Nanny scam with Western Union – Robin Cole, Eric Moore
December 9, 2008
Filed under Email Scams, People
(of course, I will not fall for such a scam for sending money via Western Union, but below is the name of the scammer).
From: Robin Cole
Reply-to: colerobin75@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 3:11 AM
Subject: PAYMENT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Dear Nanny XXXX,
How are you doing? I just want to let you know that I have just gotten words from my agent that the check payment in the amount of $4,000 will be in your care today it was posted via FedEx (Tracking No 796166047375 ) I will advise that as soon you get the check go ahead and cash the check deduct your first week wages of $800
You are to wire the refund of $3,200 to our ticketing agent to pay for our flight tickets and also buy some few things will be needed when we arrive. You are to wire the money via western union money transfer using the information below.
Wire Minus $3,200 Transfer Charges TO
Eric Moore
3305 NE 167TH ST
MIAMI FL 33160-3849I will be expecting your e-mail with the details of money transfer as soon as possible, remember to forward to me the following money transfer details below after you have made the transfer.
1 MTCN—Money Transfer Control Numbers
2 Senders Name & Address
3 Exact Amount Sent After Transfer Charges.Yours truly
Robin Cole
This post was submitted by Ron.
The same guy has been contacting me after responding to my nanny ad on craigslist! He really must be working overtime (he’s using a slightly different email address and Western Union tracking number for me). He wrote to me for weeks about a position as a nanny before bringing up the textbook Western Union scam.
See below email I got TODAY (12/11/08 after I wrote him repeatedly that I had reported him and to stop harassing me):
I have been in contact with the same person for a few weeks now. I knew something was fishy about it from the beginning, but wow this is way more elaborate than I thought!
He posted an ad on craigslist.com for a nanny, said he was from the UK moving to the states with his daughter, blah blah. Then he said he needed us to wire money to his travel agent to book his flights.
Anyway, same scam – these people need to GET A LIFE!!! We called the company the check was written from when we got it in the mail, and the company is a trading company who would not even write checks to people like that. They said they knew exactly what we were talking about and that it was a scam they have been dealing with for YEARS. I don’t understand how they haven’t caught these people yet…but what do I know?
The worst part was that he even sent me a picture of his supposed daughter – and she was really cute! Too bad these people are creeps. Steer clear! – that company we spoke to said that if you cash the check, you would be responsible for paying the bank back once all is said and done.
I too recently was contacted by “Robin Cole”. He started emailing me on January 13, 2009 through a posting I had on Craigslist. I also felt right away something was not right. I never got to him asking me for money, got out before that! For someone attempting to come across so intelligent, he has a lot to learn!!!!!
I have also just recieved several e-mails from this creepy….. He has the same story but has not asked for any money or had any transaction plans yet. Glad I looked him up.
I recieved the following email this morning when i checked….
Cole Robin to me
show details 3:27 AM (7 hours ago) Reply
Hello,
Thanks for you for getting back to us. My name is Robin, as you know I’m the father of Gem she is three years old. I and my wife were married for 6 years
meant when I first came to the states on a research in NY we have since then lived here in UK but now my wife just died so I decided to relocated back to the
states and have chosen to live in your state. My wife died on the 13th of June 2008 I have not been able to forget her also Gem.
This time I’m moving to live in the states and I’m coming with my daughter she is a very nice little girl and a very promising future and very respectful
too. She has never had a nanny you are going to be his first I will be working. I need you to care and proved her with all the love you got I assure you will
love to meet her.
You will work Monday to Friday after school 4 hours each day 2:00pm to 8:00pm everyday pm and I’m offering to pay weekly $800. And your duties would cook,
cleaning, taking her shopping caring for her when I’m not around sometimes you meant have to take her to your house when I travel or you will like to live
in.
Please answer the question below
Were in the states are you located?
I wait to hear from you.
