Beware of Sally Riding

From artist Carmen Tyrrell:

Last week I received a message at my gallery from Sally Riding offer to buy 2 of my art works but she can not pay PayPal and offered to send me a cheque. This is her message:

Sally Riding
To Carmen tyrrell
Jun 13 at 6:39 AM

Good Morning ,i just got an update from my Accountant that payment has been issued out to your name and address information you gave to me and you will surely received it this week Tuesday Wednesday.

Unfortunately my Accountant erroneously sent the wrong amount which is meant to be paid to another company,But never mind when you received the payment (CHEQUE) don't tear or return it,kindly deposit the Cheque into your bank account and it take 1-2 days to cleared in your bank account and will give you further instruction for the next step.

I can place additional order to complete it or ask for refund into our bank account details.

Please; Kindly read and understand the message and reply me immediately if you receive this message now.

Regards.
Rise.

Carmen notes that she didn't answer the message, as she knew that it was a scam... she then received a second email:

Sally Riding
To Carmen Tyrrell Today at 9:56
Hello,
I sent you a mail and concerning my finance manager erroneously sent the wrong amount to your name and address that you will surely received the payment in your mailbox or letterbox and you refused to reply back,because i have already contacted my bank manager concerning the payment and it take 1-5 days to cleared in your bank account and i will be glad if you can get back to me now,so that i can know the status of the payment,because it already sent out and you will surely received it by this week. 

Thanks for your understanding and co-operation,so Kindly look into your letter box or mail box starting from this week and get back to me immediately you received it and deposit the check in your bank account, also get back to me when you received the check and deposit the Bank Check.

Please; Kindly reply me immediately if you receive this message now
Regards.
Rise

The curious case of Western Union

Today I went to Western Union to send one of my daughters some moolah.


As I don't do this very often, I was somewhat taken back by the complexity of the process, once it involves a significant amount of money.


After, and only after, I handed off the clerk a few thousand bucks (not over or even close to $10K in case you are wondering - as I know that this has to be "reported"), she asks me for my Social Security number.


She then asks if my SSN was "issued in the United States?"


I'm not even sure what that question means, but I tell her yes...


She then asks me where was I born.


And then she asks what I do for a living.


She processes all of this into her computer and then tells me that I need to call a number and answer a few questions before my money is "released."


I call the number, and oddly enough for someone working telephonic Customer Service, the lady assisting me had one of the most atrocious accents that I've ever heard on the telephone.


This meant that I had to constantly ask her to repeat the multiple questions, which were rather personal and somewhat surprising.


Q: What did my daughter need the money for?


A: She's moving and I'm helping with the rent and deposit, etc.


Q: Will all of this money be used for the rent and deposit? How much is the rent?

Q: When was the last time that I saw my daughter?


I shit thee not!


After multiple repetitions because I could not understand the English from the nice Western Union phone lady with the "she sounds like she's speaking Finnish underwater" accent, I'm put on hold for 5-6 minutes.


After that I am told that the funds would be released once she shows up with two forms of ID. I guess that my name didn't pop up on any nefarious lists, which is a good thing because I am one solid US citizen with zip to hide.


Now, I understand that this is all probably related to suspicions of drug money, or related to the IRS wanting to know everything about cash transactions, etc., but it truly felt somewhat scary, which sucks, because all that I'm doing is sending my fucking daughter some money to help her move.

X-rated medieval doodles

X-rated medieval doodles reveal our ancestors had a sense of humor... read the CNN story here.