Is this a scam? - Virtual Assistant Forums

Ask Viki! · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

Hello everyone!

I received this email message twice this morning. The email was in my inbox, but says 'andydavidson4real@gmail.com' as the To address. Do you think it's a scam?

<<Hello,
How you doing?
My name is Andy Davidson. Originally, from Canada, New York. I work in USA presently.
I read your description and am interested in your services,I will be importing some computers into the states soon. The PC are laptops Pentium 3 dell & hp Computers...i want you to Install softwares, clean inner & outer computer components and update softwares to current status. They are about 10;10 computers. I have a shipping company that will ship them to and from you . So don't worries about that . I will be providing the softwares to be installed . Installation of softwares; anti virus,Microsoft excel,powerpoint,adobe pagemaker,microsoft office,coral draw and dvd player. These are the softwares I will provide and will provide each drivers/license keys for this softwares .

Get back to me with a price for 20 computers . I will like you to know this wont be an end to our transaction as I will be able to introduce you to more of my friends in this field depending on charges as we recently lost our engineer for as regards. I might have more work for you in the near future. Let me know.

Let me know if you'll accept money order or check as mode of payment.
I await your urgent response so that i can put arrangements in order.
Thanks
Andy Davidson>>

Louise C · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

Hi Viki

Sounds like what Andy has done is put his own address in the 'To' box and put a number of recipients in the 'BCC' box, that way it will be sent back to him, and also to anyone he has in the BCC box and nobody will know who else is getting the e-mail.

We have to be careful over the 'public airwaves' about saying whether something is or is not a scam. But if you are curious maybe he should supply a website or something that would prove his bona fides?

I certainly haven't heard about this one before?

L.

leedrozak · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

I would ask Andy to provide more details so you can thoroughly check him out. I always apply the to good to be true rule once I have all the details. You can always check the BBB if you have further doubts.

anisemama · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

My alarm bells are ringing all over the place with this one.

As Louise said, it sounds like he used his email as the To:, and Bcc'd, which is a common spam/scam tactic.

The poor grammar is also a flag to me.

Also, asking about money order or check. I don't accept money order or checks because they are now very, very commonly used as a scam.

A scammer will order a prodcut or service from a small company that costs $800. Then they'll send a money order for $1500, saying, "Hey, can you refund me the difference." The poor sap/mark then deposits the $1500, and takes $700 out of their account, sending it as either a legit check or a legit money order, to the customer as a refund. Then the original money order turns out to be a fake. The sap/mark is now out $700 of their own money, has to pay bank fees, and may be investigated by fraud, and is even more screwed if they already sent the product or performed the service!

If you think they might remotely be legit, insist on payment by PayPal or some other secure payment method. As many people as there are that rant about PayPal, anymore, it really is safer than money orders and checks.

Rebecka Melson · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

It's a scam! First of all, if you have to put "4real" in your email title, it's not. Secondly, Canada is not in New York. Thirdly, he writes like he's not from this country. Lastly, it's a computer import/export scam that has been seen a million times.

Louise C · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

A bona fide businessman would go through the proper channels for getting quotes etc. (not by sending random e-mails from a gmail address surely?) and would not claim he was a Canadian/New Yorker (

) when he obviously can't even speak English!

Louise

kathiemt · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008

Run away from it. I mean, why would someone contact a VA to ask them to assist with the importing of computers and setting them up and installing software? Wouldn't they be better off contacting a service that specialises in that? Don't respond to the email - just ignore them. And please don't accept money orders or checks from offers like this.

ciboney · #8 (**permalink**) 09-27-2008

I agree. You might want to avoid this one.

LawrenceSN · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008

Sorry, but my scam alarm is going off so loudly I can barely hear myself think. This is sort of like the African businessman/prince/whatever who wants you to deposit a check for him and then send him the cash. Real? No, I don't think so.

Desert DiVA · #10 (**permalink**) 11-21-2008

It sounds like a reworded "Nigerian" scam. Not to say he is from Nigeria that's just what the postal inspectors/law enforcement types are calling this type of activity.
He is from "Canada, New York", which is interesting....and kinda funny.
I generally delete unsolicited emails that make no mention of my name or company ("Tamara I saw your website or blog and would like more info on your services...etc...") Also, as stated before, the To and From Boxes generally will give you all the information you need to decide whether to respond or not.

mg virtual office solutions · #11 (**permalink**) 11-21-2008

Run, don't walk, away from this one. Red flags everywhere - those that are already mentioned and the fact the Dell does all of their own work, including downloading software, specific to customer needs.