Thank you, Mr. Robin
OMG. i thought something was wierd with reciving a 3,750 check in the mail. Luckily i scanned it and saved all my emails from this guy. But he goes under a different name :Kent Chess.
heres an email he wrote me
Hello,
Staffmark is an innovative national retailer of contemporary home furnishings with sales in excess of 550MM.With more than 95% of our furniture manufactured in United Kingdom,we use beautiful natural materials to create furniture that is classic simple and inspiring. We are passionate about working together to serve our customers..Our headquartered is located in United Kingdom(London),is a profitable,privately-held company on the fast track. Due to this fast-paced growth, we are expanding our USA market and looking for overachievers to be part of the team! Our Mission is to provide the best service to our customers.We are willing to pay $800 per Week for this position.
We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in Accounts Receivable/Payable with excellent customer service skills. This is an exciting and fun environment to work in with great upside potential. This is a part-time position available for IMMEDIATE start.
We have stores and delivery centers in 4 European countries and as part of our ongoing expansion project we are excited to be opening a new branch in America that’s why we are in search of competent and efficient proxies,who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in America with primary duties to include receipt of funds from our customers,responsible for consistently meeting customer needs,customer service call goals,providing solutions that will solve customer problems,Act as a final escalation point for problems related to customer service support.
Our Customer service Representatives will ensure that Staffmark customers receive exceptional service and take great pride in being the best in the furniture delivery field. They should understand they are a critical link in the sales process, solidifying the customer’s relationship with our company.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Receiving and cashing check payment from our customers,Handle customer questions and complaints with the highest degree of courtesy and professionalism to resolve customer issues with one call resolution.You will be offering alternative solutions where appropriate with the objective of retaining customer’s business.You will handle business transactions in connection with activation of new customer accounts on a computer terminal.
GENERAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS WHICH ARE NORMALLY REQUIRED:
•Assist us with processing purchase orders
•processing any of our funds made out by our costumers within America
•Receiving and confirming payment and billing information from our customers
•Cashing of check issue by any of our customers
•Collect and track payments/ issue refunds
•Credit and reference checks issued by customer
•Payment tracking
•Opens customer accounts by recording account information.
•Maintains customer records by updating account information.
•Utilizes mechanized systems to initiate and complete service orders and handle customer requests.
•Provide assistance to customers who are experiencing customer service issues in a courteous and efficient manner.
•Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.
•Maintains financial accounts by processing customer adjustments.
Staffmark offers a dynamic yet casual and fun work environment.We recognize that our employees are the key to our future,so we offers a unique environment where your ideas are always appreciated and your contributions make an important difference. Because of this philosophy, we offer competitive compensation packages and top-notch benefits for every employee.
All of our employees enjoy the ability to make an immediate impact,learn new things and partake in a high-energy, vibrant working environment with extremely accomplished people. We search for talented individuals who want to be a part of something challenging, exciting and fun. Every individual is critical to our success, and we recognize that we will only succeed as a team. We are one of the leaders in furniture making industry.You will feel the energy of a young company with a bright future.
Sequel to your acceptance of this offer and would like to work for Staffmark Furniture you are to Fill in the requested information below and get back to me ASAP…
1.) First Name:
2.) Last Name:
3.) Home Address:
4,) City:
5.) State:
6.) Zip code:
7.) Mobile Phone Number:
8.) Home Phone Number:
9.) Gender:
10.) Status:
11.) Age:
12.) Present Job:
Thanks for your understanding as i look forward to hear from you soon.
Mr.Kent Chess
Then he sent me this
Hello Valeria ,
How are you doing? I¢m doing fine myself this a quick email to inform you that your first payment is on it way to you.My costumer has just confirmed to me that he has mailed out a check payment in the amount of $4,000 to you via UPS (UPS TRACKING No.j2229171375) and their website http://www.ups.com .It should be in your care today.
Once again sorry for any inconvenience the delay may have caused you and i know you won’t regret working for us.Like i said, you are to cash the check at your bank as soon as you receive it.More so,deduct your 1st week’s upfront wages of $800 and send the re-fund to my shipper for shipmet of raw materials bought by us.
Below is my shipper¢s information that you’ll need to send the money via western union money transfer.
