09/24/2026
If you are inquiring with a business for a product or service, and they ask a number of questions of you, please don't get offended, we get scammers contacting us on a regular basis. This is a conversation from a potential "client" yesterday and today.
Tyler: Good day, I’m Tyler, I would like to know if you do woodworking service?
Me: Yes I do, is there something in particular you are looking for?
Tyler: Thanks for getting back to me. I just bought a new house so i will like to know if you can make bookcase, I want the Height 88/25 Inches Width 47/5Inches Depth 11 Inches the bookcase and Parturition will be 3/4 inches thick oak plywood materials, here is the sample of the bookcase.
Me: I can make something like that, but I don't understand your dimensions, what is 88/5 and 47/5 inches? Do you mean 88.5 and 47.5 inches? For oak, it can be red oak, or white oak, there is a difference in price, which are you thinking of?
---I have never in my life seen dimensions written that way, and was my first clue something wasn't right---
Tyler: I meant 88.5 and 47.5 inches and for oak, it can be red oak and what’s your cost.
Me: A budgetary price is $2,700, price is based on the picture you sent and can change if the design changes. Where are you located? Do you need delivery or shipping?
If this fits in your budget, I will need your full name, address and phone number for the contract. I require a 50% deposit to begin work and the remainder prior to delivery.
Tyler: Do you accept mobile deposit checks and have you done it before, You’ll need to open the check on another device like a second phone laptop, tablet. Once it’s open just use your phone’s mobile deposit feature to take a photo and deposit it like a regular check. The funds are usually available shortly after.
---Notice he does not answer my questions, and a non-standard method of payment is a huge red flag---
Me: no, I'll take Zelle, cash or a physical check drawn on a local bank branch.
Tyler: Ok, sounds good, what’s your bank institution name and full name and address to be on the check.
---Why would he need my bank's name to send me a check? I haven't seen a place to put the recipient's address on a check either, so not sure what kind of "check" he was planning on sending---
Me: you don't need my bank information for a check. You don't sound like a serious customer, you haven't provided your information as I requested, nor have you told me where the bookcase is getting delivered to. You want to send me a check without a contract with a firm price? Really!? You are a scammer, this conversation is over.
Tyler: I never ask for your bank information at all, what I ask for is just bank name and name to be on the check that’s all.
Tyler: And you told me the price already and your payment method what again do I need to ask for to proceed.
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A legitimate customer would never send me that amount of money without a firm quote and more details about what exactly they will be getting. If someone is willing to send you money that easily, 99.9% of the time, it is a scammer.
