The old Baldwin scam

[bobhdus]

This is a question about that irritating Baldwin Scam.. So I get these messages seen below in emails and texts to my business phone, and they’re obviously a scam but how exactly does this work where it’s profitable enough for them to keep trying this? Besides wasting my time of course... Anyone know how this con works?

PM, kurt metin <financial.broker0000@gmail.com> wrote:

i will like a direct response from the owner or manager of this company, i intend to put place 20 Baldwin locks on 10 doors , please let me know if you sell the locks ? and cost, and also let me know cost for installation, you will need to bore a new hole on each door, as they are new doors without any lock .a guess quote will be appreciated, also let me know if credit cards are being accepted and types?

Thanks

[just1pick+open]

Just block the number.

[bobhdus]

Just block the number.

I usually do but now I have a crappy phone from cricket for my locksmith business that doesn’t give me that option. Time to upgrade it I guess. Still though, I have half a dozen scam messages kinda like the old Baldwin scam. Just wondering how they actually make any money with this con... Nobody in my area wants to install new Baldwin hardware. So it’s a dead giveaway when I see that request.

[bobhdus]

So seeing a few talk about it on Reddit, apparently this is a variation of the “Money Mule” scam... https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/ ... -mule-scam

[Gantry]

Jason over at SE Lock & Key had this happen to him about 3 years ago (can't believe I remembered that far back). Here's the video he posted then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4VPe1Dru4E

[barbarian]

A friend of mine almost got caught in a scam. It went like this..

He was selling a motorcycle and was contacted by a guy who bought motorcycles and sports cars to send to Europe for collectors.. My friend gets a check in the mail for about 3 times the asking price of the bike. The guy calls and tells him the checks got mixed up and that check was for a sports car. Could my friend just cash the check and write him back a personal check for the difference?

So he took the check to the bank. They said it was good. So he called the company and they said it was fraud. The check would have failed to clear after 30 days. My friend’s personal check would have been cashed long before the scam was discovered..

Maybe this scam is similar. They promise you the business and pay with fake check or credit card. Then a few days later cancel the work and ask for a partial refund minus your costs..