Comments on: Internet Scam Artists Ordering Handmade Items – Beware

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:53:08 +0000

In reply to Hali. Hali, definitely tell your bank about this situation. It sounds very much like a scam. If it were me, I would refuse the delivery of the check when it arrives, and let her know I couldn't fulfill the order. Also, I would do a google search for her name plus the word "scam", to see if other people have been scammed by someone operating with that name.

By: Hali

Hali — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:33:19 +0000

HI everyone!! I received a similar order through email from a lady in Switzerland who wanted two slightly different orders of 4 of my items (longer chain, different color, different size etc).. adding up to $1,113 dollars in merch. She definitely found me through etsy as she listed each piece in the email exactly how it is laid out on the site.. We then had a long back and fourth talk in broken english about how she would pay- she refused paypal and wanted me to run her card for her.. I don’t have a card reader that is not paypal. She wouldn’t use UPS either she wanted to use a private shipping agent, MSC. It will cost her $540 to ship the items to her.. She then decided she could send a check and had it 2 day shipped to me.. it will be arriving today and it is for well over the amount needed.. $1547 extra? I already told her I will need to time to make some pieces after the money clears.. Is this all I can do at this point? I don’t want to just turn her away if she is in fact legit! Can I talk with my bank about the check and situation? She is sending a check for $3200 and upon arrival, will give me further details as to how to handle the rest of the money… HELPPPP

By: Rae

Rae — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:11:04 +0000

If I don’t recognize the sender shown in my inbox, I right click the email before opening and check message options… (This is in Outlook…it may be something else in other programs, or maybe source code or something.) Scrolling down in all the technical stuff listed will eventually arrive at the To: line. Invariably it is to undisclosed recipients (read, mass mailing). In addition, the various lines about from and reply to have different email addresses and the mail has come through many sites. I ALWAYS mark it as spam because these emails come through in a flurry of different emails from “different people”. In a short while they stop when flagged. This has cut down on most of my junk emails.

As a funny note, recently I’m getting lots of request for group massages and yoga classes for a “group traveling to the US”…don’t get the angle on that one. Would sure like to know what list I’m on though! They are always to my business address and I only use that in jewelry related lists. I can enjoy the satisfaction that some scammer probably paid a lot for a poor quality list.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 20:02:36 +0000

I too received emails from Lindsey, and when I asked how she had heard of my company she gave a legit answer of a festivalnet.com site I belong to, but there were “warning bells” in all of her emails even though she sprinkles in some truths. Her initial email discussed wanting to place an order, but I could tell she didn’t know what I sold. She mentioned using a US issued credit card, having someone come to pick up the merchandise, having a shipping agent to handle all Customs, paperwork, shipping, etc. She placed a large enough order, i.e. $1400, which got my attention and my suspicion.
I’m glad I did a Google Search and found all of this good info to support my initial “warning bells”. I do think Lindsey keeps changing her M.O. based on what she reads from the postings on Google Search. My order was large for my business, but smaller than some of her originals. The us of the US credit card, and using a legit way of saying she found my business. Thanks for sharing, it saved me!! Chris Bottle Art by CC

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 04:11:18 +0000

I just got the Lindsey Craft Shop email from the Philippines also, and as a result found this post. I just sent them a reply with my website, because even though I suspect it’s a scam, I always treat a customer as if they were legit even if I suspect they aren’t.

There is a similar scam that someone tried with me recently. The email was similar; they wanted to order a bunch of my most expensive available items. I called my credit card processor to see if they knew what the scam was. They said that sometimes these people use credit cards issued outside the U.S. If that happens, then the customer can complain to their credit card company and get their money refunded. The seller won’t be able to dispute it and their credit card processor won’t be able to help them. I have a daily/transaction limit, and my credit card processing company would have to approve anything over that amount. If someone wants to use a foreign card to buy a bunch of items, it’s a scam.

