Email scams targeting construction companies

Are you being targeted by someone asking if you accept a credit card as payment? 

This is the latest scam.

I caught this fraudulent email right away, looked into reporting this to the RCMP and not surprisingly, there was no "easy way" (come on RCMP!) to forward this "email scam" to anyone in Canada. For those who want to take the time to call... This appears to be where to go. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/rep-sig-eng.htm

That being said....

I'm posting the info on our website to help save others before they fall victim to this scam.  I suspect this scammer is part of a stolen CC scam. I suspect the way they get your money is by giving you a payment with the condition of asking you to forward part of the money to someone else posing as a person helping you with the keys to a house they just bought that "you are going to paint" or do some work to.

They must think trade people are stupid.  Never the less.... I hope I save the unsuspecting.

Below is the first message I received:

Clark Wayne (Cwayne218@gmail.com) sent a message

Message
          How are you doing ? This is Mr. Clark Wayne I would like to know if
you do both Exterior & Interior painting and also want to know if you do
accept credit card for the payment and what type of credit card merchant do
you accept?

From: Clark Wayne

Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2016 9:49 AM

To: Painting Guy

Subject: Re: [Feedback] Painter Needed

Thanks for the response paintingguy, I will need both the Exterior & Interior of the house fully painted. I would like to give you the Property Address so you can go take an Inspection and come back  to me with an Estimate okay, good I am out of state now and I need to get things done before my arrival, so can we proceed? You can write me on my email or better send me a text after you have a check on the property. I want you to understand  that the keys of the property is still with the owner and am currently not in a position to get you the keys so I will make a deposit of 2000$ then you can help me out by getting the keys from the owner so you can start work. Let me know if we can work things out so I can explain how you will be getting the keys. Let me also have your cell phone number.

From: Clark Wayne

Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2016 6:10 AM

To: Painting Guy

Subject: Re: [Feedback] Painter Needed

 

 

From: Clark Wayne

Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2016 6:10 AM

To: Painting Guy

Subject: Re: [Feedback] Painter Needed

Yes, here is the house address (I removed for security reasons). Kindly get back to me with an estimate and I want you to know that the keys are with the owner that why I will be making a deposit of 2000$ for you to prepare yourself ahead of the job. Let me know if it okay by you so I can explain how you will be getting the keys from the owner so you can get me a better estimate.