Description

I responded to a Facebook marketplace listing for a free Yamaha U1 piano. The seller responded it belonged to his sister’s late husband and since she just moved, she is looking to find it a new home with someone who will appreciate its value and continue it’s “musical journey”. The seller sent me his sisters email address [email protected] and had me reach out to her directly. I emailed her and asked to come see the piano and test play it first, but she said it’s in the possession of the movers already so I can reach out to them directly at the email address [email protected]. Since she said it was in brand new condition and the images from the listing looked legit, I didn’t question it much considering the value of the piano. Most people who own pianos that nice tend to take very good care them in the first place. She sent me a “referral ID” of GBk889UXR5 and said I can send the movers that ID, as she had already contacted them to let them know I would be setting up a “reroute” for the piano. I emailed the movers, and unfortunately included my address in order to get the most accurate cost estimate, as I know with piano movers specifically the exact location is a pricing factor. They responded first with three tiers of price options: $720 for express premium and delivery in 1-3 days, $640 for express classic and delivery in 3-5 days, and $550 for smart post and delivery in 5-7 days. I responded going for the $550 one and they said they accept payments via Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal. I responded I’d like to do Venmo so please send me the account username. The next response gave me the Venmo username @Warriorgurl1990 and last 4 cell digits of 2647 to confirm the Venmo transaction. They asked that the transaction be labeled “Gift items from a Friend” and that I “Kindly send [them] proof of payment immediately after the remittance is made so we can proceed accordingly”. The email was signed at the bottom: “Gordon Campbell, Director Freight Sales, AGS MOVERS”, with a YouTube link and a “contact us” page linked to the website agsmovers.com. Since the Venmo account was obviously not a business account and likely didn’t match that “Wonder Gurl” is a person named Gordon Campbell in sales, I started to look it up. It appears that AGS is an international moving company that doesn’t seem to have any presence in Detroit, at least not enough to justify them somehow having a space to hold on to items such as a piano until further notice. I went to see any possible public transactions on the Venmo account provided and there was nothing moving-related to hint at any kind of legitimate business going on. I then found this link on the BBB by Google searching “Gordon Campbell AGS movers”, and sure enough this exact description came up, starting with the sister’s late husband story and everything else down to a perfect tee. Of course I will not be sending anything, nor will I be further responding to any emails. I am reporting the Facebook listing and seller as well.