When I emailed that “customer” and told them that they would need a U.S. issued credit card, I never heard back from them. Interesting that the email I got today mentions that they have a credit card issued in the United States.

I’m sure I won’t hear back from “Lindsey” since I told them I don’t do “pick ups”

Thanks for sharing this info.

By: Catzia

Catzia — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 04:52:28 +0000

I just got the “Lindsay Craft Shop” in the Phillipines email too. Just like Jane I googled to see what kind of scam it was. I knew it was a scam because they didn’t seem to know what my merchandise was. I specialise in Cosplay for Sailor moon and Wonder Woman as well as custom items. No one orders without knowing what character they want to dress as. I have also received several emails claiming to be Japanese companies that want to hire my services to help them buy other business or something. What??? I have a gift shop named Secret Studio Store, so when a googled the company they said they were from it went to a Karioke company so I thought they must think i was the Secret Studio recording studio in the next town. But I got a few more emails like this from other “companies” in Japan and realized its some sort of scam. I don’t get how that one works though . So far I never fell for a scam although I went to the mall once last year in NJ and the next day there was a $2000 order on my card for professional ping pong equipment from a shop in Michigan. I called the shop and they hadn’t fallen for it and never processed the order. I also called my Credit card company. No one could answer me about why they cant track these criminals down if they have to put in an address to order on-line.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:56:07 +0000

I just got an email from “Lindsay Craft Shop” in the Phillipines. It sounded very fishy and I googled the name and found this article. Thanks for the heads up!

By: Anita

Anita — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:27:28 +0000

I got targeted too…here is their attempt on me

Lindsey Craft Store Inc.
Feb 28 (13 days ago)

to me

This message may not have been sent by: excelshopping.consulting1998 @ gmail.com

HELLO, I AM LINDSEY RICHARD AND I WILL LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR SOME ITEMS FROM YOUR STORE/GALLERY/COMPANY BUT BEFORE WE PROCEED I WILL LIKE TO ASK YOU THE BELOW QUESTIONS 1. DO YOU SHIP TO ESTONIA? 2. DO YOU DO MAIL ORDER? 3. DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARD AS MODE OF PAYMENT (MASTER AND VISA CARD TO BE PRECISE) I WILL BE WAITING TO READ BACK FROM YOU SO WE CAN PROCEED. REGARDS LINDSEY RICHARD

Embellished Essence
what are you ;interested in
Feb 28 (13 days ago)

l.com>
Mar 1 (12 days ago)

to Lindsey
Hello, yes I will ship to your country, and I will take master card,or visa, what are you interested in, and I am curious as to how you find me, Have a wonderful day.
_____
Lindsey Richard
Mar 5 (8 days ago)

to me
Hello,

Below is the items and quantities needed. so get back to me with the total cost excluding shipping because i will be having my private picker come over to pick the items in your store once they have been fully paid for and ready to be shipped.

Leather cord Necklaces

Cliffs of Mohr

Butterflies & Dragonflies

Butterfly blue

12 Qty

NB:My shipping agent have there way of preparing their shipment documents whereby the custom duties payment on this goods will be reduced and if I wanted to pay for the custom duties and other charges, at times it is 15% of the whole package amount. I do trust my agent they will take care of that,if not I wouldn’t have recommend them for my shipment.They are very reliable and fast.They will take care of everything including Handling, Customs duties,Tax, Insurance etc. get back to me in the format bellow:

COST OF THE ORDER:
WEIGHT OF THE CONSIGNMENT:
PICK UP FULL STORE ADDRESS:
YOUR DIRECT PHONE #:

Once I have these details from you, I will get back to you with my Credit Card, so you can charge and make the necessary shipping arrangements with my agent.

Best Regards.

______
I did not respond…………
anyway I did research, they are not allowed to have guns, gold, or jewelry shipped to their country.
______

Then another letter from lacartes.com/business/add

it was all a few days apart, has anyone delt with lacartes????

Any input would be helpful
Thanks so much

Anita