I Might Be Young, But I Wasn't Born Yesterday

So I got an email this weekend requesting a quote on services and asking if we accept credit cards.  It seemed like a normal enough request, but still there was something off.  FYI the different font sizes were like that in the emails.  Thinking about it now, those formatting things happen when you copy and paste text from emails into other emails.

Hello,

My name is Darren Smith ,I am hearing impaired that is the reason why contact you through via email i want to make an appointment for personal fitness and service for my family.I want you to get back to me with total estimate for 2 times in a wee training 6(Female) people for 5 weeks,And also want you to know that the ladies will be coming with their private bus and i'll appreciate if you can secure the appointment for my family at your gym or studio.Please kindly email me the major credit card that you accept for payment, and i will appreciate if you can get back to me with the following details below...

Name :-----

Address:----

Cell phone #:----

Working time:------

Charges per person:----

I will be looking forward to hear from you any moment from now ,so that i can email you the name and age of the student. they are all family, and am still looking forward to hear from you remain bless and have a nice day.

Regards,

Darren Smith.

I followed up with a few questions before I could give him a quote on per session cost.  His reply:

Hello Santo,

 Thanks for the mail,i am so happy to hear from you. I want to make an appointment for personal fitness and service for my family. I want you to get back to me with total estimate for 2 times in a week training 6(Female) people for 5 weeks, And also want you to know that the ladies will be coming with their private bus and i'll appreciate if you can secure the appointment for my family at your gym or studio, looking forward to hear from you...

 Here is the Name List of your students that will be coming for the training & they all my family..Names :Rebbekah Pamela  ...(23 years old) Annie Parker... (21 years old) Jane E. James ... (22 years old) ...Kerry Porter 23 yrs....... ...Sandy Marcus 22 yrs... & Hayley Murphy..They all my family and just want to keep it during their holidays that is all. They are going to start their training 29th of Feb and I prefer Monday and Friday, both 11:45-12:45 for the ladies training session..is the date and time okay for you to train them in group together ? and 1-2 hrs is OK for training period per day.

I will be looking forward to have the total estimates for the training and also let me know the major credit card that you accept for payment as soon as possible. till i hear from you remain bless and have a nice day.

There Fitness goals are really in good form for now but they just only need to loss weight and put up some shape building back to normal shape, and also they need to build more strength.

N.B:--- i have discuss with a private bus driver that will bring the girls to Training for {5 weeks} and i did not mind paying any additional charge on this Transaction.

Best Regards,

Darren Smith.

 

I was still getting a weird feeling about it… I googled the names and not much came up except that Jane E James is an author and looked older than 22.  So then I googled “gym scam girls training bus”

BOOM.  Credit card scam.

An hour later I get an email from another potential client who had contacted me via email a few days prior:

Thanks for the prompt response, I have tight schedule due to the test, x-ray and doctor appointments i  will undergo surgery in few weeks but i have a  driver that will bring them in after i have sorted out the bills and all other necessary things with you so i won't be able to come in at the moment , I want to make an appointment for personal fitness  service for my family. They all want to loss there weight and gain more strength before they will resume back to work I want you to get back to me with the total estimate for 3 weeks  private training for 4 people (Female) aged (22, 24 , 27, 19) , like i said earlier that they will be coming with a private transportation driver for the service. I will be expecting your reply with the total  cost and your full name,address and direction for the private transport to locate your place when they are coming for the service.

Same scam!  Different scammer?  Had to be the same person, right!? Too much of a coincidence…. No one ever said criminals were smart.

Here’s the last email from the deaf Darren Smith where he goes for the money shot:

Hello Santo,

Many thanks for the mail and been honest and caring with me on this Training and i need you to bill my credit card for $4050.00 while you keep $2,000.00 as deposit and have the remaining $2,000.00 send to the bus driver that is gonna bring them to your gym through cash deposit direct to his Bank Account because i don't have cash now with me and he also don't have credit card facility he only accept upfront cash payment for their service..is that okay now? and am dashing you $50 for your stress and accepting my favour.

 I got 2 invoice of $2,000.00 for the private bus driver that will be bringing the girls to training daily to complete 5 weeks so i will make the payment soon i am still at the hospital right now.. and will undergo a surgery in 4 days time. now but you will need to send the money to the driver first thing tomorrow morning so once he confirm the payment, he can bring my family to the training....

Actually all there Fitness goals are really in good form for now but they just only need to loss weight and put up some shape building back to normal shape, and also they need to build more strength...

N.B:--Am so sorry to inform you that i am under go surgery at the moment so am not coming for the Training and I have forward your address to the bus driver at the moment .i did not mind any additional charges on this Transaction . Thanks.

Best Regards,

Darren Smith.

I sent him the link to the scam alert and that was that…

Happy Monday!!!