Rubi The Scammer
As the play opens, the Inn Keeper is happy to receive a request for reservation!
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008
Subject: Bed & Breakfast
I will like to rent a room in your B&B for 2weeks. I am a UK citizen a nd I am a sociologist by profession. I am currently in Rotterdam, Holland an d I will be in { Inn Keeper's town } on September 30th. I will like to know the rate per d ay and if there is availability at the date that I am arriving.
Rubi.
Subject: Bed & Breakfast
I will like to rent a room in your B&B for 2weeks. I am a UK citizen a nd I am a sociologist by profession. I am currently in Rotterdam, Holland an d I will be in { Inn Keeper's town } on September 30th. I will like to know the rate per d ay and if there is availability at the date that I am arriving.
Rubi.
[ e-mail header indicates e-mail physically came from UK; although Lads from Lagos do operate out of Amsterdam ]
The Inn Keeper
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008
Dear Rubi,
Thank you for your inquiry. Sorry but I do not have availability for the20 full two weeks. I could accommodate you for 8 nights only from Septemb er 30th through the night of October 7th in the {...} Suite at a rate of $1 50 per night taxes included. The total rate would be $1200 US. I requi re a 50% deposit payable by international money order with the balance due u pon arrival.
Cordially,
{The Innkeeper}
Dear Rubi,
Thank you for your inquiry. Sorry but I do not have availability for the20 full two weeks. I could accommodate you for 8 nights only from Septemb er 30th through the night of October 7th in the {...} Suite at a rate of $1 50 per night taxes included. The total rate would be $1200 US. I requi re a 50% deposit payable by international money order with the balance due u pon arrival.
Cordially,
{The Innkeeper}
Cancellation Policy
We regret that due to an increasing number of late cancellations and the
difficulty in rebooking with minimal notice, has established a new
cancellation policy; no exceptions will be made. To receive a full refund of the
deposit, guest is required to cancel his/her reservation no later than 14
days prior to his/her scheduled arrival date. If guest cancels the reservation
less than 14 days of the scheduled arrival date (with or without a deposit),
guest will be held responsible for the entire Balance Due upon Arrival and no
refund will be given unless the Innkeeper can rebook the reservation in its
entirety. Thank you in advance for any timely cancellations and for your
understanding and consideration.
Rubi The Scammer
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008
Innkeeper,
Thanks for the quick response. Can you get me another nice place from the 8th Oct.- 14th Oct? Like I stated in my first mail to you that I am a UK cit izen and I am currently in Rotterdam, Holland. I will like to know if I can make reservation for the room by sending a Check issue in US Dollar from a U S bank. Let me know the total amount for this reservation for 2weeks , the n ame to be on Check and your postal address. I will be happy to read from you soon.
Regards,
Rubi Wilburn.
Innkeeper,
Thanks for the quick response. Can you get me another nice place from the 8th Oct.- 14th Oct? Like I stated in my first mail to you that I am a UK cit izen and I am currently in Rotterdam, Holland. I will like to know if I can make reservation for the room by sending a Check issue in US Dollar from a U S bank. Let me know the total amount for this reservation for 2weeks , the n ame to be on Check and your postal address. I will be happy to read from you soon.
Regards,
Rubi Wilburn.
The Inn Keeper
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008
Rubi,
I cannot get you a reservation elsewhere. That is something that you woul d need to do for yourself as I do not know you or your circumstances. If you would like to book the nights that I have available of September 30 - Oc tober 7, please get back to me with your contact information, projected arri val time, etc and send me a deposit in the amount of $600 US or if you would like you could prepary the entire $1200. Please see my cancellation poli cy below.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Rubi,
I cannot get you a reservation elsewhere. That is something that you woul d need to do for yourself as I do not know you or your circumstances. If you would like to book the nights that I have available of September 30 - Oc tober 7, please get back to me with your contact information, projected arri val time, etc and send me a deposit in the amount of $600 US or if you would like you could prepary the entire $1200. Please see my cancellation poli cy below.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008
Innkeeper,
I got your mail. I will look for a place to stay for the rest of the nigh ts. For the nights that I will stay at your B&B, send the name to be on the Check and your postal address. This is the information you asked for b elow .
Name : Rubi Wilburn
Address : this is the present address I am at here in rotterdam, :
RANDWEG 126A , ROTTERDAM 3074XT , HOLLAND.
I will arrive on the 30th of September 10:00PM GMT.
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
I got your mail. I will look for a place to stay for the rest of the nigh ts. For the nights that I will stay at your B&B, send the name to be on the Check and your postal address. This is the information you asked for b elow .