Receiver’s Name: Willie sails
Address:1601 sw 188 street
MiAMI FL 330692 USA
Amount to be Sent: $3,200 minus transfer charges
I will be expecting your e-mail with the details of money transfer as soon as possible, remember to forward to me the following money transfer details below after you have made the transfer.
1 MTCN—Money Transfer Control Numbers
2 Senders Name & Address
3 Exact Amount Sent After Transfer Charges.
Thanks for the trust and i look forward to working with you.
Mr.Kent Chess
can anyone tell me if this is the same thing?
Yes this is the same person/people!! DO NOT TRUST THEM!! It’s the same general scam with the details changed and made WAY more elaborate.
I know though because it is the same amount of money, same general address to wire the money to, etc. Don’t cash the check and don’t correspond with these LOSERS.
Oh, here is another like the others with a twist.
Notice that the receiver’s address is the same as the others
Funny, Daniel has a website and is either an elaborate ploy, or he is legit and is a victim himself.
Anyone else get this one?
What’s the site so we can take a look?
The website is:
danielhauben.com
with the contact e-mail to me from:
danielhaubenartworkoffice@yahoo.com
I bet you anything that the real Daniel Hauben has no idea that this is even happening. I bet that these guys used his website and changed the email address to make it seem legit. Take a look at the contact email listed on the website – it’s not the same as the one you listed above.
These guys are smart and obviously have enough free time to make a new email account and back-story every day.
Who knows how many other scams they are trying – but notice the things that stays constant: amount of money, general amount we are supposed to take out for our payment, and the wire is almost always to be sent to someone in Miami FL.
I wish there was a way to nail these idiots…..
Well, I think that if the FBI were to get with Western Union, and set up a payment/notice with a flag that only Western Union (and FBI) would see,
(someone actually trying to collect) and the usual video surveillance these places have, these folks could get caught.
Dan contacted me, and said that he has been plagued with this stuff for a year now
i have to gotten the samee email but he poste it on backpage.com . i was going t cash the check but my husband said that it was a scam and that i can got to jail for this i am not going to jail for anyone and why hasnt this person been caught yer
havent been sent any checks yet, but the “FAMILY” WITH TWINS have been telling me my first paycheck is in the mail. I have these peoples phone number and just called them asking why I want starting work today.they said the trip was delayed but they will send me the tracking # for the check.obviously Im being scamed and very upset and pissed off on such a fucking waste of time $ and phone calls. dont know what to do at this point.
OMG, lol as soon as I got this email from “Dan Hauben” I laughed so hard. I was like um… why does the “delivery agent” job turn into a “secret shopper” job? Read the following:
Hello,
DanielHauben art gallery .I live and work in London with my two kids, 1 cat, 1 dog and the love of my life my wife Anna Hauben It is definitely a full house. I have been into artwork since childhood. That gives me years of experience.
I Work both in oil paint and chalk pastel; I have spent 8 years in capturing the life of the canvas or paper, setting up his easel on street corners and overpasses, under elevated subway trains or in playgrounds. I’m a landscape painter; it just happens that the landscape i paint is most often in the Bronx.
My work has captures the play of light and shadow in the urban environment: the patterns cast on the street by the elevated train trestles, the windows of apartment buildings gilded at sunset, the sharp white heat of a sidewalk in high summer, or the deeply shadowed canyons between tall buildings in late autumn afternoons.
I have been selling my art for the last 3 years and I have had my work featured on trading cards, prints and in magazines. I have sold some of my art works to some private companies in United States of America.Our headquartered is located in United Kingdom(London),is a profitable,privately-held company on the fast track. Due to this fast-paced growth, we are expanding our USA market and looking for overachievers to be part of the team! Our Mission is to provide the best service to our customers.You are entitled to 10% commission for any transaction.
We have stores and delivery centers in 5 European countries and as part of our ongoing expansion project we are excited to be opening a new branch in America that’s why we are in search of competent and efficient proxies,who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in America with primary duties to include receipt of funds from our customers and immediate delivery of raw materials purchased by our customers.
