Craigslist classified for used car: Cheque fraud scam

Barry Johnson
7:28am

Sounds Good.

I'm interested in buying it asap ! I will like to proceed with payment
via Electronic Check Payment. Electronic Check is just a means to
send Certified Bank Check Electronically from my computer to your
E-mail.All you really need is a Business Check Paper to print the
Check from your E-mail and have it Cash or Deposited . I'm in no rush
with you till funds has been cleared . I will add additional $100 to
your asking price.

The Business Check Paper is sold at Staples, Walmart, Office Max or at
any Stationery Store at cost of $20.You do not have to bother yourself
about the pick up.I'll instruct a Shipping Co Agent to come for pick
up at your door when check has been cleared. Kindly proceed to
purchase the Business Check Paper today. I will await your contact
details with valid e-mail for the Certified Check.

Do get back to me today.

Thanks

Below is a copy of email sent to me after posting car for sale.

Hello Seller,
My name is Chwie Law, i reside at 324 Metcalfe Street ,Ottawa, ON ,K1P 6L5 In Canada, I Saw your (CAR) and I'm willing to purchase it,I want you to please get back to me with the present condition,are u the Original owner? and your last price offer??. Kindly let me know how much you can let it go for and Email me pictures as well,as for the Shipping i will take care of that through pick up .i have a shipping company which is named Ips ( International Parcel Service ) they will take care of the pick up okay i will also like to know if u will accept certified check for the payment.Will be expecting yourreply asap.

And my reply:
$3000 is lowest price...No checks, can send cash via Western Union.
Pictures are on craigslist.
Seller

and from...Emma Smith
sofia@digitalrewards.info
Hey, just saw your listing: 1992 BMW 735i - $3000 and am interested. When is a good time for me to come by to check it out?...I need to make sure I can afford the insurance, but I couldn't get this thing to go through on my dial up connection (slowww!). Can you do me a huge favor and go to Auto Quotes and see how much the average quote is for our area? Thanks!

Natalie Jackson
addison@digitalrewards.info
How are you, just saw your listing: 1992 BMW 735i - $3000 and am interested. When is a good time for me to come by to check it out?...I need to make sure I can afford the insurance, but I couldn't get this thing to go through on my dial up connection (slowww!). Can you do me a huge favor and go to Auto Quotes and see how much the average quote is for our area? Thanks!
These last 2 were sent about an hour apart...they must've gotten confused...

This is the email I got from her after I inquired about a 05 Tahoe....

Hi
I am selling this SUV because my brigade will deploy for one year to Afghanistan. I'm under enormous time pressure cause I need to sell it fast, before February 14th that being the reason for selling it so low. It is in immaculate condition, meticulously maintained and hasn't been involved in any accident...I do have the title, clear, under my name.The SUV has 44,842 original miles VIN#1GNEK13T65R188190.
It is still available for sale if interested, price as stated in the ad $2.900. The SUV is in Camp Atterbury, IN ,and in case it gets sold I will take care of shipping. Let me know if you are interested, email back. Below is the car details and also link with more photos.
You can find more pics at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/tahoe

ENGINE: VORTEC 5300 V8 SFI, Transmission: Automatic, consumption City 15 MPG / Highway 19 MPG, 4 WHEEL DRIVE, It is LOADED with equipment including Power Moonroof, TV/DVD Rear Entertainment System, Dual Power / Bose AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio with 6-Disc In-Dash CD Changer & Steering Wheel Radio Controls, Towing Package, OnStar, Homelink, Power Adjustable Pedals. I have all the original owners manuals, BOTH keys, BOTH remotes, BOTH wireless headphones, the TV/DVD remote

Thank you
SGM. Barbara Morris ( 86th BCT )

Almost exact same email as the 05 GMC Duramax!!! Buyer BEWARE!!!

