Classified ads on craigslist attract scammers from Nigeria and elsewhere.Here is a recent example when I was trying to sell something.Not that I asked for $375, and was offered more for it.Here is the first message I got:
pls can you tell me if this item is still for sale ?and the price
When I replied it was available, this was the reply:
I will have to inform you that i am okay with the price of the [item name] ($375)condition terms are also okay with me,For the Shippment from your location,i have my SHIPPER as soon as we seal this Transaction from your end. I have a CLIENT of my that is owning me some Fund in United Kingdom that will issue you the cheque of ($2000) soon as you receive the cheque and when cleared you will deduct the cost of the [item name] and the remaining balance will be send to the Shipper through western union money transfer for the pick up from your location. If this is okay by you, do e-mail me the following detail FULL NAME ON CHEQUE:CONTACTED ADDRESS:MOBILE&LANDLINE PHONE NUMBER:AND ZIP CODEI will compensate you $50 to remove the advert from the site and will wait until the cheque clear before the pick up commence.hope to read from you today.
This is a classic scam that involves you wiring them money via Western Union, and they sending you a fake cashier cheque.
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Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
The same guy is trying to scam me
Thu, 2010/10/07 - 17:43Hey whats up. I was selling an egine and transmission on craigslist for $500.00. I get an email under the name Emmanuel Jackson. Emmanuel.jackson17@gmail.com is his email address. So he tells me he will send payment and i should have it next week. I ask him..Dont you want to see the engine? He replies no, and that Hes buying the itm to resell it, and that he buys and sells items for a living. He asks for my name,and address. Stupid me gives it to him. He asks if its ok by me if we do it this way, and says he would appreciate it if I would remove the add from craigslist. I responded fine, but you must call me first and i will remove the add. 3 days go by and he tells me that the payment went out, and says..."I must inform you that my assistant sent a higher amount out then the item i was selling. The amount that was sent was for another item and she screwed up. He says, i called the parcel service, and they cant retrieve the payment and says "I dont know what to do". He than says can i trust you to send the difference back via Western union. I said O.k. Anyway a week goes by, and no payment...i never got a call, so I sold the engine to someone else. I then email him saying engine sold, and i think this is a scam. He writes back"Michael, that wasnt our agreement, I sent the payment out and this is not scam or what you call it. He than says keep $200.00 for your troubles and send the rest back via western union. Anyway, I got a Navy Federal credit union check today for $2,350.00. I know its fake and he wants me to send the money to london cuz he is there on navy business. Im playing with him right now, and letting him think Im going to send the money...lol..Im holding the check right now. I contacted the federal trade commision and gave them all the info. Even the address where he will pick up the money. Im going to fuck with this scammer as long as i can...i hope they catch him, but he is the same guy as yours.
Anonymous (not verified)
SCAM Paul Chataway ltd Container sales
Wed, 2010/03/10 - 14:30SCAM Paul Chataway ltd Container sales Fraud Vancouver BC
Deal with someone actually in the industry
He has no business working in the industry when he knows nothing about what hes selling
nearly cost me my shirt... claims to have cheep products and believe me you get what you pay for
GABRIEL CHUKWUN... (not verified)
CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION
Sat, 2010/03/13 - 11:59YJOS IS FRANK MARTIN I WAS SCAMMED BY THIS NAME GABRIEL CHUKWUNWIKE ORUNOR
GABRIEL CHUKWUN... (not verified)
DEAR CUSTOMER,
Sat, 2010/03/13 - 12:03E-MAIL: paymentoffice@westernunion.com
CUSTOMER CARE: western_unionmt@live.fr
TEL: ++229-98679345
FAX: +229-9634-4176
DEAR CUSTOMER,
AFTER WE RECEIVED YOUR INFORMATION, WE INSTANTLY TRANSFER THE FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 IN YOUR NAME. AS I WAS TRYING TO EMAIL YOU THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO PICK UP THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY, I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM THAT WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE IN LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. THEY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE $5000 WE TRANSFERRED AND THE REMAINING OF $845,000.00 HAS BEEN ON HOLD THROUGH OUR NETWORK.
I ASKED THEM WHY AND THEY SAID THAT THE HOME LAND SECURITY COMPANY HERE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE TRANSFERRING SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHOUT THE HOME LAND SECURITY CLEARANCE. SO, AFTER I CUT THE CONVERSATION WITH THE LONDON HEAD OFFICE, I CALLED THE HOME LAND SECURITY COMPANY HERE TO KNOW HOW THE CLEARANCE COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THEM AND THE COST OF OBTAINING IT. THEY SAID THAT IT WILL COST $108 TO OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATE AND IT WILL TAKE ONLY 1 – 2 HOURS FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE TO BE READY.
I CALLED THE HEAD OFFICE BACK AND ASK THEM IF THERE IS ANY OTHER THING TO DO AFTER THE CLEARANCE IS OBTAIN AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT ONCE THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE IS FORWARDED TO THEM, THEY WILL INSTANTLY RELEASE THE FUNDS WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
FOR SELF-CONFIRMATION, THE INFORMATION OF THE PAYMENT WE MADE TODAY IS ENCLOSED.
