Scam targeting Avon Representative

[mysteryquest]

Here is a news article on this fake check scam: http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/...ad.php?t=49770

Originally Posted by mysteryquest

@ ignoranceonfraudscam I am sorry that you were scammed. I'm glad that you didn't actually send the products even though you are still suffering from the scam. I have one request. Could you post the name and email address of the scammer who sent you the email? That will hopefully make it easier for potential victims to find this thread.

Hello,

I'm a new representative and my upper leaders sent out an email to me at the very start about being careful of fraudulent orders. I just received my first email contact and I replied stating the information that I would need for the order and that I would have them pay online. A reply came back in the same format as the previous ones in this chain, stating she was with Premier Model & Talent in Chicago, IL. She was very professional sounding but as soon as she said that she would have a sponsor pay with a money order or cashier's check it turned on the warning bell. Also, I thought it was strange that this person used one email to initially contact me, but a different email to send this order list. I smelled a skunk. The name of the person contacting me signed it Mary Peeples and used marryppleess01@gmail.com.

I hope this helps others,
Amy

[mysteryquest]

@ apoole Thank you for posting the email address. The reason they use two email addresses is explained in this article: http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/...?pg=fw_anatomy They send out hundreds even thousands of scam emails using the first email address. They realize that hosting companies will shut down the first (sending) email address for spam violations so they immediately switch to a second email address to correspond with any victims who respond to the first email address. Many times, the put a "reply to" line in the header of the first email so that the response goes to the second email address.

I am a new Avon representative and recently signrd up as an eRepresentative. I did not realize I had a new online customer inquiry until a few days ago. I replied to the inquiry and got the same email as many of you did requesting products in exchange for a money order. The email came from Sarah Porwoll and address was porwollsarah2@yahoo.com. I thought it was a strange email and the language did not sound like a manager would make a transaction that way so I decided to google the name as I am aware of similar scams out of Africa (I was a victim of a money order scam last year through match.com). Upon googling I found all of this info from you guys. Thank you so much for the warning! I hope we can somehow stop these guys by making this well know. I spread the word wherever I go about the money scams from foreign countries particularly Nigeria!

I received a similar order. The name given was "Kimberly" and the email address was

grace_smith7777@yahoo.com.

I gave my address and phone number, unfortunately. However I was weary from the beginning. Same reasons--coming from out of town, bad grammar, unusual order--all together shady. I received the check, which happens to be drawn on the bank where i have my account. I talked with the branch manager, and the checking account was a real account...from the George Washington University School of Law none the less!! Of course, we didn't cash the check, but she told me I would have been charged the $1950.00 once the check was returned. I took it to the police, who basically told me forget about it and there's nothing they can do. In fact, they said no crime had been committed, and only after I'd cashed the check would there have been a crime. THEY SAID THE CRIME WOULD BE THAT I WAS OUT $1950!!!
With the scammer still texting me, asking if I had the money, and having already given me the name and address of whom to Western Union it to, I contacted the FBI (in Missouri where said Western Union is), hoping they could set him up. Apparently, that's not how it works. Instead I was instructed to fill out the IC3, and they would have to conduct an investigation.
It is 2 days later, and scammer is still texting me to find out where their money is. BTW, email to text--no phone number given, and calls come from private number.
the Western Union contact info is

Kenneth Kuntz
8601 s.Broadway
St. Louis, MO

Be Careful!!
Michele

[mysteryquest]

@ mcmitchell

Actually the police are incorrect. Creating a counterfeit financial instrument is a crime as is sending it to someone as "payment." The police simply do not want to bother. Unfortunately, the scammer will keep texting you. You can continue to ignore him or, inasmuch as he has your address, I would suggest that you send him a simple text message telling him that the bank found out the check was fraudulent and turned it over to the police. At that point he will most likely be the last you'll hear from him.

I am an AVON rep and ran across this site when researching about the suspicious email I got. Same pitches as Ive been reading but the name I got was CHRIST WALKER. Below is the email I received...

