CAUT

Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

piano sales scam

  • 1.  piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-13-2021 12:11
    Hello List,
    Can anyone provide the details of the scam that was talked about some time back that featured a private individual trying to get rid of a piano that had belonged to a deceased relative, was in great shape, and needed to go to a good home?  I seem to remember something about this individual (and similar individuals) targeted academic communities, but I have no recollection of a description of how the "scam" was to play out in the end.

    I'm asking because someone is emailing multiple people here in the university music and arts community regarding a small grand, in "great shape", that belonged to a deceased uncle in Oklahoma that could be shipped all the way here to California, if only the new owner would contact the moving company and make "rerouting" arrangements, as the piano is already destined to make some sort of move to this state.
    Does any of this sound familiar?  The whole scenario has raised some suspicions here.

    Thanks,
    Greg Granoff
    Humboldt State University


  • 2.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-13-2021 12:21

    Hi Greg.

     

    This has been going on now for a few months.  Somebody mass-emails telling you about a free Yamaha or Steinway grand in excellent shape to give away because somebody died and wants it gone. 

     

    They tell you they will deliver if you pre-pay the delivery fees before you even see it. The moving company or piano seems to be Kentucky or Tenn. They wont deliver without prior delivery fees, and then Presto! No piano!

     

    I think most of we CAUT's have caught on. I had to tell most of our faculty, even our Dean, it is a scam. They all got the email too.

     

    I answered a couple of them to find out more about the piano and who I could have come inspect it. No answer. One actually answered saying "you mean the piano hasn't been delivered yet?  "  Got ya, I said, you scammers. We're on to you......no response.

     

    Run away!  Nothing is free my friend.

     

    Paul




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-13-2021 12:32
    Thanks Paul!
    This is kind of what I suspected it was all about.
    Confirmation much appreciated.   I'll make sure everyone around here knows.

    Greg



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-13-2021 16:24
    Every time I get one of these now I send them back a scathing reply that includes "fraud" and a suggestion where to put it
     
    Teri
     
     
    Thanks Paul!This is kind of what I suspected it was all about.Confirmation much appreciated. I'll make sure everyone around here knows. Greg -posted to the "CAUT" community

    CAUT

    Post New Message
    Re: piano sales scam
    Reply to Group Reply to Sender
    Sep 13, 2021 12:32 PM
    Gregory Granoff
    Thanks Paul!
    This is kind of what I suspected it was all about.
    Confirmation much appreciated.   I'll make sure everyone around here knows.
     
    Greg


      Reply to Group Online   View Thread   Recommend   Forward   Mark as Inappropriate  
    -------------------------------------------
    Original Message:
    Sent: 9/13/2021 12:21:00 PM
    From: Paul Williams
    Subject: RE: piano sales scam

    Hi Greg.

     

    This has been going on now for a few months.  Somebody mass-emails telling you about a free Yamaha or Steinway grand in excellent shape to give away because somebody died and wants it gone. 

     

    They tell you they will deliver if you pre-pay the delivery fees before you even see it. The moving company or piano seems to be Kentucky or Tenn. They wont deliver without prior delivery fees, and then Presto! No piano!

     

    I think most of we CAUT's have caught on. I had to tell most of our faculty, even our Dean, it is a scam. They all got the email too.

     

    I answered a couple of them to find out more about the piano and who I could have come inspect it. No answer. One actually answered saying "you mean the piano hasn't been delivered yet?  "  Got ya, I said, you scammers. We're on to you.....no response.

     

    Run away!  Nothing is free my friend.

     

    Paul






     
    To change your subscriptions, go to My Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to Unsubscribe.



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-14-2021 07:12
    Hi Greg,

    All that people need to know is that there is a wave of "deceased uncles out of state", and that as soon as you ask to have a local tech examine the piano, the lead goes dead.

    Bill Ballard
        R.P.T., New Hampshire Chpt.
    Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.
    wbps@vermontel.net

    "Our lives contain 
    a thousand springs
      and dies if one be gone
    Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
      should keep in tune so long."
        ...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774"
    +++++++++++++++++++++







    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-14-2021 12:14
    I got a new one this morning from "Tony Nasvik" of Mark Anthony Homes:  markanthonyhomes.com in WI. Their website looks quite legit. Here's the phone number:  715-760-0188. Here's the text of the message:
     
    "Good Day,
     
    Mrs. Laurie Keller is downsizing and looking to give away her late dad's piano to a loving home. The Piano is a Steinway Grand Piano used like new. I will not be checking this email often you can text her to indicate your interest on her private phone number 423-436-5330 to arrange inspection and delivery with a moving company
     
    Regards."
     
    I have half a mind to call the company to tell them "Tony" has involved them in a fraudulent scheme. Anybody want to take that on?
     
    Teri
     
     
    Hi Greg, All that people need to know is that there is a wave of "deceased uncles out of state", and that as soon as you ask to have a local tech...

    CAUT

    Post New Message
    Re: piano sales scam
    Reply to Group Reply to Sender
    Sep 14, 2021 7:12 AM
    William Ballard
    Hi Greg,
     
    All that people need to know is that there is a wave of "deceased uncles out of state", and that as soon as you ask to have a local tech examine the piano, the lead goes dead.

    Bill Ballard
       R.P.T., New Hampshire Chpt.
    Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.
    wbps@vermontel.net" style="color: #000000">wbps@vermontel.net
     
    "Our lives contain
    a thousand springs
      and dies if one be gone
    Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
      should keep in tune so long."
        ...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774"
    +++++++++++++++++++++
     


     


      Reply to Group Online   View Thread   Recommend   Forward   Mark as Inappropriate  
    -------------------------------------------
    Original Message:
    Sent: 9/13/2021 12:11:00 PM
    From: Gregory Granoff
    Subject: piano sales scam

    Hello List,
    Can anyone provide the details of the scam that was talked about some time back that featured a private individual trying to get rid of a piano that had belonged to a deceased relative, was in great shape, and needed to go to a good home?  I seem to remember something about this individual (and similar individuals) targeted academic communities, but I have no recollection of a description of how the "scam" was to play out in the end.
     
    I'm asking because someone is emailing multiple people here in the university music and arts community regarding a small grand, in "great shape", that belonged to a deceased uncle in Oklahoma that could be shipped all the way here to California, if only the new owner would contact the moving company and make "rerouting" arrangements, as the piano is already destined to make some sort of move to this state.
    Does any of this sound familiar?  The whole scenario has raised some suspicions here.
     
    Thanks,
    Greg Granoff
    Humboldt State University



     
    To change your subscriptions, go to My Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to Unsubscribe.



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: piano sales scam

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-14-2021 12:24

    I got this too. I replied one word..."scam"

     




    Original Message