Pianotech

  • 1.  SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-29-2025 12:58
    I have many friends and clients that have lost their homes in the Pacific Palisades & Easton fires. Recently, I heard from 2 of my friends who have been offered a used Yamaha GB1K in excellent condition. The person who is giving it away said her husband recently passed and she has to downsize but wanted to pass it on to someone who lost their piano in the fires. The piano is free but the beneficiary of this gift must pay for the shipping cost. The piano is in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    When I got the first call asking about this piano I told my friend it wasn't a good fit for her for a variety of reasons. But, after the second call, my gut told me it this a scam. I looked online and there's been similar ones out there for a while. I think one way to quickly find out if it is or not is to let them know the beneficiary would like a qualified technician to check the piano out. If it is legit they shouldn't mind.
    I think it is egregious that they are targeting people who recently lost everything dear and near to them. Please be careful. 




  • 2.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-29-2025 13:04

    This scam has been going on for some time in different variations.  Here's what the scammers do.  The person offering the piano will refer the victim to a non-existent moving company.  There will be a very good looking website, but the address will be a vacant lot or some other location.    The victim will pay for shipping, which isn't going to happen.  They'll be out the shipping cost.  Next victim..?



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    Paul McCloud, RPT
    Accutone Piano Service
    www.AccutonePianoService.com
    pavadasa@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-30-2025 13:01

    Paul McCloud is correct. As director of a piano technology program at a college, I get one of these phishing emails about every two weeks. Sometimes, however, they come to be true, but I'm certain not in Kayoko's case. Check out the Better Business Bureau for learning about this scam and a host of others:

    BBB: The Sign of a Better Business | Better Business Bureau

     

    Warm Regards,

    Peter Acronico, RPT

    (408) 838-2559

     




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-01-2025 11:33
    Hi, This happened to me last week.  The sender used an email address from a student on campus. The email looked like it was sent to all. It was giving away many instruments not just a grand piano of a belated husband. Hurry and it is the same scam.  

    I assumed others in my department received this email but it turns out it was just me.

    Be careful. 

    Sent from Gmail Mobile



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-30-2025 13:20

    P.S. Just got one in my college email after writing the previous note to this list. Ha ha

     

    Warm Regards,

    Peter Acronico, RPT

    (408) 838-2559

     




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Posted 09-30-2025 11:38

    Thanks for posting about this, Kay. It's definitely worth bringing to clients' attention. When I was at CalArts, Alan received these kinds of scam messages what felt like on a weekly basis! If it seems too good to be true, it is. 
    Facebook marketplace also seems to have a ton of these kinds of free piano scams, so for potential buyers it's something to mention too. The fact that this scam said the piano is in Arkansas (my home state) gets me even more riled up!
    I hope those that lost everything due to the fires are doing OK. 

    Josh



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    Joshua Sadinsky
    CSULB
    https://pianojosh.com/about
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Member
    Posted 10-01-2025 13:53

    SCAM SCAM SCAM

       I have gotten this type of offer many times with pretty much the same offer  the spouse died; we had to leave the piano when we moved ; no one plays it or has room for it ; you have to pay the mover who has it in storage.... 

     another more elaborate one was we have 2 Steinway Grand Pianos being sent to a hotel ballroom in Columbia SC and want you to tune them. We will pay you up front so we need your banking info upfront. They gave me the dates and the name of the organization as well as the hotel info. I told them I have to check my appointment book and call you back. Of course I called the hotel- no such event, reservation . 



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: SCAM Alert - free piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-01-2025 20:46

    About a month ago I received an email message telling me he was referred to me by a salesperson at a local piano store. "Cherished Piano for Adoption." Because the referral came from someone I actually know, I replied to the email asking for some specifics. He sent me many pics and with the serial number I learned it was a Kawai RX2 from 2001. After a couple of back-n-forth's I finally learned that the piano was in storage in the teeny tiny town of Sierra Vista, Arizona. At this point I was almost ready to pass, figuring it must be a scam since who would contact a tech in Los Angeles about a giveaway piano in Arizona? But, as a courtesy nevertheless, I decided to see if I could find a tech near him that might be of better help. I couldn't find a single tech, PTG member or not, within 100 miles of Sierra Vista so I told him, due to location, I was not able to help. Never heard back from him. 



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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    Original Message