It has come to our attention that a scammer(s) are trying to defraud B&B’s in North America.
Since the bank draft/certified check/money order is drawn on a foreign bank it may take up to 3 months to learn it is fraudulent. The B&B owner is now short the amount of the check/wire they sent the scammer and probably lost bookings since they held a room for the scammer. If the scammer paid by a credit card it is surely to be disputed by the actual card owner.
If you feel it could be legit it is probably best to rely on your instinct. Make sure you chat them up. Ask them about the attractions they plan to see or are interested in. What airport they are flying to. Who are they flying with. Will they be renting a car. And so on. But it is probably best to just ignore them.
Here is a list of known scammers. If you have any to add (scams or aliases) read the Actions you can take first.
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Names/Aliases |
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Scammer |
Notes |
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Franklin Williams
Redwings Tours Agency, London, UK
infofrank@globalum.com
44 7040111 307 |
Active around November 23rd, 2005 |
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Dr. Watson Gordon of Christian Agency London
mrhgordon221@yahoo.com
w_gordon22@yahoo.com |
Active around November 25th, 2005 & March 2006
Sample E-mail
Sample E-mail
Sample E-mail
|
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Mr James Troy Brighthall Agency, London
visitjamesonline@yahoo.com |
Active around November 21st, 2005. Looking to book for a Christian Summit. |
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Mr Jeffer Mindo of Brighthall(coral) Agency,London
jable_trustbooker1@yahoo.com
+4470-3193-0884
|
Active around November 28th, 2005
Sample E-mail |
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arthuradou@yahoo.fr
|
Active around November 7th, 2005
Sample E-mail |
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Dr. Dani Hills of the Brighthall Agency in London dr_danihills@yahoo.com |
Active around December 16th, 2005 |
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Elivs Borrow of Landscape Agency, Scotland
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447023056332
Fax:+447884514786
elvisborow@yahoo.co.uk. |
Active around January 7th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Dr Sherri Huse of Brighthall Agency,London |
Active around January 10th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Dr Richard Lawson of Brighthall Agency
RichardLawson@yahoo.com
MR PHILIP MORE OF BRIGHTHALL AGENCY LONDON . |
Active around January 14th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Brayen Ral Reservations Ltd.
#987 Virgins Suite,
Off St lawrence Church.
London. U.K
Tell:+447031923758
ral_reservations@yahoo.co.uk |
Active around January 18th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Elvis Borrow
Varsatile Vincent Travels
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447023056332
Fax:+447884514786.
Email:elvisborow@yahoo.co.uk
URL:www.varsatilevincent.info |
Active around January 18th, 2006
Sample E-mail
***ALERT*** This one has a decent looking website. Very dangerous because they look like they are legitimate. |
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Bryan Anderson - coco scammer
rich_surveyors@yahoo.co.uk |
Active around January 21st, 2006
This is an scary one. The scammer has assumed the identity of a legit surveying firm in the UK. I've not put the name of the firm up since I don't want to get them associated with any wrong doings. I've sent them an e-mail asking for their feedback.
Here is a sample of the e-mail exchanges.
|
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Dr Danny Jones
Reservation Manage
Manchester
London
ANTHENS AGENCY,London
5 pecham drive
Manchester
LONDON
W128ND
447 675 7869
jand_agents@yahoo.com
|
Active around January 26th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Elvis Borrow
ELB Agency.
