After reading this, it was like someone else lived my exact situation. I’ve googled this story and she tried the same scam in 2017 with a Pampered Chef consultant.
I also received a contact me request from a Sherry Smith stating she wanted to order products (I sell Scentsy). I responded with a cheerful email to her and directed her to my website.
I got the EXACT SAME reply listed by the other report (deaf woman, doesn’t do credit cards, needs to send check). I figured ok, and emailed her back stating I would be happy to assist her and supplied my contact info (oops). However, after I got the 2nd reply on 8/4/2020 (also EXACTLY THE SAME as this other report – grandmother having cancer, etc) and it had terrible misspellings and broken English – I decided to turn the tables on her. I replied back on 8/5/2020 letting her know I was not doing business this way and that Scentsy does not either. I also told her I was blocking her # (since she had also started texting me) and would be returning the possible check return to sender. I also stated since I had not cashed the check or ordered anything, no loss to either of us.
I dropped the envelope off at the Post Office yesterday as REFUSED – RETURN TO SENDER since it arrived on Thursday and I did not open it (it also arrived from Sterling Heights, MI.
My email does allow me to see if I get any further messages from her as they go to SPAM since I marked them as such and I also have the ability to view any texts she tries to send under my blocked messages. She tried to send 2 or 3 texts on Thursday afternoon/evening but since I never replied who knows what she thinks.
Victim Location 37179
Type of a scam Online Purchase
11/24/16 – "Contact me" e-mail through my business website saying "Sherry Smith" wanted to order. Included cell phone number and e-mail address.
11/28/16 – Tried to call phone number and "call rejected". Sent e-mail stating number given did not work and gave my phone number and link to my website so she could order directly.
11/28/16 – Received e-mail back stating she wanted items for a total of $142.31. She is a "DEAF WOMAN" and she does not operate a credit card. "HER BOSS" would send a check but the check must arrive before I place the order for her.
11/28/16 – Responded with my address and work cell # (regretting this now)
12/1/16 – Received another "contact me" e-mail through my website from Sherry with a different contact # with same "I WANT TO ORDER!" message. I did not respond.
12/16/16 – Received e-mail from Sherry apologizing for being out of communication due to "Grand mother has been down with Cancer of her breast seriously" and that her boss sent all $ owed to her to me instead and if she can trust me to keep her $ safe. Wanted me to cash the check and send the remainder after deducting the money for "Products" back to her.
12/16/16 – Texted to see if I received the e-mail and if I received check
12/17/16 – Responded by text that I had not received
12/17/16 – Requested by text to keep posted once I receive
12/17/16 – Responded by text that I would do so
12/19/16 – AM, Sent tracking number for check and her shipping address for products (checked tracking number, Check was sent from Sterling Heights, MI)
12/19/16 – PM, Received check, looks pretty legit from Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, AZ
NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT