A Free Grand Piano? – Scammers Target Piano Enthusiasts

If you’re in the market for a piano, be cautious of a new scam that’s targeting music lovers, businesses, schools, and churches. Scammers are offering “free” pianos but with hidden fees that can add up to hundreds of dollars and, as you may have guessed, the piano will never be delivered.

The free grand piano we were promised has not yet arrived so we had to use AI to genarate the picture of the coming delivery.

The scam typically starts with an email or social media message from someone claiming to be donating a piano to a good home. The story is often emotional, claiming the piano was owned by a deceased loved one who wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate its value. The scammer may claim the piano is in excellent condition and even offer to ship it for free, but there’s always a catch.

The shipping company will contact you, saying that shipping the piano will cost several hundred dollars, often upwards of $2,000. They may pressure you to respond quickly and provide payment through digital wallet apps, bank cash deposits, or wire transfers. However, if you proceed with the purchase, you’ll likely find out that the piano never existed and you’ve lost your money.

Consumers have reported being targeted by this scam, saying they were contacted by someone claiming to donate a Yamaha Baby Grand Piano. The scammer claimed the piano was in excellent condition and offered to ship it for free, but the shipping company demanded payment through Venmo or CashApp.

To avoid falling victim to this scam:

1. Be wary of unsolicited emails offering something too good to be true.
2. Take a close look at the email for red flags such as poor grammar and spelling, unusual phrases, and repetitive language.
3. Don’t let emotional stories persuade you into making a hasty decision.
4. Research the average price of the item and what it would cost to ship it.
5. Be cautious of pressure to pay quickly.
6. Don’t provide payment to anyone you don’t know.
7. Check into moving companies on BBB.org before paying any shipping fees.

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Protect yourself from scammers by being cautious and doing your research before making any purchases.

Read more:

https://it.brown.edu/phish-bowl-alerts/grand-piano-scam​​
https://millerps.com/nashville-avoiding-the-free-grand-piano-scam/
https://securityboulevard.com/2024/05/scammers-build-fraud-campaigns-around-free-piano-offers/
https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/security-brief-sing-us-song-youre-piano-scam