Month: April 2023

How to Use ChatGPT to Identify a Scammer: AI Helps Expose Suspected Crook

NEWS (Los Angeles, CA) — This article is about how to use ChatGPT, an AI language model, to identify potential scammers. The author, real estate broker Corey Chambers, offers dog-sitting services 🐕 on Craigslist and had a conversation with a potential client, Gordon Jason, who raised some red flags that suggested he could be a scammer. Corey decided to use ChatGPT to help determine whether or not Gordon Jason was a fraudster. ChatGPT identified several factors that could indicate that he was a scammer, including his reluctance to provide a physical address and his insistence on using a quirky payment method. Corey also did his own research and found that Gordon Jason’s phone number 904-690-1874 was a burner phone with no owner history, which led him to believe that he was an international con artist, possibly from Nigeria. The article offers advice on how to spot and avoid potential scammers, and concludes by warning readers to be cautious, and provides an example of how powerful tools can be used when dealing with suspicious people.

As we recently mentioned in a Loft Blog post, scammers are out in droves today. Here’s what just happened:

Because I’ve been spending much of my time with my dog and less time showing properties during the Greater Depression of the 2020s, I began to offer dog sitting services on Craigslist, which is rife with scams. My first customer prospect is a suspected charlatan. He was moving, and asking to pay for dog boarding with an unusual payment method. Here’s how I used ChatGPT to help determine if the prospect might be a fraudster. Curious to know if A.I could detect what I suspected, I asked ChatGPT the following question, followed by pasting the suspect’s text conversation. Those who encounter suspect real estate fraud, rental ads that are too good to be true etc can use ChatGPT the same way, like this:

Corey to ChatGPT:
Based on the following text conversation, what are the chances that the dog sitting prospective customer Gordon Jason is a scammer?

Gordon Jason: My name is Gordon,my wife name is Jean,we are easy going and very kind and love to laugh. I need a caregiver, a pet sitter for my dog, and I am moving with my wife, she just got promoted and transferred from her place of work from Long Beach to Los Angeles area Corey Chambers: Hi Gordon, Thank you for your text. You’ve found the right place. What size dog and what hours would you like? Feel free to call, text or email. 213-880-9910 coreychambers@yahoo.com Gordon Jason: Good day have been stressing am glad hearing from you real quick and my dog is a puppy and his American bulldog under 20Lbs. I’ll send you his information and do you board or come to our place? And how much do you charge, what re ur rates? Corey Chambers: You can drop off the dog at 200 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90031 or we charge an extra $3 per mile away. Gordon Jason: According to boarding right? 3$ per minute? Correct ? Corey Chambers: We charge $30 per day for dogs under 20 lbs, $40 per day for dogs weighing 21-40 lbs, and $60 per day for dogs over 40 lbs. The service is available for up to 12 hours per day. For those who need overnight boarding, we charge an additional $25 fee. With our 24/7 supervision, you can be sure that your dog is safe and well-cared for at all times. Gordon Jason: That count be roughly 55$ per night correct? Corey Chambers: Yes is that good for you? That’s for 12-24 hours. It costs less if you need less time. Gordon Jason: That count be roughly 55$ per night correct? I’ll send you all our dog information’s including our information’s thank you because Chunk does not have any allergies or disabilities, he’s vac is also up to date, you won’t have any problems watching him and also be ready to play cos he will play with you lot lol 😝 He will be arriving to the city before us and we would need you to board watch him and if you can walk him for just a week before we arrive I will like to know your price for that time, he will be arriving by 26th April till on the 2nd may. Just let me know your total estimate? Corey Chambers: Yes. $308 per week. $364 for 8 days. Gordon Jason: You like my dog? Do you saw his video? Corey Chambers: Yes, cute puppy. Gordon Jason: Thank you for the estimates and based on my busy schedule I’ll like to set everything up at the right time now. We are okay with the estimates and nice meeting you. What’s your name ? My name is Gordon Jason. My wife is Jean Pennington Gordon. Corey Chambers: Corey Chambers Gordon Jason: I request to pay you to secure your service before our arrival as well as for you to get some dog food, shampoo and other things we needed for him in our new home you will get it for us I’ll add the money to your payment I’ll give you the list. Thank you 🙏 Corey Chambers: Yes what’s the address to pick up from? Gordon Jason: Mr corey I tried to call you now I think k it’s voice mail and they will bring my dog to you at hour place hopefully are you able to accept a check as a means of payment? Corey Chambers: OK I will add you to my phone so you’ll be able to call I can accept cash, company check or cashiers check. I can accept PayPal credit card cash app Venmo Zelle Apple Pay etc. Can you pay with one of those? Gordon Jason: Am trying to make it simple for us cos I have a busy schedule. I’ll just forward you the check to your Email so you can just print it out and endorse the back then you can have it deposited on your Mobile, through your bank mobile App without you stressing yourself to go to the bank okay, you will get it available immediately in your bank account, Depends on what you bank with? Corey Chambers: What is the physical address of your new home or your own home? Gordon Jason: Yeah sir, I’ll send it to you sir. And hope you can do a mobile deposits sir via your bank app? Corey Chambers: yes Gordon Jason: So that I can make the payment upto to you in the morning and get it available immediately. Alright sir.

