Word Scam on the background of one hundred dollar bills

Have you gotten an inquiry that looks like this:

Hello I am James Tobby and i am hearing impaired i need to know if you can handle website design for a new company and i also need to know if you accept credit cards as form of payment ?

I have been getting these with increasing frequency. The name always changes, but the content in the first message is always the same. First, they make sure you know they are hearing-impaired and then want to know if you accept credit cards.

When I got the first one of these, I responded with my typical questions and then the next email from them looks something like this:

Here is the job details

I have small scale business which i want to turn into large scale business now and the company is based on importing and exporting of Agriculture products such as Kola Nut, Gacillia Nut and Cocoa so i need a best of the best layout design for it. Can you handle that for me ?. so i need you to check out this site but i need something more perfect than this if its possible. the site would only be informational, so i need you to give me an estimate based on the site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting and i want the same page as the site i gave you to check out and i have a private project consultant, he has the text content and the logos for the site.

Note:

1. I want the same number of pages with the example site i gave you to check excluding videos and blogs.

2. I want only English language

3. I don’t have a domain yet but i want the domain name as rootsnherbs.com

4. you will be updating the site for me.

5. i will be providing the images, logos and content for the site.

6. i want the site up and running before ending of next month.

7. My budget is $4000 to $8000

Kindly get back to me with an estimate asap

This almost seems legit, right. There’s information on what they want, a budget, etc. But not so fast. If you continue to do exchanges with this person, and even go so far as to send a proposal, they will request something odd. Wouldn’t you know that their “project consultant” doesn’t take credit cards? And since you do, they’d like you to charge the full amount to the credit card, then send a payment to their project manager.

Now it’s starting to sound fishy.

There are a lot of people who may not have heard about it, and may think that a great website project just fell into their lap. The reason they claim to be hearing-impaired is so they don’t have to talk to you on the phone, because either they are not good enough actors or else they have thick accents they don’t want you to hear.

What happens if you agree? Well, you charge the card. It goes through, no problem. You send the payment and they cash it. Then you never hear from them again. Who you DO hear from is the credit card company about the fraudulent charge.

And if you take credit cards but haven’t experienced this, if someone calls their credit card company and claims your charge is fraudulent, they take the money right out of your bank account, with very little notice, I might add.

And if you actually sent a check to that person, not only do you lose the original deposit, but you lose the money you sent to their “project consultant” as well.

That’s when you are really in trouble.

I keep getting these messages, almost weekly now, and I can only assume that it’s working and that’s why they keep sending them. This is my warning. Never agree to send money to another contractor on your client’s behalf. This will never end well.

And to these scammers, please STOP.

Posted in | Tagged with
Amy Masson, Web Developer
Owner/Developer

Amy Masson

Amy is the co-owner, developer, and website strategist for Sumy Designs. She's been making websites with WordPress since 2006 and is passionate about making sure websites are as functional as they are beautiful.

398 Comments

  1. Ron on March 28, 2024 at 7:53 pm

    Oh look, the scam has a new script and a new name:

    From: Amanda Dehaan (amanda.dehaan24@gmail.com)
    To: xxxxx
    Thu, Mar 28 at 2:20 PM

    Hello,
    I hope this message finds you well. My name is Amanda, my husband came across your profile on the Behance website and recommended contacting you. We are reaching out because we are in need of a skilled Graphic Designer for our upcoming Wedding Anniversary invitation card.

    Could you please let us know if you are available? We would love to discuss how to proceed with this project.

    Looking forward to your response.

    Thank you and regards.

  2. Braden on January 12, 2024 at 12:35 am

    I received the same type of email except they created an appointment. However, they asked me to call tomorrow even though they made an appointment and I don’t respect people who do that and was going to cancel the appointment anyway. So I find your site right away when looking up his phone number.
    ————–
    Email #1

    Hi. How are you doing today? I need a new web design for my business, I hope you are taking a new client at this moment? Email me back when you can so that i can email you with more details about what I need you to get done , I’ll look forward to hear from you if you can help me with the new website

    Thank You
    —————
    Email #2

    Thank you for getting back to us, We are located here in Florida, I don’t currently have a website at the moment and my number is 904 321 9076, Here are a few details about what I need to get done!

    I have an Auto Repair and painting company business, And I need a strictly information website to promote my business, so I need you to check out this site but I need something more perfect than this if it’s possible http://www.newmansautobody.com /https://www.caliber.com/ . I do not currently have any business website at the moment that’s why I want to get one, So i need you to give me an estimate based on the sample site i gave you to check out, But We offer only 5 services and We have just one service area at this moment but that will change in the future and the site can be updated, The estimate should include hosting, And i have a graphic designer who is currently working on the text content and the logos including the social media account for the site so i will provide you with that.

    Note:
    1. We offer only 5 services and have just one service area at this moment, excluding videos and blogs.
    2. I want only English Language
    3. I don’t have a domain yet but I want you to purchase a domain name For such as http://www.bluesAutoPainting.com or .NET or whatever you can come up with that will be suitable
    4. you will be updating the site for me in the future when it’s required.
    5. I will be providing the images, logos and content for the site.

    – Home Page
    – About Page
    – 5 Service Pages (for the 5 services we offer) Car Restoration, Hail Damages Repair, Paint work or Paint Refinishing, Automotive Welding, Mechanical & Suspension work
    – 1 Service Location Page
    – FAQ Page
    – Testimonial Page
    – Contact Page

    Thanks Regards.
    ——–
    Email #3

    I just booked the call, Please i will only be Available this week till next week for a phone call, Please call 904 321 9076 tomorrow if you can anytime from 9am.

  3. Whitney on December 29, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    Thank you for this post, Amy. I’m so happy we can support each other as a community. These scammers are getting smarter. As small business owners and freelancers, we must protect ourselves.

    I received a text message yesterday inquiring about our web design services. It said all the same things that everyone else has mentioned. They wanted an email address to send a job description. I was leery that the request was a text message, so I Googled and found this thread. I had them email the “job description” to our random Gmail account. Below is what they emailed; as you see, it reads similarly, but now the business is a FARM.

    Scott Ryan
    8:01 AM (2 hours ago)
    to me

    Hi
    I need you to check out this site as an example website but you’ll create something similar to this http://www.agroamerica.com
    I want it to be only be informational site so i need you to give me an estimate based on the site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting. I have a private project consultant, he has the text content and the logos for the site.

    Note:
    1. I want the same number of pages with the example site I gave you to check excluding videos and blogs.
    2. I want just English language
    3. I don’t have a domain yet but i want the domain name as OnlyRyanfarms.CO
    4. You will be updating the site for me.
    5. I have a project consultant that will be providing the images, logos and content for the site
    6. My budget is $4000 to $5000

    Kindly get back to me with:
    (1) Total estimated cost
    (2) Do you own the company
    (3) Payment option

    Thanks
    Best Regards,
    Ryan (owner).

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