Description

We received a contact form inquiry at [email protected] requesting pricing for powder coating metal fence components. The inquiry was from an individual identifying himself as Gary Walker with Sipi Engineering. Arsco Custom Metals responded with a formal quote totaling $20,351.51, which Mr. Walker accepted. The customer attempted to pay via our online credit card payment link, but the transaction failed. Subsequently, he contacted our office directly, and our staff manually entered the payment through our Authorize.net portal. The payment appeared to clear successfully. Following payment confirmation, the customer requested that we use a freight company called DropBox (not affiliated with the well-known file-sharing service) to arrange pickup of their materials. We complied and obtained a freight quote. DropBox, posing as a legitimate carrier, required prepayment of $5,575.00 via ACH, which is not uncommon in our industry for freight services. Based on that, we proceeded with the ACH transfer and sent all requested documentation. Believing the skids had been picked up, we continued as if the project was in motion. Over the following week, we received inconsistent updates from DropBox. Initially, they claimed the skids were lost, then later said they had located only part of the shipment. They continued to promise delivery, but nothing was ever delivered. We reached back out to Mr. Walker to ask whether he wanted Arsco to fabricate replacement parts. He verbally agreed, and we sent pricing. However, he has since ceased responding to all communications. DropBox has also gone silent. Based on the pattern of events and complete lack of follow-through from both parties after payment, we have determined that this was a coordinated scam involving a fraudulent company and a fake freight provider. We are submitting this report in the interest of preventing others from falling victim to a similar scheme.