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447023056332
Fax:+447884514786
Email: el_borrow@yahoo.com |
Active around January 26th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Dr Ted Crouch
:High Mowthorpe
Duggleby
Malton
N Yorkshire
YO17 8BP. |
|
| |
Jeffer Mondo
Bright hall (coral) Agency, London
jable_trustbooker2@yahoo.com
+447-03193-0884 |
Active around January 30th, 2006
Sample E-mail or Sample E-mail |
| |
Paul Danton
Coral Agency London
paul_danton1@yahoo.com
+44-702-305-5121 |
Active around February 03rd, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Elvis Borrow
Varsatile Vincent Travels
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447024064942
Fax:+447884514786
URL:www.varsatilevincent.info
Email:elvisborow@yahoo.co.uk |
Active around February 05th, 2006
Sample E-mail
***ALERT*** This one has a decent looking website. Very dangerous because they look like they are legitimate. |
| |
thony danra
danr! a tony
danra_tony@yahoo.co.uk
+447031846581 |
Active around February 06th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
green_s_cott@yahoo.co.uk
Brighthall Agency, London
Dr Green Scott
|
Active around February 07th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Mr. Jean Yves Dubus
roxan_boutique@yahoo.fr
Tel: 00225 085 111 51 |
Active around February 08th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Samuel Dumont
General manager
Tel : 00225 05 195 865
Fax : 00225 21 28 49 68
Mail : hotel_basfonds@yahoo.fr
Address : 11 BP 1973 ABJ 11
Rue des ardoises avenue Kero et Gauthier |
Active around February 09th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
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PASTOR WILLIAMS
christmission10_inc@yahoo.com
|
Active around February 12th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Ian McDonald
92, Pentonville Rd
London N1 9HS
United Kingdom
ianmcdonald1@letterboxes.org |
Active around February 17th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Elvis Borrow
Varsatile Vincent Travel Agency.
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447023056332
Fax:+447884514786.
Email:info@varsatilevincent.info
Return phone number: +447023056332
TeL:+447024064942
Fax:+447884514786 |
Active around February 17th, 2006
Sample E-mail
Sample Email
Sample Email
|
| |
tim cluise
cluise private savings and loan company uk
timcluise@yahoo.com
|
Active around February 21st, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
DR CHRIS B WILSON
GRANDEE SERVICES UK
BEACON ST,BIRKBY,HUDDERSFIELD,
WEST YORKSHIRE HD2 2RS,
LONDON
PH:+44-702-305-2359
FAX:+44-700-597-8931
EMAIL:info_grdservices@yahoo.co.uk
|
Active around March 8th, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Sean Brown
ELB Travel Agency
Tel: +447024073718
Email.reservation@elbagency.com
(A member of V-V group INC)
http://www.elbagency.com
ELB Travel Agency.
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447023056332
Fax:+447884514786. |
***ALERT*** This one has a decent looking website. Very dangerous because they look like they are legitimate. |
| |
***Chestnut Villa is a legitimate business. This is a case of identity theft.***
mr john peter,
chair johnson building investment,
Adress.
Chestnut Villa,
Great North Road,
MUIR OF ORD,
Ross-shire
IV6 7XR.
SCOTLAND
****Chestnut Villa is a legitimate business. This is a case of identity theft.*** |
Active around February, 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Jerry Jones zaki_williams05@yahoo.com |
Active around 2005
Sample E-mail |
| |
Gold Rush
goldrushventures57@yahoo.com |
MY NAME IS GOLD RUSH OF NOOREGO AGENCY, LONDON. I WANT TO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR A GROUP OF CHRISTIAN DELEGATES COMING FOR A SEMINAR/CONFERENCE IN YOUR CITY FROM 24TH OF MARCH TO 31TH OF MARCH 2006.
GET BACK TO ME IF THE DESIRED DATES ARE AVAILABLE.
REGARDS.
GOLD RUSH |
| |
DR.HENRY ERIC HENCOLE.
(EXEC. MANAGER)
SANTA MARIA AVIATION LINKS.
SANTA HOUSE,CALLE SANTA SANTA 01,1.1
BARCELONA SPAIN.
+447024069098
henry_erichencole@yahoo.com |
Active around Feb 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Frank Upton
Brickwills Agency, Canada
uptonconsults@yahoo.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Sean Brown
ELB Travel Agency
18 Farinford Street
London
Tel: +447024073718
Email.reservation@elbagency.com
(A member of V-V group INC) |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Elvis Borrow
Varsatile Vincent Travel Agency.
50 Argyle Street
G2 8LG,
Glasgow,
SCOTLAND.