Our Delivery agent will ensure that Danielhauben customers receive exceptional service and take great pride in being the best in the raw materials delivery field.They should understand they are a critical link in the sales process,solidifying the customer’s relationship with our company.
We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in delivery agent with excellent customer service skills and note that we are willing to train you in this area as well.This is an exciting and fun environment to work in with great upside potential. This is a part-time position available for IMMEDIATE start.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS?
1. Receive payment from our numerous customers within your region.
2. Cash and Deduct 10% which will be your salary.
3. Forward balance after deduction salary to a mystery shopper whose information will be provided in subsequent emails via an outlet you will be evaluating
DO YOU NEED TO PAY FOR THE TRANSFER FEE FROM YOUR PERCENTAGE?
No you do not have to; all necessary transfer fees should be deducted from the balance after you must have cashed and deduct your $800 from total money
Received after cashing.
ADVANTAGES…..
You do not have to go out as you will work as an independent contractor right from your home / office.
Your job is absolutely legitimate.
You can earn up To 3000- 4000USD monthly depending on time you will spend for this job.
You do not need any capital to start.
You can do the work easily without leaving or affecting your present Job.
The employees who make efforts and work hard have a strong possibility to become managers.Anyway our employees never leave us.
MAIN REQUIREMENTS,
18 years or older, Legally capable, Responsible, Ready to work 3-4 hours per week. With PC knowledge, E-mail and Internet experience (minimal).
Your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid 10% for every survey you carry out bonus on Your transportation allowance and funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty.
Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops,stores,restaurant and services in your area. No commitment is made on
this job and you would have flexible hours as it suits you.
If you are interested do send in your:
Full Name:
Full Contact Address:
State:
City:
Postal code:
Phone Number:
Age / Date of Birth:
Sex:
Present Job (If Any):
So we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service into,and your address would also be needed for your payments. We also implore you to send a scanned copy of any form of Identification for the processing of your application form and also for record purpose but if you cannot provide it presently then you can provide it later..
Thanks for your understanding as i look forward to hear from you soon.
Daniel Hauben.
http://www.danielhauben.com
Now after reading this I go to the website lol. BIG heading “Artist Scam Alert”
hahahahahhaha The artist is now aware and is warning everyone!!!
Yeah, this guy is still at large…he’s still putting ads up on craig’s list and posing and Daniel Hauben. I would think they would at least come up with someone who can read and write proper english…I mean, the artist is from England. I apparently have a 4,000 check coming which i’ll just use as toilet paper. Thanks everyone!
I got the Daniel Hauben one in the Buffalo Craigslist and Backpage ads, too.
Heads up!
Well I’m thinking I may have gotten a similar scam email as you all but I’m not sure. The thing that weirded me out at first was that I received two emails that were identical but from two different people, names: Eric Cole & Chris Fraser, both were doctors and moving to the area where I have my condo for rent. I really need to rent the condo so I responded to Eric and told him how much rent and security deposit was and that he could only move in in May because I have a tenant. Well Eric Cole emailed me back and explained
” Thanks for your mail,Yes i appreciate your wanting to help us in our situation.I am a chemist by profession and i am currently working with NORTH WICKPARK&ST.MARK’S HOSPITAL,17 WATFORD ROAD,HARROW,MIDDLESEX,LONDON I will be in the
states for the next one year with my wife and nine year daughter and during my stay i will be working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency on a private research work.We have a financier that is based in the states and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on our behalf,we will instruct him to send you the check for this as soon as you give us the go ahead to make payment to you.
Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival,we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furniture,so we will need you to provide us with e measurements of the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture company so that they can supply the unit with furniture that will fit in well. As regards the lease agreement,i want you to send it to me for my review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in your place as i am of the opinion that such documents are best filled and signed physically..We can start the lease by 7th of April and we will be doing a one year lease although we will not be arriving until ending of April as mention or even before then.You can prepare the lease in my name Dr.Eric Cole and my wife’s name Mrs….Melissa Cole.Please call my cell phone +447031991767
As regards the rent and deposit required to be paid by me in order to secure this rental prior to our arrival,i will need you to provide me with your full name in which the check will be issued and your complete physical contact address to which it will be sent to by my financier,as soon as you provide these,i will forward it to my financier with an instruction to issue and send you the check….Please i need you to also reconfirm the total move in costs,that is the rent and deposit to be paid.
