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
Jo (not verified)
I just got the same thing
Thu, 2009/05/28 - 20:12I have also been sent the same thing. The only thing extra that Brandon Collins has offered is to pay the $15 for the versa check paper. Wich I find a bit strange but the thing that really bothered me was the private shipping company that was coming to pick up the machine.
Anonymous (not verified)
Shipper picking up item?
Fri, 2009/05/29 - 01:15With these scams there is no intention to pick up the item at all. They could care less about what item you have. They want to send you a fake check, want you to send them some money, want your personal information... and then they could care less about what is going to happen to your bank account or the item you were selling. When they get your personal email address they flood your inbox with all kinds of scams - low interest rate loans, millions of dollars by becoming a false beneficiary to a fale deceased person, etc.
Erin (not verified)
Corey Hernandez Strikes Again!
Thu, 2007/09/20 - 14:28I figured out this was a scam when I got the email back from the guy, but verified it here. And I traced the guy's IP to NIGERIA.
X-Originating-IP: [82.128.18.60]
From: Corey Hernandez
Anonymous (not verified)
corey hernandez
Mon, 2007/09/24 - 09:23hi, this corey guy is trying to buy my car i posted on craig's list, 9/23/07 with an electronic cashier check. i found it very odd that he doesn't want to see the condition of the car. right away i became skeptical, i looked into this type of payment & i found this site, low & behold its a scam,,,, i really despise these people trying to screw others out of money,,, who or what should i do before i email him back to go F#%* himself! is there a way to catch him/them even if they r outside the country?
Anonymous (not verified)
Hey guys same with me I'm
Fri, 2007/10/19 - 21:24Hey guys same with me I'm trying to sell my trumpet on craigslist and some guy buy the last name of Withson keeps insisting that an e-check is the only way he can send the money, along with due to my profession and private shipper will pick it up blah blah blah.
Anonymous (not verified)
craigs list scam
Sat, 2007/09/22 - 20:28I just had this cocksucker try to get me too,
it started here almost immediately after my ad was posted
Hello,
i saw your item advert on craigslist for sale and i am interested in
purchasing it. I want to ask if it is still available and in good
condition for sale cos im buying it .i want you to get back to me as
soon as possible.
I wait patiently to hear back from you so i know what to do next.
Thanks
Best Regards.
this guy calls himself david robertson daverob001@gmail.com
Ok....then this
Goodmorning
Thanks for the mail , the price is okay by me and i am ready to purchase from you immediately, I anticipate that the cashier check will be sent via express mail.My address is My address is
11750 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD WEST LOS ANGELES , CA 90025,United States and my cell number is 310-862-6880 . I will like to tell you that i will be paying with a cashier check in us dollars and as for the moving my mover will come for the pick up at your location upon your confirmation of receiving the payment
and i dont want you to look for any other buyer.I would have love to come down for the pickup.But am not chance to do that now but am
satisfy with your your description of the Custom designed marble table Perlino Rosato. I will like to read from you concerning this moving arrangement before processing and sending the payment out to you.Your full
information is needed where the payment will be send to.
Full Name
Address
phone number.
Thanks for your co-operation, while awaiting your response.
Regards,
So of course i check for well over the amount is sent
some how he managed to get a price for shipping without ever asking me the size and weight of the piece..ok...
I tell him i got the check then this...
Goodday Kerry,
How is the weather with you?Not badly i hope and i do hope there is nothing wrong in line of your duty, thanks for the payment confirmation and indeed i really appreciate it and am still interested in purchasing the marble table Perlino Rosato from you, indeed i just spoke with the Ashley shipping company crew manager and he made it known to me that they are presently in Virginia Beach now and they are set to come to Ontario for some consignment which they will as well come to your house for the pick up of the marble table Perlino Rosato to my new apartment.They have requested for the informations below:
The full direction to your house from the nearest airport and the exact time they can meet you on Monday Afternoon for the pick up.
Every necessary informations for the paper work because they have a representative that will handle that for them in Ontario.
Due to some reason they have notify me that they will want their payment to be sent to them via westernunion money transfer because it is faster,reliable,convient and safe.So i will want you to try as much as possible to have the money sent to them TODAY so that they can start an urgent preparation.Also deduct the westernunion transfer charges from the money and also deduct the amount $100 for running around.Here is the information below:
FirstName: James
LastName: Thompson
Street: 3345 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD
City: Virginia Beach
State: Virginia
Zipcode: 23452
Actual Amount sent: $??
Deduct the westernunion charges from the money and have the remaining send to my mover company and have the money sent to them at your nearest location and here is it below:
MONEY MART #0807
689 QUEEN ST W
TORONTO, ON - M6J 1E6 Tel: (416) 703-1600
M K NEWS & VARIETY
119 SPADINA AVENUE #106
TORONTO, ON - M5V 2L1 Tel: (416) 596-7327
UNIPAGE SOLUTIONS #26
STE 118 B 222 SPADINA AVE
TORONTO, ON - M5T 3B3 Tel: (416) 915-9977
Thanks and anxiously waiting to receive the MTCN # from you,
Regards,
David
how original.........
