as an opportunity to network with other carpet cleaners and dry cleaners!
I’m gonna do up a bit of a press release about this and go around to some of the carpet cleaners and dry cleaners in my town to build up better relationships.. perhaps this would lead to some more referral relationships with them,, YOUR THOUGHTS on this?
Dusty
I have received several of these phone calls and e-mails telling me that they have a 9 x 12 and need a price I send them the price they return with an e-mail saying the price is satisfactory
that I want to send me a certified check take the amount of 12 Orientals out and forward the balance of the check to their shipping company. what I did was get a return to them telling them that it is a scam and I’m going to pass the word.
thank you keep up the good work let’s keep the scam artist out of our business
I read this last week and was so intrigued I read all the replies..good thing I did…. because this showed up in my mailbox this weekend! Much Thanks Dusty, For keeping us “in the know”!
Subject:
rug cleaning
From:
aprilwhite71@aol.com
Date: Sat, Aug 21, 2010 12:03 pm
Hello good day this is april white and i would like to know if you do rug cleaning at your shop and accept credit cards and are you the owner or the manager, actually am relocating from my old house in WI down to your city and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically am just moving in, and i am at the hospital right now because i so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,the private delivery guy can have the rugs move down to your shop for the cleaning asap.
Here is a note that I just received in an email regarding this scam, apparently it is still alive and strong. Has anyone else seen this scam pitch lately? If yes please cut and paste it here.
Dusty
PS, Konrad, thanks for the note and the compliments, I am hoping this attention will help to protect our industry.
***************************************************************
Hi Dusty:
Here is another version of that carpet scam. Let you readers know about it.
Best regards
Konrad Quinn – Service Manager
Jaiko Cleaning Services
PS – Love the e-mails, info and insight
—– Original Message —–
From: Tom West tomwest000@yahoo.com
To: rvmontague@gmail.com
Sent: Sun 05/09/10 11:15 AM
Subject: Fwd: Rug Cleaning
Good Day,
This is Tommy, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in WI down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved down to your city and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in WI to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regards,
Tommy.
another one, unbelievable :(
****************************************************************
dateMon, Sep 6, 2010 at 6:45 PM
subjectRug Cleaning !
hide details 6:45 PM (5 minutes ago)
Hello good day this Michael Wilson i would like to know if you do rug cleaning at your shop and accept credit cards actually am relocating from my old house down to your city and i would like to know how much will 10 x 14 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet,i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,the private delivery guy can have the rugs move down to your shop for the cleaning,Actually i wouldn’t be able to do the delivery and pick up due to the nature of my illness but have made a booking with a private shipping guy that will be delivery the rugs to your end and pick its up after you have the cleaning done is that understood and let me know the type of credit card you accept also email me with your shop address.
Best Regards,
Wilson
I just got this in my in-box this AM
these guys just won’t give up :(
******************************************************************
Goodday
This is Hope Newton, i will like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in WI, USA. down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to MB now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in WI, USA. to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regard
Hope Newton
This is just a variation on the same story…
“I am in Iraq. I got Sadam’s money. I need your help to get it home”.
“I am dying widow and need you to help me invest my money”.
“I am somewhere else from where you are and I need your help with work”.
“I want to buy your car but I am not there and I need you to send the extra to the courier”
It all is the same. It does not matter the reason, it does not matter the story, it does not matter if you are trying to sell a car, someone wants you to do work, or if they say you just won 2 trillion dollars…
DO NOT EVER FOR ANY REASON EVER, EVER, EVER USE A MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE TO SEND MONEY TO ANYONE THAT IS NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE AND YOU SPOKE TO THEM ON THE PHONE TO VERIFY IT IS THEM… EVER… FOR ANY REASON!!!
Western Union = scam
PERIOD!
I agree Mike, if anyone requires you to send them money via western union it is a scam.
btw, looks like the BBB will be getting out an international alert on this to members around the world now.
In order to avoid scammers make sure you are dealing with the trusted or known Rug Cleaning company and do not ever disclosed your credit card information online to unknown agent it will be much better if you pay them directly or get some go to their shop and pay them the service fee. And if you get scammed report them to proper authorities so they won’t victimize others.
