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My daughter is a college student looking to make some extra cash. She searched online for pet sitting and dog walking opportunities. She found a company website in which she could sign up to provide dog walking services.
Once a dog owner identifies a potential dog walker on the company website, the two start communicating by email. My daughter received the below email from the purported owner of the German Shepherd.
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From: dogowner@gmail.com
Date: September 9, 2017 at 1:27:26 AM PDT
To: Daughter@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Pet Sitter
Thank you for the information and I'm very happy to know you want to care for my dog, the START date is 23 Of September and Let me know the schedule that suits you and where you would like to care for him? I have the option of dropping him at your house or you coming for him at my place Either ways works fine with me.
I just want to make sure Cookie is fine. he has no allergies The pay rate is $25/Hour also i will be living in 2348 Dog Friendly Lane, Tustin, CA 92782 and will like to know if we can meet on Fri (22nd September) at the nearest McDonald's to you if you can provide me with the address, we can have a short meeting to conclude on other arrangements and discussion about Cookie needs and activities before work commences.....by 6:00PM if that works for you?..
Just to make it clear, The check will come in the amount of $2,150. $400 goes for your first week upfront payment to have you secure for this position and the rest goes to the dog utility suppliers on delivery and i will provide you with the suppliers information soon. when you start working.But I will like to confirm your information before i proceed to mailing the check. Kindly confirm that the below information is correct so I can forward it to the payroll department for immediate processing of your check. I will look for your email soon to ensure everything is clear so i can forward your information.
Name: Daughter
Address: 123 College Dorm
City: Orange
State: CA
Zip Code: 00000
Phone (555) 949–xxxx
we are excited and look forward to meeting you soonest
Thanks and God bless you.
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Yes, my naïve daughter confirmed her address to a complete stranger online. She received an email response that read as follows:
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From: dogowner@gmail.com
Date: September 12, 2017 at 4:43:27 PM PDT
To: Daughter@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Pet Sitter
Good Day, I hope you're good? I am happy to inform you that your check has been processed in the amount of $2450 and was mailed out via USPS with the tracking numbers xxxx50169932013131xxxx.Kindly ensure to be home to receive and deposit it into your account via ATM or Direct mobile deposit immediately, so the funds can be made available to you on a next day basis for the equipment purchase. I await your email as soon as you have received and deposited the check so i can contact the payroll to ensure the funds are released. I can't wait to finally meet with you
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Three days later a priority mail delivery arrived. The mailing label indicated the package came from an entirely different person located in Austin, Texas. This was not the customer's name or address. The customer purported to be in Tustin, California.
The envelope contained a check in the amount of $2,450.53, payable to my daughter with no instructions other than the email instructing her to immediately deposit the check. The check supposedly came from the account of Chicago Title of Texas.
The next message she received instructed her to send $2,000 of the money to the "shipper" so they could send her the equipment to start walking the dog and to keep the balance as advance payment for her walking services.
Needless to say, I found the check at home on the kitchen counter and stopped the scam by telling her there was no way a dog owner would front money for dog walking equipment. A dog owner would already have a collar and leash!
The property address where the dog owner supposedly lived was completely vacant and the house was listed for sale.
This scam continues to flourish in an unusual time where the internet enables criminals to lure unsuspecting people into believing the unbelievable. Settlement agents should continue to secure their outgoing mail and monitor their positive pay exception reports daily, even on the day after Thanksgiving.
The day after Thanksgiving may not be a working day, but it is a business banking day. Positive pay exceptions are still generated on that day and have to be immediately responded to. Be vigilant even during the holidays.
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