Fraudsters try to scam local booze stores
(CNS): A local liquor store suspicious of a large order placed by someone claiming to represent an oil and gas company in California alerted the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit to the scam, which police believe relates to stolen credit cards. Following the report from the store, police learned that other stores had been caught out but they have since stopped the order. Local retailers are being warned to be on alert for the fraudsters.
Police said several local liquor shops received separate requests to place a large order of wine, spirits and champagne to be shipped to the US, with payment to be made by credit card. The store that was suspicious declined to sell the liquor to the suspected scammers and called the police. Two other shops had already accepted the same order, but after receiving advice from the FCU cancelled the sale.
The financial cops said the request came from an individual at the email address jamesbarry1970@gmail.com, who said he represented James Walker Oil & Gas Co. California, and that the company would be arranging local shipping.
“It is strongly believed that payment for the order would have been made by use of compromised or stolen credit card information. However, at this stage no payments have been accepted or received,” the RCIPS stated as they urged people to remain vigilant regarding potential scams and stolen cards.
Owners or staff members of any retail outlet who receive such an email are advised not to engage with the sender but to contact the FCU at 949-8797.
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This is by far the most stupid scam ever………..
I wonder why the police did not allow the order to go through so they could track the perpetrators in the US?
The stores involved must be desperate for money or their staff is just plain stupid…why would anyone in the US order alcohol from an island, where more than likely that same alcohol was imported from the US?
Surely it would have been cheaper for them to have it shipped from within the US, no matter where they are.
If these stores got conned, they deserved to be.
Ahh victim blaming.
Oh now come on. Call it what you like, ignorance goes by many names.
I think the poster was right but I do concede that common sense is no longer common but if a supervisor or manager had allowed that order to be completed a prudent manager or owner would lay the blame squarely on them!
I can understand someone ordering Cayman brewed rum but why would anyone from California order wine and champagne from Cayman? That alone should have tipped the stores off.
Also, plain give away…someone with a Gmail account repping an Oil and Gas company…ooohhh come now!! Common sense is not so common anymore is it?