Another scam via Craigslist: offering more than asking price

Unfortunately I became a victim... I was new on CL and so as USPS shipments. She made a fake USPS email too and she even sent a USPS notification that my payment has been approved and shipper paid for insurance. Thinking that the USPS email was real, there was a link that I could track my mail (dispatchercentre_u-s-p-s@consultant.com) so when I tracked it... they answered that the money is on their possesion and it will be on hold until I sent the DHL tracking number for the shipment of the item...Looks like this Sandra is the one who is answering the USPS emails I sent...my item was shipped at this address 1102 A Joseph Rd Warrington PA 18976. This person is a pro. I would like to get back to her just to scare her but I dont know how?

--This is her email...

How are you doing?I am located in BOSTON.I'd want you to know that i am new to craigslist online transaction.. I would like to let you know that I have gone through your posting and ready to buy it. As far as there will not be any repairs on it I am willing to offer you a sum of $2100 for the item so that it could be packed properly. I could have love to pick the item up myself but am busy woman due to fact that am a nurse and working in the hospital and i have alot of appointment in the hospital. So the payment will be made through (usps Money Order, delivery of cash)(Standard 1-2 Days delivery Service ).. I am purchasing it for my friend's daughter wedding which coming up on the 15th october in Warrington, Pa 18976 USA...With this,you'd get your money after payment has been made and all necessary things done..

Check this out. So I put up an ad on craiglist trying to sell some nightstands and this guy emailed me asking me about them, when I told them yes they were still available he sent me this:

Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response and i will like you to withdraw the
advert from Craigslist,i dont mind adding an extra $20dolls for you to
take the advert down from criagslist so that i can be rest assured
that am in hand of the item.I dont have time to come take a look. I
will be paying via cashier's check,and it will be over night payment
.You dont need to bother your self with the shipment ok,i will take
care of that.So i will need you to provide me with the following
information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or postal address
3.Your phonenumber.
i will have my mover come over as soon as you have the check
Have a great day

So by now I'm thinking okay! Sounds good! But then I get this email the next day:

Hello,
This is to notify you that your payment has been issued out and you
will have it tomorrow,but there was a slight error i guess we can
handle with care which do occur, instead of the actual amount for the
item,my secretary made out the check for $2100 she claim that was what
i requested but she didn't get that straight.

So once you have the check please cash it at your bank and deduct the
money for your goods plus $20 for taking down the advert.

The excess fund should please be sent to my mover via moneygram money
transfer,this fund will be use in offsetting the cost of the shipment
he as undertaken for me recently.
My movers information to send the excess funds will be provided as
soon as you have the payment cashed.
Thanks for understanding

I BELIEVE I CAN TRUST YOU IN TAKING CARE OF THIS
Have a great day

Now I'm thinking somethings a bit fishy. But all I have to do is tell him I'll gladly send the money back when the checks are completely CLEARED. I tell him this, he sends me the checks. But I don't get just one check. I get two 2100 dollar checks. Nowhere on the checks does it say that they are cashier's checks like most do. I decided to have a bank teller look at them. Sure enough, the teller told me that they were obvious FORGERIES! The man had even emailed me an address to send the moneygram to... in the BRONX NEW YORK! Thousands of miles away from where I actually live in DALLAS TEXAS!

I could have been robbed of 4200 dollars! BE CAREFUL this could happen to anyone and later I read about these sorts of scams on the very craigslist.com website:
** 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

If only I had read this before. I could have sold my nightstands by now!

Wish I followed my instincts where I thought this was suspicious. Especially the part about demanding to remove my item from craigslist. I fully intend to turn the check over the the proper authorities when it comes. I have no intention of cashing it. It was the 3rd email that really got me. No way does anyone do business like that. Is SUCKER wtitten across my forehead? Didn't give out any bank info but did give my address and phone number. Hope nothing happens to me. The following are e-mails i recieved.

(1)first e-mail ( I should have clicked on the link about scams)
** 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

Morning,

Is this item still for sale?
Reply asap.

Jeff.

(2)
Thanks for the response.I am willing to pay your asking price.I will pay by a check as its the only way i can pay you at the moment.I will make arrangement for the pickup after payment have been received by you.I don't mind adding an extra $20 so you can keep it in my favor.I would have loved to come take a look at it but i am presently out of town,send me some pictures.Reply with your name,phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent.I will let you know how i intend to pick it up.Please take the posting off craigslist today and consider it sold to me.

Expecting to hear from you soon.
Warm Regards.

(3
Hi,

I have given my partner the go ahead to mail payment to the address you gave me.You should receive payment within the week.Once payment is received we can proceed with the pickup.Thanks for your understanding and patience.I would like you to take the posting off CL today.

Jeff.