"Hello , I really appreciate your response and concern, Am presently in London,United Kingdom on vacation and would be returning home to my Kids soon that is why i need you to help me with the AVON products.i should have made the order by my self directly from the website but i don't have a credit card to do that my self here,that's why i want you to help me make the Avon Orders as an Avon Rep,Am willing to pay the agreed sum of $178.31 and a Money Order or a Check will be issued to you.The will includes the cost of the shipping charges for the AVON products down to my location,Not to worry I have a shipping company that would come right to your door step to collect the AVON products once the payment is confirmed by them,they would immediately be at your place or where the AVON products is located to sign up all the necessary documentations and delivery down to my location here in United Kingdom. this payment includes the cost of the shipping charges that will be send to you by my Trustee there in the State,i also request for your Full Name, your Full Address not a(P.O BOX Address) you want the payment sent to and also your personal Cell Phone Number i can reach you on.After you send me this information i would instruct my Trustee to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or America Check which you can cash instantly at your Personal bank.I would send the shipping company information once you receive the package which you will send the balance to them for pick up and shipping of the AVON products down to my location.Please get back to me as soon as possible so that i can continue with payment and I hope you can understand.
looking forward to hear from you
Regards

Christ Walker"

I've received several of these since creating a web page as an Erep. Haven't been victimized by any of the attempts though. The initial request for contact has always had the comment "I want to order products", which immediately made me suspicious. If an individual found the web page and created a user name to send a "contact me" request, then they've already seen how the "store" works.

I, too, consulted with an Avon leader the first time this happened. Even researched a home address one gave when they wrote back with their "order". The address was a municipal parking garage. Not all use authentic businesses when they attempt to scam.

So far, I've received emails from
Paul Amanda - pualamanda44@yahoo.com
Jessica Armstrong - armstrong.jessica48@yahoo.com
Stanley webber - smweembam4real@yahoo.com
Renee Walker - reneewalker707@yahoo.com
Lynn Wood - lynnwood51@yahoo.com

You'll note that the items to be ordered are "high end" on Avon's price list. That was another red flag, aside from being asked for all my personal information (address, phone, etc.) while being promised payment in advance.

Microsoft's web site has good information on internet security as well. I'm now using this:

Attach the suspicious email message to a new email message and forward it to
reportphishing@antiphishing.org

I too got a similar message from Lynnwood551@gmail.com and a powolsarah2@yahoo.com
Almost fell for it but thought to check out the company before responding. Glad I did!


Thank you, I appreciate your feed back, I'm the manager of the TLW Modeling & Promotions from Chicago, IL. We are coming down to your area for a photo shoot and I would need you to get the underlisted items for me:


SKIN CARE:
ANEW CLINICAL Body Contouring Treatment ....................Item#:215-647 x (1)
ANEW CLINICAL Professional Cellulite Treatment .........Item#:600-564 x (2)


FRAGRANCE:
Imari Eau de Cologne Spray .................................................Item#:927-549 x (2)
Chic in White Eau de Parfum Spray .....................................Item#:186-100 x (1)

MAKE UP:
Cream-to-Powder Foundation SPF 15.(Light Ivory) ...........Item#:203-632 x (2)
Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (Rose) ............................................ Item#: 221-452 x (2)


HAIR CARE:
ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine 3-Piece Collection ...Item#:894-538 x (2)
NATURALS Key Lime & Passion Flower Volumizing Shampo.Item#:187915 x(1)


BATH & BODY:
SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Hair Minimizing Roll-On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant ............................................................ ........ Item#:013-409 x (2)


Please get back to me with the total cost and the sale tax I'm to pay on those listed items and also the name and address you want the payment sent to with your phone number to reach you in case of emergency. After you send me this information I would instruct my sponsors to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or certified check which you can cash instantly at your bank. Please get back to me as soon as possible so I can continue with the purchase, We would be there soon so we would pick up the items in person but I want you to have the funds in advance so send me the quotations and details needed to send you payment.


Thank you and God bless.
Lynn

[AN AVON REP IN MISSO]

I got this email from Lynn Wood and I just emailed her back and told her that she would have to pay by credit card and have what she wanted sent directly to her that I would not order for her. Also if you are an AVON REP and you get any emails like this call AVON customer service ask for the fraud department and tell them what email you got and the person that sent it to you and they will put a watch on her, or him and take action for you.



