Someone contacted me through my website email address, not through a DP email. He said his name was Jackson Banks, that he was from California and asked if one of my paintings was available for sale, as a surprise gift to his wife who liked my work. He said he had caught her admiring the painting several times on my website.
He asked if he could pay by check. I told him the price of the painting I had available and said that I normally only take PayPal, but if he paid by check I would either cash it immediately if it were drawn on a bank that had a branch in my city, or that there would be a 10 day bank hold placed on it before I could send the painting.
He replied back the next day to tell me:
*He was fine with the price
*His wife controlled the “family” bank account/credit cards/PayPal accounts so he didn’t want to go through that
*He said he and the wife were moving to Canada very soon and he wanted to get the painting before their fast approaching anniversary before they moved
*He said he would “authorize” a check to me as soon as he had my “full name and contact address (preferably for FedEx Delivery, no P.O. Box)” - my full name is on my website…
*He added “As soon as you receive the check and it clears your bank, my shipping agent who is also moving my truck and personal effect will contact you to arrange shipping/pick up of the piece from you (this is to avoid my wife receiving it, if been shipped directly to my address would ruin the surprise for this event), You both have to sign proof of pick up at the most.” His exact words
*And then he said “I would have handled this much differently if I’d been at home but at the moment, am on training voyage to the North Atlantic Ocean, (I’m an ocean engineer) with new hires who are fresh from graduate school and won’t be back for another couple of weeks, and do not have access to a lot of cash over here to expedite this transaction. So trying to kill two birds with a stone.” Also his exact words.
*Then he added a “P.S. In the meantime, kindly get back to me with your cell phone number so I can reach you when am free.”
So far, I only emailed him back asking if the check was going to be drawn on a US bank. That was 10 minutes ago and have not heard back, yet.
Scam or just a really complicated buy? I know buyers can get my full name and address and phone number through a PayPal transaction, even from a business card. This email just sounds odd. It doesn’t send off all the obvious scammer alarms, but it still is…ODD.
Anyone’s insight would be greatly appreciated.