TeL:+447024073718
Fax:+447884514786
Email: hotel@varsatilevincent.info |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail
Sample E-mail |
| |
Martin green Jacobs,
Elb Travel Agency
email:hotels@elbagency.com
Tel:+447031821175
Fax:+447884514786.
URl: www.elbagency.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
CAR RENTAL ENGLAND
c/o Rygaardt Melissa
Address:27 Bedfordview,
Johannesburg
South Africa
URL:www.carrentalenglandonline.com
EMAIL:rates@carrentalenglandonline.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
CAR RENTAL ENGLAND
c/o Mr SOLOMON JOSEPH
Address:1 BERKELEY STREET
KENSINGTON
LONDON,
W8 6TG,
ENGLAND.
TeL:+447031821175
EMAIL:info@carrentalenglandonline.com
URL:www.carrentalenglandonline.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Kevin (or Kelvin) Biddle
Silverstone Travel Agency
1 Berkeley Street
Kensington London
W8 6TG,England UK
Phone:+447031846856
biddle_kelvin@yahoo.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail
Sample E-mail
|
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Colonel Takada Ebisawa
Miss Aurelia (White Jasmine Travel)
whitejasminetravel@lycos.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Welfred Jones of Brighthall Agency, London
447024017889 |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Mr. Horbford
Brighthall Agency
Phone: +447024016201
horbford_consult@yahoo.com |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
info_welfred@yahoo.co.uk
Mr Welfred Jones
Brighthall Agency
Phone 447024017889 |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Name: Susan Scott.
Street: 81, Kensington High Street.
City: London.
Post Code: W8 4SG.
Country: United Kingdom.
Dr. Patrick Chamber
14A, Hickman Avenue,
HIGHAMS PARK,
London, E4 9JG
United Kingdom
|
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail
 |
| |
DAVID SCOLARI
blue travels
bids_reservationconsults@yahoo.com
+447040124740
+447040115736
+447031848015 |
Active around March 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
VARSATILE VINCENT TRAVELS
c/o Mr SOLOMON JOSEPH
14 Gower Street
London - WC1E 6BT
ENGLAND
Tel: +447024064942
www.varsatilevincent.info |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Dr. Christopher Grant
14A, Hickman Avenue,
HIGHAMS PARK,
London, E4 9JG
United KIngdom
doctor_cgrant@linuxmail.org
Amanda Jones.
46, Forest Hill Road.
London.
SE22 0RR.
United Kingdom. |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Dr. Allan Green of haryana Cooperation India
THE OBEROI TOWERS
5TH NARIMAN POINT
MUMBAI
INDIA
allan6green@yahoo.co.in |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Lucia jenn
luciarentals@yahoo.co.uk
447031851498 |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Mr Adeyemi Osindele
Tiwa N/Tiwa Jazz Band
234-805-230-3951
africnjazz1@yahoo.com |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
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Mr Fernandez Caspelli
Phone 00225 08 624 578
:formationcenter2000@gmail.com |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Dr. Lewis Brown of Wessco consultants, London
lewisabrowny_2000@yahoo.com |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Name: Jose Arose
Email: Jose_Arose@yahoo.es
IP: 82.128.3.76 (Lagos, NIGERIA) |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
| |
Name: Gilbert mcDonald
Email: gilbert.mcdonald@yahoo.it
Phone: +447040116769
IP Address: 196.1.176.149 |
Active around April 2006
Sample E-mail |
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NEW: We are now tracking IP addresses. When ever we find a scammer using our site, we are going to block them. |
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NOTE: These scammers assume a new name with just a few key strokes. If a name is not listed here, and that name is acting in a suspicious manner, please proceed with extreme caution. And remember, under no circumstances ever send money anywhere at their request.
