Scam alert

Has anyone else gotten one of these 419 scam letters from South Africa? I got this last night.

Hello,

While questing for better artworks for our new house, I came across your work, and I must say you are doing a great job over there.  I will like to  proceed with the purchase of these lovely and fascinating works for our new apartment in Cape Town.

New England Contras ,  Australia  and  Sticks

Please let me know if the artworks are still in your stock for sale and the your asking price for each works.

On the shipment, I have already forwarded your contact information to the shipping agency that will be handling the shipment of our other house items to get in touch with you. Please let me know if they have contacted you.

On payment, I will like to pay you with a Certified US Cashier  Check.

Hope to hear from you soon on how to proceed on the purchase.

Regards,
Rosa

They appear to be targeting artists, with the promise of buying several items from your website. A run through SpamCop showed a forged IP. Benny Shaboy of Arts Opportunity Newsletter reports getting four of them in the last week, and is warning his subscribers. What will happen is that the cashier’s check will be counterfeit but before the victim finds that out the buyer will report a catastrophe (the apartment burns down) and ask for a refund.

Here’s a thread on a artists’ forum detailing various permutations of this scam.

Comments

[Angus Grant]

Hey Doug,

Long time reader, first post.

I thought you may enjoy this web-page. There is a well known group called the 419 eaters who try to out-scam the 419 scammers. Funny reading.

http://www.419eater.com/html/john_boko.htm

Thanks,
Angus.

[QT Luong]

I've received this one too. It seemed so obviously scammy that I didn't even bother to reply. That's just not the way people who order prints normally communicate.

Tuan.