Another scam via Craigslist: offering more than asking price

Do not fall for this person, he goes by Matt Theo, and his email is metttheo100@gmail.com... this is a scam

I mustconfirm to you that I really have a keep interest in buying theitem,so do not sell theitem to another buyer.i will want you to remove the add from internetwebsite to avoid disturbances.i will like you to let you know that thepayment would be sent via UPS Courier Service and I also wish toinform again that shipping cost will be added to cost of the item.iwould be sending a payment worth of $2890 to cover the shipment of theitems bought,So immediately you get the payment cashed then removeyour money for the item and send the reaming funds to myshipper Via Western Union or Money Gram money transfer...you will sendthe remaining amount after the deduction of your own amount for theitems and all transfer charges should be deducted from the rest fundsyou are going to sent to my shipper.My shipper is also picking some ofother items at the same city of yours,that is why you need to transferthe amount to my shipper.I will like you to remove $100 for runingaround that I have caused you during the transaction period.Please letme know if i can trust you on this so we can move forward fromhere,??? All the shippers information will be forwarded to youimmediately you receive the payment ... be expecting the payment indue course.i would really appreciate if you can also keep other buyeroff,Thanks for youranticipated cooperation and understanding.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Scott Homeyer
Date: Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: Right-handed Jeep Cheerokee model '97 - $3000
To:

Hello,
I will like to confirm to you that the check has been sent via FEDEX ... and you will get it by Friday Morning ... and will like to tell you that the check sent is a Certified Check .... This was sent to avoid delay in this transaction and was sent in the interest of protection between us..also the check was purchased by my company financier... sent as misc expenses to you... i really dont think its necessary depositing the Certified Check but if you want to.. i can only wait 1-2 days for check clearance .... and will like to inform you that the check sent comes in excess (extra) fund ... this extra fund in it will be for the shipper.... who will be picking the item up... which implies that as soon you get the check and cash it.. the extra fund will be sent via MoneyGram to my shipper. I will send my shipper information to you a soon as i track the status of the check (delivered)...
I do hope to hear from you as soon as you got check....

Thanks

I got three in the same day, just yesterday. I am new to craigslist, so at after getting the first e-mail, it sounded legit, plus the english on it was actually good and there was no mention of shipping fee included. Just seemed somebody wanted the item and they weren't local, so I agreed, until they said they were going to send shipper's fee with the payment that it threw up a red flag, plus by then I got 2 more messages from other people for other items(one of them was wanting to purchase 2 different listings from me).

Hi,
Thanks for the prompt response to my enquiry, I want to buy it, I would love to come and check it but My Son would be going for a Kidney transplant in the next few days and as a good father i have to be at his side with the mother. Pls do withdraw the advert from Web i don't mind adding $50 for you to do that,so i would be rest assured that the item is held for me.I should believe it is in good condition as stated.I will be making the payment via a Certified Check , which my secretary will send across to you. I'll be picking the item from you, My Mover will be coming to Pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Pls I will need both your name and physical address along with you phone number to issue out the payment.
Regards.

i think the above is a scam too. it just sounds weird to me. im not sure what he thinks hes goin to get for me though?? like what do they do next? when they get your info?

I've got a check coming in the mail tomorrow? Can I just return it or what? I see now it is obviously a scam and want out! Please help!

I posted an ad selling an iPod, and I got an email from one of the scammers asking for my paypal info to send me payment.

Feary Lachman {fearyv@gmail.com)
to sale-#########
"Is this Item still available for sale? what is the condition? get back me as soon as you can.
Regards"

-still available - unopened, purchased on saturday -

--"I really appreciate the quick reply.I am buying this item for a son of mine schooling overseas and i will be adding $150 for the shipping and handling.I would have made this transaction locally but am presently out of town so get back to me with your PayPal email address for me to remit the funds ASAP and once payment is being received from paypal you can be able to ship this item i am doing this very fast because i have promised my son that the item will be there soonest get back to me immediately as for us to transact very fast, Hope to read from you
soon.
Regards "

---ok - paypal email address is ###@gmail.com - what else do you need?