"thanks for your immediate reply
my shipper will pick-it up at your door- step
send your name and address so that i can issue out the payment
you will receive the payment within 3-5 working days
i just want to inform you that i work on the crane at a contruction site,
from 7am-9pm , this make me a very busy person.
my shipper will handle the shipment for me.he will pick the item at your door-step
i will be including the shipping fee to the cost of the car,
all you need to do is to contact him as soon as you get the payment
all necessary information will be attached to the check.
if you are ok with this arrangement pls kindly give a response
pls send your cell number so that i can talk to you on phone
because your response to this will speed up the transaction.
kind regards"

This was sent to me after this idiot (jacksmith008@live.co.uk) fouled up my Ebay auction by "buying it now". Now I've got to dispute the $150 fee from ebay. and restart my ad.

Hi ,
Sounds Good, I'm interested in buying it asap ! I m very busy, i work with the E-sea Board, so I will like to proceed with payment via Electronic Check Payment. Electronic Check is just a means to send Certified Bank Check Electronically from my computer to your E-mail.All you really need is a Business Check Paper to print the Check from your E-mail and have it Cash or Deposited . I'm in no rush with you till funds has been cleared . I will add additional $100 to your asking price. The Business Check Paper is sold at Staples, Walmart, Office Max or at any Stationery Store at cost of $20.You do not have to bother yourself about the pick up.I'll instruct a Shipping Co Agent to come for pick up at your door when check has been cleared. Kindly proceed to purchase the Business Check Paper today. I will await your contact details with valid e-mail for the Certified Check.
Do get back to me today.
Thanks
Rick

PS: PLS SEND ME PICTURES OF IT.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone

Hello Seller, I here by written to let you know that i have just purchase an items from your ebay store and would like to inform you that am willing to make the payment via Credit card payment so i advice that you provide me with your personal email address where i can email you my card details to enable you process my order for shipment.

Await to hear from you,
Thanks for your cooperation.
robertmonk10 (attwelldonald@inmail24.com)
Buyer's shipping address: Robert Monk
21 Red Cliff Village Ln
UPPER BLACK EDDY, PA 18972 United States

thank god that I found this to real. I posted my dining set on craigslist and i keep getting these stupid emails from gmail account asking me for my name, address and phone # so that I can receive a check and then their "shipper" gets the table. With one guy I told him that I did not trust business being done that way when he dont know in reality how the table looks in person you know. So I asked him if he can come down in person to see the table and he never replied to that all he replied back was saying how this is a legitamite transaction which is bull! I asked what shipper would pick up the table and all he said back was the shipper so I know this is non sense to keep going with. I just hate how they keep sending me emails. I just delete them all.

I think is best that anyone getting emails like this dont give out their personal info. We dont know who they are and we dont want someone we dont know coming around or homes.

Stela contacted me through craigslist about my living room set for sale and when confirmed that it was still available she replied:

Sounds Good. I'm very busy with work and other important obligations, I will proceed with payment via E-check. E-check is just a means to send bank check to your e-mail instead of mailing it to you, as I can't get around to mail a check at the moment. You will only need a business check paper to print from your e-mail and have it cashed or deposited. You will be able to purchase the business check paper at staples, walmart, office max or any stationery store at cost of $20. I will reimburse you with the cost of supplies to your asking price. I'm in no rush with you till funds clears before pick. I will await your email with the following information so that I can send the check to you once you have supplies.

1) Full Name(2) Address and(3) Phone Number.

Get back to me asap.

Thanks.
Stela.

I did not see the point in going out to pay for stationary, so I asked her to send money via paypal and when the money goes through, I could call her if she can send me her number to set up her pick up... she responded...

Yes
Am very sorry for late respond, Please proceed to the nearest listed store below to purchase the Business check paper that was sold for $20 only...

stationery store,
staples
local office supply outlet
compusa
office max
shopping mall
kinkos office

and get back to me as soon as you purchase the supplies so that i can send the check immediately..

Thanks.
Stela.

and another email immediately after without a response from me...