MTCN #————————–9511555988
Sender’s First Name———GABRIEL CHUKWUNWIKE
Sender’s Last Name———-ORUNOR
City——————————-Cotonou
Country————————–Benin Republic
Text question——————-Payment
Text answer———————Made
Amount————————–$5,000.00
TO TRACK THE AVAILABLITY OF THE TRANSFER, CLICK ON THIS LINK https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global AFTER FILLING THE INFORMATION, CLICK CHECK STATUS. NOTE THAT IF YOU TRACK THIS INFORMATION, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS “AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP BY RECEIVER” BUT YOU CAN NOT PICK IT UP UNTIL THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE IS OBTAINED.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THE HOME LAND SECURITY CLEARANCE FEE OF $108 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM SO THAT WE WILL ASSIST YOU AND OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATE FROM THE CONCERNED OFFICE. HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE MONEY.
RECEIVER NAME; GABRIEL CHUKWUNWIKE ORUNOR
COUNTRY;………… BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY…………….COTONOU
TEST QUESTION; IN GOD
ANSWER; WE TRUST
AMOUNT; $108
DO SEND US THE MTCN NUMBERS AS SOON AS YOU MADE THE PAYMENT. WE WILL RESEND THE MONEY AND GIVE YOU THE NEW MTCN NUMBER AS SOON AS THE CLEARANCE IS OBTAINED. UPON YOUR QUICK ACTION ON SENDING THE FEE, WE WILL SEND YOU ANOTHER $5000 TODAY IF YOU SEND THE FEE FOR THE CLEARANCE TODAY.
NOTE; WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE IMF TO RETURN THE PAYMENT FILE WITHIN 72 HOURS IF THE BENEFICIARY DID COMPLY TO CLAIM HIS/HER FUNDS.
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, BENIN REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY. FOR ENQUIRY, CALL +229-98679345
SINCERELY,
MR. MARK JAMES
+229-98679345
Western Union®
Send Money Worldwide
Registered © 2006 – 2009 Western Union Money Transfer. All Right Reserved.
Gena (not verified)
CL FRAUD
Fri, 2010/03/19 - 21:20I'm wondering what action victims are taking to prevent this
thriving scam. I feel some responsibility should lie with our
financial institutions. In speaking to mine, in one breath, they say that these
checks are coming in all the time, and when I ask about addressing
policy changes in cashing cashiers checks, they say that they can't do that
because members would be upset (longer lines& possible hold on funds).
I'll tell you what, I would maybe be upset at the inconvenience, but would rather deal with that then suffer financial devistation.
mikefromsb (not verified)
To good to be true
Sun, 2010/03/28 - 12:44I got a check from Nicole Hawkings, it came from huston texas, it must be a scam, but I just received an email today asking when I was sending her the money..how can I casually squeeze out information out of her to get her ass?? She doesn't know I know what's up and I want her and her crew of theves to get what they deserve..
Anonymous (not verified)
I've been scammed buy the same game
Mon, 2010/03/29 - 05:41Did any of you get your money back? or did you have to pay it? I feel it's the banks fault for taking the dodgey cheques int he first place they shouldn't let you access funds that aren't really there i really need help i've been done out off £3800 by doing a cash transfer through western union - i was told the same stories! what do we do?????
Please help....
Anonymous (not verified)
this is exactly what is
Fri, 2010/04/09 - 09:14this is exactly what is happening to my son..its scarry cuz reading it is how it was worded in emails to him when he was selling something on craigslist..thankfully he tells me everything so we are able to keep him from getting scammed..its sad how people take advantage on good people here
Anonymous (not verified)
I just got an email from a
Fri, 2010/04/09 - 19:19I just got an email from a man looking to buy my drum set. It sounds very much like the same type of scam: get excess money, though he didn't tell me for what.
I'm not going to do it because it sounds too much like a scam, but I am wondering how it would work if I made sure the check was cleared.
I Hope the Yamaha electronic drumset is in good condition
I will be paying you with check since I am presently on business In
equipping a Music school .(This is why I am Buying your Yamaha
electronic drumset).If satisfied with the mode of payment, Send the
following details..
1...Your name that will appear on the check.
2..Your address the check will be sent to(NO P.O BOX)
3...Your telephone number so that I will call you once the check is sent.
I also need to inform you and state clearly that the check will
include an excess funds so Once you cash the check and get the company
will come to your address to pick up the Yamaha electronic
drumset...Send details requested above ONLY if you agree with this and
the Payment method
Will be expecting your reply if you have any questions..
Anonymous (not verified)
Suspicions confirmed
Mon, 2010/04/12 - 21:01My friend and I were trying to sell an old cell phone of ours on Craigslist. We received this email and it had SCAM written all over it. I found this site and my suspicions are confirmed. After reading the other comments it sounds like IDENTICAL to the others.
From: j.raleigh02@gmail.com
Hi ,how was your day ?I want you to understand that the deal is on and
my secretary as posted the payment promptly, but there was a little
problem which i guess we can handle with care while i contacted her to
confirm if the payment as been mail out she said my boss issued a
single check of $2600 for your item and other items bought.The payment
was already posted before i was inform about this but i wouldn't want
this to delay the sale. All you do once you have the payment is to
take it to you Bank and have it cashed and you will then deduct the
money for your item plus $100 for your running around. The excess fund
on the payment will then be wired to my mover via western union that same
days so that he can come for pick up as i already plan on using the
excess on the payment to offset the cost of the various shipments he
as undertaken on my behalf.Do let me know if i can trust you to have
the excess sent to my mover thank you,best Regards.
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