I recently listed a car for sale on craigslist and other local classified ad services.This is one reply I got, which is clearly an attempt at scamming:
From: Dave Smith <goldenwum12@yahoo.com>Subject: [The title of the classified ad for the car]Hello,I just viewed your car posting on craigslist and i have interest on it i will like to know the present condition and two more pictures of the car before i proceed with the transaction.Thanks
Problem is, the scammer is not very smart. I did not posted pictures to begin with, so there are no more pictures. So, I sent this reply:
From: meTo: Dave Smith <goldenwum12@yahoo.com>Pictures attached.
I intentionally did not attach any pictures. A genuine buyer would have noticed this of course. Instead, the scammer proceeded with the next step, revealing his true intent:
From Dave Smith <goldenwum12@yahoo.com>To: meHello,Thanks for your reply i got all your information about the car and am ok with it, i will be making your payment today i need your full name and address to make your payment today through electronic check i will handle the shipment myself.All what you need about the mode of payment is to get a Blank check paper and magnetic versa ink to print the check, the check will be sent to your email and you get it printed from it. You can get this materials from the following stores.1. Office Depot2. Office Max3. Staples Store 4. Stationery Store5. Compusa.When you get this materials you can print the check out and immediately after the printing you can then get the check cashed at your Bank or any bank of america branch around you I will wait for you to confirm and clear the check.The payment will be in excess as i will want you to contact my shipper with the excess fund for shipping the car after you must have confirmed and cashed the check.i will wait for your bank to clear the check so you can deduct your own money and send the excess fund to the shipper via Western Union Money Transfer so as to cover the cost of shipping the car from your place to it's destination. I will add extra 100$ for the purchasing of check paper and magnetic versa ink.For more information about the mode of payment you can check the website www.qchex.com and know more about it .Dont worry i will handle the shipping myself with my shipper. you can IM on this ID goldenwum10@yahoo.com or call me on 9145954296 for more information.Thanks and God Bless
This is a classic scam where a fake cheque is sent to the victim for more than the amount owed, and the difference is to be wired to the scammer.
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Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Barry Johnson sent me the
Tue, 2007/09/11 - 11:34Barry Johnson sent me the the same boilerplate request as several others have received offering to pay shipping and other fees I would have related to the sale of my item on Craigslist.
Anonymous (not verified)
Craigslist Scam!
Wed, 2007/09/12 - 14:29I got the same email from this Barry Johnson fellow. Definitely a scam!! Beware!!
Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with payment asap and will like to handle shipment
myself when you must have gotten your cash at hand.I am in no rush to pick
up the item till funds are clear at the bank.As there are too many scams on
internet as regards buying and selling with large bogus account.My mode of
payment will be via Electronic Cashier Check drawn on US bank.(Bank Of
America).You will probarbly need a business check paper to print and cash or
deposit the check today.The business check paper is sold for $20 at any
stationery store,staples or at your local office supply outlet.I will add
the cost of supplies to your asking price with an extra offer for accepting
my mode of payment.I work with an auditing firm and will not have time to
mail a check.Electronic Cashier checks is fast and secure.I will need your
name and address with valid email address to send the Echeck to your email
which you can print immediately when you must have purchase the supplies at
staples or any stationery store.Kindly delete the advert of this item if my
mode of payment is accepted.I will await your email asap.
Thanks.
2nd email
Oh
I will have loved to mail a check to your home address or pay cash but due
to the fact that i am moving so i have just my echeck account left to
opperate.I am in no rush to get the item from you until my echeck has been
verify and also cleared.Please proceed to purchase the supplies (Business
Check Paper ) Then email me with your name and address with a valid email so
that i will send the check immediately and you can print and cash it
asap.......
Thanks
Anonymous (not verified)
I got the same email
Fri, 2007/09/14 - 22:48I got the very same email from a guy named Steve Smith when I was trying to sell my treadmill.
1st email
Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with payment asap and will like to handle shipment myself when you must have gotten your cash at hand.I am in no rush to pick up the item till funds are clear at the bank.As there are too many scams on internet as regards buying and selling with large bogus account.My mode of payment will be via Electronic Cashier Check drawn on US bank.(Bank Of America).You will probarbly need a business check paper to print and cash or deposit the check today.The business check paper is sold for $20 at any stationery store,staples or at your local office supply outlet.I will add the cost of supplies to your asking price with an extra offer for accepting my mode of payment.I work with an auditing firm and will not have time to mail a check.Electronic Cashier checks is fast and secure.I will need your name and address with valid email address to send the Echeck to your email which you can print immediately when you must have purchase the supplies at staples or any stationery store.Kindly delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted.I will await your email asap.
Thanks.
2nd email
Oh
I will have loved to mail a check to your home address or pay cash but due to the fact that i am moving so i have just my echeck account left to opperate.I am in no rush to get the item from you until my echeck has been verify and also cleared.Please proceed to purchase the supplies (Business Check Paper ) Then email me with your name and address with a valid email so that i will send the check immediately and you can print and cash it asap.......
Thanks
Anonymous (not verified)
Scammers
Wed, 2007/09/19 - 20:37I just recieved exactly the same email word for word the first one that is,i'm sure the second email will arrive shortly how do we report these scammers?
I am so happy i looked up this site i consider my self very lucky
Be careful people
Anonymous (not verified)
I have received the same
Fri, 2007/09/21 - 17:18I have received the same exact email from Barry Johnson as well. What a loser!!
Anonymous (not verified)
scammer
Tue, 2008/09/09 - 10:21I got the same email from barry wood. what a dick. HOW DO WE REPORT HIM???
Anonymous (not verified)
I got the same email
Tue, 2007/11/13 - 11:28I got the same email with item for sale on craigslist I emailed him back and told him to come get the item asap i need to get rid of it becauxe it looks bad in my yard he hasn't emailed back yet.
Anonymous (not verified)
Barry Johnson scam
Wed, 2010/09/08 - 20:59I got the same come-on a year later. 2010. Same MO. I told him to send me the check, and I would be happy to take it to the FBI, as my godson is an agent. :). We'll see what happens.
Anonymous (not verified)
ECHECK SCAM
Fri, 2007/09/14 - 13:57I guess these echeck scams are aided by a website,it is better to call their attention to this and let them know that their services shuld be repackages and given more security features to protect innocent citizens.
I think www.insticheck.com should be cautioned.
Mike (not verified)
Check scam
Sun, 2007/09/16 - 10:46I got two from two different items I was selling. I was selling a server for $250.00 and the guy sent me a check for $1650.00. I took it to my bank and had my branch manager look at it and he said it was bogus.
The second one is below. He even gives a name and address along with a phone number....
"Ok,
Am really intrested to purchase your item,am ready to buy it now.The easiest way for me to pay is throught Electrnonic Cashier's Check which is E-Check draw from my Bank (Bank Of America) I have no problem with you waiting for the E-Check to go through at your bank or anything.here is a thing from the E-Check: You will probably need to buy Business Check Paper, at Shopping Mall,Stationery Store,Office Depot or Office max.And it cost $20. Once you purchase the business check paper. I will email you the check and you will have it printed. then proceed to your bank and deposite the check. I will wait for your bank to verify and clear the Echeck before we proceed with shipment. As my Bank Operator informed me that the check will use two or three before the check will clear at your bank. Which is Conforms to All American Banking Association rules and standards this is to stop C.O.D.
Let me know if this helps
Edward
174 Lackland Ave
Piscataway, NJ 08854
732-733-2052"
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