Does this sound like Fraud to you?

[XG Print]

I have a customer that has contacted me via text message from our FB page.  They are wanting to ship me 420 shirts and us do a contract print for them and they will arrange for them to be shipped back to them.  First thought was sweet because it is a simple 1 color front / back on white ts.  EASY MONEY but then I started telling him that i could send a PayPal or Square invoice for payment and at first he texted me saying he did not use those services to which I replied we where out of the deal without going through 1 of these 2 services for payment.  He then texted me back and said he could do the Square.  I want to do this job because it is quick easy money but I do not want to get screwed and him dispute the Square transaction once the shirts are on the way back to him.  Anyone been through this.  I feel much more comfortable when I can talk with the person on the phone the first time we do business.  To his credit he did try and call me but I could not hear him and when i called back he had one of those google message things on his phone.  He did send me what seems to be a working gmail address.  Would you guys take a shot and print these or do you think this is Fraud?

[KevWilso]

Go with your gut, you are probably right about it.  If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.  If you get a card payment it might be followed with a fraud charge back a month down the road.

Google the phone number, email, etc....  Also make sure his ship from/to isn't a freight forwarder.

The google message when you call them is always a big red flag to me.

[ericheartsu]

99% likely it's a scam. even if you say no, they are gonna keep trying, to sweeten that deal. And ultimately, Kevin is right. You might get cash up front, but later down the road, you are gonna get hit was a CC fraud, and have to pay that money back.

[dsh]

I had something kind of similar, and several emails back and forth.  Then the customer wanted to know what merchant service I used for credit cards.  I wrote back this sounds like a scam and I've never heard a word again.  The English was a little off too.

[Sbrem]

Smells a bit...

Steve

[Croft]

if he's a commercial customer , one that is able to send you shirts so he probably has an account at a supplier , send him a customer info sheet that requires address contact info and a couple of trade references similar to what most of the suppliers I and most of us have had to fill out.  Should be able to find out if he's legit.

If he's local I would also deliver myself.

[Doug S]

Same deal here just yesterday.  The first red flag was he wanted 200 Smalls and 200 Larges with a 1 color logo on front.  I sent a quote to which he replied that he would need me to ship using a specific carrier to the bahamas.  He wanted me to revise to include shipping.  He of course wanted to use a credit card.

I just responded to him that he would need to add $1000 to the quote for shipping and he could just send a cashiers check for the amount and that after it cleared that we would proceed with the order.  That was the end of the emails.

[Homer]

......SCAM....

[Rockers]

I have a customer that has contacted me via text message from our FB page.  They are wanting to ship me 420 shirts and us do a contract print for them and they will arrange for them to be shipped back to them.  First thought was sweet because it is a simple 1 color front / back on white ts.  EASY MONEY but then I started telling him that i could send a PayPal or Square invoice for payment and at first he texted me saying he did not use those services to which I replied we where out of the deal without going through 1 of these 2 services for payment.  He then texted me back and said he could do the Square.  I want to do this job because it is quick easy money but I do not want to get screwed and him dispute the Square transaction once the shirts are on the way back to him.  Anyone been through this.  I feel much more comfortable when I can talk with the person on the phone the first time we do business.  To his credit he did try and call me but I could not hear him and when i called back he had one of those google message things on his phone.  He did send me what seems to be a working gmail address.  Would you guys take a shot and print these or do you think this is Fraud?

Customers who say they don`t use PayPal obviously have no idea that they do not even need a PayPal account at their end but just a credit card to settle a PayPal invoice/money request. So yes this sounds all very dubious to me.
Anyway, how often do you guys in the States get a honest order from exotic locations like the Bahamas or Nigeria?

[Doug S]

For us, we've never had an international order.  The guy or gal who knows atleast asked for something to be printed unlike most of the time that they want just blanks 500 of each size.  It really makes it bad for the person that would place an honest order internationally but after all the scammish emails the skepticism is at it's highest.   It's not just in our business for sure.  I had a guy tell me that's in the roofing business that he gets the same emails starting with Dear Sir and stating that they are in need of a perfect roof job etc. and then ends it with the typical "best regards". 

[Homer]

I'm sure there are international orders that are legit. but for most of us small time shops, think about it. Of ALLLL the shops in the world, ..why would they pick YOU, a shop half way across the globe...?...we get this same kind of scam with signs and banners. Usually something religious, in a rush, always talk about payment without ever knowing a price. Sad part is someone falls for it.....

[XG Print]

To be fair he is not saying that he needs to ship the shirts over seas.  He says he lives on the north side of Atlanta.  Turns out I have to go up there tomorrow so I am going to see if we can meet up and see where it goes LOL

[merchmonster]

Never know. We printed a few hundred camo tees and shipped to belieze and it was legit. Guys brother lived here

[inkman996]

We would never even entertain an order for contract pricing from someone that contacts us out of the blue with out some type of references.

[numbercruncher]

Just curious  XG - how did the meeting go ?