Scams, Frauds, and con artists - the details
Repost:
Scam artists looking to buy your items!
Fraud Alerts! and Scams!
Enough is enough! I have had it with these scammers trying to rip me off, and I’m sure that there are plenty of others that have also been contacted with offers that seem “too good to be true” worse, some of us may have already been ripped off.
The scenario is this:
You have something for sale, (I have a laptop for sale) you advertise it on ebay, or on classified ad sites. You receive an email response something like this(this is an actual response):
Mrs Blessing Williamsmrsbbwilliams2004@yahoo.comDear Seller,I am very much interested in your Laptop, i actually want to get it for a friend in africa.Therefore i will like you to treat this transaction very urgent and the shippment shall be to africa(Lagos-Nigeria). I am ready to pay you via western union money order for your item with the cost of shippment to africa . I would like have your words that upon receipt of confirmation and approval letters from western union money order that your payment has been made that you shall release the package for shippment. so if you are interested you could send me your full name and contact address with which payment will be made. Please do convert your money to United states Dollars.Thanks for your understanding and God Bless you.
Breakdown of the entire process:
You receive an email response, such as the one above, and you receive payment. The payment is sometimes twice your asking price, or even 3 times! They may ask you to cash it, take your funds out of the proceeds, and return the balance to them, or to someone they will send to you - to pick up the item, and the balance of the cash.
Facts
1) They always have a compelling reason to purchase your item, such as a gift, or a surprise for someone, or for their store display, or for any compelling reason.2) They usually claim to be Christian, or “trustworthy” - which causes you to let down your guard somewhat.
Please note the telltale signs of suspicious offers:The email response you receive will typically be “harvested” and will have an exact quote of your item.You may notice the the item will be placed inside brackets in the email body, for example:If I posted an ad that stated “fast internet laptop with free carry bag!”, the email that the “scam artist” woudl send would look something like this:Dear Seller,I am very much interested in the purchase (fast internet laptop with free carry bag!) for my friend in Africa…etc.Notice that the subject has been pasted, or inserted into the email response. Hence the brackets, and the context it is used - makes the email sound gramatically wrong. Thus the result of some sort fo email harvesting program that inserts the item description into en email template.
Watch out for:
I require the item immediatelyI need it sent to Africa, (Nigeria specifically)They will not use paypal - ” I have a problem with my paypal account, and must use bidpay” etc.They will not send a postal mony order (US and Canadian post office money order)
Payment:
They offer to pay through Western Union, or Bidpay. and will send you a confirmation of receipt, a money order from Western Union, or even a really professional looking cheque.(I received a cheque drawn upon a Canadian bank that looked amazingly legitimate)My bank had to contact the branch and have them look into it. The other branch was across Canada! They even had a hard time determining if it was legitimate.My bank advised me to deposit it, then they could track it, however, knowing how banks work, I did not want my account frozen while they investigated the matter.
They ask for your full name and address so they may send you the details of payment, or the actual money order/chequeShipping methods:1) They often offer to have you drop the item off at a fedex office, using an account number that they will supply you.2) They “have a friend that owes them money” and that friend will stop by and pick up the item3) You ship the item (as quickly as possible), and they will include the shipping charges in the payment
They often say that a receipt will be sent to verify that the money order has been sent, and is “verified” by Bidpay or Western Union. THis may be the case, where the money order is actually ligitimate, but it usually has been purchased with a stolen credit card.You are expected to ship the item upon receipt “proof of payment/verification” of the money order being on the way, or available at a local western union office.
Ultimately, the results can be :
1) You receive a money order or a cheque; you deposit it and sent the items to the buyer; all seems fine until 6 weeks later, your bank advises you that the money order was fraudulent, and you are liable for replacing the funds. You are not out the moneym, and the item. You will not be able to track the buyer to get your item and money back. You have been scammed!
LIST OF EMAILS and the SENDER’ ADDRESS
This list is compiled from classified ads, ebay auctions and newsgroup postings of items that I have for sale.After receiving countless emails from individuals wanting to buy items, I have taken it upon myself to devise this list.
Mrs Blessing Williamsmrsbbwilliams2004@yahoo.com
Dear Seller,
I am very much interested in your Laptop, i actually want to get it for a friend in africa. Therefore i will like you to treat this transaction very urgent and the shippment shall be to africa(Lagos-Nigeria). I am ready to pay you via western union money order for your item with the cost of shippment to africa . I would like have your words that upon receipt of confirmation and approval letters from western union money order that your payment has been made that you shall release the package for shippment. so if you are interested you could send me your full name and contact address with which payment will be made. Please do convert your money to United states Dollars.
Thanks for your understanding and God Bless you.
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Alert: Mark Smith
The following excerpt is the initial email I received from this scammer and another response regarding payment & pickup.
“Hello,
I am Mark,and i am located in NY.i will like to
purchase your ‘84 Kawasaki 750LTD motorcycle.which you place for sale.kindly let me know if it is still available,its condition and your last price.May i know if payment through a Cashier’s Check is acceptable by you which will be sent to you on getting your contact address and you are going to get it in 7 working days. regarding shipping,i will be responsible for the pickup arrangement by my self.so you dont have to worry about.I hope to hear from you
soon.thanks
regards,
Mark.”
“Yes,
i am still intrested in buying the Motorcycle,I am sorry for the delay that i am here to Let you know that i have Sent out the Payment On Monday,And i will like you to keep me informed me as soon as you have gotten the Check inluding the Agent that will come over to your Place for the Pick up Fee,so i will Look to hear from you as soon as you have gotten It,Thanks and have a Nice day.
Regards
Mark”