Ten years ago I decided to freelance and registered with a few editing sites.
On April 2, 2016, a chap claiming to be Steven Charles from Greenville, South Carolina wrote to me out of the blue. He attached three files of material dealing with finance and asked me to proofread them. He would need the work by May 26, three days before he would make a presentation in London. He asked for my rates.
I asked for $360 total, with $120 in advance as a retainer. I asked how he learned of my services.
He wrote back on April 3, agreeing to my rate and asking for my name, mailing address, and phone number so he could “instruct my U.S. associate sent out payment to you inform of a bank check asap.”
Note the stilted use of English. That’s a red flag.
As for how he learned of me, he wrote, “From the online editorial service.” He didn’t say which one. Another red flag. Already I suspected he was sending the same material to scores of freelancers gathered from half a dozen online sites.
I wrote back on April 4, providing my name, address, and phone number. I asked if he had a preference for American English versus British English.
He didn’t answer my question (the clinching red flag) and merely said “Thanks for the information. I will let you know as soon as the payment is on the way.”
None of Steven’s emails addressed me by name, for he was no doubt sending identical emails to scores of would-be victims.
On April 7, Steven wrote: “The payment was mailed to you yesterday by my associate via USPS.” He provided the tracking number and asked that I acknowledge the check upon its arrival.
The check arrived via Priority Mail. The return address on the shipping label was Colorado Springs, but the postmark was Waynesville, North Carolina.
On April 9, knowing it was a scam, I replied in all honesty: “The cashier’s check arrived today. However, it is made out for $2,950. The amount agreed upon was $120 (with $240 additional upon completion of the work). Would you like me to mail the check back to you or to your associate? To what address should I mail it?”
I was trying to learn the scammer’s true address.
On April 10, Steven acknowledged his associate’s mistake. He apologized and asked me to deposit the check at my bank.
“When the funds clear your bank, please deduct your payment for the assignment plus a tip of $100 and refund my balance via direct deposit with cash at any branch of Wells Fargo to my friend’s bank account with details below as I am still away in the U.K. Please provide me with a snapshot or scan of the cash deposit receipt as soon as you are able to do the transaction.”
And yes, account information was given for a California bank.
Even though he was offering to let me wait for the check to clear, I knew it wouldn’t. I took it to the police station, where a member of Claremont’s finest told me it was indeed a bogus check.
Then the daily barrage of emails from Steven, eager for me to follow all his instructions pronto, as if I was the one who had made a mistake.
On April 15, I said I did not want any money from the erroneous check and would refund the full amount to him.
I concluded with a lie: “My cousin Ernie is visiting. I will give him $2,950 in cash to return to you. He will bring the money back to Greenville, South Carolina, where both you and he live. At your convenience, send me your home or office address, and telephone number, and I will give it to Ernie. After he gets to Greenville, he will set up an appointment with you to give you the money. You’ll have to show him photo identification proving you are Steven Charles. Don’t worry about my trusting Ernie with the money. He is 100% trustworthy. He has to be, since he works for the FBI.”
Still on April 15, Steven replied: “I am not going to collect money from someone I don’t have any business with. You can keep the funds if that makes you happy.”
I wrote back on April 16: “Whoever you really are, I know a couple of other editors who I dislike greatly. Perhaps you want their addresses so you can pull your stunt on them?”
I was hoping to get “Steven” to admit he was a crook and intentionally sending bogus checks.
I succeeded. “Steven” wrote back: “You can provide me if you like, thanks.”
That was the end of our communication.
And since then, I’ve always required a land address and a phone number for all new clients.