Remember, cashier checks/bank drafts/certified checks can be forged. And if drawn on a foreign bank it can take up to THREE MONTHS to learn this. Credit card numbers are obviously stolen. |
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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: |
| The scammers do not use their own real name. For the most part they use made up names and made up or wrong addresses. In some cases they may assume the identity of another real legitimate person. They may also claim associations with well know organizations. It is has been brought to our attention that we could be defaming a legitimate person or business and suggested we give out general non-specific information. We have decided to continue supplying details v. general information. If a legitimate person or business is found listed on this page then please read that as notification of identity theft. If you are that person/business please contact us to discuss how we should proceed. If you believe we have listed someone incorrectly please take the time to notify us. |
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If your information has been added here and you are not a scammer please contact us
The reason we keep this list is the scammer cannot reasonably change their name after they have initiated a scam with their target. So hopefully if we prevent one person from falling victim to this sensational scam that will make it worth it for us.
When the scammers start a new fishing trip we are fully aware that these scammers can assume a new identity at the flick of a switch. But the one thing they cannot seem to change is the trends in their e-mails and the type of names they choose for themselves. If you read through them you should be able to spot the trends. They pick throw away e-mails (yahoo.com, hotmail.com) and they pick very white caucasian sounding names which does not jive with their writing skills.
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Actions you can take
- Report the e-mail to the e-mail provider: You will likely receive the e-mail via a free e-mail service like Yahoo! or Hotmail. Forward the e-mail to abuse@xxxx.xxx i.e. abuse@yahoo.com, abuse@yahoo.co.uk, or abuse@hotmail.com. e.g. If the scammer sent the e-mail from scammer@yahoo.com you would forward the entire e-mail to abuse@yahoo.com. Yahoo!, Hotmail,... may shut their e-mail account down.
- Forward a copy of the e-mail to us: We will publish it on our site and let others know. Please send the entire thread. We will post e-mail threads (and contact details) that ask the B&B owner to send money back or to send money to a third party. Or e-mails (and contact details) that were sent to several different B&Bs requesting the same dates, yet the B&Bs are located far away from one another.
Bad English is not enough to get something posted on this page.
- Share this page with your association: Share this page/site with your B&B association to help get the warning out.
- Report to Authorities:
In Canada call Phone Bustuers at 1-888-495-8501.
In the USA contact Looks to Good to Be True or to file a complaint contact Internet Crime Complaint Center
We tried Interpol. They basically told us to ignore it. You can see their e-mail in the blog. What bugs us about this response is ignoring these allows them to go on un-noticed. It is the sharing of knowledge that is going to erode away at their scam. I don’t think the B&B owner ignoring is the right action. However, I certainly don't think the B&B owner should reply to them either. I still think these should be reported to authorities. We would like other new suggestions on how to go about reporting to authorities.
- Alert credit card company: If you get a credit card number, the number is most likely stolen. Report that card number to the credit card company.
Below is some of feedback we've received from B&B owners:
Monday, January 16, 2006
Thanks for the Scam Alert. Elvis Borrow contacted us!!
Luckily we don't take credit cards yet. You guys have saved us a real hassle!
Best wishes,
Peter
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Good morning,
I heard from Mr. Borrow yesterday and now this one. Thank you so much for keeping a line on these fellows. I am passing your scam line on to other B & B owners.
Friday, January 20, 2006
G'day, only to pass on that elvis is trying australia, a tiny little gold mining town. Fortunately I do not take credit cards!!Thank you for your information which I quickly sought.
cheers
Yackandandah Hideaway
Victoria, Australia
Friday, January 20, 2006
Thanks for putting the warning out there.
Incidentally, I have a B&B near Brisbane, Australia.
Regards
Isla
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006
Hi - Had Mr Elvis requesting rooms for 4 delegates. Dont know why I decided to check out the web page and in the search answers was this one regarding the scams. I thank you for the information and just to let you know Im from Estonia. So he has reached here. And like some others I do not take credit card. Cash only all the way.
J Armstrong
Plaani Lodge - Estonia
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006
Believe it or not he is now using the name of Gordon Brown ….and trying to scam in Finnish Lapland…..
