Craigslist classified for used car: Cheque fraud scam

I got the same scammer trying to work me. I cannot believe people fall for this crap. He used the same address that he has used in other scams.

I am so glad i googled his number! He's changing his story a little bit now. His email to me looked like this:

Sounds Good
Am satisfied with the condition & price. My mode of payment is through a certified cashiers check drawn on Bank Of America which is generally accepted at any bank for cashout, you will deposite and cash the check before we proceed with the shipment, don't worry about the shipment fees, I will hire a private shipper to make a pickup after you must have cashed the check, your full name which the check will be issued to and your contact address where the check will be delivered will be required. The check we be delivered to your location within 1-2 business days. Kindly remove the Ad if you are interested in selling to me to avoid interruption. I will be awaiting your reply.

Don Williams
1018 sam Road,
St Martinville, LA 70582
Fax (337) 680-4010

I am sooooo glad for this website! Thanks!

Hello-
This past month I have been on Craigs List a bunch. I was looking for an apartment, a new job in the area that I am moving too as well as trying to sell a few items that I do not want to take with me to my new place. I have received SOOOOOO many fraud emails from these slime balls and its REALLY starting to annoy me. I have asked Craigs list is there was ANYTHING at all that I could do to help catch these assholes but have not received a responce back as of yet, its been about 3 days now since I sent the email to craigs list. I have about had it with these low lifes that are trying and sometimes accomplished ripping innocent people off. They ALMOST got to my sister this past week acutally....If I didn't speak to her and send her emails that I have received...she would have went for it...Actually, she is still thinking that it may NOT be a fraud but I know 100% that it is. I would do anything to be able to locate these pieces of shit and throw them in Jail...or at least help catch them....Isn't there a way that we can? There has got to be a way...IP address? Something...If you have any ideas, Please let me know, I am here and will do anything! THey have completely RUINED craigs list where now I dont trust anything...NOT EVEN JOB SEARCHING!!! Ive almost been scammed that way as well...So, Im sick of it, they should ALL ROT IN HELL where they belong! Please let me know who I can turn to, to see if there is anything I can do to help with this ongoing issue! I would even investigate these fraudsters 40 hours a week as a job! Anything to stop them! Thank you for in advance for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Carrie

Hi watch for Jane Farrel. Saying she stays in Nigeria boss is in UK. Sending bank draft. After you learn that she will say that the money the boss sends covers her travelling cost to canada and she is hoping to receive a portion through western union to expediate the process of getting to canada.
she is looking for a place to rent.

I got a lot of emails like these two below. The third is the letter that came with the fake cheque. The item (a piece of furniture, not a car) was only to cost $100. But the cheque was written out for $2500.00. This whole transaction seemed strange at the time as he quickly wanted my item without doing any research or asking any real questions. So beware of a quick sale. Then I looked at the cheque and it looks good but there's no watermark and the whole cheque has been cut crooked! It looked slightly weird so I finally measured it and it's not square! I didn't know what to do so hopefully this post helps update this page for others looking for verification! Note all the spelling errors and just follow your instincts - in the present time, there is no one out to give you extra money for simple tasks, follow your gut! Hope this helps!

email #9:

Hello,

By Now you must have recieved my payment...Kindly email me back and let me know the status of my payment with you.....have you Contact my shipper that you recieved the payment?pls let me know bcos i include the shipping funds with the payment....if you have recieved the payment kindly contact my shipper at that same day that you recieved the payment and kindly follow the shipping instruction inside the payment....the instruction will enlight you more no How to Contact my shipper about the pick-up....I await your email soon...Thank's.

email #10:

 By now you Must have recieved the payment....Pls kindly get back to me and let me know the status of my payment with you...I await your email immediately you get this Message...Stay Bless....Jack.

Letter with cheque:

Hello,

I am deeply sorry for the delay for getting the payment,it was because i got so much work that keep me busy lately at the office.Meanwhile the excess money left is for the pick up arragement,the shipper also has other items to be pick up for me in france and that is why the remaining balance is for that amount left and am so sorry for not informing you but am willing to compesate you with $50 for the run around and incoviniency it might have caused you.I would like you to kindly send the remaining balance at the western union money transfer location to JOHNSON BROWN the shipper in france

Instructions....

