[Woodcarver] Scam Alert

[Byron]

I found their web-site.  The first thing I noticed that there's not a 
physical address listed only an e-mail address and an 888 phone number.  
A warning to all and a thing to remember if you're creating a sales web 
page.  Do NOT do any business via a web site that doesn't have a 
physical address or PO Box., and city.
Byron


WILLIAM E GRAY wrote:

> Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit carverscompanion.com/List/Support.html to donate.

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> Also on another alert...do not ever pay Ken or Linda Long of the 

> tshirt depot in advance....you will get a lot of promises and excuses 

> but no merchandise....they claim to be friends of 

> woodcarvers....beware....

>

> William E.

>

> You are invited to view my carvings at www.picturetrail.com/williamegray

>

> --- On *Sun, 6/6/10, Marcia Berkall /<whitwood at fairpoint.net>/* wrote:

>

>

>     From: Marcia Berkall <whitwood at fairpoint.net>

>     Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Scam Alert

>     To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>

>     Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010, 11:22 AM

>

>     Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit

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>

>     Wow, Ron!!  Good thing you were on the alert!  Thanks for the

>     heads up.  We have to be so careful!!

>     Marcia (aka Mush)

>

>         At 11:56 AM 6/6/2010,Ron wrote:

>>             I want to warn other carvers about a scam that was

>>             attempted on me.  I received a request for a custom order

>>             for two carved doors along with a request for the price

>>             including shipping to a specific zip code in Georgia. 

>>             The scammer specified the specific doors they wanted to

>>             order from photos on my website.  I replied with my

>>             normal reply requesting size and swing of the doors. 

>>             They replied to me with sizes and swing.  I spent a

>>             couple of hours contacting the stained glass artist, door

>>             maker and shipping company to get prices on the costs and

>>             then adding in my time to get a final price.  I take a

>>             50% deposit on custom orders which came to $8850. The

>>             "customer" agreed to send the deposit check.  Everything

>>             up to this point was normal procedure for this type of

>>             order.  I then received a check via USPS Express Mail for

>>             $10,000.  Receiving a check for more than the requested

>>             amount is unusual but has happened before.  The check was

>>             drawn on the account of The American University in

>>             Bulgaria.  This along with the amount of the check raised

>>             a red flag with me and I had my bank check the validity

>>             of the account. My bank verified it as a valid account. 

>>             An internet search showed The American University in

>>             Bulgaria to be a real university.  At that point I

>>             thought that the order was probably legitimate.   With

>>             trepidation I deposited the check with the intention that

>>             I would not start any work until the check cleared.  Two

>>             days later I got an email from the scammer saying that

>>             the extra amount had been a mistake and they needed $1500

>>             back to pay the installer for the doors and to send it

>>             Western Union immediately.  At that point I knew it was a

>>             scam and sure enough the next day my bank notified me

>>             that the check was a forgery.

>>             Ron Ramsey 

>>             http://www.carvedbyramsey.com

>>             <http://www.carvedbyramsey.com/> 

>

>     See Marcia's wood carvings

>     at:                                                                                         

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