Email Scam Targeting Moving & Relocation Businesses

EDMONTON, Alberta - May 17, 2017 - PRLog -- As a business person, I receive many emails everyday and some are junk while others are legitimate business related inquiries. With the moving industry, I see more and more inquiries coming in through our online forms and emails. I did notice an odd one the other day and thought I would share with other business owners and the public in general as a warning.

The initial email requests basic service information about moving from a local address to another local address. Through several emails back and forth, more information is gathered and the person on the other side of the messages brings up that they will not be present during the move as they are receiving Lung Cancer Treatment "Out of State". This was a flag to me that it should have said, "Out of Province" if they were Canadian.

The next warning was that they seemed more interested in our accepted method of payment, specifically if we accept credit cards than they were about the actual services we provide and our licensing, insurance, BBB standing etc. Another oddity was that he claimed the move from residence was going into foreclosure but that he has bought the new residence.

At this point I felt it was not a legitimate customer so I provided a very high price, as I knew a true customer would have questioned the price and asked more questions. Instead he came back without delay with a yes to procced with the booking. I looked up both addresses on Google and they were both listed as For Sale so I contacted the real estate agent and confirmed that the home was still on the market and nobody was moving into the residence over the next three weeks.

Then came the true scam. He wanted to have an additional $3500. added to the credit card for us to process and provide to his "agent" to cover his closing fees on the new residence since he could not be there is person and the agent themselves did not accept credit card payments. He also wanted me to add another $200. for my time as a "tip".

I informed him that we do not conduct business this way and that he would have to look for another company. I also informed him that the only funds we run though our business is for actual moving services provided. This allows us accurate accounting and taxation records and we do not get involved in any other type of payments or "agent" services as it is not our business and want no involvement in such. He replies offering more money for taxes etc but we again, do not get involved in this type of transaction in any way.

Essentialy these types of scams will provide falso or stolen credit cards for payment to you or your company. You then forward the "agent" fees to some third party. The scammer then cancels the service(s) booked and looks for a refund of a portion of the funds to a source not being the initial payment method. Now you would be out all of this money and then would get the charge back from the credit card company on the initial payments.

So this is a warning to businesses in all industries to watch for these scams and stay focused on your business. Do what you do best and remember that the funds being scammed can be used by these criminals for anything from funding terrorists to any number of other crimes. I hope this serves as a warning and helpd others avoid these scams.


About the contributor:

James Cousineau is the Alberta Regional Manager of Kary Movers Ltd. and owner of Soundmax Mobile DJ Services. James Can be contacted through http://www.karymoversedmonton.com