fraud check Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo. Salaam alaikum everyone,Ya see that check on the side? This check is the subject of this entry.
I’m coming to you with some information about a scam that targets artists so please be on the lookout. You may have already been contacted by such peeople but please beware.
I was approached online by a woman named EMILY KERBOW who wanted to buy $850 dollars worth of artwork from me. While I was excited about such a deal, I was a little suspicious since I didn’t know where she came from and how she was willing to give $850 dollars so easily. So…she sends the check but here’s the problem. Her “husband” or “husband’s associate” made out the check for too much because there was some confusion. Her story is that she and her husband are moving to South Africa and that between the moving and all, the confusion arises. She’s really convincing, too, because she will tell you how excited she is about receiving your work and how she’s having a baby and her doctors put her on bedrest. @@ She’ll tell you anything to humanize her story and seem as real as possible.
Of course, when I received the check it was not $850 dollars but $4,000 dollars which she asked me to ship back the difference of $3,150 to her through her shipping company. They only problem is that the shipping company doesn’t exist. But here’s the sinker–eventually, she will ask you to not mail the money back to her but to WIRE IT back to her. That’s when you deposit your check (which is a cashier’s check from the University of Pennsylvania!!!!), and the check will clear but later on the bank will figure out that it’s a fake and guess who will be responsible for replacing those funds? Meanwhile, the money you sent to Emily Kerbow is legit while you’re stuck dealing with fraud and debt. Alhamdulillah for my mother and stepfather’s good sense and that I hadn’t deposited the check. As soon as I told her the amount the check was made out for, her fraud-meter went off. 
There’s a few scammers doing this and a few artists in Liverpool have been hurt. Please read this blog link http://www.artinliv erpool.com/ blogarch/ 2006/05/art_ scam_alert. html As for me, I will inform as many people as possible and contact the media since this scam looks like it’s been going on for a while. I don’t have enough info but I will go to the police and see if they can do anything. I know this may seem like obvious advice but make sure you get an address and phone number on any potential buyers. (Duh, Izzy Mo!) And send this to as many artists as you can. I’m gonna also contact the University of Pennsylvania since I doubt they will appreciate someone writing out fraudulent checks in their name.
Sincerely, your sister in Islam
Izzy Mo 
DA said,
February 5, 2007 at 9:23 am
See, this is why society should start chopping off hands.
Aaminah said,
February 5, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Asalaamu alaikum.
It’s a sad thing that we have to be so suspicious, but the reality of the world is that there are ALOT of scam artists out there. If something doesn’t seem right, for any reason, it probably isn’t and we should avoid it. There is a reason that the Qur’an and example of the Prophet (salalahi alahi wa salaam) tell us to put ALL business deals into writing with witnesses. Deals should be simple and clear, and there shouldn’t be any question about who the involved parties are. Witnesses witness not only the deal itself, but also who the parties involved are. I would also caution that people not accept an email as an “in writing contract” as without an actual piece of paper and witnesses, anything can be put into an email and then be claimed to have been doctored or whatever.
Aaminah said,
February 5, 2007 at 12:51 pm
PS – I agree with DA too. I believe that the punishments as laid out in the Qur’an are still relevent for this day. I also believe that those punishments are meant more as deterrents. If people really believed that they would lose a hand for such shady theft, they might think twice about it. But because it is so easy to get away with it, or if caught to simply be fined (and then they declare bankruptcy or some such and get out of paying the fines anyway) or whatever, such behavior is quite rampant.
JDsg said,
February 5, 2007 at 1:25 pm
If it’s too good to be true…
Khadija Carryl said,
February 5, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Assalaamu Alaikum
Yeah I have been contacted on numerous occassions about people wanted to make huge henna powder orders and then come to find out it’s the same old scam story. There is even one about the man and his woman getting married and they want to fly you out them and pay for EVERYTHING, and it is a total scam.
I called the police and they told me to get in touch with Phonebusters here in Canada. They handle it from there once you give them all the information they need. They tell you to seize communication as well.
Subhana Allah.
Yusuf Smith said,
February 5, 2007 at 5:14 pm
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
Hand-chopping in the Shari’a is for theft (and certain types of it at that), not deception (fraud), which is what Izzy is describing.
This article gives a general guide to how to evaluate a business approach from someone you don’t know. Although it’s mostly about 419 scams (the Nigerian with the big stash of money), it’s a good dose of sense for anyone approached with an offer that sounds too good to be true.
Aaminah said,
February 5, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Asalaamu alaikum.
Brother Yusuf, I realize you are more familiar with the intricacies of Shari’a, but fraud is a form of theft. Deception that gains you money, goods, etc. is a theft of that money or goods. So if it is not to be treated as theft, what does the Shari’a say about it? Because it seems that fraud etc is much more widespread than common theivery, so I’m sure the scholars must have a stance on it and I just am not personally knowledgeable about it.
Yusuf Smith said,
February 5, 2007 at 7:21 pm
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
Yes, fraud is theft, but it’s not the sort which results in the offender’s hand being amputated – along with the thief who snatches and runs or “seizes by force”. You’ll have to ask a scholar what the prescribed penalty is for such offences; an armed robber is subject to discretionary punishment up to and including the death penalty, according to the Reliance of the Traveller. (If he actually kills someone, the death penalty is mandatory.)
So, I’m not sure what the penalty for fraud is. I’m presuming it’s discretionary. All I know is that it’s excluded from the fixed penalty of amputation.
shattered said,
February 6, 2007 at 2:39 am
Assalaamu ‘alaykum
Subhanallah. My naive behind would have been $4,000 in the hole. LOL You go girl! Insha Allah we’ll see your name in the news for putting a stop to the scam.
Southern Muslimah said,
February 6, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Alhamdulillah for Fraudometers. I used to be gullible, buying snake oil and the like. (figuratively!)Now I have this ding-ding-ding thing that goes off in my head when I smell a rat.
Glad you’re not in the hole, sister.
Aaminah said,
February 6, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Asalaamu alaikum.
Thanks for the clarification Yusuf.
haroon said,
February 7, 2007 at 10:16 am
thnks GOD sister.ALLAH has saved from a fraud.anyhow takecare in future.
shaz said,
February 7, 2007 at 4:42 pm
happened to me too!! obviously, I didn’t cash the cheque, but these people… what is wrong with them?!?!
izzymo said,
February 9, 2007 at 4:56 am
Argh! These people are sick!
steve said,
March 30, 2007 at 1:22 am
Hey, my fraud metter went off today, I got a similar e-mail… not until
i spent 30 mins replying and sending high res images etc….
I googled her name and your story came up… thanks!!!
Peace Love and Light
Steve