Thank you, I appreciate your feed back, I'm the manager of the TLW Modeling & Promotions from Chicago, IL. We are coming down to your area for a photo shoot and I would need you to get the underlisted items for me:

SKIN CARE:
ANEW CLINICAL Body Contouring Treatment ....................Item#:215-647 x (1)
ANEW CLINICAL Professional Cellulite Treatment .........Item#:600-564 x (2)

FRAGRANCE:
Imari Eau de Cologne Spray .................................................Item#:927-549 x (2)
Chic in White Eau de Parfum Spray .....................................Item#:186-100 x (1)

MAKE UP:
Cream-to-Powder Foundation SPF 15.(Light Ivory) ...........Item#:203-632 x (2)
Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (Rose) ............................................ Item#: 221-452 x (2)

HAIR CARE:
ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine 3-Piece Collection ...Item#:894-538 x (2)
NATURALS Key Lime & Passion Flower Volumizing Shampo.Item#:187915 x(1)

BATH & BODY:
SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Hair Minimizing Roll-On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant ............................................................ ........ Item#:013-409 x (2)

Please get back to me with the total cost and the sale tax I'm to pay on those listed items and also the name and address you want the payment sent to with your phone number to reach you in case of emergency. After you send me this information I would instruct my sponsors to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or certified check which you can cash instantly at your bank. Please get back to me as soon as possible so I can continue with the purchase, We would be there soon so we would pick up the items in person but I want you to have the funds in advance so send me the quotations and details needed to send you payment.

Thank you and God bless.
Lynn

Thank you, I appreciate your feed back, I'm the manager of the TLW Modeling & Promotions from Chicago, IL. We are coming down to your area for a photo shoot and I would need you to get the underlisted items for me:

SKIN CARE:

ANEW CLINICAL Body Contouring Treatment ....................Item#:215-647 x (1)

ANEW CLINICAL Professional Cellulite Treatment .........Item#:600-564 x (2)


FRAGRANCE:

Imari Eau de Cologne Spray .................................................Item#:927-549 x (2)

Chic in White Eau de Parfum Spray .....................................Item#:186-100 x (1)

MAKE UP:

Cream-to-Powder Foundation SPF 15.(Light Ivory) ...........Item#:203-632 x (2)

Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (Rose) ............................................ Item#: 221-452 x (2)

HAIR CARE:

ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine 3-Piece Collection ...Item#:894-538 x (2)

NATURALS Key Lime & Passion Flower Volumizing Shampo.Item#:187915 x(1)


BATH & BODY:

SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Hair Minimizing Roll-On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant ............................................................ ........ Item#:013-409 x (2)

Please get back to me with the total cost and the sale tax I'm to pay on those listed items and also the name and address you want the payment sent to with your phone number to reach you in case of emergency. After you send me this information I would instruct my sponsors to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or certified check which you can cash instantly at your bank. Please get back to me as soon as possible so I can continue with the purchase, We would be there soon so we would pick up the items in person but I want you to have the funds in advance so send me the quotations and details needed to send you payment.

Thank you and God bless,

Tiffany Romanik.

[TAG]

I am an Avon Representative. I have received an email from a women named Tiffinay Romanik. She sent me a "I want products" request. So I wrote her a back letting her know how we could do that. Well she wrote me this a week later...

Thank you, I appreciate your feed back, I'm the manager of the TLW Modeling & Promotions from Chicago, IL. We are coming down to your area for a photo shoot and I would need you to get the underlisted items for me:


SKIN CARE:
ANEW CLINICAL Body Contouring Treatment ....................Item#:215-647 x (1)
ANEW CLINICAL Professional Cellulite Treatment .........Item#:600-564 x (2)


FRAGRANCE:
Imari Eau de Cologne Spray .................................................Item#:927-549 x (2)
Chic in White Eau de Parfum Spray .....................................Item#:186-100 x (1)

MAKE UP:
Cream-to-Powder Foundation SPF 15.(Light Ivory) ...........Item#:203-632 x (2)
Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (Rose) ............................................ Item#: 221-452 x (2)


HAIR CARE:
ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine 3-Piece Collection ...Item#:894-538 x (2)
NATURALS Key Lime & Passion Flower Volumizing Shampo.Item#:187915 x(1)


BATH & BODY:
SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Hair Minimizing Roll-On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant ............................................................ ........ Item#:013-409 x (2)


Please get back to me with the total cost and the sale tax I'm to pay on those listed items and also the name and address you want the payment sent to with your phone number to reach you in case of emergency. After you send me this information I would instruct my sponsors to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or certified check which you can cash instantly at your bank. Please get back to me as soon as possible so I can continue with the purchase, We would be there soon so we would pick up the items in person but I want you to have the funds in advance so send me the quotations and details needed to send you payment.


Thank you and God bless,
Tiffany Romanik.

