Is this a scam can anyone explain it?

DjP

Hi,

I got an email just now. Into my inbox. It makes no sense. And if it's a scam I can't work out how or why the scam works.

Please note my website is not a commerce one (it can not take any money at all - it doesn't buy or sell anything).

Also I tried to google the legit seeming email address this came from - no hits. So I don't want to reply if it's a scam (though not sure how replying will help them). Any advice or idea of what this is all about?

I don't have any emails to or from this person in my inbox. This email did NOT come directly from my website.

Finally not sure I can put the persons email address in this thread - but if I am allowed to and it helps let me know.

Email subject: Problem.

Email:


My name is Rebecca Nye.

I have never heard of your website [xxxxxx] but for some reason you have taken £35.20 from my account within the last few days.

I only ever order via ebay and amazon of which you are not a contact.

I request an explanation by Friday or there will be consequences.


Regards.







So any clues as to if this is a scam (must be????) and if so how it's meant to work? What's the idea? Find out my email address is real? Then demand this money 'back' or they will go to the police????

Hmm. Can't see it ever working - if that's the scam.

Thanks for any help or fun flames.

wiogs

Might be as simple as the sender hoping you will send them back £35.20.

Seems an odd amount but if you do it to enough people I'm sure money can be made.

It is also possible that the email has been sent to you in error?

Any websites with similar names or different endings?

imoneyop

My guess would be that some scammer has purchased a large list of contact addresses for websites and has spammed them all with this mail, without checking whether they actually sell anything or not. They're probably hoping that someone will be stupid enough to "refund" them, without checking they actually took the money in the first place.

Did you check the Reply-to email address matches the address that the email came from?

DjP

The reply email address does seem the same.

It just looks like a normal email sent to me by a normal person.

Though it has come as a direct email (and not through my website)

Also when they list the website in the email - they don't put www. in front of it... and they don't put .com after it????

So that would cover if the website was a .co.uk etc (they would get more hits [correct guesses] by leaving the .com out)

And the website is just my name.

Hmm.

I'm so sure it's a scam. I know it's a scam. Just couldn't see the danger of responding (I'm not going to get a virus from sending an email)...

The email is slightly strangely worded as well...

"of which you are not a contact"

and the threat of consequences.

I guess either I should ignore this email... or send them one back stating:

"Thanks for your email. Please send me your bank account statement to prove the money has been taken out and then I will sort this out by Friday."

This will waste their time Photoshopping a statement.

Then when they send it back I respond:

"Thanks for the statement. I can see the error now. You should have been charged £42.50. Please can you send me the outstanding £7.30 by Sunday or there will be consequences. Thanks"

Hmm...

wiogs

Depends if you wish to have some fun with them..

Could be interesting, you could spin it out for weeks.

Azari

Interesting that she asks for an explanation rather than money, and does not include any means for you to make payment.

It would be a very inept con artist who made you go through and extra step (getting payment details) rather than just supplying them.

Also, refunds are generally given directly to the account from whence they came so there is no path for a refund which would alert even the most gullible of recipients.

Then again, it's unclear how anyone could take money from her account without her authorising it - unless she's been hacked.

Whatever, you are quite safe replying to her email although it might be better if you used a throwaway account to do so - in case it is a spammer and your reply 'verifies' your main account.

DjP

Azari wrote: »

Whatever, you are quite safe replying to her email although it might be better if you used a throwaway account to do so - in case it is a spammer and your reply 'verifies' your main account.

Yeah that's the downside

Strangely if I reply from another email address - and she/he has spammed loads of addresses - they won't know the website that they are accusing of taking their money. Hmm...

JimmyTheWig

DjP wrote: »

Strangely if I reply from another email address - and she/he has spammed loads of addresses - they won't know the website that they are accusing of taking their money. Hmm...

Just to be doubly sure, don't mention the amount they stated, either.
They could have increased it by a penny for each one they sent, so if you reply with your amount then they will know your address worked.

DjP

I sent the below email - I will update you if I get a response:

Dear Rebecca Nye,

Thanks for your email.

So sorry to hear of the trouble you have had with our website.

Can you please send me the bank statement showing the money being taken out (of your account) by our website and I will get our accounts department to sort this out for you as quick as possible.

Thanks

M. S. E. Pert

Valli

I would have sent this...


You are mistaken: I don't buy or sell and I don't have facilities to claim monies from anyone's account.

I hope my explanation has satisfied you.

best regards.

Friday

Azari

DjP wrote: »

I sent the below email - I will update you if I get a response:

Dear Rebecca Nye,

Thanks for your email.

So sorry to hear of the trouble you have had with our website.

Can you please send me the bank statement showing the money being taken out (of your account) by our website and I will get our accounts department to sort this out for you as quick as possible.

Thanks

M. S. E. Pert

Nice one !