Name : Rubi Wilburn
Address : this is the present address I am at here in rotterdam, :
RANDWEG 126A , ROTTERDAM 3074XT , HOLLAND.
I will arrive on the 30th of September 10:00PM GMT.
Regards,
Rubi.
The Inn Keeper
Date: Monday, September 1, 2008
Dear Rubi,
Please send a deposit for $600 US or the entire amount due of $1200 US to me by International money order or check to the address listed below. If I have a cancellation for the remaining nights that you have requested, I will get back to you.
Could you please tell me your projected arrival time in Pacific Daylight Tim e as I don't know the calculation for GMT. Check-in is usually between 3 and 7 o'clock p.m. by prearrangement as I have another job that I do. If you need a later arrival time, we can work that out.
Thanks so very much.
Innkeeper
The Innkeeper
{ provides details }
Dear Rubi,
Please send a deposit for $600 US or the entire amount due of $1200 US to me by International money order or check to the address listed below. If I have a cancellation for the remaining nights that you have requested, I will get back to you.
Could you please tell me your projected arrival time in Pacific Daylight Tim e as I don't know the calculation for GMT. Check-in is usually between 3 and 7 o'clock p.m. by prearrangement as I have another job that I do. If you need a later arrival time, we can work that out.
Thanks so very much.
Innkeeper
The Innkeeper
{ provides details }
Rubi The Scammer
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I will arrive there 3:00PM your time. What name should be on the Check ? Get back to me as soon as you can.
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
I will arrive there 3:00PM your time. What name should be on the Check ? Get back to me as soon as you can.
Regards,
Rubi.
The Inn Keeper
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008
The name on the check should be { provides name }. Thanks.
The Innkeeper
The name on the check should be { provides name }. Thanks.
The Innkeeper
The Inn Keeper
[Meanwhile, more dates open up at the inn]
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Hi Rubi,
I have good news for you --- I can accommodate you for the entirety of your 2 week stay as I have had a cancellation as I thought might happen. I hav e you down for 14 nights, arriving on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, at 3 p..m . and departing on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. The rate is $150 per night including taxes for a total of $2,100.00 US. Please send a deposit for $1 ,050 US or $2100 for your entire stay. Any remaining balance would be due on the date that you arrive. Please let me know if you still want the entir e 14 days as soon as possible. The deposit is due within 7 days of making your reservation and is refundable as listed below.
All the best and thanks so very much.
The Innkeeper
Hi Rubi,
I have good news for you --- I can accommodate you for the entirety of your 2 week stay as I have had a cancellation as I thought might happen. I hav e you down for 14 nights, arriving on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, at 3 p..m . and departing on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. The rate is $150 per night including taxes for a total of $2,100.00 US. Please send a deposit for $1 ,050 US or $2100 for your entire stay. Any remaining balance would be due on the date that you arrive. Please let me know if you still want the entir e 14 days as soon as possible. The deposit is due within 7 days of making your reservation and is refundable as listed below.
All the best and thanks so very much.
The Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
Thats is good. I still want the 2weeks reservation. I will let you kn ow as soon as you Check is sent.
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
Thats is good. I still want the 2weeks reservation. I will let you kn ow as soon as you Check is sent.
Regards,
Rubi.
Rubi The Scammer
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
How are you doing today? I want to inform you that the Check for the reserva tion has been sent, it will get to you probably today Friday or tommorow. Ju st let me know as soon as you get.
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
How are you doing today? I want to inform you that the Check for the reserva tion has been sent, it will get to you probably today Friday or tommorow. Ju st let me know as soon as you get.
Regards,
Rubi.
The Inn Keeper
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Thank you, Rubi. I have you down for the 14 nights.
Innkeeper
Thank you, Rubi. I have you down for the 14 nights.
Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
Received: from [212.100.250.218]
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008
Subject: Delay!
Innkeeper,
I want to inform you that the Check for the reservation will be delivered to you by Thursday or Friday this week. It should have been delivered to you l ast Friday according to the mail I sent to you on Friday but,I was informed by my partner there in the United States that sent the Check that there was a mixed up from UPS due to some natural disaster happening there in the Unit ed States but she has resent it via regular mail and it will be delivered to you by Thursday or Friday this week. I am sorry for the delay.
Regrads,
Rubi.
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008
Subject: Delay!