I just became an avon rep and I received this:

Susan Young to me

show details 2:56 PM (8 minutes ago)

Hello,
How are you doing today,i hope all is well with you.Thanks for your reply and it's my prayer that you are in good health as I am?I am Susan Young.and i will like to order some items for my Mom who is celebrating her 80th birthday.. I will need some perfumes which will be given out to the invited guest as a bestow. Below are the Items and the Quantity,I would need you to handle this as your own personal order so that u can receive it in your home delivery order, i will like to order but first Let me know the Total cost of the Items and also let me know when will you be placing my order and also when will you be receiving it in your house.I’m going to handle shipment myself,by that way i would arrange with USPS for any possible move of my products from your end to my desired destination).Let me know the types of credit card you accept so that i can provide you my credit card information for you to run totals of my order.I need this order urgently because it will serve as an invitation to my upcoming home coming party.And this the order i will wish to place below:

Products: Items Number Qty
(1) Haiku Eau de Parfum Spray 102-972 65 Big Bottles
(2)Perceive For Men Cologne Spray 194-550 65 Big Bottles

I want you to give me the total cost of the product and I will make payment in full with my secure credit card's thank you and i hope i will hear from you soon.





People are crazy

As I always respond that they can order online with a credit card from their company, this was the response I received. Pitiful grammar and who in the US feels more security with a check than with a credit card??? Crazy!

Thanks for you response, I want you to realize that this is not what I'm gonnapay for by myself, there is a sponsor who is responsible for all the expenses that incure on this activities and it has been concluded for security purpose that all expenses will be paid with check, so we are unable to use credit card online for the payment as it is not much secure and we want hand to hand delivery due to our past online shipping experience.

May God bless you,
Tiffany Romanik.

[Jersey]

QUOTE=Shamfien;94343]This is a scam using stolen credit card information.
The scammer contacts Avon Reps (among other companies) and places a large order:


The scammer then pays with a stolen credit card.
The goods are shipped to a post office box (or similar) where the scammer instructs a shipping company (DHL,UPS etc) to pick up the goods and send to Nigeria[/quote]


I just received a similar e-mail from Lynn Wood TLW modeling chicago, needing products. Reporting to Avon Fraud

[Jersey]

Thank you, I appreciate your feed back, I'm the manager of the TLW Modeling & Promotions from Chicago, IL. We are coming down to your area for a photo shoot and I would need you to get the underlisted items for me:


SKIN CARE:
ANEW CLINICAL Body Contouring Treatment ....................Item#:215-647 x (1)
ANEW CLINICAL Professional Cellulite Treatment .........Item#:600-564 x (2)


FRAGRANCE:
Imari Eau de Cologne Spray .................................................Item#:927-549 x (2)
Chic in White Eau de Parfum Spray .....................................Item#:186-100 x (1)

MAKE UP:
Cream-to-Powder Foundation SPF 15.(Light Ivory) ...........Item#:203-632 x (2)
Lip Conditioner SPF 15 (Rose) ............................................ Item#: 221-452 x (2)


HAIR CARE:
ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine 3-Piece Collection ...Item#:894-538 x (2)
NATURALS Key Lime & Passion Flower Volumizing Shampo.Item#:187915 x(1)


BATH & BODY:
SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Hair Minimizing Roll-On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant ............................................................ ........ Item#:013-409 x (2)


Please get back to me with the total cost and the sale tax I'm to pay on those listed items and also the name and address you want the payment sent to with your phone number to reach you in case of emergency. After you send me this information I would instruct my sponsors to send you the payment which would be in form of money orders or certified check which you can cash instantly at your bank. Please get back to me as soon as possible so I can continue with the purchase, We would be there soon so we would pick up the items in person but I want you to have the funds in advance so send me the quotations and details needed to send you payment.


Thank you and God bless.
Lynn

[digger]

There has been a great deal of targeting of Avon reps on line. Likely the frausters think you are an easy target as you are remotely based at not connected to the main organisation. I know this is incorrect.
There has been much talk on the site of people being cautious of the larger orders but please make sure you watch the smaller orders aswell. The scammers will use smaller orders to build up a customer profile to develop trust, then one day they say " there is an issue with payment ,can you please help, apologies I wouldn't normally ask, I'm so embarassed."
As previously stated, they will send out thousands of e mails , and if only two percent come through and they manage to obtain money will still be ahead.This scam will be part of a larger ring of many other scams.
I work in the fraud arena and I e mailed two of the scamming addresses to inform them that their online transactions requests ( I didn't specify Avon) were deemed as suspicious and it had been reported to the police, better safe than sorry.
One replied stating that they were very offended and would be contacting their solicitor. I asked them for their solicitors details so I could get my solicitor to get in contact. Surprise no reply. Interesting they didn't even ask me which transaction I was referring to.
Please can you pass around, the more people who post on this site, the more likely we can move the fraudsters on to somewhere else!!

