Recently, I had an unexpected and rather irritating experience when a money mule scammer contacted me through our website’s “Contact Us” form. While it was a bit unnerving, it also provided an opportunity to learn and share some valuable insights about how to handle such situations safely. Luckily our IT Services have us secured and we try to recognize these types of scams.
The Initial Contact: On February 23, 2025, at 4:51 pm, I received a message from someone named Adam Adkins through our website. The message read:
Name: Adam Adkins Phone: 424-341-0997 Email Address: adamadkins9inc@gmail.com Zip: 90001 Question/Comment: Hello how’re you doing today this is Adam I would like to know if you still offer website design services if yes kindly get back to me ASAP.
The message seemed like a typical inquiry about our services, but something felt off.
Recognizing the Scam: Upon further investigation, I noticed several red flags:
- The email address and phone number seemed suspicious.
- The message was vague and rushed.
- The user agent and IP address details indicated unusual activity.
My Response: I decided to respond professionally to gather more information.
My reply was:
Adam, Tell us a little more about your project, and what you are looking to accomplish. Regards, Josh
The Follow-Up: Adam responded with more details about his supposed project:
Sounds good, I got your contact on yelp.com and I just opened a new Indian Restaurant which I run now and I need a website for my business to grow. So I need you to go through this example link site: himalayantaj.com but I need something more perfect than this if possible. I will like you to get back to me with an estimate and the estimate should include hosting. I want the same page as the example site I gave you to check and I want only English language. I want you to know you will be updating the site for me. I want the site up and running before the end of May this year and I don’t want a shopping cart on my reservation page. I don’t have a domain name yet and I will prefer: GOLDENTASTE97RESTAURANT.COM. My budget is $3,000-$15,000 for the web design. I have a private project consultant who has the text content and the logos for the site with the image artwork. Please go ahead and check the example site and get back to me with an estimate. Also, I would like to know if you are the owner or the manager and do you accept credit card as payment. Thank you.
*note: he didn’t contact us through yelp, which he could have. This is a red flag. Most people contact you through the platform they find you. They do not take the time to go to another platform to then find a new way to contact you.
The Attachment: Adam then sent an attachment with additional information about what he wanted on the website. His message read:
See the Attachment: Here is what I need and what I want to extract from my site and get back to me with an estimate, and don’t forget I have a project consultant who has the text content logo for the website and other document files he will have them sent to you via email. Thank you.
*note: I did scan the file before opening/viewing.
My Next Response: After looking up the domain he was interested in, I replied:
Adam, We aren’t really in the business of copying someone else’s website. Why don’t you give me the following information, and I will have my team lead contact you on how we can assist you moving forward. Business Name: Contact Phone Number: URL: http://goldentaste97restaurant.com/ (already taken) so a different one will have to be acquired or this one will have to be purchased from the current owner. They will get more information once they contact you.
His Response: Adam replied with the following information:
Business Name: Goldentaste Indian restaurant Contact number: 424-341-0997
*note: I did look up the phone number, but couldn’t find any useful information regarding it. I did not call it.
Verifying the Scam: I uploaded his information to the web design team I am affiliated with, but I informed them of my gut feeling that it was a scam.
Next Steps: While waiting for a response, I took the following precautions:
- Monitoring for Red Flags: I stayed alert for any suspicious requests, such as asking for personal information, bank details, or payments upfront.
- Verifying the Identity: I attempted to verify the identity of the person contacting me. Legitimate clients usually have a traceable online presence or business credentials.
- Limiting Information Sharing: I avoided sharing sensitive information until I was certain the inquiry was legitimate.
- Reporting Suspicious Activity: If I suspected it was a scam, I was prepared to report it to the relevant authorities and the platform where the contact was made.
Confirmation: They confirmed my suspicion with the following response:
Hey Joshua, This person is attempting a money mule scam. They reached out to us last week. Here was their last email to me this morning: Oh yes that’s where I’m having issues the consultant doesn’t have any facilities to accept credit card payment at the moment, can I make payment of $5,500 to you and once the funds clears into your account you will be helping me to send $3,000 to the private project consultant via paypal or transfer so he can send all the documents files to you and you can also hold $2,500 as your deposit pending the time you get back to me with the estimate cost.
Key Takeaways:
Educate Others: Sharing your experience can help others recognize and avoid similar scams.
Stay Vigilant: Always be cautious when receiving unsolicited inquiries, especially if they seem rushed or vague.
Verify Information: Check the legitimacy of the contact details and the person’s online presence.
Limit Information Sharing: Avoid sharing sensitive information until you are certain the inquiry is legitimate.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, report it to the relevant authorities and the platform where the contact was made.
Ready to see the benefits of the security tools we utilize for yourself? Contact JB Technical Solutions today to discuss your needs. Our team specializes in offering world class solutions that are reliable.