Innkeeper,
I want to inform you that the Check for the reservation will be delivered to you by Thursday or Friday this week. It should have been delivered to you l ast Friday according to the mail I sent to you on Friday but,I was informed by my partner there in the United States that sent the Check that there was a mixed up from UPS due to some natural disaster happening there in the Unit ed States but she has resent it via regular mail and it will be delivered to you by Thursday or Friday this week. I am sorry for the delay.
Regrads,
Rubi.
[Scam-o-note:
The 'partner' is either:
- a criminal ex-pat Lad crony working in-country and sending out batches of these bogus checks (yes, there have been arrests in such cases, thanks to the U.S. Postal Service)
- a criminally-minded native doing the same
- an innocent native who has responded to a Lad 'job advertisement'
Which, will become clearer below.
And now back to our regularly scheduled scam.]
The Inn Keeper
Date: Friday, September 12, 2008
Dear Rubi,
As of this morning I have not received your deposit. In order to hold you r reservation, I must have the deposit in hand no later than Monday, Septemb er 5, 2008. Your deposit is past due at this time. I will not be able to hold your 2 week reservation for much longer without a deposit in hand.
Please advise me as to when I will have your deposit. Thanks so much.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Dear Rubi,
As of this morning I have not received your deposit. In order to hold you r reservation, I must have the deposit in hand no later than Monday, Septemb er 5, 2008. Your deposit is past due at this time. I will not be able to hold your 2 week reservation for much longer without a deposit in hand.
Please advise me as to when I will have your deposit. Thanks so much.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
Received: from [83.138.172.72] [ Net2Roam-Ltd, UK ]
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I am sorry for you not haven't received my deposit for the resevervation. . The Check will propabably be delivered to you today according to my partne r that sent the Check. She expalined to me that there was some delay and whi ch I explained to you in my last mail to you. Please, watch out for the Chec k today and get back to me as soon as you receive it. I am also having som e difficulties here in Holland but I promise you receive the Check today. I am sorry once again for the inconvinience and the delay.
Regards,
Rubi.Wilburn
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I am sorry for you not haven't received my deposit for the resevervation. . The Check will propabably be delivered to you today according to my partne r that sent the Check. She expalined to me that there was some delay and whi ch I explained to you in my last mail to you. Please, watch out for the Chec k today and get back to me as soon as you receive it. I am also having som e difficulties here in Holland but I promise you receive the Check today. I am sorry once again for the inconvinience and the delay.
Regards,
Rubi.Wilburn
The Inn Keeper
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008
Rubi,
Your check did not arrive today, September 12, 2008. Did you send it to m e at the address below? Please verify and get back to me as I cannot hold your reservation indefinitely without a deposit. Thank you.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
Received: from [212.100.250.217]
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I just confrimed from my partner that sent the Check and she confrimed the a ddress as the one she sent the Check to. I believe the delay is from the pos tal service there and you will get it soon. I am having a bad time here in Rotterdam because something bad just happened. Please, bear with me til l Monday, I am sure you will get the Check.
Regards
Rubi
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I just confrimed from my partner that sent the Check and she confrimed the a ddress as the one she sent the Check to. I believe the delay is from the pos tal service there and you will get it soon. I am having a bad time here in Rotterdam because something bad just happened. Please, bear with me til l Monday, I am sure you will get the Check.
Regards
Rubi
The Inn Keeper
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008
Dear Rubi,
Good news! Today I received a check for $2100 from Northern Tool & Equipment of West Burnsville, MN that was actually not put in the mail until 2 days ago.
I am confirming your reservation for your two week stay, arriving on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, as a late arrival of 10 o'clock p.m. and departing on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 (14 nights without breakfast). Check-in is usually between 3 and 7 p.m. so if you find that you will be later than 10 p.m. please let me know and I will arrange to leave the key in a safe place for you. Thanks so very much and am looking forward to your stay.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
Dear Rubi,
Good news! Today I received a check for $2100 from Northern Tool & Equipment of West Burnsville, MN that was actually not put in the mail until 2 days ago.
I am confirming your reservation for your two week stay, arriving on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, as a late arrival of 10 o'clock p.m. and departing on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 (14 nights without breakfast). Check-in is usually between 3 and 7 p.m. so if you find that you will be later than 10 p.m. please let me know and I will arrange to leave the key in a safe place for you. Thanks so very much and am looking forward to your stay.
Cordially,
The Innkeeper
[ Notes:
Postmark: Portland, Oregon, with a personal return address in West Virginia (not shown here - the envelope might have been stolen, or maybe one crony is in WV).
There is no West Burnsville, Minnesota.
The phone number for the bank is a non-working number.