[digger]

If you are an Avon rep/Line manager and you think you are looking at a suspicious order, you may wish to consider the following:
1. Look at the order. Is it supposedly from a large corporation? Is it grammatically correct? Even big organisations make mistakes, but a text loaded with errors to likely to be suspicious and worthy of further enquiries.
2. Don't automatically discount an order if there are grammatical issues. It may be that the customer has either been placing an order in a rush or not read the e mail back (I think most of us have done that at some stage). If in doubt, make further enquiries before proceeding and ask further questions. A genuine person will more than likely be happy to answer further questions.
3. Look at the order, do the details add up. Are there discrepancies in the address, telephone numbers or fax details?
3. Follow your instincts. Follow the old saying, "If it looks too good to be true”. There may be something suspect about the order.
4. Be wary of orders that appear to hurry you and ask you to circumvent order or payment handling procedures in order to push the order through.
5. The internet is a great tool and quick to use. It takes two minutes to look up an address or other details including phone number and dialing codes.
6. It is tempting to play with or wind up a likely fraudster but this can seriously backfire. These people are used to doing what they do on a regular basis. Often people slip up and provide personal details when they are in e mail full flow and enjoying the wind up. A wise basic reply in you have identified it is a scam is “I have notified the police” and enter into no further correspondence with them.
7. Regarding suspicious e mail scams. It would be helpful if you could pass onto your team leaders to ask people to post the scams. The more people that know the better. Furthermore, it is likely fraudsters will read these posting and realise you are not an easy target. If you can post on the IP address aswell as the text of the scammer, locate searches can be identified from them.
If you need any advice, please feel free to post your questions here!!

Originally Posted by jeeplassie

I am an avon rep, and I have been getting fraudulent emails about once a week for the past several weeks. One lady even wrote me twice, with the same information. None of them were from other countries, but they all tell me they need my information to send me a money order. They do not allow po boxes. I wrote one lady back and asked her why she can't accept a po box, and she told me it was because Fed Ex does not deliver to po boxes. I told her to use the USPS. I haven't heard back.
Another woman gave me an address, and when googled it ended up being a kaiser hospital.

In all the emails, I do write them back and explain that I will not order any products until the money I receive from them (at my po box) clears. I don't hear back from them after that, usually, unless they forgot they already tried to get me and write me again all brand new.

I have some of the emails saved. I am wondering if there is something I can do legally to catch these idiots? Isn't there a way they can catch them from the information in the headers? What are the legal recourses here? I don't want to just ignore them, I want to prosecute them....

We actually received 2 money orders for large amounts and were instructed to cash them immediately and wire the money to the Phillipines the person wanted to order a small order says they were for modeling assignment. We had received two different requests of this kind do not fall for it.

[digger]

If you receive e mails, it is always best to make sure you report them to the authorities. I know it can be cumbersome but the police or other law enforcement agencies can only build up an intelligence profile if they receive all the relevant reports. If you receive money orders, try not to handle them or if you have to do so purely on the corner and retain for the police.
Report it to Avon; I would be very interested in their response.
I am about a post a synopsis I have put together of all the scams listed on this site which can be downloaded to give people a clearer picture of the extent that this is going on.
There are details that I need so I can forward them to the relevant authorities for intelligence purposes.
1. The IP address. 2. Date sent. 3. Name of sender (I know this will be false). 4. The text used in the e mail. 5. The method of trying to order e.g. Send me your details so I can send a money order. 6. The area of the country (only region) and which country it was received. If you can keep the e mails you have received.
From what I have seen, there have been a number of blanket e mails that have been sent out and they wait to see who responds.
My advice would be not to get into dialogue with scammers because even if you respond negatively, they will note the fact you have responded and they may try to get you in some form of dialogue.
Regarding prosecution, it is very difficult. There are a number of barriers. The police aren't disinterested but they have limited resources and cybercrime is so difficult to detect because in reality most of the time it isn't reported. The police authorities will focus their resources on reported crime. It is so easy to register an e mail account and with public IT facilities or ghost e mail accounts it makes it even harder.
The best approach is shared intelligence ready for when these people do come to the attention of the authorities. Eventually they will.