I thought it might be interesting to put this little episode up on the site. I could call it;
Anatomy of a Scam!
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello Friend,
How are you tody and your family? hope you are doing well?
My name is Williams Nojeto, my main purpose of writting to you is that i have a 15 years old boy, that his interested in learning how to play GUITAR at your institute.
And this my son he is presently in holland with his uncle, while am in THAILAND helping the tsunami victims. And he is a begginner he have not played any musical instrument before,he just want to start with you.
Kindly let me know how much did you charge for your lesson per month so that we can pay you ahead.
Waiting to read from you.
Regards....
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
kerry1860@fastermail.com
Hello Williams,
I think you are under the impression that I give guitar lessons over the internet. My guitar lessons are in person, one-on-one. Since I am in Kansas City, Mo. USA and your son is in Holland that would be rather difficult. If I am mistaken please correct me. I appreciate your interest and wish you and your son the best.
Yours,
Jay EuDaly
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello,
Thanks very much for the response,yes i mean he will come to your place for the lessons. after we have arrange the pyment he will come to the states for the lessons ok.
Here is the email address to him and confirm the lessons time and dates.
kerry1860@fastermail.com
go ahead and contact him today ok.
Waiting to read from you.
Regards.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
kerry1860@fastermail.com
Hello,
The lessons are $70.00 per month for 4 lessons - one half hour lesson per week. Go to the following address to see lesson policies:
http://masterguitar.com/lesson_policies.htm
Current open times are:
Mondays: 4:00, 5:30
Tuesdays: 4:00, 6:30
Fridays: 4:30
I teach out of a music store called Guitar Source. It's at 95th and Quivera in Overland Park, Kansas.
Pick a time and we'll start as soon as your son is able. No money is due until the first lesson.
Thanks,
Jay EuDaly
From:kerry1860@fastermail.com
To: jay@masterguitar.com
ok your time is ok with me as well but due to my situations my father is in thailand so i will like you to get the payment from him first so that i will come for the lessons ok
Kindly go ahead and get the payment from my father. then i will be more that happy to come back to the states and start the lessons ok.
Waiting to read from you.
Regards.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
kerry1860@fastermail.com
Send Money Order for $70.00 American to:
Jay EuDaly c/o Guitar Source
11554 W. 95th St.
Overland Park, Kansas USA
66214
Pick one of the times I gave and we'll start when you can.
Jay
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
HELLO,
HOW ARE YOU TODAY AND YOUR FAMILY HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING WELL . AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY OF THE PAYMENT,THE REASON WHY IT TAKES SO LONG IS THAT AM STILL IN THE NIGER IN AFRICA AND WE ALSO MOVE AROUND THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO GET THEM THERE NEEDS OK AS OF LAST WEEK WE ARE IN SOMALIA AND WE ARE NOW BACK IN NIGER BUT YOU WILL GET THE PAYMENT FOR THE LESSON THIS WEEK OR NEXT UNFAILINGLY BCOS MY SON IS DISTURBING ABOUT
IT ALL DAY LONG SO I WILL TRY AND GET THE PAYMENT TO YOU ANY MOMENT FROM NOW OK,AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAYS AND THE TIME WASTING OK. WAITING TO READ FROM YOU AS YOU GET THIS MESSAGE.
THANKS..
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
Send the payment with your son when he takes his first lesson.
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello,
How are you today and the family?I will like you to please check your email today may be the check has been deliever to your mail box today ok and if you din't get it today it will be deliever to your mail before friday ok. And i will like you to get back to me immidiately you get it ok.
Waiting to read from you as you get the payment. Thanks so much for the understanding.
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello,
How are you today and the family, please kindly check your mail and get back to me may be the check has been delievered or not ok. Waiting to read from you.
Regards
[A few days after the above email I received a $3,000.00 check in the mail. It was drawn on a bank in Paris and was signed by someone with the last name of Smith. Williams Nojeto's name was nowhere to be found. At this point I did a little research and discovered Williams Nojeto's name and email address on a web page of known scammers. I also figured that Williams and his "son" were the same person. I couldn't figure out how he was going to get any money out of me, I was curious as to what his game was so I decided to string him along. I knew that sooner or later he would have to play his hand. But first I had to make sure the check I had received was from him.]
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
Rec'd a check today. Can you tell me how much it was for and on what bank it was drawn?
Yours,
Jay
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello Jay,
Thanks so much for getting back to me, i just got your email now, you received the check for $3000 right? please let me know if you have cashed this check ok.
Waiting to read from you.
Regards
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: williams_nojeto@yahoo.com,
How come the signature is not yours?
$3000 is too much. I am not willing to commit myself to 3 and a half years. Only one month at a time - $70
Have your son contact me to set up lesson time.
Jay
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hi,
Thanks so much for getting back to me,i will have him contact you ok,and make sure you get the check cashed today ok.
