After running a story about a possible phone scam involving an international order and a hearing-impaired phone service in the previous week's E-Brief, we received several responses from readers who have been in a similar situation. Here are their stories:

"We received a call similar to the one in the story in June 2007. The operator asked for my email address so the customer could write to me. He asked how much 12 roses were. Then he emailed me and said I need to know how much 120 dozen roses were. I gave him a price and he placed an order and then sent a request that I contact his personal shipping company in Savannah, Ga., to have the roses shipped. He said he would use a company credit card to pay for his purchase. The order would go to Ghana. I became suspicious because we are a shop in the middle of Georgia in a town of 1,200. Why not order from Savannah? It made no sense that he would contact us. I asked for his credit card info and he said he would arrange for his people in Savannah to have payment for us when we delivered. I called our Sheriff department and turned it over to them. Sounded just too fishy to be possible."

-- Vicky Chambers
Around The Corner Florist
Lula, Ga.

"We also had a call from a hearing impaired man in September. He ordered a dozen roses for Tennessee. The credit card did not go through and the fulfilling florist got notified in time. We also spent about an hour on the phone with this person. At the time we thought this was an isolated incident. Thanks for alerting everyone."

-- Trudy Rosemarin
Trudy's Floral Design
Seattle

"Yesterday, I received a phone call from the relay service. When they wanted to send 2 dozen roses, chocolates and a bear, the bells went off. I told them that the total bill was over our maximum to be purchased over the phone. I asked if they had access to a fax so they could send me a copy of the card and their signature. They hung up.

"We have had problems with large purchases with credit cards on the phone in the past.  Now we ask for a faxed copy of the card and signature. I leave it up to the staff if they think it maybe a questionable order. It has weeded out the scams.

"My new concern is how to detect scams on an internet order. When you speak with someone you sometimes just get a feeling or a different tone."

-- Gloria Huss
Monrovia Floral
Monrovia, Calif.

"After spending over 30 minutes on the phone with a relay service it ended up being a scam. The sender used the name NOBERT and wanted 2 dz roses, candy and bear."

-- Vickie Brown
Faith Designs Florist
Marietta, Ga.

--Vanessa Machir
vmachir@safnow.org

 

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