The Inn Keeper contacted Northern Tool and Equipment, who have no record of such a check.
-- and anyway, why would an American industrial firm be cutting a check for Miss Rubi "from the UK", "now in Holland", to have a nice inn stay in the U.S.? But obviously logic doesn't apply here.
The writing looks rather American, and female. Seems like an American is the in-country 'partner' -- and with all the faked details, the 'partner' is looking shady. ]
Rubi The Scammer
Cue the violins!
Date: September 16, 2008
Innkeeper,
How are you doing? I will like to inform you that I won't be coming { Inn Keeper's town } anymore. I want my reservation cancelled. I have to cancel this reservation due to something terrible that happened to my 3year old niece four days ago here in Rotterdam. She got part of her face and body burnt when she came in to the kitchen unnoticed and pull down the kettle full of boiling water on herself from the cooker while I was there in the kitchen. It was a terrible accident. At frist I thought it was minor injury not until the doctor told us that it is going to take time to heal and could propably lead to skin grafting and it makes no sense for me to leave my sister and her husband at this period since I was there when it all happened and I could also be blamed for it because I was in the kitchen when it happened. I have to make this cancellation at this time because of your cancellation policy and I am not sure I will be coming again for now. They really need me here now. I am sorry for any inconvinience that this might have caused you. I don't mind you deducting the cancellation charges and send my balance to me because it will be useful for them here at this moment. Let me know how much you are going to deduct as the cancellation charges and I will send the information where you will send the refund to. Thank you for your understanding and consideration. I wish to stay in your B&B some other time. Stay blessed.
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
How are you doing? I will like to inform you that I won't be coming { Inn Keeper's town } anymore. I want my reservation cancelled. I have to cancel this reservation due to something terrible that happened to my 3year old niece four days ago here in Rotterdam. She got part of her face and body burnt when she came in to the kitchen unnoticed and pull down the kettle full of boiling water on herself from the cooker while I was there in the kitchen. It was a terrible accident. At frist I thought it was minor injury not until the doctor told us that it is going to take time to heal and could propably lead to skin grafting and it makes no sense for me to leave my sister and her husband at this period since I was there when it all happened and I could also be blamed for it because I was in the kitchen when it happened. I have to make this cancellation at this time because of your cancellation policy and I am not sure I will be coming again for now. They really need me here now. I am sorry for any inconvinience that this might have caused you. I don't mind you deducting the cancellation charges and send my balance to me because it will be useful for them here at this moment. Let me know how much you are going to deduct as the cancellation charges and I will send the information where you will send the refund to. Thank you for your understanding and consideration. I wish to stay in your B&B some other time. Stay blessed.
Regards,
Rubi.
[ 'deducting the cancellation charges' is a distraction -- the original check is fake as you will see, and zero minus a charge is, uh, well, read on!]
The Inn Keeper
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008
Rubi,
So very sorry about your niece. I lost my baby brother to an accidental scalding when I was a child. It's a horrible thing for a child and a family when something like this happens. I pray that she has a complete recovery and for the peace of mind of your family members.
I do require a 14 day notice to give you a full refund of your deposit. You have given me a 13 day notice and I have had to turn business away. I will refund your deposit in its entirety if I can rebook the reservation and only after your check has cleared the bank. Please let me know to whom this refund should be made and where to send it.
The Innkeeper
Rubi,
So very sorry about your niece. I lost my baby brother to an accidental scalding when I was a child. It's a horrible thing for a child and a family when something like this happens. I pray that she has a complete recovery and for the peace of mind of your family members.
I do require a 14 day notice to give you a full refund of your deposit. You have given me a 13 day notice and I have had to turn business away. I will refund your deposit in its entirety if I can rebook the reservation and only after your check has cleared the bank. Please let me know to whom this refund should be made and where to send it.
The Innkeeper
Rubi The Scammer
...starts putting on the pressure...
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008
Innkeeper,
I see no reason why it is difficult for you to send the refund. I have ex plained the situation of things to you and I also didn't expect it to happen this way. The person I asked you to send the refund to is my sister that I came to visit here in Holland. I am not a Holland citizen, I am from the UK and it will be easier for her to pick the money up than I could do. Wh y Western Union, is that it will be very easy for her to pick it up since sh e(we) needs the money urgently. The company that issue the Check acted on th e instruction given to them by me that the Check should be issued to you because that is where I want the company to send my money to and they did and my transaction with the company has closed there. The company h as nothing to do with my money again, it is you and I that have business to settle. I have explained the situation of things to you as a woman like my self and I believe you should understand better. I am not also happy that I cancelled my trip because it will bring alot of set back but, I don' t care because my family will always remain my family and I can never leav e them in times of need. The refund is also useful to me but she needs it mo re than I do and even needs more. As for the reservertion to be rebooked, th ere is still alot of time before the date that I booked and I believe some body can rebook but if you feel like not sending the money via the Western U nion,I will send a US bank account to you to transfer the money.I hope this will be easier and okay for you. You don't have any reason to be worked-up , everything is right !
