Scam Type
Moving Scam
Business Name Used
Unavailable
Date Reported
July 09, 2023
Postal Code
None
Total Dollars Lost
$ 223
Scam Description
This is the first email they sent to my workplace offering a used piano to music faculty. They just asked you to pay shipping to move it across the city of Boston. They were impersonating Maria Inturriaga, Senior Vice President of the college, so you thought it was coming from a reputable source.
“Mr Eric Gould is downsizing and looking to give away his late dad’s piano to a loving home. The Piano is a Yamaha Baby Grand used like new. If interested, contact him on EricGould.piano@outlook.com to arrange inspection and delivery with a moving company.
Be advised to write him via your personal email for swift response.
Regards
Maria Iturriaga
Senior Vice President International Learning Environments
Berklee College of Music
They asked me to pay for shipping up front ($455) to have the piano shipped in 10 days, but I could expedite it for $800 to have it here in two days.
Here is the email message:
Thank you for your interest in using GoSwift Movers Services, a nationwide carrier of household and office goods, for your pending relocation. We are excited to have you on board. Please find below the different prices we have for delivery to Rockport Massachusetts depending on your choice. Your payment includes setting up the piano at your provided address.
OPTION 1. GROUND SHIPPING: 10 Days Delivery
Cost Of Delivery: $445
OPTION 2: EXPRESS SHIPPING: 5 Days Delivery
Cost Of Delivery: $595
OPTION 3: FREIGHT SHIPPING: 2 Days Delivery
Cost Of Delivery: $800
Payment is via Zelle. Will you be able to make the payment using this method?
I chose the cheapest, 10 days for $455. I tried to pay a deposit of $100 via zelle to rickymyaisa52@gmail.com (Ricky Montoya) and his name wasn’t registered with Zelle. I assumed it was a small business and they hadn’t registered his account (I should have seen it as a red flag). They gave me the name of samanthaharland04@gmail.com (Samantha J. Harland) so I sent a payment of $100. They told me then that I had to pay at least half the shipping so they asked me to pay an additional $122.50 (which ish’t half, so I should have seen the fact that they can’t do basic math as a red flag, but I didn’t argue).
Next they sent an email asking me to pay for moving insurance. They just sent me the name of Daniel Minor with the email Cminor812@gmail.com to pay the $294. I had shipped a piano before and had heard that this was part of the deal but I knew the moving co usually carried the insurance, but since I had never shipped something this expensive, I asked to see the name of the insurance co, and the contract that I needed to sign. They gave me a lame excuse and said “We have already attached the policy to the piano since we didn’t hear from you on time. You will see the paperwork when our team arrive your location. All you are required to is pay the $294 which is refundable upon delivery.”
I knew at this point that it was a scam so I reported it to my bank to get the charges reversed and I am taking it to the Norwood/Boston police on Monday July 10.
Here is the second email they sent to have me pay for insurance on the piano shipment
GoSwift Movers Services <goswiftmovers@outlook.com> Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 8:32 AM
To:
Hello,
I Would like to Inform you that your Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration(FMCSA) And the US Department of Transportation have Stopped the Shipment of your Consignment and requested the Exclusive Insurance Document for moving the Piano Package Interstate.
In this Case, we provide you with a Refundable Insurance policy, so we can produce the necessary document with our insurance department. This Insurance is Refundable upon delivery of your consignment to your address on Friday (July 14)
Certain items (such as your Piano) are costly and valuable and most of the time handed to us for delivery without an exclusive Insurance policy. In this case, we expect the consignee or buyer to pay a Refundable 2% of the Value cost of the valued cost of the consignment to be delivered in order to safeguard the consignment in Transit. Where such consignment suffers any loss or damage in the course of shipment/transportation, the insurer will pay you the full value of the consignment within 48 hours. The 2014 Yamaha baby grand is valued for $14,700.00. A refundable Insurance payment of $294.00 is Required in order to get the consignment to you at the expected date.
Please ask for payment details before making any payment.
Thank you for your total Understanding.
These are all of the aliases and emails they used:
samanthaharland04@gmail.com (Samantha J. Harland), rickymyaisa52@gmail.com (Ricky Montoya), trennjoseph701@gmail.com (Joseph Trenn), EricGould.piano@outlook.com (Eric Gould), Goswiftmovers@outlook.com (Juan Mejinez), Cminor812@gmail.com (Daniel Minor )
https://goswiftmoversservices.godaddysites.com/gallery</goswiftmovers@outlook.com>