You are to cashed the payment and deduct your money for the item and $50 for compesation and for keeping the items for me all this while,i really appreciate it.Kindly,have the remaining balance sent to the shipper via the western union money transfer closer to your location so that the shipper can goahead and make the booking for the pick up at your place immedaitely as soon as he has received the money via western union without any further delay:

Here is the shipper information you are to send the money to via western union

Name:JOHNSON BROWN
City.... Paris
Zip code:75018
Country.. France
Shipper email.. shipperjohnsonbrown_booking@yahoo.com

Lastly..I want you to email the shipper thru his email...
shipperjohnsonbrown_booking@yahoo.com and notified the shipper today that you have gotten the payment also i want you to send the following western union information to the shipper today immedaitely you have send the balance to the shipper today are

1..Western union control number (MTCN)

2..The amount sent after western union charges

3..The sender full name and address where the pick up will be carried out by the shipper

Thank you very much and its my pleasure doing business with you and do make sure that you get all this done and contact the shipper today.

Dirtbag scammer!!!!...hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

IDIOT!

From: donwilliams004@live.com
To: prosurface@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: O.k: Ford expedition--Fully Loaded..One owner!! - $4700 (Orlando)
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:35:55 -0700

Provide me with the required information so as to preoceed with the payment.
Thanks.

From: prosurface@hotmail.com
To: donwilliams004@live.com
Subject: RE: O.k: Ford expedition--Fully Loaded..One owner!! - $4700 (Orlando)
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:22:12 +0000

sure, sounds good

From: donwilliams004@live.com
To: prosurface@hotmail.com
Subject: O.k: Ford expedition--Fully Loaded..One owner!! - $4700 (Orlando)
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:40:36 -0700

Sounds Good
Am satisfied with the condition & price. My mode of payment is through a certified cashiers check drawn on Bank Of America which is generally accepted at any bank for cashout, you will deposite and cash the check before we proceed with the shipment, don't worry about the shipment fees, I will hire a private shipper to make a pickup after you must have cashed the check, your full name which the check will be issued to and your contact address where the check will be delivered will be required. The check we be delivered to your location within 1-2 business days. Kindly remove the Ad if you are interested in selling to me to avoid interruption by other buyers. I will be awaiting your reply.

Don Williams
1018 sam Road,
St Martinville, LA 70582
Fax (337) 680-4010

From: prosurface@hotmail.com
To: donwilliams004@live.com
Subject: RE: Ford expedition--Fully Loaded..One owner!! - $4700 (Orlando)
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:47:36 +0000

hasnt sold yet, 2000 model with 148k on it, female driven

From: donwilliams004@live.com
To: sale-894526089@craigslist.org
Subject: Ford expedition--Fully Loaded..One owner!! - $4700 (Orlando)
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:19:55 -0700

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

Kindly get back to me if it's still available for sale.

Received this email today (below) in response to a car I'm trying to sell. I admit I sent photos, all the while feeling something just wasn't quite right. You should always follow your intuition! Haven't heard back yet, but very glad I decided to check this out on line to see if it was a scam. Thanks for posting your info. Now I know how to respond to Mrs. Linda. . .
***************************************************

Hello Good Afternoon !
Am Mrs Linda Brenda from Manchester City,United Kingdon .I saw your advert about the selling of your 21994 Dodge Caravan ,and i am highly interested in purchasing .Let me know if is still avaliable for sale as am highly interested, and i want you to get back to me with this Questiosn below:
What is the present condition?
What is the Recent location/Features ?
Why do you want to sell it?
What is the last asking price?
Would like to see a recent picture if available okay ? Also I will be responsible for the shipping /pick-up from your location.
Kindly get back to me ASAP.
Thanks,
Mrs Linda.

I received scams today myself. Odd things are the original email sent was not mine or they would include the check with shipping fees. Now I'm not going to handle the shipping fees and pay the shipping company the excess money from the check. What if it is shipping somewhere around the world. They are also not precise about the item they are looking at. Just "does it need adjustments" no mention of what particular items. What a bunch of stupid scammers, this is my first time posting and i can clearly see how bogus they are. They also did not include place to shipped to and even if they did locating at google maps if way off to mars. Hahaha! just why not buy the same item in your vicinity other than getting what I'm selling.

On the side note:

See your buyer and let him see the item himself.
Use local banks only for check.
Ask the final destination (make sure not to the moon)
Do not handle the shipping fees or saying included in the check. Don't deal with the shipping.