Regards,
Rubi.
Innkeeper,
I see no reason why it is difficult for you to send the refund. I have ex plained the situation of things to you and I also didn't expect it to happen this way. The person I asked you to send the refund to is my sister that I came to visit here in Holland. I am not a Holland citizen, I am from the UK and it will be easier for her to pick the money up than I could do. Wh y Western Union, is that it will be very easy for her to pick it up since sh e(we) needs the money urgently. The company that issue the Check acted on th e instruction given to them by me that the Check should be issued to you because that is where I want the company to send my money to and they did and my transaction with the company has closed there. The company h as nothing to do with my money again, it is you and I that have business to settle. I have explained the situation of things to you as a woman like my self and I believe you should understand better. I am not also happy that I cancelled my trip because it will bring alot of set back but, I don' t care because my family will always remain my family and I can never leav e them in times of need. The refund is also useful to me but she needs it mo re than I do and even needs more. As for the reservertion to be rebooked, th ere is still alot of time before the date that I booked and I believe some body can rebook but if you feel like not sending the money via the Western U nion,I will send a US bank account to you to transfer the money.I hope this will be easier and okay for you. You don't have any reason to be worked-up , everything is right !
Regards,
Rubi.
[The person the Inn Keeper has been told to send the 'refund' to is actually the scammer's partner, or possibly oga (boss). The various criminals may not even know each other personally - this may be an ad hoc team. The spoils will be divided according to a 'sharing percentage'. If 'Rubi' doesn't deliver a mugu (literally, fool, aka victim), the percentage will be zero. As to the US bank account, scammers have to bank somewhere - in fact, lots of places.]
The Inn Keeper
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008
Rubi,
I am not comfortable sending the refund -- if there is any to be sent -- to anyone but you or the person/company who issued the check. I will not send it via Western Union as that is not how it was received. I will send it via the US Postal Service by International Money Order if sent to you in Holland or by check if sent to the payee in the United States. I am very uncomfortable with this entire situation and pray that this is all legitimate. I am very concerned. At this late date I can only hope that I can rebook any of the 14 nights. Had you canceled just one or two days earlier it would have been better for both of us. At any rate no refund will be sent at all until those 14 days have passed or been rebooked. While I sympathize greatly with your situation, something just doesn't seem right. Thank you.
The Innkeeper
Rubi,
I am not comfortable sending the refund -- if there is any to be sent -- to anyone but you or the person/company who issued the check. I will not send it via Western Union as that is not how it was received. I will send it via the US Postal Service by International Money Order if sent to you in Holland or by check if sent to the payee in the United States. I am very uncomfortable with this entire situation and pray that this is all legitimate. I am very concerned. At this late date I can only hope that I can rebook any of the 14 nights. Had you canceled just one or two days earlier it would have been better for both of us. At any rate no refund will be sent at all until those 14 days have passed or been rebooked. While I sympathize greatly with your situation, something just doesn't seem right. Thank you.
The Innkeeper
The Inn Keeper
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008
Subject: Your Refund
Miss Wilburn,
This is to notify you that you will receive NO REFUND of any kind from {...}. Your check was returned to my bank yesterday. You have perpetrated a scam -- a bank fraud. You have told horrific lies about a poor child. You are truly an evil person. May the law find and prosecute you and your associates fully and completely. You are truly immoral and may God have mercy on what little soul you have left. May you rot in jail for the rest of your miserable life.
The Innkeeper
Subject: Your Refund
Miss Wilburn,
This is to notify you that you will receive NO REFUND of any kind from {...}. Your check was returned to my bank yesterday. You have perpetrated a scam -- a bank fraud. You have told horrific lies about a poor child. You are truly an evil person. May the law find and prosecute you and your associates fully and completely. You are truly immoral and may God have mercy on what little soul you have left. May you rot in jail for the rest of your miserable life.
The Innkeeper
[Fortunately the Inn Keeper did not cash the check. The bank would have dunned her for the amount. Also, local bank branches may not catch the fake right away, that is, before the victim sends the money order to the criminal.]