Possible new scam - anyone else?

[Steven Forrest]

Folks,
I recently received an email to my woodturning account that appeared genuine. There were questions specific to my website that indicated the sender had actually viewed my work and read my postings. The name checked out as a real person, and the email was in their name and in the right country. The yellow flags were that it was from another country, and the person, if real, is astoundingly wealthy and well connected, so why me? I responded genuinely, but mentioned that I would expect payment in full before sending anything out, because I was aware of attempts made to run such scams. Haven't heard back (it's been a week). At this point, I'd say scam, but I reserve the right to change my mind if he comes through.

What do you all think? Has anyone else been hit up like this?

Here's the email:

Name: Neil Rimer

Email: neil@rimer.ch

Subject: Custom shallow salad bowl

Message: Hello Steve—
I wondered whether you might be able to make a shallow salad bowl (in the style of the walnut one that is your wife’s on the site) with dimensions close to:
39cm (diameter); height 6.5cm. Thickness at edge: 1cm.
If so, can you please tell me what woods you have available for a bowl like this?
I would order one, but if I like it, I could order more as gifts.

Please let me know.
Best regards,

Neil Rimer
Geneva, Switzerland.

 

[Richard Coers]

It's a scam. Usually this scam involves them writing you a larger check than what you ask for and asking for you to send them the difference.

 

[Steven Forrest]

Yeah, I figured it involved me putting in money before I had my money in hand. I hadn't heard of this one before and wondered if anyone else had seen it.

Still - pretty slick package wrapped up with a nice bow.

 

[Dave Hulett]

Folks,
I recently received an email to my woodturning account that appeared genuine. There were questions specific to my website that indicated the sender had actually viewed my work and read my postings. The name checked out as a real person, and the email was in their name and in the right country. The yellow flags were that it was from another country, and the person, if real, is astoundingly wealthy and well connected, so why me? I responded genuinely, but mentioned that I would expect payment in full before sending anything out, because I was aware of attempts made to run such scams. Haven't heard back (it's been a week). At this point, I'd say scam, but I reserve the right to change my mind if he comes through.

What do you all think? Has anyone else been hit up like this?

Here's the email:

Name: Neil Rimer

Email: neil@rimer.ch

Subject: Custom shallow salad bowl

Message: Hello Steve—
I wondered whether you might be able to make a shallow salad bowl (in the style of the walnut one that is your wife’s on the site) with dimensions close to:
39cm (diameter); height 6.5cm. Thickness at edge: 1cm.
If so, can you please tell me what woods you have available for a bowl like this?
I would order one, but if I like it, I could order more as gifts.

Please let me know.
Best regards,

Neil Rimer
Geneva, Switzerland.

If it walks like a duck.......

 

[Aaron Harris]

Steve-Like most other makers, I've had a number of attempts at scams on my Instagram page. It's the usual, ""Oh, I love your work. I would like to buy some pieces." And then they start the flim-flam. I almost fell for it the 1st time; she sounded so sincere and flattering. Now I just delete/block those kinds of message requests and report them, though I have sold a few pieces via IG. Now that I've been educated, I can tell who's legit and who's not. Personally, I wouldn't ship overseas just because of the extra hassle and cost, though I know some others do.

I assume AI-generated scams are coming soon...