Craigslist classified for used car: Cheque fraud scam

Same scenario, new email...

From: treasure4me004@hotmail.com
To: --------------
Subject: RE: 1980 Mustang Inline 6 - 71779 original miles - $750
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:14:02 -0400

Hello,
Thanks for your reply i got all your information about the vehicle and am okay with it, i will be making your payment today, i need your full name and address and your valid phone number to make the payment today through certified check will handle the shipment myself.i The check will get to you in 2-5 days time and when you recieve the check you can then get the check cashed at your Bank 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 him to pickup the vehicle 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 my shipper via money gram Money Transfer cos he needs the excess to pick up the car .You can IM on this ID treasure4me001@yahoo.com or call me on 9145954296 for more
information.Thanks and God Bless,you can get the posting deleted from
craigslist.

---

Thought it sounded shady, Google > scammers IQ

Here is another scam that I found yesterday:
I saw a 2002 VW Passat GLX on Craigslist for the unheard of price of $2700, way below Kelly Blue Book, which is $8000+ for this model in Fair condition.
Judging by the pictures, the car was in great shape, even with a salvage title it would be worth a lot more than $2700. Thinking the price was a typo, I emailed the seller and got this response:

Thank you for your interest in my 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX 2.8L ( Automatic, 75,239 miles) is in absolutely perfect condition, no scratches or any kind of damage, no engine problems and has clear title. Total price including shipping and handling will be $2700. The car will be shipped from Orlando, FL as I told you on my expense.
The transaction will be made under eBay's protection plan. If you are still interested, please come back with your full name and address for shipping and I'll response all the questions may you have and I'll give you all the details what you need.
Gage

Hmmm, I searched Ebay for a 2002 Passat and found this car:

Notice, same car, same exact mileage except that the car is being sold in Pennsylvania by a dealer.

The Craigslist entry disappeared yesterday.

I sent this guy an email asking if he was the same scammer in... (and them I pasted a few of the above listed attempts)....

Here is the email he sent me....

Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with the transaction asap and my mode of payment will be via Electronic cashier check drawn on my bank (Bank Of America) as there are too many scams on internet with bogus Money Orders and personal checks,the electronic cashier check will be sent to your email so all you need to do is proceed to purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check and immediately after you print the check proceed to your bank or a branch of Bank of America to cash or deposit the check,the instant check paper-Business voucher cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the check paper,i should have handled this myself but i am not available to do this now i am currently away for my company seminar that is why i want you to do this to facilitate the transaction.The item will be picked up from you by my shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also i am in no rush to pickup the item till funds are cleared at the bank.
Electronic cashier checks is fast,secure and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher all this process can be done within an hour.
Proceed to delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted and get back to me asap to complete this transaction.

Regards
Charles

I got this email after responding to an email that just asked if the car was still for sale and he would pay more than asking price.

Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with the transaction asap and my mode of payment will be via Electronic cashier check drawn on my bank (Bank Of America) as there are too many scams on internet with bogus Money Orders and personal checks,the electronic cashier check will be sent to your email so all you need to do is proceed to purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check and immediately after you print the check proceed to your bank or a branch of Bank of America to cash or deposit the check,the instant check paper-Business voucher cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the check paper,i should have handled this myself but i am not available to do this now i am currently away for my company seminar that is why i want you to do this to facilitate the transaction.The car will be picked up from you by my shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the car also i am in no rush to pickup the car till funds are cleared at the bank.
Electronic cashier checks is fast,secure and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher all this process can be done within an hour.
Proceed to delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted and get back to me asap to complete this transaction.

Hello,
Am really intrested to purchase your item,am ready to buy it now.The
easiest way for me to pay is probably Electrnonic cashier check www.iversacheck.com which is
E-Check 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 versaCheck Paper, at Shopping Mall,Stationery Store,Office Depot or Office max.And it cost $20.Once you purchase the versa check paper.I will email you the check includig the shipping cost and you will have it printed.then proceed to your bank and cash 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 it will clear immidiately at your bank.Which is
Conforms to All American Banking Association rules and standards this
is to stop C.O.D.Email me back and let me know if this helps
Thanks

I got this reply to my Craig's list posting:

Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with the transaction asap and my mode of payment will be via Electronic cashier check drawn on my bank (Bank Of America) as there are too many scams on internet with bogus Money Orders and personal checks,the electronic cashier check will be sent to your email so all you need to do is proceed to purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check and immediately after you print the check proceed to your bank or a branch of Bank of America to cash or deposit the check,the instant check paper-Business voucher cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the check paper,i should have handled this myself but i am not available to do this now i am currently away for my company seminar that is why i want you to do this to facilitate the transaction.The item will be picked up from you by my shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also i am in no rush to pickup the item till funds are cleared at the bank.
Electronic cashier checks is fast,secure and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Instant check paper-Business voucher all this process can be done within an hour.
Proceed to delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted and get back to me asap to complete this transaction.

Regards
Charles

Needless to say, the deal didn't happen.

I have a brake lathe on craigslist for sale for $1450.I recieved a email within a half an hour from a james bright. The email read as follows.

Hello Seller,
Do you still have this item for sale??Let me know asap.

Thanks
I replied that I did and gave my cell number to call if he was interested.The next day I got another email from the same guy and it read;

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.The item will also be insured by my company shippers.

This is due to the fact that my mode of payment will be Via Bank Certified Check As there are too many scams on internet with bogus account.Once you are satisfy with my mode of payment you can proceed to delete the advert of the item,So email me your name and address and also phone number with valid email address to recieved the check.As soon as the check is recieved to your address proceed to cash 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 today if this is Okay by you.

Thanks

I knew this was a scam because of all the bad grammer,so I googled this jerk and ended up here. His email is as follows,

"james bright" brightcool662@hotmail.com
Beware of this guy.