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
Christina (not verified)
Scammers
Tue, 2008/09/30 - 18:52I got this same exact email from the same person. I sent a reply saying that I would only accept cash. His reply was also that he was on a business trip and did not have access to paypal. I'm glad I did a search of the internet!
Anonymous (not verified)
Craig's List scam
Tue, 2009/03/03 - 23:13I just got a reply to an ad I ran in Craig's List for an engine which sounds very similar to what the other ads you have posted say. I am pretty new at using a computer, but fortunately I realized in time that something just wasn't on the up and up with the so-called buyer. Several red flags went off. I wasn't sure just what an electronic cashier's check was so googled it in. Your site came up which confirmed my suspections! Thank you for alerting others to this scam.
lionbarkid (not verified)
Heres a few emails i got
Thu, 2008/04/24 - 11:58Heres a few emails i got recently pasted into 1: Name Michael book +447045720495 michaelbook1960@gmail.com
Thanks for your mail.
I will like to know more about the car, where is the car presently located? Is the Engine of the car still OK. I need to hear from you soon. I will be coming to inspect the car this weekend.
When was the last NCT done on the car?
Can you email me more pictures of the car, when will you be available for inspection this weekend and what is the rock bottom price of the car?
I have just contacted my fudiciary agent to pay for the car by bank draft for 4800euros which will be from an Irish bank and it will only take 2 to 5days to be clear into your account,the draft will gets to you by next week. inspection will be done on the car by Mid next week. I need this car for my family and i need to act fast in buying it,i will need you make available all the relevant documents for the car because it will be ship to my house in Ukraine.
Kindly supply us your FULL NAMES,ADDRESS AND YOUR MOBILE NUMBER for the draft to be issue to you.
Yes,I know but I will need your details so that the draft can be issue and sent to you by next Monday.
looks a bit sus wouldnt u say
Anonymous (not verified)
My Name: Michael Book!? Fraudster or time waster
Sat, 2008/04/26 - 12:47I'm at present talking to the same guy about my own car:
Hi, is this car still for sale?
My Name: Michael Book
My Phone Number: +447045761544
My Email Address: michaelbook1960@yahoo.com
He says the same:
"I will be paying you by bank Draft which will get to you by Next week Thursday but I will come down for Inspection by Mid week but the Bank need to issue the draft to you First."
After reading yours I'm sure he's a fraudster or just someone trying to annoy us! Not a very Ukranian name either!
Anonymous (not verified)
Michael Book 1960
Mon, 2008/11/17 - 13:28Hi,
I just read your text above regarding an email from Micahel Book, I have just got an email about my car from Michaelbook@gmail.com,
What is the story with this guy, did he make an offer, did you accept or was he full of ****. Did he actually meet you to look at the car. The email i got today, included asking for photo's and the rock bottom price. I'm now very anxious about this guy.
Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated,
Colmodub.
Anonymous (not verified)
Car scam
Mon, 2009/03/02 - 22:19So I was just curious guys, I emailed this lady in regards to a very nice car and the price is way below what the car is worth. She stated she just got out of a divorce and said the car was in her name and she is a lady and doesnt drive big vehicles like that and only needs the money for personal fees for lawyers. She did however say she would only do money transactions through ebay safe protection so it would ensure me that it would be a safe transaction and insured. Could this still be a scam? I mean I know she could send me a fake ebay paypal page and have me pay pal it to something other than her pay pal but I havnt gottn that far yet. Just wondering on your thoughts. Thanks.
Anonymous (not verified)
don't send anything western
Wed, 2009/10/07 - 11:42don't send anything western union.....definately sign of a scam.
Anonymous (not verified)
Hello Seller, Am
Wed, 2009/05/20 - 16:31Hello Seller,
Am Rodwell Daryl,How are you doing?I saw your advert placement on craigslist.com and am interested in buying.Please kindly get back to me as soon as possible with the necessary answers to the question in mind...
further.
I am very glad that I heard back from you in such a timely
manner. I will so much appreciate it if you can have the advert taken
down from C.L I don't mind adding an extra $50 for you to do that so that I can be rest assured that the item is in hand. I wouldn't be able to come over for the check up Due to my present state of work,I intend to purchase and to also inform you that my form of payment is through a Certified Check. My mover will be coming over for the pick up once payment issued has been clarified. I will like to know if the payment method is acceptable by you, huh?
If it's do email me your Full Name,Physical Address not Postal address, Zip code and phone number for the mailing of the check for payment.
Thanks
Best Regards
Rodwell Daryl...
Anonymous (not verified)
i was thnning the same
Fri, 2008/04/25 - 09:56Sounds Good,
I am happy to read from you concerning the sales of your item.I want to purchase your item for my friend as surprise package as soon as possible before thier Engagment/Wedding ceremony which is fast approaching. Due to various scams on internet my mode of payment will be via Bank Certfied Check drawn in (Bank Of America)..I know there are a lot of scams so I have no problem with you waiting for the Check to go through at your bank or anything, Im in no rush.All I need for now is your name, address,city,state,country,zipcode and also phone number.So that i will be able to mail the check to your home address while you await the delievery.Please proceed to delete the postage on craigs web immediately..I will wait for your bank to verify and clear the Check before we proceed with Shipment to my friend home address inwhich i will include the shipment fund via Express Mail Service (EMS OF USPS) to your asking price with an offer $100 for selling it to me.I will await your email with your info today so that i can prepare and mail the check immediately as i wanted thier pastor to bless the item before Engagment/Wedding ceremony date
Here is my full information below
Thanks.
Randy Smith
1412 Clark St
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Fax (337) 680-4010
i got this email from the same guy i think. i put his address into theyahoo search bar and this webstie came up. sothanks for letting me catch a bad guy. the thing i dont understand is how whould this guy scam me. if he sends mea check and then i wait for it to to clear, wouldnt i be ok???
i got this email yestaday and iv been talkin with him trying to get to know him and he wont take the bait .. he is strait to the point about mailing the check off to me .. no conversation at all .. im goin to copy all this info and email it to him when he sends the check in then im not goin to cash it but send it back to that adress im also goin to fax that number a big FUCK U on a sheet of paper ..
Anonymous (not verified)
This is what i got from a scammer... i replied to him with a NO
Sat, 2008/05/10 - 21:11Thanks for your reply concerning my inquiry.. Am quite comfortable with the condition of the item since i won't be making any repairs on it,i will add $100 to it for keeping it for me, Please provide your full Name,Address with your Cell Phone Number for the payment. I am paying you by Cheque . It will take few days for payment to get to you. As per pick-up, I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment has been received by you. Kindly reply with your Full Name and Address with your Cell Phone Number where the payment should be send. 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.
Best Regards.
Mike Williams
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