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)
They are scamming for sporting equipment as well
Wed, 2007/10/24 - 15:15Here is an email I received for posting my ad for a home gym...beware sellers!!!
Hello,
Am frey By name and am chairman of America orhanage group of company in california.Anyway i saw you advert which you have TSA 9900 Home Gym-IGS for sale.Am okay with the price and i will you to get back to me with your information so that i can issue out payment to you as soon as possible.I will be looking forward to reaf from you soonest.
Best Regards,
frey.
ORHANAGE CHAIRMAN,
JIM.
3604641600.
**But his email was sent to me from Robert Frey (freyrobby17@yahoo.com)
Jeff Flathau (not verified)
Edward Whelton A SCAM ARTIST I SEE
Fri, 2007/10/26 - 13:20I'm glad I did a search with his name and found this., this guy was trying to buy a tanning bed from me and did the same exact letters as I have read above almost word for word. I would love to kick this guys ass for waisting my time. Tried to do the echeck thing with me as well. Look out looks like he's a busy man. I'm emailing him back with a big "F" you. Thought I would let everyone know.
Jeff
S (not verified)
we should start a support group.. i guess we already did
Thu, 2008/01/17 - 12:15yeah, this happened to me.. but i've got a funny response- will post when it comes up.. so glad searching "versal" on the internet brought me to you guys.
Anonymous (not verified)
Brandon Collins SCAM
Tue, 2007/10/30 - 05:15I recently put a posting on craigslist and I got basically the same emails from him about wanting to buy, sending me an e check, wanting all my information.... Well the joke is on him as I am a former law enforcement officer and now it is personal. I have a lot of friends in high places especially a couple that deal with internet fraud and I contacted them. They get complaints everyday but being me coming to them it is now personal. If you are reading this BRANDON COLLINS or whatever your name is. Your scamming days are done!!!! They might not catch you tomorrow, next week, next month, they may let you dig yourself in deeper and deeper as you scam so when it comes to trial and sentencing you will be put away for a very long time. The next time you scam... Look over your shoulder because their may be someone watching waiting to put handcuffs on you and take you into custody.....
Anonymous (not verified)
re: Edward Whelton
Wed, 2007/12/26 - 01:21I posted an ad in Craigslist looking for clients for our Caregivers with our company. I received a response back from Edward Whelton, telling me that he was a busy stock broker and needs someone to work 9 hours a week printing checks for his clients and mailing them from UPS, with a great weekly pay ($400.00), all I needed to do was purchase the Versal Software and supplies and he would reimburse me via western union. Do you think this could also be a scam?
Anonymous (not verified)
BRANDON COLLINS
Mon, 2009/06/29 - 01:00Just wondering what happened to Brandon Collins because I just got an email about my paint sprayer for sale and it was the exact same text about the echeck? I hope they put him in jail for a very long time.
Anonymous (not verified)
I just.received texts from
Tue, 2012/04/10 - 22:37I just.received texts from Brandon Collins about.furniture I posted on craigslist. Same check in the mail and I said cash only. Ofcourse that was the end to that conversation. I then googled his name and a ton of scam stuff.showed up. He was from a 575 area code. Too bad he hasn't been stopped.yet!
Anonymous (not verified)
Wow, these guys suck.
Tue, 2007/10/30 - 11:58I got the scam emails from Brandon Collins too. Once I told him no, I started getting new scam emails from "nyceben@hotmail.com" so watch out for that one too.
Anonymous (not verified)
Brandon Collins Scam
Wed, 2007/10/31 - 12:07This is what I got:
Good Day,
How are you today?i am happy to read your email concerning the sale of your item,i am intrested in it and willing to purchase it as soon as possible.I will handle the shipment myself via my company shippers,They will come for pick up when you must have gotten your cash at hand from the bank.They will prepare all shipment papers and also bill of sales.it will also be insured by my company shippers.
This is due to the fact that my mode of payment will be Via Bank Certified Cashiers Check As there are too many scams on internet with bogus account.Once you are satisied with my mode of payment you can proceed to delete the advert.,So email me your name and address and also phone number with valid email address to recieved the check. The check will be mailed via UPS air so it will be delivered second day.As soon as the check is recieved by you proceed to deposit the check,I will wait for your bank to clear the check and verify it before we proceed with shipment.I will await your email me your full name address, and phone number for payment!
if this is Okay by you.
Collins Brandon
952 W Broadway
Eugene, OR 97402
Paul M. (not verified)
Brandon Collins...still going
Sun, 2007/11/04 - 21:34I got this today...
"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 work with an auditing firm and will not have time to mail a check.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 .(Bank Of America).Electronic Cashier checks is fast and secure.You will probarbly need a business check paper or Versa Check #3000 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 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.
Collins Brandon
952 W Broadway
Eugene, OR 97402"
...I'd like to think that someone trying to scam me were a bit smarter. This is really an embarrassment to someone's school system, I hate to think this person may call themselves American. Let this be a note to scammers: If they find you out, maybe it's time to come up with new alias...just a thought (not that thinking is a strong suit in our friend here). If only I had known that I could print checks at home in lieu of working...maybe one day I could grow up to be an idiot, too.
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