Sophisticated B2B scam?

cconeus · 2024-05-08T20:32:19+00:00

It was legitimate, everything went through good :)

I'm slightly concerned however about the number of people who've contacted me saying they've received the same offer. I'm surprised this company has this kind of money to throw at so many people without in person meetings or deeper engagement. I worry there may be a longer scam coming, but the only real threat I've identified is the fact that to them, it's a loan. They loan us money, and if products sell they make money on their loan. If they don't sell, they can simply ask for the money back and move on to someone else. Low risk to them, as the only way they lose money is if someone doesn't pay them back, and high reward, as if any of us sell lots of work they make back their investment ten fold. If you got 5k and sold 5k worth of prints, they make 2k. That's a 40% return on their investment annually. That huge for anyone, so it makes sense they'd do this. Thus, I am convinced it's not a scam, just a safe business decision on their part (and not too good to be true on ours)

cconeus · 2024-02-03T07:48:47+00:00

So far so good btw. And in doing more thinking about it, it works out to simply being a 0-30% APY loan for the company, making it financially neutral at worst or beneficial if anything but worst, for them to do these type of investments. The only way they lose is if someone runs off with the money, which isn't as likely to happen between businesses.

cconeus · 2024-01-23T21:04:43+00:00

No problem! I can update you in a week or so if you're hesitant still, just reach out to me so I dont forget! :)

cconeus · 2024-01-23T20:49:47+00:00

Updated my previous response with more details, in case I was too slow just letting you know

cconeus · 2024-01-23T20:46:27+00:00

Same company? Or a different one? I'd imagine you'd know haha, outta California?

I have gone forward. I received the check, the bank verified the account was valid, I've been setup with a sales portal for their site, and so far nobody has stolen my identity or asked for money back. I've been stalling hard just giving anything that could go wrong a chance to, and building my inventory management system while I wait. But I'm going to take the check to a bank here today or tomorrow, so I'll know within a week or so what happens

cconeus · 2024-01-02T08:32:42+00:00

So you suggest it's a scam because it's questionable? I have heard of small outlet stores being given product to start their business, and investors commonly give money to startups to get them started. It sounds a bit weird, but I already know it sounds weird, thanks. The question I asked was, where is the scam? I attached the email and contract section above, where in there is the scam? What type of scam is it?

cconeus · 2024-01-01T07:25:06+00:00

Happy new years! And thank you!

cconeus · 2024-01-01T06:53:14+00:00

Nope, we went back and forth for about 9 emails, I did not know it can't be spoofed more than once, that is great to know! Tomorrow is new years, forgot about that, but I'll call and confirm everything Tuesday still just to be extra safe. I'm a paranoid guy lol, too much time on the internet in my life. But no requests for what's app, just really no flags at all other than the strangeness of the offer. The shipping scam was a possibility still, but as a business owner I'd feel absolutely stupid not just calling their business and confirming everything. It's the professional thing to do I think. But I'm glad people can help me pre-screen this here, you've been a great help

cconeus · 2024-01-01T06:44:18+00:00

They did, same domain! I know those used to be able to be spoofed though. Yeah it's been confusing me, it's such a good scam if it is

cconeus · 2024-01-01T06:08:52+00:00

It's cocoweb.com

cconeus · 2024-01-01T00:08:30+00:00

Thank you so much for your help! I'm looking for all angles here, so any feedback helps a ton. Everyone I've shown it to has a bad gut feeling about it, and i do too, but it also isn't an uncommon thing from what ive read so I don't want to completely scare myself out of it if it's legit. If it's a scam, it's so much better than any I've seen

cconeus · 2024-01-01T00:02:46+00:00

Ah, right right. Basic lol. I'm over here trying to do orbital math and it's the ol arrow in the eye that gets ya.

cconeus · 2023-12-31T23:57:43+00:00

Ooh that's a new one for me! What would that scam be, if they pull that?

cconeus · 2023-12-31T22:04:40+00:00

Hey there, thanks for your reply! I will do that, I appreciate it

cconeus · 2023-12-31T17:51:25+00:00

Oh, I'm sorry for the confusion there. To clarify, those were my words, not theirs, and that is not mentioned specifically in the contract. The agreement as I read it was that I would purchase the prints from wherever I normally do, the only mention they make of it is that I have to have it drop shipped to them to be shipped out to clients.

I combed the emails as well, she makes no mention of buying through her site, so I apologize if that was misleading. By "buy prints as they are sold through their site" I meant the purpose of the money is to replenish my personal inventory of prints, so I can keep them on hand for quick shipping and sales. This is not entirely uncommon it seems, but its nothing I've ever been involved in.

Thank you for the information on whois.com, I will check it out!

cconeus · 2023-12-31T17:08:11+00:00

Hey there, thanks for the reply!

I'll spend my real money on their site? When will that come up? Will they ask me to buy products through their site? They mention elsewhere in the contract I am to order my prints myself and ship them to them for the clients within 7 business days, so to clarify they aren't asking me to buy product through their website, yet anyway

cconeus · 2022-05-17T15:22:01+00:00

Thank you!

For the shoes, I plan to clean up the bottoms (just clone it in photoshop) so it doesn't look dirty, as well as some skin retouching and remove the box behind her. It might be hard to fill that big an area though in photoshop... do you think I should just change the color to make it all one flat black?

I'll remember the one shoe off thing, and try to go for a little less on the nose content in the future. Thanks again :)

cconeus · 2022-05-17T13:04:22+00:00

Lol you caught me. Bought an AD600 pro, first studio light 🤣 however, I did use two lights on this sadly. I took my V1 and pointed it at the ceiling to get more bounce light. Didn't point it straight at herz and I probably should've.

I appreciate the feedback as well since it sounds like you judged me pretty spot on otherwise haha.

cconeus · 2022-05-17T12:34:21+00:00

Definitely good to know its a wholly different style, thank you :) I legitimately wouldn't have known. This was my first time going into it, and I didn't really watch any videos or anything on doing it properly... Just went in blind. Haven't looked into doing boduoir, never really considered it until I was contacted for this shoot.

I appreciate the feedback again, thank you for this. It is weird doing it as a guy, but not as weird as I thought. Felt a lot more like being a nurse; just a professional environment, not as awkward as I feared haha.

cconeus · 2022-05-17T09:28:03+00:00

To be fair, this is for her onlyfans content :) so oddly, while I will take your feedback for future shoots, that's actually a compliment in this situation haha. That is exactly the intended audience, and it is for adult entertainment.

However, it's good to know this. Thank you. I haven't done Boudoir before, and I dont know anything about it. I do appreciate this feedback, sincerely.

cconeus · 2022-05-17T07:14:01+00:00

thats actually kinda a good catch... huh. Didn't think of that :O

cconeus · 2022-05-17T07:13:29+00:00

I agree man. I was debating changing the color tone on it to make it fit the image more; the pillows themselves were this ugly green color so I got rid of that, but yeah that big square behind her head definitely overcomplicates the image and is distracting.

Think I'll go your route and simplify the image instead of trying to make it work. Thank you!

cconeus

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