Here is a classic scam from Craigslist.They offer to buy your item you advertised via classified for more money than you ask for ($375 in my case, he offered $500).They even give you a bleeding heart story about wife dying in accident.
From: ike derico Alright,i live in North Georgia United State.Am quite comfortable with the condition of the item since i wont be making any repairs on it,i will like to offer you $500 including packing materials without you paying for any shipping charges b'cos i already have an account with FedEx,i would have loved to make the payment in cash and carry but we are not in the same state so i will like to go ahead with the payment by sending you a Money Order But i will need your contact infomation in which the money will be deliver ok.I wonna buy this [item name] for my step son to fulfill the promise his mum made before she died,i lost my lovely wife to an auto accident on 29th of June 2005 and since then i and her step son john have been living seperately and i want to buy this item for him because his mom promised him before death took her away from us and i think with this i and tobi can live as a family. Kindly get back to me immediately you receive my e-mail and i will like you to take it off craigslist for auction cos am serious in buying it.So let me have your full infomation ofr pyment to be made.... Best Regards. .I.Derico
Note how they can't pick up proper English names? I got another from 'ortega hanson'.
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Anonymous (not verified)
The scam is this
Sun, 2009/11/08 - 21:13The check isn't from his account; it's from another person's account that he stole or has gained access to (through ID theft). So he gives you a check for more than what you ask for and wants you to cash the rest. The bank will cash the check b/c it's a legitimate account (just not the scammer's account). It takes the bank 3-7 days to verify this but in meantime they will cash it and give you the funds. You send him the excess in cash via western union and you get to keep the rest. But what you don't know is the bank will come after you in few days for the whole amount.
You see, in a few days the real owner of the account will find that there was unauthorized withdrawal or checks written that he never authorized. He'll file a report with his bank and his bank won't pay to the bank that you cashed you check with. Well, that bank will now come after you! The guy you wired the money to is long gone (or in Nigeria). That's when you realized you've been had, but by then it's too late! I saw an MSNBC report on this. These guys are something else. You end up doing things for them, unbeknownst to you.
Eric (not verified)
The scam is this
Sun, 2009/11/08 - 21:38The check isn't from his account; it's from another person's account that he stole or has gained access to (through ID theft). So he gives you a check for more than what you ask for and wants you to cash it all. The bank will cash the check b/c it's a legitimate account (just not the scammer's account). It takes the bank 3-7 days to verify this, in meantime they will cash it and give you the funds. You take your portion and send him the excess in cash via western union. Everyone got paid but what you don't know is the bank will come after you in few days, for the whole amount.
You see, in a few days the real owner of that account will find that there was unauthorized withdrawal or checks written that he never authorized. He'll file a report with his bank and his bank won't pay to the bank that you cashed you check with. Well, your bank will then come after you b/c they paid you! It's your banks mistake but they don't care. They will come after you. The guy you wired the money to is long gone; you'll never find him. I saw an MSNBC report on this and these guys are something else. You end up doing things illegally for them, unbeknownst to you.
Pete (not verified)
Me too
Sat, 2009/12/19 - 19:39These people have also struck here in Queensland Australia. Using the same email formats using to names steven johnson and jenny maxwell, 1 being an oceanographer at sea the other a marine engineer. Somethiung needs to be done.. is there soemthing we can do?
They almost had me losing my beautiful holden commodore s ute for 17k....
I might try a Current Affair on this 1..
Thanks
TV Monkey (not verified)
email scammer addy
Tue, 2009/09/22 - 23:06john krugger
Tried to buy my van. Said he was an oceanographer at sea. Clue because of lack of information provided by this person and wanted to use Western Union and paypal.
Anonymous (not verified)
Yeah had the same scam. An
Thu, 2009/12/10 - 06:50Yeah had the same scam. An oceanographer at sea, trying to buy my car, and only wanted to use PayPal. I was asking all these questions such as where he was, etc. I even asked that he send me a bank cheque instead of online transactions, but ignored my requests and insisted we only use PayPal for the deal. And not once did he refer to the car as a car... only calling it an "item" or "this". His name was mark smith and his email was markqv01@gmail.com
Anonymous (not verified)
sam deal
Mon, 2009/12/14 - 15:55Hi thanks for mailing back,i am an oceanographer, i am at sea right now,i am buying this for my son as a surprise gift and I am glad you accepted my offer.I can only pay through paypal at the moment as i dont have access to my bank account online(i dont have internet banking with it),but i have it attached to my paypal account, and this is why i insisted on using paypal to pay,all i will need is your paypal email address to make the payments,and if you dont have a paypal account yet,its pretty easy to set one up at www.paypal.com.au,i will be expecting your email.I have a pick up agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been sorted.
Anonymous (not verified)
I just got this exact same
Sat, 2009/12/26 - 05:08I just got this exact same email, wanted to buy my car for $3000 more than I was asking. Sounded a bit suss so I googled 'Mark Smith Oceanograper' and this link cameup. Thanks guys, I will report it now .
Anonymous (not verified)
Hey guys i received the same
Tue, 2010/01/12 - 02:43Hey guys i received the same email, thankful for Google searching. I'm wondering what they can do with your Paypal address though?
Anonymous (not verified)
scam
Wed, 2010/03/17 - 00:44Received this today but MR. MARK SMITH wont give me his home address or what state he is from.
Anonymous (not verified)
also
Thu, 2009/11/12 - 13:54also acrossthesea5000miles@yahoo.com
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