3 addresses have appeared and 2 names the name on the check was Frank Burton for Philly - PNC Bank.
BEST WE ALL CAN DO IS POST ON BLOGS NAME NAMES SO OTHERS CAN RESEARCH AND REPORT TO THR FEDS.
SINCE I actually GOT A CHECK across the border this is now a federal offense and all we have to do is trace origins- My bank manager is taking it from here.
Anonymous (not verified)
Almost exact scam word-for-word to me
Wed, 2007/10/17 - 20:48I had some furniture for sale on CL when this piece of shit contacted me about buying it...goes by the name of JOHN SMITH (come on...right there you have to be suspicious).
Got suspicious about this individual when I googled their address and found it to be a PHARMACY!!!
When I googled the phone number it took me right to a scam forum and found people had experienced something similar to what I have. This is the last email I have from him:
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:14:20 +0000
From: john22990@gmail.com
Subject: Re: ***ANTIQUE LIVING ROOM FURNITURE*** - $2000
Goodmorning
Thanks for the mail , the price is okay by me and i am ready to purchase from you immediately, I anticipate that the cashier check will be sent via express mail.My address is My address is
11750 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD WEST LOS ANGELES , CA 90025,United States and my cell number is 310-862-6880 . I will like to tell you that i will be paying with a cashier check in us dollars and as for the moving my mover will come for the pick up at your location upon your confirmation of receiving the payment
and i dont want you to look for any other buyer.I would have love to come down for the pickup.But am not chance to do that now but am
satisfy with your your description of the ANTIQUE LIVING ROOM FURNITURE . I will like to read from you concerning this moving arrangement before processing and sending the payment out to you.Your full
information is needed where the payment will be send to.
Full Name
Address
phone number.
Thanks for your co-operation, while awaiting your response.
Regards,
________________________________________________________________
I hope I can help someone else out with this....don't get suckered...like your mom always told you "If it's too good to be true, it is!!!"
Anonymous (not verified)
JAMES Smith with same scam!
Mon, 2007/10/22 - 09:09Another e-check scam attempt on the used car section of of Craigslist!
Here's the email.....
Thank for your email, concerning the vehicle i'm interested, do you accept my mode of payment via secured Electronic Check through email for safe and fast payment. If you are satisfy with my mode of payment you can then delete the advert of the vehicle and email me your name, your phone number and also your email address where i will send the check to.
The shipper will prepare all shipment papers and also bill of sales, movement permit.
I will handle the shipment myself via my courier company shippers who will be picking up the vehicle from you, after you depositand receive your cash at hand from the bank.
Once you received the check in your email address, you will need to buy a check paper and magnetic ink for $2 in any stationery store or Office mart/office depots/staples near you to print the check then you take it to your bank to cash.
Regards,
James.
Anonymous (not verified)
Another name for the list: Joe Harris
Sat, 2008/11/08 - 00:25I was scammed by this as well... the guys Name was Joe Harris. email: joe2harris@gmail.com. THe check was from the Lions Club and even had the micro printing (i checked before I went to the bank) A week later the check bounced... unfortunately I had already wired the money. I am too trusting. The Bank will be sending me the check shortly. Does anyone know how to start the tracking process?
Anonymous (not verified)
Craiglist scam artist is at it again...
Tue, 2007/12/04 - 13:52I just put some record albums for sale on Craigslist. "Frank Burton - (mnst122@yahoo.com)" responded as follows:
Hello,
I'm much interested in the stuff u posted online.I'm ready to buy it as I agree with your terms and condition plus that the price is quite realistic and fair enuff. Ok, I promise to pay an additional $50 for it. The mode of payment opened to me right now is by
1,Personal Check
2,travellers check
3,money orders
4,gift checks
I also agree to take care of the shipping/pick up . But depends if you are Ok with this, and if yes then email me the necessary information needed to get the check mailed out to you.. email me ur:
Name of the person that the check will be made out to:
Address to which the check will be mailed to (not p.o box please):
Phone numbers incase there will be need for Verbal contact:
Agreement (are u willing to sell?):
The payment might take days(say 5days) to get to ur address, Are you willing to wait that long?:
I know it would have been much easier if i come over for the payment myself, I won't be able to do that for now cos I'm on bed rest at the moment.. and can only stay up for 4-5hours everyday... But i can assure you that the check that will be sent to you isn't going to give you any problem at all as you may have experienced in the past. If you wish to continue with this transaction, email me your full contact information including phone number so i can have my Financial assistant send payment to you soon
-Would you pls do me some lil more favour? I'd appreciate it if you can remove the advert from the net to avoind conflict of buyers.
I'm quite serious and don't mean to waste ur time either...
email me back asap.
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Just thought I'd post this here to put Frank's name out there to help other unsuspecting folks...
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