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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Anonymous (not verified)
scam on craigslist about wedding dress for sale
Tue, 2008/08/26 - 18:13beware of a lady named betty johnson, she is a scammer, i was selling a wedding dress for $350 she told me without looking at it she would buy it for $450 and proceeded to send me a check for $1950. So I can western union her friend the rest. It does not take much of a person to realize this is a scam from the getgo. Why buy something without seeing it and why send more money than it calls for. Her address listed on this plain gray envelope is 240 Washington Street, Delanco NJ 08075. Hope this helps.
Anonymous (not verified)
byron rudd is another one
Mon, 2009/05/11 - 15:41byron rudd is another one that I recieved an email from...stay away
Cindy (not verified)
Byron Rudd - SCAMMER AT LARGE
Wed, 2009/08/26 - 07:33This dirtball almost got me too! I was selling an antique on Craigs list and he offered me more than I had listed it for ($350 in total). Sent me a cashiers check via UPS and before I got it sent me an e-mail saying the bank had made an error and 'could he trust me' to send back the balance, minus the Western Union fees and another $100 for my troubles. He even had the audacity to sign and e-mail 'stay blessed'. I actually cashed the check at the bank for the $2300.00. I had every intention of sending it back... He seemed SO nice in the e-mails...and out of curiosity googled his name and came across this thread. My bank confirmed the check was fraudulent when I contacted them. I would have been out the entire $2300. 3 other people had contacted me for the antique and when I re-read their e-mails... the general story was the same. Wanted it, would send a check/money order via UPS/would have movers come to pick it up, site unseen except for pictures in the ad.
Anonymous (not verified)
Tried to sell my couch
Mon, 2008/08/25 - 13:22same story as the rest of you. with the check for to much and needing the balance shipped to his "mover" in the bronx. I actually deposited the check because i did not find this forum first. I waited 2 days for the check to clear then went and spoke to bank to make sure the funds were paid and the check was really clear. They told me it was. i sent via western union the difference in the funds 2 days ago to his Mover. now today i received an email saying he his no longer interested in the couch and would like the remainder of the funds sent to his "mover". My question is: 1. is it possible for the check to still bounce even if my bank said it is clear. 2. did i thwart him by waiting for the check to clear and now he is just trying to recover what he can. 3. Has any one else had a check not bounce on them?
please e-mail me and let me know your thought and suggestions. I know i;m an idiot for falling for this so save me the laughter. thanks.
clincoln1@gmail.com
joe joe (not verified)
read this people
Fri, 2008/09/19 - 19:17banks under federal law HAVE to clear checks within 2 days, cashiers checks that is, so even if the checks are fake, the banks will take at least a week to find that out, and still put the money in your accound under the law. then ask for the money back when it bounces, thats how these guys scam you, some do it for 75k and up, watch out
Anonymous (not verified)
car for sale
Thu, 2008/08/28 - 11:53ok, well same story. i was contacted by a shawn adams. he wrotte an excess amount of $2,000 that i was suppose to send back to him via western union. something was not right so i did research first and found this article. I took the check to the bank and explained what was going on. They said a teller just deposit checks and then a quick check is done checking for funds but for a check to completely clear and money to move could be up to a year and then it would bounce and i would be responsible for the amount. this guy is obviously using big company names. the check i got from him was from wachovia bank. so please, do not spend the money and let your bank know as soon as possible.
Anonymous (not verified)
Tried to sell my couch
Fri, 2008/09/19 - 12:19Had the exact same experience as the post above me. Tried to sell my couch on Craigslist, check was for too much, the rest was for his "mover".
Mouhamadou Diouf in the Bronx was the name to send the check to.
Anonymous (not verified)
Another Scammer Beware
Mon, 2008/09/22 - 12:29My wife got an attemoted Scam and I wanted to post his info for all to see...
Hise email address is meetgoodpeople@gmail.com His name is Henry Mikel and it is the same ol crap he is in the UK and his son in in the Hospital bla bla bla he wanted to use western union but didnt have any cash on him so could we send him the cash..
Man they must think we are stupid...
The good ruls of thumb... Local only and cash only!!!!
CollateralDamage (not verified)
Craigslist Scammers
Tue, 2008/09/30 - 15:34You people must be stupid. Doing business with anyone who tells you they would send you a check for OVER the cost of the item you're selling and then tell you to send the balance somewhere else is NOT on the up and up. How could you be so stupid? Don't you have any kind of brains? Same goes for the trucks listed on Craigslist all the time for WAY BELOW their value. Come on people. A 2004 or 2005 Ford F150 4X4 for $4000- $5000? Get real. And it's always priced at some odd value like $4203 or something like that. Then when you contact them they want you to wire money or something. Why would you do that? Why would you EVER want to buy something like that without seeing it first? Or when the item is on Craigslist and they want you to complete the transaction through some ebaY Paypal or other means "to protect the both of you"? Ebay and Craigslist are not related. Don't you people have anyone with some brains you can talk to first? I agree these are scumbags and need to be tracked down and prosecuted. But you people need to bear some of the responsibility here. You just can't be this stupid. Where the hell is the accountability? I've been scammed before but not like this. I have bought items that were not good. Like an electric piano. It had major electrical problems but they were hidden from me. It's not the same as buying something that's a lemon. These kind of scams that we're talking about SMACK YOUR FACE as scams right from the start. And you still follow through with them. It's always buyer beware. I didn't go after the guy who sold me the lemon piano. It was MY fault for not checking out thoroughly. The ONLY way I would ever consider buying a vehicle sight unseen is through a dealer on ebay with high positive feedback who has been selling for quite some time. Never from a private party without seeing it first. And if they tell you that you have to act fast because someone else wants it and they won't let you come and see it, RUN LIKE HELL! There will always be another deal for you to buy somewhere. Stop being so greedy. It the deal seems to good to be true, IT IS! You people need to consider it a lesson and don't make the mistakes again. Maybe a costly lesson, but a lesson nonetheless. Trust only your friends and family. Never a stranger until you get to know them. This sit the world we live in. It is filled with crooks. They are everywhere. You should be suspicious of everybody first until proven otherwise. Sad, but true.
Anonymous (not verified)
Anybody get scammed by the "PA Consulting Group" crap?
Fri, 2008/10/03 - 15:40Just curious, did anyone get scammed by the "PA Consulting Group" survey conducting scam?
It was posted on craigslist probably a month ago. It wasn't even legitimately PA Consulting Group, but whoever was conducting it, was very sophisticated.
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