(4)
Hello,

How are you doing,i hope you are fine and alright.I have been
busy myself but doing great.There is something i think i must bring to
your notice.After a reconciliation of my account, i discovered that
somehow my partner must have over paid you.The payment that was meant
for another transaction was sent to you and the one meant for you was
sent to another,however i want to believe i wont have a problem with
you.

Please once you receive your payment,i will like you to deduct your
money and send the remaining via western union to the manager of the
shipping company that will help me with the pickup.I will provide the
info you need to complete the western union transfer once you receive
payment.Thanks once again for your understanding.

Warm regards.

I'm actually compiling a database of known fraud emails/sales, and working on a technology to decipher which are fraud. If you find a fraud ad or recieve a fraud email, I would really appreciate it if you would forward it to: fraud@emgtechnology.com . I'm hoping to have a large database compiled and an alpha out of my software by early 2009. It will all be free of course.

Hello,

Thanks so much for your mail,Am quite comfortable with the item, I am out of town presently but i will instruct my assistant to issue the payment and send to you, Please provide your full name,Address and your Phone number for payment.

I will be paying you by Money Order , I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment has been received by you.I hope it is in good condition,kindly reply with your Name,phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent.I will let you know how i intend to pick it up.

Note:As soon as you have your money in hand we can talk about the Picking up of the item ok.I would like you to take the posting off craigslist today and make sure you get back to me with your full Infomation today so that the payment will be mail out to you.

Best Regards.

Thomas. (thomasmark66@googlemail.com)

This looks fishy to me so I told him I only accept cash...will see what he says to that.

here is the email address of another scammer

johnclement647@gmail.com

Thanks for the prompt response. I have instructed my
account officer to mail (overnight) a certified
check, while you hold this item for me. Let me know
when you receive the check and I will have my mover
will come pick up at your place. Please forward me
the following info so I can issue your check . . .

1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address(Physical as Ups does not deliver to P.O.Box}
3.Your phone number.

** Please note that I will overnight the payment,and
you should receive it tomorrow. I appreciate you
holding this for me. Please delete the posting as I
am definitely buying it from you and it would be sad
for me to have the payment in the mail only to be
informed of the its sale**

Hi Seller,
Compliments,i just saw your (item)posted for sale on Craigslist.com and i'm highly interested in purchasing it,so kindly get back to me as soon
as you can with the present condition,your location and the best selling price you're willing to sell it,I reside at 8933 cherry lane laurel 20708 Maryland,do not worry about the shipping,i will take care of it myself,just email me your last selling price,and if i'm ok with it,i'll be more than happy to purchase it from you immediately,I await your urgent response asap.

Best Regards,
Bill.

my reply:
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 4:13 PM
Good morning Bill,

The 63’ Falcon Futura is at $4000 OBO… I am working on getting some photo’s together but we just had a small emergency that needed to be taken care of. I shall write you shortly and send the pics with the e-mail for you. Sorry about the wait I do apologize I simply must take care of a few things of pressing importance first… I will be in touch soon.
-sincerely,
-Dan
Again sorry for the delay!

his next responce: NOTE I did not send info on the condition of the car!!!

Hi,
Thanks for the response concerning the sale of the (63’ Falcon Futura,asking price is ok by me and the condition too,i will really appreciate it if it comes to me,go ahead and get the advert off the web and consider it sold, You dont have to bother about the pick up,presently i am schedulled to leave for the United Kingdom on a business engagement and this will last me 20 working days and i believe it does not stop the transaction, as i will be informing my business associate in the states to make out a check of ($12,980) to your care as soon as you receive the payment,you will deduct your cost price which is ($4000) and additional $100 compensation fee of the stress you may go through, then you will transfer all the remaining excess funds via Money Gram or western union money transfer to my shipping company that will be coming over to your location for the pick up of the (63’ Falcon Futura),the reason why the excess amount will be included is that i have other consignment which they will also be shipping for me From Japan to my house in the States,they will also be responsible for the signing of all documents relating to this transaction.So kindly email me the
folowing information if everything is ok By You...

Name To Be Written On The check,
Full Home Address(Including zip code)
Home & Office Phone #,
Cell Phone #

I will really appreciate it if you could get back to me with the information as listed above,so that the check could be sent out to you immediately,and if i can get all
your information before the ending of today,then i assure you that the check 'll be sent out to you today or first thing tomorrow morning,then you will receive it the
next day,because it will be sent by UPS COURIER SERVICE(Next day air Early A.M)
Many Thnaks
Bill Curtis.

the first e-mail was from:Bill Curtis [morris_wilson001@yahoo.com]
the second from:Bill Curtis [billcurtis_new001@yahoo.com]
What the hell is wrong with people.