Scam Alert- Comforter Cleaning

Scam Alert- Comforter Cleaning

I recently received an email enquiring about my Laundromats ability to do a large order of blankets.

Usually, the emails are asking about some specialty item and I figured I better answer professionally as it could turn into a good account.

          I am going to include all of the names and emails as you are about to see that it didn’t take long to be spotted as a scam.

          The information was sent to the local police department and I let them know I didn’t follow through on the requests and I had not lost any money.

          There really was no crime committed at that point so they made note of it and also commented that it’s usually from overseas and even if there was a loss there is not much they can do anyway.

          Once I received the second email It reminded me almost exactly of one I received about 4 years ago shortly after I opened my third store. My third store is the only one with a Drop Off Service.

          I submit this as a precaution to always be aware of the methods that are being used to use commit crimes.

Below are the unedited emails.

Note: I seem to always end up reading them with a Russian accent. No offense to my Russian friends.

Subject:Dry Cleaning.

Brian Snow <brian.snow131@gmail.com>

3:37 PM (3 hours ago)

to ken

Hi, my name is Brian snow i will liike to know if you do Laundry service or dry cleaning and do you dry clean bed comforter?.. how much does it cost per king size bed comfort and queen size, I have a lot down comforters to dry clean just want to know if you able to handle them, also will like to know if you do accept all major type of credit card as means of payment?.

Look forward to read from you.
Regards

Ken Barrett <ken@washincoinlaundry.com>

3:54 PM (3 hours ago)

to Brian

Brian

We have a Drop Off service at our location at 1304 Greenbrier Rd in Anniston. We have washed and dried many down comforters. 

Our price for a King Comforter is $20 and a Queen is $17. 

After washing we dry on medium for about 30 minutes and then on low for as long as it takes. In some cases this has been 2-3 hours.

Slow drying allows the feathers to loosen and fluff up again providing that thick, soft feel.

We accept Mastercard and Visa.

Our Hours are 7am to 6pm everyday. 

We do not do dry cleaning but recommend:

Mikes Romac Cleaners

635 Creekside Drive, Oxford, AL 36203
(256) 831-5002

Ken

Brian Snow

4:42 PM (2 hours ago)

to Ken

Hi Ken, Thanks for getting back to me, I want 60 King size comforter dry cleaning but still at TN with the private courier service that will have them moved from my old motel in TN and deliver down here because i just relocate here in state and have already made all arrangements with them to help me ship the bed comforters here, I want you to work out the total cost for everything and i will need them in 5 to 6 weeks after delivery, The private courier service who will have the comforters delivered will be the same to pick them up.

Kindly email me with the total cost for the comforter and also will like to know your name, address and cell phone number to be able to communicate with you in case of any urgent assistance.

Regards

Ken Barrett <ken@washincoinlaundry.com>

5:46 PM (1 hour ago)

to Brian

Brian

I can be reached at 800-792-1941

Please let me know the delivery date and I can get things set up.

I would also like your contact info and the contact info of the courier company so I can have the people available when they arrive.

I stated the cost per piece in my original email. We will require a 50% deposit before delivery.

Brian Snow

6:09 PM (1 hour ago)

to Ken

Hi Ken, It really nice to hear back from you, I want you to do me a favor due to my hearing impair, have not pay the courier service because they don’t have credit card facility, i want you to add $1,150 including with the cost of the bed comforters cleaning while you have everything charge on my credit card, You are to send the $1,150 to the courier service via Western union money transfer for the comforters delivery and pick up, I want the comforters to be ready before am out of the intensive care. Kindly get back to me with the grand total of everything you are to charge on my credit card so that i can email you with my credit card along with the courier service information where you are to send the fund to, so that they can deliver those comforters to you on time for the cleaning and i can only be reached through text messages.

Below are the breaking down of the fees you are to charge on my credit card.

Dry Cleaner Service down payment Fee: $1000
Courier service Fee: $1,150
Western union charges Fee: $100
Credit card company Fee: 3%
Tip: $100

I look forward to read from you soon.
(281) 749-1270
Regards

Ken Barrett <ken@washincoinlaundry.com>

6:11 PM (1 hour ago)

to Brian

Brian

My daughter knows sign language so I can set up a Skype call and work out the details.

Brian Snow

6:14 PM (1 hour ago)

to Ken

I don’t have skype on my desk top, i can only communicate on here or via text messages. it will be easy for me that way.

Ken Barrett <ken@washincoinlaundry.com>

7:24 PM (6 minutes ago)

to Brian

Send me the details and I’ll see what I can do tomorrow.

End Of Emails:

          Further emails involve “Brian” continually asking me for a total price and my contact information.  All of which was actually in the emails by the way.

          The phone number listed shows it used to go to a Title Loan company in Texas that has since closed. It is now a Google Voice number.

          If you have any of your employees answering company emails you may want to share this information with them.

          It would have been a nice order to fill in the quiet days at the store.

Play Safe
Ken

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