Great advise West Palm. Thanks for the note.
Dusty
We average about three of these per week — either email or TTY. I used to waste my time with these communications, but no more. I just hit delete or won’t accept TTY calls.
If they want to pay you insist on Western Union payment in full plus shipping. This way you can’t be burned that I know of … and you’ll immediately shut them off cuz their scam won’t work.
Good day
This is Daphne Newton, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in IL down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to FL now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in IL to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regards,
Daphne Newton.
Here’s another example of the email they send. We received a few of these emails like above the past couple months. When there are 15 rugs all the same size, and no spell check being used, and cleaning area rugs is a priority over your health, it becomes pretty evident this is a scam. I just delete them.
Here is one that I received.
Good day
This is Daphne Newton, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in IL down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 14 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 14 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to your city now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in IL to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regards,
Daphne Newton.
I’m sorry to say I haven’t gotten one of these since 2008. If you have the time, perhaps at lunch, to mess with them (be careful) it’s absolutely hilarious. The customer, Dennis Denton, was lookiong for Wood Carpet. Please to read e-mail to that i received for product of the “wood carpet” for ship and take credit card. How’s that for grammar?
Hello,
I want to know if you carry floor wood carpet for sale because i urgently need some for my house decoration.I want to buy in a large scale so please reply back .
Thank you,
Dennis Denton
My reply:
Dear Dennis,
Thanks for your inquiry. I am checking into carpet that has “wood” patterns for you. Is this what you are looking for? If so, approximately, how much or how many square feet will you will needing? Would you need this installed or are you just looking for material only? Please feel free to contact me to discuss this at:
Glover’s Flooring America / The Floor Gallery & Interiors
Hello Chuck,
Yes that is what am looking for and below i have provided all the information of what am looking for kindly get back with the price of per SQ.FT.Also am looking for the material only,i will get someone to install in for me.
Wood Species: Oak
Style: Strip
Size: 3/4 IN X 2 1/4 IN X Random Lengths
Edge Detail: Micro Edge / Square Ends
Finish: Dura-Luster Plus Urethane
Construction Type: Solid
Installation Level: On/Above Ground Level
Thank you,
Dennis Denton
My reply:
Dennis,
We have two products that meet your specs.
#1. Waltham Strip which has a low gloss finish @ $4.75 per sf.
#2. Dundee Strip which has a semi-gloss finish @ $5.55 per sf.
Both products are packaged in 20 sf. cartons and sold in full cartons only. These prices are for material only to be picked at our location.
How much are you looking for?
Thanks and please reply,
Chuck LaRue
Hello Chuck,
Well i would the second one Dundee Strip which has a semi-gloss finish @ $5.55 per sf. and i want 30 cartons of it but i can’t come and i want the product to be ship to me
Thank you,
Dennis
My reply:
Dennis,
So sorry you can’t come to our store. We are very proud our facility here , but I do understand.
The total cost for this product based on 30 cartons or 600 sf. is $3563.10 plus shipping. To what destination will this be shipped? I will need this information to add in freight costs. Of course, payment of certified US funds drawn on a US bank only are accepted to complete the transaction.
Look forward to hearing from you and thanks for the opportunity to be of service.
Chuck LaRue
This was his LAST reply: I guess he never heard of CASH!
Chuck,
Thanks for your business but as at now i can only pay with my business credit card and i can sure of full charge,so if you will accept this then we can proceed.
Dennis
We received this today… I had not seen these before (oh my gosh, the poor grammar is painful to read!), but it smelled of scam so I didn’t bother to reply and googled for more info:
Goodday,
This is Claire Newton, i will like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in IL down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs size 1620 sq.ft. basically i just moved in to OH now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in IL to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Due Regard
Claire.
I feel like I have been initiated into the carpet and rug cleaners group, because I just had this scam pulled on me. Almost identical email, but I was called by an operator translator first and the guy on the other line was trying to get my personal information. What a joke! It’s actually pretty sick that we live in a world like this…. just awful.
