This is an FYI post about a scam attempt within the Desert Breezes Community. As far as we know, no one was taken in by this, but it’s always good to be aware.
Recently, a long time Desert Breezes resident had their email hacked in some way. Maybe someone actually got into their account, or maybe they simply had their contacts and faked their email address.
The result was that I, and a few others, received this email:
Upon replying that I did see this email, I recieved this:
After 20 years of corporate training on scams and phishing, three main scam signals jumped out at me:
- This did not sound like the person, and I do not know them well enough to think they would come to me for something like this.
- Urgency – this has to happen now!
- Gift Card – scammers love gift cards as they are untraceble.
I was sure it was a scam, but one more test from my side:
A scammer will always have a reason why they can’t meet in person, or call on the phone. Here it is:
Note the mistake in leaving Message space write: in the email. That is the point where I called my friend. I was not the first to call, and they sent out a warning to all their contacts.
I’m posting this to help everyone be informed on common scam tactics and how to spot them. When in doubt while dealing with an email or message from a “friend,” do nothing until you’ve actually contacted that person by phone or in person.
This is a story everyone is going to enjoy from how they met to how they ended up in Desert Breezes and all that happened in between. Cheryl Lauridsen and Paul Stoddard met over 40 years ago. Cheryl was the youngest Assistant Vice President for a bank and Paul was the attorney. Her boss told her she should meet “this guy”. She went to Paul’s office, they met; and the adventure began. They resided in Rancho Cucamonga and Paul became House Council for the bank. Early in the relationship Paul bought a 25 foot Catalina sailboat which they still keep in Dana Point. Without any knowledge of sailing Paul took Cheryl out into the open ocean off Dana Point. They soon realized that more education was needed so they took a course with Annapolis Sailing School in Marathon Florida, and obtained their “Bareboat Charter Certificate”. They sailed this boat to Catalina many times as well as to Dana Point, to Newport, Long Beach and as far south as Oceanside. Then the bank they worked for closed in 1955. Paul grew up in Palm Springs so they moved and opened a law practice and maintained a satellite virtual office in Ontario. He specializes in Real Estate, Corporate and Civil Litigation and Cheryl is his legal secretary and paralegal, and both still work at the practice. When Paul turned 50 he was overweight (350#) and things began to ache. He was told to exercise and riding a bike was all he was able to do. He started a diet and bought his first bike: a heavy “comfort bike”; and from Dec. 2006 to Oct. 2007 he lost 125 lbs. The bike became his “miracle drug”. On his birthday in October 2006 he bought his first carbon fiber bike; and in February 2007 he did his first “Century ride” (a one day event where you ride 100 miles).
Cheryl was not left out. She began riding and now owns her carbon fiber Specialized Ruby. To keep the “miracle drug” interesting both would attend bike events. Their favorite is the Tour de Tucson, a 100 mile ride around Tuscon. Their events are fun and provide them a goal to reach. They bought a tandem bike that they rode across the State of New York from Buffalo to Albany. In 2013 they decided to downsize and relocate closer to work in Pam Desert. Also, Palm Desert has better bicycle paths. Paul walked in to see the first listing and said we would take it as Desert Breezes felt safe and comfortable and the neighbors have proven to be exceptional and friendly and kind. They said they plan to live here with their dog “Lulu” as long as God will allow. Paul and Cheryl are on the middle left in yellow breakers.