In our experience, the text of the scam can be in several forms, but the following two elements appear to be in most inquiries:
- The inquirer is hearing impaired.
- The inquirer asks if credit cards are accepted for payment.
The initial inquiry appears to be a genuine request regarding a project. The wording or spelling might seem a bit off, for native english speakers, which ought to be taken as a red flag. Still, a firm looking for new business would probably want to be accommodating and polite.
Here is an example of one inquiry email we recently received (text quoted — spelling/punctuation — is just as received):
"Good Day
I'm Frank Mike,am hearing impaired.i would love to know if you can handle website design for a new company and also if you do you accept credit cards ?? kindly get back to me ASAP so i can send you the job details.
Regards
Frank Mike"
If the business owner replies with interest and confirms the acceptance of credit card payments, the second message comes back with project details including a budget range and a sample site, as well as some key questions, i.e., your cell phone number, and if the responder is the business owner.
"Thanks for your swift response
Here is the job details
I have small scale business which i want to turn into large scale business now it located in TX and the company is based on importing and exporting of Agriculture products such as Kola Nut, Gacillia Nut and Cocoa so i need a best of the best layout design for it. Can you handle that for me ?. so i need you to check out this site but i need something more perfect than this if its possible .http://www.agroamerica.com.... the site would only be informational, so i need you to give me an estimate based on the site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting and i want the same page as the site i gave you to check out and i have a private project consultant, he has the text content and the logos for the site.
Note:
1. I want the same number of pages with the example site i gave you to check excluding videos and blogs.
2. I want only English language
3. I don't have a domain yet but i want the domain name as TXtopfarmproduce.com.
4. you will be updating the site for me.
5. i will be proving the images, logos and content for the site.
6. i want the site up and running before ending of next month.
7. My budget is $4000 to $8000
Kindly get back to me with:
(1) an estimate
(2) your cell phone number
(3) And will like to know if you are the owner ??
Regards"
If you provide this information in a reply, the scammer (let's call them a "thief"), the thief will respond saying that they are ready to make payment now with their credit card and in so doing, they will ask you for a favor. This favor usually takes the form of promising to pay more than your required project deposit, with the overpaid amount to be sent by you to a "project consultant" in exchange for content or other assets necessary for beginning the project. The thief might even include a "tip" for your good work.
If you actually processed the card, you might be named as an accessory in the fraud.
Some inquiries specify credit card payment acceptance through methods excluding processors such as PayPal, Square, Intuit, etc.
No phone number for contact is offered, due to the thief being "hearing impaired".
That's the gist of the scam. It's an unfortunate thing that some people can't just live an honest life.
It's also been suggested to NOT visit the sample websites furnished by these scammers as they may contain Trojans, Keyloggers, RansomWare and other malware.
If you feel motivated, you can report your scam attempt to the authorities via the following link:
https://www.us-cert.gov/report-phishing
Web Sites, Names, and Terms Used in Fraud Emails:
• Adam Curry
• Adams Tommy
• Alex Jason
• Alice Brown
• Amanda Patty
• Angie Parks
• Brad Carlton
• Brad Carlton
• Brian Bell
• Carl Duncan
• cdillard
• Cocoa
• Dani Eloy
• Daniel Aragon
• Danielle Sussah
• David Fox
• David McCarthy
• David Shepard
• Deborah Clark
• Deborah Cordova
• Dennis Wells
• Diego Jones
• Fern Campbell
• Florence Parker
• Frank Jennifer
• Fred Cole
• Grace Carter
• Gracilla Nut
• Helen Banks
• Iyanu Mashele
• James McGrew
• James Miller
• James Moody
• James Morgan
• James Parker
• James Williams
• Jane Taylor
• Janet Marcus
• Janet Thomas
• JCS Farm Products
• Jennifer Wooldridge
• Jerry Ford
• Jerry Miller
• Jessica Vinset
• Jetty Eliot
• Joel Abelard
• John Blair
• John Cloer
• John Mason
• Joseph Powell
• Keith Castleton
• Kenneth Cole
• Kevin Ronald
• Kevin Smith
• Kim Winslow
• Kola Nut
• Kyle Rogers
• Lane Jerry
• Larry Wollmann
• Lorenzo
• Lorenzo Palencia
• Lori Sandra
• Maison
• Mardam Bay
• Marsha John
• Martin Gilstrap
• Mary Clarkson
• Mary Owne
• Mathew Mason
• Michael George
• Michael Jay
• Michael JayJay
• Michael Williams
• Monica Cordova
• Morgan Collin
• Nathan Adamson
• Panny Kay
• Parker James
• Patricia Marr
• Paul Bills
• Paul Cole
• Paul Thomas
• Perie Jones Grossman
• Peter Gustin
• Peter Smith
• Phillipp Scholz
• Richard Kahlan Parker
• Richard Temidayo
• Rickson Smith
• Rita More
• Rob Smith
• Robert Porter
• Robert Villareal
• Ryan Brayden
• Sam Morison
• Scott Jack Miller
• Scott Smith
• Shane West
• Shawn Adam
• Silver Produce
• Smith Elizabeth
• Smith Wollman
• Smith Wollmann
• Stephanie Rice
• Steve Williams
• Steve Wilson
• Steven Donald
• Tamara Wilsonn
• Tara Johnson
• Terrance Spencer
• Tom Williams
• Tony Harrison
• Trent Brannon
• Turnedo James
• Wesley Davis
• Witney Wharf
• Zachary Dhillon
Do not visit the following domains as they may contain malware:
• agroamerica(dot)com
• AmericasFarmers(dot)com
• indocanadasalonandspa(dot)com
• MovesPearson(dot).com
• PremiumFarmProduce(dot)com
• SaabSalonSpa(dot)com
• TheBestFarmProduce(dot)com
• TopFarmProduct(dot)com
* Azurelink cannot be held responsible for any damages to computers or other devices as a result of visiting the above web sites by reconstructing the URLs in your web browser software.
