List of known scammers

Caution: Scam Warning

It has come to our attention that scammers are targeting people selling instruments on our website as well as lute instructors. Please review the names of the known scammers below and review the details about what to watch out for in communicating with unknown individuals.

Known Scammers

This list is an effort to warn others that interactions from the names and email addresses on this list are not genuine.

  • “Susan Balascio” using the email address sybria42@gmail.com
  • Name unknown using the email address sterlingmackinnon323@gmail.com
  • Jose Fernandez using the email address rodneycar23@gmail.com
  • Douglas Cross using the email address licott726@gmail.com
  • Sterling Mackinnon using the email address donaldway43@gmail.com
  • John Gerg Wills using the email address gerg.wills00@gmail.com andGerg.00@gmail.com
  • Daniel Martinez using the email address dan.martines24@gmail.com
  • Robert Sorrel using the email address sorrelrobert22@gmail.com
  • 杨 YángChun 春 using the email address yangyangchunchun4@gmail.com
  • Richard Adams using the email address richardadams0017@gmail.com
  • Sarah Pacyniak using the email address misssarahpacyniak32@gmail.com
  • Someone using the email address sixturner69@gmail.com
  • johnson wilson using the email address jw0120293@gmail.com
  • Nicolas Leo using the email address nicolasleo11@hotmail.com
  • Noel Davis contacting folks with lost instruments pretending to have found the instrument.
  • Robert Gerber using the email address robgerber1120@gmail.com
  • Robert Clayton using the email address robertclayton494@gmail.com
  • Andrew Garner using the email address andrewgarner315@gmail.com

What To Look Out For

For Lute Instructors:

The scammer will attempt to hire instructors to provide lute lessons for their child and offer to pay by check. They will intentionally pay more than the lute lesson cost for “travel expenses, meals, and other related costs.” They will ask that you provide the excess payment to their child’s caregiver. The check will be fraudulent and will not successfully be deposited to your bank, so you will lose the excess funds that are provided to the child’s “caregiver.”

For Instrument Sellers:

The scammer will offer to send you payment through the mail, as a cashier’s check or money order. They will intentionally pay more than the cost of the instrument and then ask that you wire transfer the excess payment to them.

In most cases, the email address that is contacting you belongs to someone else and a bad actor has gained control of the email account for malicious purposes.

For Potential Buyers:

If you have any concerns during your interactions with an instrument seller, please let us know at forsale@lutesocietyofamerica.org

Recent scam messaging:

Scammers pretending to purchase lute lessons will contact instructors with messages such as the following:

I wanted to inform you that a check will be delivered to your address shortly. My attorney has already sent it out, as I mentioned previously, and he ensured that the payment would be dispatched before his vacation. Although the amount is slightly higher than the cost of your lessons, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The check includes travel expenses for my daughter and her caregiver to prevent any delays in their travel plans and to facilitate her lessons. Once you receive the funds, please deduct the lesson fee, and I would appreciate your assistance in forwarding the remaining amount to the caregiver, who will be responsible for my daughter’s care during her stay. This remaining amount will cover her meals, travel expenses to your location, and other related costs. I hope I can rely on you to handle the balance appropriately.

I would have preferred to pay the caregiver directly, but she is currently out of state and will only arrive the day before my daughter. Additionally, my attorney has already left for his vacation this morning. I would be extremely grateful for your assistance in this matter and would be happy to offer you an extra $30 as a token of appreciation for your help. Please keep me updated as soon as the check arrives so we can move forward.

Fake instrument buyers have been contacting instrument sellers with the following message, please be aware and discontinue conversation with these scammers.

Thanks for your reply, Concerning my inquiry, Am quite comfortable with the condition of the item since I won‘t be making any repairs on it. I‘m making an offer of $3500 and I will add $50 to it for keeping it for me, Please provide your full Name, Address your Phone number for payment.I am paying by Check. It will take a few days for payment to get to you. As per pick-up, I will arrange for the pick-up after payment has been received by you. I hope it is in good condition, kindly get back to me with your name, phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent. I will let you know how I intend to pick it up. I would have loved to come check it out but I am presently away on a business trip so you can send me pics of the item so that I can know it is in good condition. I would appreciate it if you take the posting off the site today and consider it sold to me.as for the pick-up, it would be handled after you receive your payment. Thanks. God Bless You.

Another recently used message is along the following lines:

My son told me about it and we are interested in buying it.The Picture is great, I believe this could be based on trust. We are actually buying it as a gift for my 70th birthday anniversary.He will be sending a cashier’s check for the sales since my son runs a business account, once the check clears, I’ll arrange the pickup.let me know why you are selling and the condition it is in. .
Please provide the below information for the payment:-
(1)Full mailing address
(2)Name to be on the check
(3)Phone number,
(4)Final price
So we can prepare the payment check immediately.Please make sure you delete the ads.Thanks

Another frequently used message is:

Hello! let’s do like this, actually now I’m not in town for now, I came to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with the condition and price as seen on the advert, so i want you to consider it sold and remove it from the website,block other people from buying it as I’m very much interested.I’ll proceed in issuing a Check out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement for pick-up. So get back to me with the details below asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you and I will let you know when it’s mailed out. I need you to be honest with the sale as I am a God fearing person.Hope to hear from you as soon as possible.
Thank you

If the potential “buyers” use any of these dialogues, we recommend discontinuing communication with them as they are not legitimate buyers.

Other General Suggestions

When interacting with a potential buyer or seller, please consider the following suggestions:

  • Use PayPal or another service that has a dispute process.
  • Do not accept checks for more than the purchase price plus shipping.
  • Meet in a safe place if meeting in person.
  • Consider shipping insurance.
  • To minimize spam, use a special email address.
  • Consider using a cellphone or a “Google Voice” account rather than a home phone number.
  • Consider Zoom or other video connection to see each other and the instrument.

For any other questions or concerns, please contact us at forsale@lutesocietyofamerica.org