I was directed to [email protected] by an email to my student account. I now believe another student's account was hacked. I sent an email to "Ruth" expressing my interest in a pet sitting position.
I received this email in return.
Hello,

My name is Ruth (31 years) and my husband's name is David (39) , we are easy going and very kind. I'm a bit hard of hearing but I hear pretty well with my cochlear implant. We need a caregiver for our two Dogs (Kona and Nala), this position could be permanent or temporary depending on your availability. I'm moving with my husband to your area, he just got promoted and transferred from his place of work, and I won't be able to do some things with my Fur Babies because I'm 6 Months pregnant, I and my husband have been married for 6 years and this is going to be our first child and we want everything to move smoothly till I put to bed. Our furry babies are friendly, Kona (1 years, 2 months) is a German shepherd, David got him in London and he is considered our first child while Nala is a Labrador Retriever, 1 years 8 months, he's friendly and loves to play our second child. They are not aggressive and not temperamental around other dogs but Nala can be naughty sometimes.... Lol, they are quite spoiled and very adorable. They both receive Bark-boxes every month and allowed on all furniture in our home despite Nala's shedding. They've truly been one of the greatest blessings in my life and I'm very fortunate that David loves them as much as I do.

We'd need you to brush their coats and take them for walks at least once a week, they are well trained and won't give you any problem, I can manage with their feeding and when ever you come around you can also feed them. We would be happy if you'd love them like we do. They're quite adorable, our babies will be arriving a day before us and my husband wouldn't mind to pay you to secure your service before our arrival as well as for you to get some dog food, brush and other things needed for them.

You'll be working for 3 days a week for at least three hours a day/ 9 hours a week, we'd prefer to have fixed days but we can be flexible if your weekly schedule changes, just let us know ahead of time. You'll be coming to our house to look after the dogs.. We are willing to pay $35 per hour for both dogs. We'd need to know the days you'd be available.

What is your zipcode so we can calculate your transportation cost if needed?

Terms - 3 DAYS FOR THE TOTAL OF 9 HOURS WEEKLY (3 HOUR DAILY)
Between 10am and 9pm

I hope you have read and understood all I have written as I want things to be done with sincerity and done the way I ask you to please, I'm very pleasant and show people around me that same gesture. I'd love to know more about you.

However, you can let me know the time and days you will be available.. And what's your number in case my husband would want to chat with you?

I will be waiting to hear from you.

Regards

I responded not yet realizing it was a scam, until I received this back:

We'd be glad to have you look after our babies as we hope to get the best care for them. We are a pleasant family and I'm sure you'll have no problem working with us. We are relocating from CA on 26th of October but our dogs will be arriving by 25th of October, we already made arrangement with the shipping company to deliver them to our house, they'll be staying there till we arrive. We might only need you to feed and check on them once or twice before we join them next morning if that will be convenient for you but if not we can make another arrangement for them..

And also my husband's Financial Clerk might have to make out a certified check to you before our arrival so to be sure we've secured you for the position. You will receive a check which you will deduct your upfront payment for the first week and the remaining funds will be used to buy the Dog foods, soaps with some other things needed for the dogs and you'll also help us get few kitchen equipment.

We will be living in SW 20th Ln, Gainesville, FL 32607. We'll instruct the realtor to mail the keys of the house and text the full address to you once they finish the plumbing fitting so as to help us with few necessary preparations before our arrival. Like I said, we are willing to pay $35 per hour for both dogs but for the first week we'll pay $350 because of some other stuffs you'll be helping us out with. We hope that's OK by you. You have to get all the shopping before they arrive so you won't have to start running around when the babies arrive. More so, the Financial Clerk would be needing the following Information to make out a check for the payment.


Full Name:
Full Address:
(Apt number if available):
City,State,zip code:
Phone number:

All I need from you is absolute honesty and sincerity and I'd believe you are just as you said. I can feel it that you're excited about the work, I promise you'll also have a nice period of time working with us. Attached are few pictures of the dogs and myself :)

The cashier's check and financial clerk point to signs of a scam, as well as the indication that I would receive a check in excess of what I would be owed to do some personal shopping. That was when I searched for the email, [email protected], and found this thread of similar accounts.