Still using Brighthall Agency and booking Christian Fellowship group bookings. Reserved 14 rooms out of 17 at our Arctic Circle Hotel a few days ago. However the request was simply too suspicious with prepayment by credit card a 14 night stay and a need for US to pay a car hire company…
Looked up the company name and came immediately to your site… We would not have gone along with this anyway but glad to see you are warning persons of their activities….
Many thanks and keep up the good work
Adrian
Just wanted to add one that I received a while ago and didn’t see on your list. I just got the Watson Gordon one at each of my properties today. Sample E-mail
Friday, January 27th, 2006
Thank you for your website citing B&B reservation scams. I found you by doing a Google search for Mr. Borrow just out of curiosity since he referred to himself as being with the ELB Agency (Education and Library Board) in Scotland. I feel stupid for believing such a request and appreciate your site.
Hi,
I am a B&B manager in Australia and received a booking request from an Elvis Borrow. Suspecting it was a scam I did a google search and found your web site warning of known scammers, including this guy.
Thank you for taking the time to provide warnings.
Kind regards,
Ros
Giba Gunyah Country Cottages
http://www.gibagunyah.com.au
Hello,
This one jumped right out at me as looking suspicious, but I googled them anyway and came up with your website. It's not the first time someone has tried this. I thought I would forward this to you to add to your museum of spammers. They were trying to book space in our small hotel in Baja, Mexico. Now it appears they are even including a "photo" of themselves for credibility.
February 6th, 2006
Hi,
My name is Cristina and I run a Bed and Breakfast in Torino, Italy. Thanks for your website and for your warnings. I just received this mail from this clever man!
Ciao and thanks,
cristina
Dear Sirs/Madams,
I´m sending you the e-mail I´m suspecting to be a scam. I took it seriously. Today a fourth case of the scam came, from ELVIS BORROW
The air of the mail reminded me three different reservations we did in January. I checked name of Elvis Borrow via Google and luckily found your list of scammers. Thank you very much for clearing the thing. Recently there was a guy pretending to be American and working for a UNESCO. He send us a check for 5000 US dollars and asked us to send the money back after withdrawing a sum needed for his stay in our boarding house in Levoca, Slovakia (930 $). I´ve found it would take at least 6 weeks to get the money and his arrival was planned in one week. He explained he needs the rest of money for the airplaine ticket and his boss by mistake sent us money for his whole stay in Slovakia. If you´re interested I´ll send you those -e-mails.
www.uleva.sk
Slovakia, Europe
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Thank you for your warning on scammers. A Mr. Ted Crouch sent me an e-mail asking to reserve a satellite phone here in Anchorage Alaska, thanks to your website his name came right up on your site. No deal this time thanks to your site.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Thanks for your scam alert, I got an email from Elvis Borrow for Mar 1-10 just this morning! He wanted to pay on credit card. I was suspicious & your warning popped up...good job. That would have hurt us, if we'd not found your scam warning.
Being it was a travel agent, thought I'd just check as there was no website & typed in the agents name & warning come up, so its working...
Thanks from
Whispering-Cedars B&B
Chilliwack, BC. Canada
Monday, March 27, 2006
Thanks for your great page on scammers ... the Elvis Borrow from Varsatile Vincent etc nearly got me in ... I got suspicious when I rolled over the menu on his web site and it came up with things like "my girl" "my hobby" and checked the source to find it had no meta tags ... did the google search and came up with your web site ... good work! I have since warned all our state B&B assoc and directed them to your page.
Cheers
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Resouces
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The scammer will book a room(s) and claim to have no credit card to hold the room or will have a credit card. They will ask to send a bank draft/certified check/money order to pay for the room in advance or pay for it with a credit card. When the check arrives it will be for an amount greater than the value of the stay or they will ask you to charge the credit card for an amount greater than the value of the stay. The scammer will then request a refund for the difference or the balance sent to a third party like a car rental agency. Since the B&B owner received a bank draft/certified check/money order the B&B owner will consider that cash in hand and send a check back to the scammer for the difference. Or the B&B owner has charged the CC may consider sending money at the request of the scammer.