I will look forward to your email with the required information…
Thank you,
Dr.Eric Cole”
So I’m thinking this is a joke and I am definitley not sending this guy my address or full name. But I just wanted to share in case someone else has been contacted by either Eric Cole or Chris Fraser
the above email from Eric Cole is a scam – i got the same but from Jacob Cage
Hello
Thanks for your mail ,Yes i appreciate your wanting to help us in
our situation.I am a chemist by profession and i am currently working
withNORTH WICKPARK&ST.MARK’S HOSPITAL,17 WATFORD
ROAD,HARROW,MIDDLESEX,LONDON I will be in the states for the next one
year with my wife and nine year daughter and during my stay i will be
working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency on a
private research work.We have a financier that is based in the states
and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on our behalf,we will
instruct him to send you the check for this as soon as you give us the
go ahead to make payment to you.
Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival,we are
making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with
furniture,so we will need you to provide us with the measurements of
the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture
company so that they can supply the unit with furniture that will fit
in well. As regards the lease agreement,i want you to send it to me
for my review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my
arrival in your place as i am of the opinion that such documents are
best filled and signed physically..We can start the lease by 21th of
June and we will be doing a one year lease although we will not be
arriving until First week of July as mention or even before then.You
can prepare the lease in my name Dr..Jacob Cage and my wife’s name
Mrs….Melissa Cage.Please call my cell phone +447024081502
As regards the rent and deposit required to be paid by me in order
to secure this rental prior to our arrival,i will need you to provide
me with your full name in which the check will be issued and your
complete physical contact address to which it will be sent to by my
financier,as soon as you provide these,i will forward it to my
financier with an instruction to issue and send you the
check….Please i need you to also reconfirm the total move in
costs,that is the rent and deposit to be paid.
I will look forward to your email with the required information…
Thank you,
Dr Jacob Cage
Got the same response from an apartment for rent. We have been corresponding with this guy over the last few days. And started to suspect something was a miss, because he wouldn’t give detailed information regarding who this financier is or other. We even called the cell phone number and couldn’t understand a word he said.
Good to know it is a total scam!!
I just got the same scam from Dr. Jacob Cage, “the chemist from London” about my rental house. Thanks for the other postings on this site to let me know that it was a scam!!
I got the exact same email about the guy being a chemist and relocating here to do a research project. Mine was from Jacob Cage as well.
Thanks for the posts!
Yes seems Dr. Cage and his 9 year old daughter is also moving to Birmingham, Alabama by the end of July. Thanks so much for the post it has saved me and others from his scam.
from: dr.jacobcage7@gmail.com
Good Day,
I saw your apartment advertised on a classified advert on the
craigslist.com and i want to rent it for my family,please let me know
if it is still available for rent and the modalities for renting it.I
will be arriving by ending of July my wife and my nine years old
daughter and i will be signing 1 year lease for this unit….We intend
to move in by first week of Aug.Are you the owner of the apartment?I
will need you to provide with the following information below
1- Security deposit fee ?
2- Monthly rent fees ?
3- Electricity and Utilities if applicable ?
4- Total cost of rent and deposit fee?
5-what percentage is your broker fee?
I will await a quick response to my inquiry via email.
Thank you and God bless..
Dr.Jacob Cage.
I think I may have the same person on my hands. Please tell me if you think this is a scam:
Hi,
Thank you for getting back to us.We are coming from Quebec,Canada. 8th August, is our arrival date we would need a babysitter/nanny who will take care of our little girl during our stay in the United states her name is Betty (2 years old) and i believe that with a nanny like you, she will be comfortable. We would be spending 2 weeks vacation before returning back to Quebec,Canada. I want you to babysit her from Monday through Friday, 10am – 4pm daily.