Subject: Re: HELLO FROM WILLIAMS!!!!!GUITAR LESSON
From: "Kerry Lambert" <kerry1860@fastermail.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
HELLO,
MY FATHER SAID THAT YOU HAVE FINALLY RECEIVED THE PAYMENT FOR MY LESSONS AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT,PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF WE CAN START THIS WEEK.
WAITING TO READ FROM YOU TODAY,I HAVE BEEN WORRIED FOR THAT WHILE WAITING FOR THE PAYMENT,I WILL CONTACT MY DAD AGIN TO KNOW HOW I WILL GET TO YOU.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN WE CAN START.
THANKS.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: kerry1860@fastermail.com
Subject: Re: HELLO FROM WILLIAMS!!!!!GUITAR LESSON
Open slots are:
Mon: 5:30
Tues 4:00
Wed: 2:30
Thurs: 8:30
Pick one
Jay
Subject: Re: HELLO FROM WILLIAMS!!!!!GUITAR LESSON
From: "Kerry Lambert" <kerry1860@fastermail.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Thanks,Tues 4:00 is ok with me and i just received the email from my dad that he has include some money for my arrival and to feed myself during the lessons ok,is that so?
And let me know so that i can be in the state this weekend.
Subject: Re: GUITAR LESSON.
From: williams nojeto <williams_nojeto@yahoo.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello,
I want you to deduct the cost for a year lessons and send the remaining to them ok.
Subject: LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.
From: "Kerry Lambert" <kerry1860@fastermail.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
Hello Jay,
Thanks so much for the understanding,next week is ok with me,my father said that you will send me some money that you should deduct the cost of the lessons which is one year and the remaining should be sent to me and my uncle right here ok so
that we can use it to get down to the states and to get other things o,i will like you to log on to www.moneygram.com and check out and get how you will send the money to us here of you find there agent around you ok,here is the informations that you will send the money to as listed below,
RECEIVERS NAME:EMMANUEL DICKSON
RECEIVERS ADDRESS:Rijksstraatweg 200 2241 BX rotterdam,the netherland
And i will want you to please make sure you send the money today so that wqe can be in the states by saturday or sunday ok and get back to me with the moneygram informations such as the,
MONEYGRAM REFRENCE NUMBER:
THE TOTAL AMOUNTS SENT:
THE SENDERS NAME AND ADDRESS;
Here are some moneygram outlet around you that you can get it sent from
1.) ACE #5263
8837 W 75TH ST
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66204
2.) ACE CASH EXPRESS
9970 W 87TH ST
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212
3.) EL RINCONCITO
10609 FLOYD ST
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212
4.) OSCO #5150
950 MINNESOTA AVE
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212
5.) WAL-MART #1691
7701 FRONTAGE RD
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66204
6.) WAL-MART #3273
15700 METCALF AVENUE
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66223
7.) WAL-MART #5180
10303 METCALF AVE
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212
8.) WAL-MART #5207
9000 METCALF AVE
OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212
Kindly get back to us today.
Thanks so much for your understanding.
From: jay@masterguitar.com
To: kerry1860@fastermail.com
Subject: Re: LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.
Notice: left hand column, 5th name after the break.
http://www.musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk/boguse-mails.html
It took a while for me to figure out how you were going to get any money out of this situation seeing as how I'm selling a service, not a product.
Now I know.
Jay
Subject: Re: LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.
From: "Kerry Lambert" <kerry1860@fastermail.com>
To: jay@masterguitar.com
I did not understand you.
Subject: Re: LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.
From: <jay@masterguitar.com>
To: <kerry1860@fastermail.com>
You're running a scam. You want me to cash the check and send you part of the money. 10 days or 3 weeks later I'll find out that the check is bogus and will have to return the money, but I will have already sent you 2/3rds of the money - "so that we can use it to get down to the states and to get other things".
I have not cashed the check and don't intend to.
Jay
I have not heard from "Williams Nojeto" since - END OF STORY!
I received the following from Paul Wenske, who is one of my students and a consumer affairs writer for the Kansas City Star:
Paul writes:
Man, Jay, you ought to be reading my columns. This is a classic money-order scam. Thank god you were savvy enough not to get taken. These things have ripped off a lot of people. The scammers are overseas and get your name on the Internet. A lot of people get approached because they are selling something. They send you a bogus money order for more than the cost of the item or service. There's usually some excuse - they're out of the country, they are trying to avoid foreign taxes, whatever - but they want you to cash the check, take out what is owed you and then send the remaining amount to them or more commonly to a confederate. Problem is since the money order, which looks legit, is bogus, you get tabbed by your bank for the full amount of the resulting bounced check. In other words, the con artist gets thousands of dollars and the victim gets stuck with a huge bill from the bank. The scammers usually want you to send the money by wire, often through Western Union, because it's as good as cash, can't be traced and, unlike a credit card, gives you no chance to recover your money. That you figured it out early is cool. Some good reading. Paul Wenske Consumer affairs writer The Kansas City Star 816.234.4454