How does this scam work?

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 11:05 AM

Paul from a company called Fiable Architects sent me an email asking for a quote on 10 laptops. Company is clearly BS. Google it. Reverse image search the headshots of the people on the website and you get a bunch of templates for the website. Addresses appear legit, but probably not the suite numbers. Not much online presence apart from the fake website. No Maps business listings, etc. Basically, as many red flags as possible.
I actually managed to get Paul(he didn't sound like a Paul, know what I mean?) on the phone, allegedly in Boise, but I don't know Boise at all so I couldn't really quiz him on something local.
At first I thought maybe someone was spoofing the email of a legit company, but the few minutes of looking at it told me the whole company is fake.

So, that's pretty elaborate. Website hosting and domain name reservation, email hosting with said domain name.

They even said they'd pay upfront! Still doesn't look right.

Shipping address was somewhere in Jersey. Street view looked like medical offices/hospital. Maybe the suite number is a breakroom or office for someone who's in on it?

At first they wanted me to take delivery, and send them on using they're FedEx account once I saw the packages weren't damaged because they had gotten damaged packaging before (uh huh). I told them that wasn't gonna do that. I told them I wasn't gonna send them a cc authorization form, they could just pay through an invoice I email them (QuickBooks). They seemed interested in 10 laptops and nothing more. No services. Pay up front. There's maybe enough margin on a laptop, even a high end one lile they requested, to cover the CC processing fees.

So how does this scam work?
The Credit card must be a stolen number or Identity. Or they complain to the CC company and either I get fucked or they just get a bunch of free laptops. I'm guessing then that they resell them. Maybe on Canal or 14th St. in Manhattan, one of those sidewalk tables where you can buy counterfeit or stolen shit, or bootleg movies, but worst case scenario North Korea gets some new i7 SSD laptops. That would be fucked up. That would be aiding the enemy.

So, how does this work?
And where do I submit a complaint? I'm sure Sessions and company will get right on it.

**JimmyCarter** · 06-13-2017, 11:15 AM

Fiable means "trustworthy," so I can't imagine they'd be involved in anything illegal.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by JimmyCarter

Fiable means "trustworthy," so I can't imagine they'd be involved in anything illegal.

Clever, lol.

**JimmyCarter** · 06-13-2017, 11:23 AM

https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds

**Timberridge** · 06-13-2017, 11:43 AM

I only got as far as this comment

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

I don't know Boise at all so I couldn't really quiz him on something local

Wtf?

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 11:54 AM

Ah fuck, missed the ball on that one.
Local special election and avoidance of talking politics with people irl kinda pushed it out of my mind.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 12:05 PM

Just Googled it and Idaho has 2 districts. Boise is mostly not in Pio's anyway.
Wasn't he running for 1st district against the bizarrely named Raul Labrador?

**DJSapp** · 06-13-2017, 12:12 PM

1. Fake/fraudulent/stolen CC info, or they claim cc fraud afterward
2. Since it's their shipping account, they change delivery location once package is enroute.

**Conundrum** · 06-13-2017, 12:42 PM

You could always check the secretary of state's website for that entity. 950 Bannock is the Banner Bank Building. It's a real location-first commercial Leeds Platinum building in the state. Most tenants really like the building. You could ask him about that.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 12:50 PM

I already called him out. And yes, I saw a street view of the building.

**Conundrum** · 06-13-2017, 12:52 PM

I'm surprised Best Buy lets you hang on TGR as much as you do.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 12:57 PM

Wtf do you think the Geek Squad does all day, actually fix something?

**Jong Lafitte** · 06-13-2017, 12:57 PM

Reminds me of:

http://postarchives.entensity.net/040105/scam.htm

"I know that you will enjoy my Anus, many have before" ... GOLD

**Skistack** · 06-13-2017, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

I'm surprised Best Buy lets you hang on TGR as much as you do.

More like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikbCGfgm8QY

**Conundrum** · 06-13-2017, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by flowing alpy

Reps split town in half to keep the dems
from turning lib Boise into a State power.

Correct. The wealthier, more educated section of town was sectioned into district 19 which has 3 dems in the statehouse. The rest of the state save the other two wealthiest most educated towns have all reps. To be fair, a dem in Idaho is most likely a moderate republic in most other states.

Stuck-another way to look for a scam is to see if their address is on the 14th floor of an 11 story building which is the case for their Boise address.

**AK47bp** · 06-13-2017, 03:59 PM

Sounds legit to me, give Paul his fricken laptops man.

**iceman** · 06-13-2017, 04:23 PM

The Banner Bank Building on Bannock in Boise. Boy.

**hatchgreenchile** · 06-13-2017, 04:44 PM

The dead "Request Quote" link not working is hilarious. Yeah, you don't want that one working.

It's a better website than the Cydcor "independent business" sites. A scam that thousands of people "work" for, but go onto one of their websites and you won't have a damn clue about what they do.

**iceman** · 06-13-2017, 04:49 PM

It's a pretty legit-looking website at first glance though, you gotta give it to them, they're not just completely dialing it in.

**t-the-east** · 06-13-2017, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Stuck-another way to look for a scam is to see if their address is on the 14th floor of an 11 story building which is the case for their Boise address.

You are either a real estate guy, cop, or you have way too much free time on your hands. Or all of the above . Either way, well done

**::: :::** · 06-13-2017, 06:49 PM

That is a shit website for an "architect"...

If it's not custom made, you gotta wonder about the architects...

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Correct. The wealthier, more educated section of town was sectioned into district 19 which has 3 dems in the statehouse. The rest of the state save the other two wealthiest most educated towns have all reps. To be fair, a dem in Idaho is most likely a moderate republic in most other states.

Stuck-another way to look for a scam is to see if their address is on the 14th floor of an 11 story building which is the case for their Boise address.

Good catch!

AC, the website is just a basic template. I did a reverse search of those headshots. They are just stock photos. Other websites/templates come up with the same ones.

**iceman** · 06-13-2017, 06:55 PM

It just has to be good enough to fool a sales guy for a couple minutes, not good enough to actually get clients.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 06:56 PM

And not like Seinfeld. More like IT Crowd. Which was actually a lot like a British Seinfeld. It's on Netflix. You can thank me later.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 06-13-2017, 07:01 PM

I feel like the most likely scenario is that these are bought with a stolen identity that someone used to get credit card. Then they take delivery at an actual address that is maybe a breakroom where a complicit stooge works. Then I'm guessing they wind up in the back one of those weird electronics bodegas or on a table next to a bunch of bootleg DVDs in downtown NYC (are those still things?)
Would I then be potentially liable for the charges when a person starts getting calls for unpaid cc bills for a card they didn't sign up for?