We will need your service from 9th – 23rd of August,2010 excluding weekends. Will you will be available at that period? Firstly we want to get a Babysitter/Nanny for our little girl Betty,before we book our vacation home. We are not sure of the area we would be visiting since this is our first time in the States and we don’t have a nanny to take good care of her,only if you accept to take care of her,then we shall come over to your city and state. Which part do you live (City & State)? Your decision will determine where we would be staying in your location, let us know if you can take care of her in your home or at the hotel that we are going to lodge.
You will take care of the food aspect,we are going to provide enough fund for her welfare,you can purchase any food for her,she is not allergic,our picture is attached.Am offering $300 a week for the job and you will take care of my daughter for 2 weeks from Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm,$600 will be paid for the 2 weeks,the main reason why we need your service is that we will be busy during week days because we have to visit some places and we also have lot of Humanitarian works to do around the City.We will be dropping her off and pick her up later around your schedules { that is if you want to watch her your place}.
Betty is a kid, one would like to be with,full of fun and love playing around,she loves toys. I am sure you will be able to give the best care..She is gentle,hardly fall sick,she likes sports,loves to watch cartoons,likes going to the beach,she likes to watch TV mostly and can eat by herself,I’m sure you wont have problems with her.I’ll come along with her medical form, immunizations and vaccine records. Kindly answer all my questions accordingly as i am to forward this email to my Company as proof that i am hiring and paying someone for my daughter’s childcare service while on vacation..So they can include that in my traveling expenses which is to be paid to me.
The payment will be make in form of US Certified Money Order and it will get to you prior to my arrival in order to make payment for your service and the duration that my kid will be taken care of.Please get back to me with your Name ,Address and phone #.I am offering you $600 for the service and the payment will be sent to you as soon as you get back to me with your full mailing information i mean your contact Address with your contact phone number and the tracking number used in mailing of the Money Order will also be sent to you if you need it.
Sincerely,
Clarion.
Unfortunately I did not know about this ScamRadar, heard about it after the fact.
I advertised on craigslist a condo for rent on 8/2/10 and got the exact same response from Dr. Jacob Cage, the chemist from London with wife Melissa and 9year old daughter. He wrote, that he would work here in the US for 1 year with the Environmental Protection Agency. We wrote back and forth, agreeing on $1,500 for 1. month rent + security. He also wanted dimensions of the rooms to order furniture. The furniture was to be delivered prior to their arrival, and I was to take of that, which was ok with me.
(In the past I had worked with manufacturers where we had 12 Spaniards, 15 Tzech and 28 Germans here for 1 year or more, and I had to rent apartments, furniture, buy pots, pans, bedstuff, etc.) So he seemed to be legit.
On 8/6 I received a check of $6,500 per UPS overnight letter. I checked Standard Chartered Bank in NY and American Express Services Europe LTD on the internet, and the check seemed to be ok. So I deposited it into my bank and wrote him a mail asking if the $5,000 were for the furniture.
He wrote me back to send $3,520 per Western Union to New Home Furniture Co., 1317 W State HW 84, Hayti, MO 63851, attn.: Nina Covington. I also got a mail from Kelly Willy from the furniture co. requesting the immediate sending of the money; otherwise the furniture was no longer available for him.
Now it finally clicked; and I realized that this was a scam. I immediately called my bank to let them know that this was a bad check. In any case I would not have sent any money to MO before the check cleared, which would have been today.
He continued to send mails asking where the money was; I did not answer. On Monday he asked again, and I wrote back that I had been away for the weekend. I also wrote that he should forget furniture from MO; we in NC would have very nice furniture with less shipping costs. I wanted him to get away from his script, to deal with the unexpected.
It is obvious that the initial contacts back and forth have been written very well. But when it comes down to real communication it shows that this person is not very fluent in English.
These people have to be stopped! It is a shame that we cannot conduct proper business dealings without being exposed to such scams.
I am going to write the FBI, may be they can do something about it; I sure hope so.
These people have to be stopped!