Hello,
Sorry i am an Air Hostess so its really going to be difficult for me to keep communication on phone.
You can visit www.iversacheck.com to know more about echeck and proceed immediately to any nearby stationary stores or office depot to purchase a blank business check paper which is sold for about $20 then get back to me when you have it so that can send you the check and instructions on how to print it.

I've already made an arrangement with the shipping co who will come for the pick up as soon as your bank clear the check .I am moving so they will be responsible for shipping all my belongings. Please email me your full name and address so that i can send the check to you ASAP.

Thanks.
Stela.

Which was strange to me because she had asked me for my phone number... and then after she told me that she had already arranged for a shipping company she sent me an email....

The check was issued from the Company Global Account and funds was sent with the cost of shipment this is because the amount was placed with a cancel refund fee and being a canceled order and it can only be written on a single check so that is why i want you to receive these amount and send the difference to my shippers which will serve as payment for the shipment,so once your bank verify and clear the check you will deduct your funds and send the excess funds to shipping company Official so as to make them prepare every necessary document for the shipment and arrange for pick up,Though i have some other goods to be picked up. Let me know when you receive and printed the check so i can email you with the shippers information so you can send the excess funds to them via western union and also i want you to send me a scanned copy of the check.

I will await your email with the scanned copy of the check.

Best Regards
Stela.

and then another email:

Follow the below procedure to print it out the check carefully:-1. Download the latest version of InstiCheck Viewer 3.0 on your computer by clicking on this link. [link removed by moderator to file called insticheckviewer.zip ] and install it.2. Open your E-mail and Download the Check attachment sent to you. 3. Open the InstiCheck Viewer 3.0 downloaded in step 1 and follow the steps below.A) Click on Open. B) Locate & Select the Check File you downloaded from your e-mail, it prompt you to provide a password, just click on ok. C) Click on Settings and set the Print Module to (IC_Print_Std_Top) and Click on Save. D) Click on File, Scroll down and click Printsetup there you will click on Email then Configure the Email Settings to this below information:-SMTP servers = smtp.comcast.netE-mail address = senders e-mail address or your email address Finally Click on Print after you must have inserted the check paper into the Printer properly. Once the Check is printed send me a Scanned Copy of the check for Bank Approval and to be sure you have printed the check properly.

After putting the webpage that she sent me into the address bar, it would delete itself... so I put it in the google bar, and this page popped up and I realized I need to stop ignoring my instinct and realize that I have not sold my furniture before I get fully taken advantage of... so I responded:

I know you are a scammer scum. You should be ashamed of yourself!!!! This is how I found out (besides the fact that you were giving me hints throughout your emails)...

https://baheyeldin.com/technology/technology-in-society/craigslist-classified-for-used-car-cheque-fraud-scam.html?page=45

Leave these people alone! People wouldn't be selling their stuff if they didn't need the money in these hard times. How do you look at yourself in the mirror. You should be in jail!

I got a very similar email I will post it here to help be ware of the bad guy: Jude Winberly
Looking back to the beginning I realize it was a total scam as he called it "this item" and the >>>mean it was a cut and paste email and the original message got caught in my spam filter, should have known. Does anyone know if I have anything to worry about if as he has some of my personal info (I sent before I realized it was a scam, name, address, phone and email).

From: blladams4@gmail.com
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Sounds Good. I'm very busy with work and other important
>> >> >> obligations,
>> >> >> I will proceed with payment via E-check. E-check is just a means
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> send bank check to your e-mail instead of mailing it to you, as I
>> >> >> can't get around to mail a check at the moment. You will only need
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> business check paper to print from your e-mail and have it cashed
>> >> >> or
>> >> >> deposited. You will be able to purchase the business check paper at
>> >> >> staples, walmart,office max or any stationery store at cost of $20.
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> will reimburse you with the cost of supplies to your asking price.
>> >> >> I'm
>> >> >> in no rush with you till funds clears before pick. I will await your
>> >> >> email with the following information so that I can send the check to
>> >> >> you once you have supplies.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 1) Full Name(2) Address and(3) Phone Number.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Get back to me asap.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks.
>> >> >> Jude.