----"Notting and am so glad with that i will let you know when have made the payment, Regards"

I heard nothing else all day - then this morning I get the exact same original email from the same guy asking the same thing. So I reply:

I believe this is a scam - please do not contact me again - I am turning your information in to authorities

-"HAHAHAHA THATS GOOD OF YOU BITCH"

If you get an email from fearyv@gmail.com - its a scam, and a stupid one at that.

Beware of BENKENSON KENNETH UZOMA. (benkenson101@hotmail.com)
I listed a stereo system on craigslist and the following is our communication:

Hello,
I'm interested in buying your item,get back to me with your last price.
Thanks.
Ben

The least I will take for this system is $425. Just let me know if you have any questions or would like to see it.
Thanks for your interest
~Jon

Hello,
I am very grateful to hear back from you.I am a University Senior lecturer residing in Texas.The ( !!GREAT SOUNDING STEREO SYSTEM FOR YOUR VEHICLE ) is for my son's birthday presents, due to his brilliant performance,he was currently transfered from Us to West Africa with his team on a research on Human development under world Health Organization.

I'll be paying you through paypal.I will forward my son's residential address to you for shipping as soon as the payment reaches you.send me your paypal email so that i will do the payment.
NB: I will be paying you $560 for both the cost price and shipping fee.Please get back to me so that i will proceed with the payment.
Best Regards,
Ben.

Ben,
I take it you are making an offer of $400 for the system and $160 for shipping? My asking price is $550 and shipping anywhere is going to be atleast $125. These subs are heavy. We are talking in excess of 100 pounds. Can you get your offer closer to $500 then the cost of shipping?
Thanks ,
~Jon

Hi, I got your mail, is ok by me i will pay you $660, so all you need to do is to send me your palpal email address so that i can proceed with your payment.Hope to hear from you asap.

Sounds good. My paypal account email is ##########. What is the address that I need to ship the system to? What name should I have on the box for addressee? I will ship this through DHL and have it insured for $1000 as well.
Thanks,
Jon

Hello, i have done the payment, kindly go and send my son the item today via Us postal service(USPS) Make it registered express Mail.I need to hear from you asap,here is my son's information,
Name:Kenneth .O. Uzoma.
Address:# 3 Anyansi Lane Ogui,
City:Enugu
State:Enugu State
Zip Code:234 42
Country:Nigeria.
Best regards,
Benkenson uzoma .

I am sorry, I was unaware I would need to ship this outside of the states. I went to the DHL website to inquire about the shipping charges and the estimated charges just to ship to Nigeria are noted below ($3394.59). I am more than willing to ship this to you in Texas but cannot ship out of the United States. I have also checked my PayPal account and there has been no record of any activity at this point. When your payment shows up in the account I will refund it back to you, unless you would like me to ship the stereo system to you in Texas. If this is the case, please send me your address in Texas and it will be on the way! Please just let me know. I packed up the system last night and it is ready to go.
Thanks again,
~Jon

There has been NO activity in my PayPal account and I am yet to hear back from this person concerning any of this. Please be careful and watch out for this SCAMMER!!!!

Don't worry about your name and address as they can easily be obtained in a phone book or on the Internet. But I do have an example of how to fight these a-holes:
I sold an item on CraigsList and received several scam replies. To validate the purchase offers, I responded but changed the item and price. (the $200 TV now became a $400 sofa) They responded, claiming an $800 check was mailed and I should cash it and give the overpayment to the movers. I responded (changing the item and price again) saying I had cashed the $600 check and the patio set and overpayment were ready to pick up. But, I accidentally mis-typed the pickup address. (oops) I wonder if this clown knows his mover is being sent to a vacant lot?
If you do receive a check, keep it as a memento. If the scammer emails claiming he will sick the law on you, simply respond by saying you have forwarded the check to the FBI for fingerprint analysis.
Last Thought: If you list something on Craigs and give your phone number, why would a valid buyer send an email instead of call?
The ScamStomper