ChatGPT: Based on the conversation, there are some red flags that suggest Gordon Jason could be a scammer:

1. He seems to avoid providing a physical address for his new home, even when asked directly by Corey Chambers.
2. Gordon offers to send the check through email for Corey to print out and deposit, which is an unusual method of payment.
3. He is insistent on using a specific payment method (mobile deposit via bank app) which could potentially be more susceptible to scams.

These factors indicate that there is a chance that Gordon Jason is a scammer. However, to confirm suspicions, Corey should take additional steps, such as verifying the identity of Gordon Jason and Jean Pennington Gordon, or asking for references from their previous dog sitters.

Corey to Gordon: Can you send me some verification of your identity? And do you have any references for previous dog sitters?

Naturally, the suspected scammer did not provide any verification of his identity other than a pilfered video and an illegibly blurry ASPCA certificate. Additionally, we talked on the phone, and he had an African-style accent with an international ambiance. He’s overly courteous, British style. We checked his phone number 904-690-1874 (T-Mobile US-SVR-10X/2) and BeenVerified. It’s a burner phone with no owner history. These are all earmarks of international con artists, probably in Nigeria. LOL and of course anyone who starts a conversation with “we are easy going and very kind and love to laugh” is likely on par with Hitler or Stalin in the kindness department.

ChatGPT reminds us that scammers may use an emailed check to commit fraud by sending a fake or counterfeit check to the victim through email. The victim is then instructed to print out the check and deposit it into their bank account using their mobile banking app.

The scammer will often request that the victim send them a portion of the money before the check has cleared, claiming that they need the money urgently for various reasons. The scammer may send a fake check for much more than the amount by “mistake” and then request a refund of the difference. The victim may send the money, thinking that the check has cleared, but in reality, the check is fake or counterfeit and will eventually bounce (about 7-10 days later).

The victim will then be responsible for repaying the bank the full amount of the check, and they may also be liable for any fees or penalties associated with the bounced check. This type of scam can be difficult to detect, as the victim may think that the check has cleared because the funds are initially made available in their account.

It’s important to be cautious when receiving emailed checks or other types of payment through email, especially if the sender is someone you don’t know or trust. Always verify the authenticity of the check with your bank before depositing it, and never send money to someone before the check has cleared.

We’ve helped several con artists go to jail recently, and will be more than happy to help “Mr Gordon Jason” to end his current career and seek a more honest living, or we will assist him in obtaining some free real estate — 48 sq ft behind bars to be exact. We’re registering his name and phone number with relevant authorities, starting with Loft Blog readers, the FTC and the entire Internet — Suspected criminal fraudster: Gordon Jason 904-690-1874. FTC fraud Report Number 159277065

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Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker CalDRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit LALoftBlog.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.