This is the second scam attempt that I have read in the past month. The first time I read a similar email, I responded and the replies continued with declining grammar each time. This was the BIGGEST clue! Today, I received this email with the almost the same exact story:
Good day
This is Lisa Johnson, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in IL, down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to your city now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in IL, to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Regards
Lisa.
As a business owner, this makes me sick! I wish there was a way to expose these scammers, but I’m sure it would not stop!
Most of the attempts here have been by phone. As soon as I hear they want their large rugs cleaned, I hang up. I’m convinced that the whole “TTY” operator go-between is part of the hoax.
The first call like this I got, I told the operator that we weren’t interested and she squeeled, “Why not?” before she could possibly have gotten a response from the “customer” on the other end.
If you just hang up, they eventually stop calling. I haven’t had a call in over six months.
Nancy.
I think the best thing we can do as an industry is to let other business owners know about it, especially dry cleaners. They are getting sucked in badly by this scam. Maybe even a press release to your local chamber or BBB would be good and will certainly show your local business community that you are a leader.
hello all rug company, we won’t stop until we scam you all, back in the days, you people take us as your slave, so now is our time to scam you all, if you like you can go ahead and told obama to tell good luck, nigeria president, we won’t stop until you pay us back,
Do you not have any authorative organisations you can report them too? In the UK we have a programme from the BBC named watchdog that investigates rogue traders and scams. This normally gets the problem the attention it deserves and something can then be done.
Another one,, they just keep coming and coming. I wonder how many carpet/rug/dry cleaners are getting suckerd,, i would love here about one of these criminals getting the book thrown at them.
*************************************************
Good day
This is Faith Newton, i would like to know if you do rug cleaning in your shop and do you accept credit cards for payment, can i speak with the owner or the manager actually i just relocated from my old house in (Illinois), down to your city 3 days ago and i would like to know how much will 9 x 12 rug cost for cleaning and actually i have 15 rugs of that, can you do the total calculation for the cleaning for the 15 rugs sized 2500 square feet basically i just moved in to your city now and i am at the hospital right now because i was down with a diagnosis of cancer of the lungs as such i had to spend some time in the intensive care,so i want to do the cleaning arrangement for the rugs and after completing the payment with my credit card,so that i can contact my private delivery shipper in (Illinois), to move those rugs down to your shop for the cleaning Asap, so let me know if you can handle that for me.
Regards
Faith..
I got a similar email today…but for the sign business.
Hello,
This is mark,i will like to know if you do vehicle wrap and graphics in store and can you let me know the price range for it then do you accept credit card payment too,thanks.
I will be expecting your reply back asap.
I get about 1 of these per month and have received two of the TTY calls, which I think are ridiculous. Why would they pretend to be deaf and call when they can email? There was a Sign shop in my town scammed out of the shipping and in addition lost about $10,000 making the banners they were supposed to ship….the scammers never wanted the banners..just the shipping money.
This latest email was from mark_pil@yahoo.com
I figured it was a scam but knew for sure when I googled him email!! Keep up the good work getting these email addresses out!!
Heya good text Is anyone aware if there is a cheaper text message marketing service 4 shops/stores at California than 12stores.com? They only cost 9 dollars per four weeks, nevertheless… 1′ve 2 provide fiveish more options for my fellow workers.
I’ve just received an email from mark_pil@yahoo.com, thank goodness for all this info.
We are a florist business in New Zealand so they’re obviously targeting other industries and have made it all the way down to NZ. The email follows a very similar formula to the emails others have been receiving
Hello,
This is mark,i will like to order 6 big bouquets flowers for my sister wedding and i want the price range of $200 per one Approximately 26″ W x 41″ H and the color should be in bright summer yellow color and i want it in a vases.
It will be pickup by My shipper agent on the 11th Nov can you give me the total cost for that now with tax then do you accept credit card for the payment and i will be expecting your reply back asap,thanks.
So glad I found this blog.
Nikki.
I am so sorry that this scam is now targeting florist’s in New Zealand. Do you have any ideas on how you can help to get the message out to your fellow countryman to be on the watch for this scam?
Dusty
Hi Dusty,
It looks like other wedding industries have been targeted, I saw a warning on a photographers facebook page so I think the word is going round.