Another scam via Craigslist: offering more than asking price

This is the e- mail I got in response to my rental property on craigslist.

Hi,
I have instructed my assistant to send out your payment as soon you provide your full name,phone number and address. I can only pay via money order as am on vacation now. Please let me know where to send your payment to because i would'nt want to lose it to someone else. I dont mind adding twenty dollars so you can keep it in my favor. As for the pick-up, I already have an arrangement for that.
Michael

I posted an ad on Craigslist and received emails from two scammers, using the same types of schemes that were discussed above. The names they used were Andrew Lancaster (andrewlancasterk3@gmail.com) and John Deere (that's a creative one!) (deerejjohn5@aol.com)

Do you think it'd be possible to go far enough with one of these scams (of many I've received but immediately ignored) so that the mover arrives and you can have him apprehended? I'll admit that I'm still not 100% sure how these pan out further down the line, the farthest I've ever gone with one (the first time) was giving my address - but then I realized it was a scam.

If I could actually pin one of these a**holes to the wall, I'd ride it out as far as I could.

I am new to Craigslist and unfortunately fell victim to one of these scams. I had someone offer to buy a set of dishes that I had listed for $100. He offered me $130, then emailed to say he accidently sent too much money. He ended up sending me two money orders for $970 apiece. I should have known right then but I had always been told by my mother that money orders are just like money. It never occurred to me the money orders could be fake. I figured the excess was some kind of accounting error. So like a fool I wired him the rest back. I decided to check it out when he emailed to say he was sending more money for shipping. This time I got four money orders for $970 apiece. Now wiser, I will not cash those money orders. I feel so stupid.

I've gone back and forth with this guy for quite a few emails, and while it always seemed strange and a bit off, I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't send anything until the money was in my PayPal account, and surprise surprise, so far it hasn't shown up there.

Hello,
My name is Jullian, I am in Ottawa right now but I'll be leaving for London for a new job in two week's time. The item is meant to be for my Son as a BIRTHDAY gift. He travelled to spend time with his dad where he works in west Africa. I'll have to add some extras for you to send it to him as soon as possible before his birthday. I'll be paying you through paypal as soon as you make your decision. I will pay you $400 to include the cost price of the item plus shipment fee using Canada post or DHL. Hope to hear from you soon with your paypal request or your paypal id.

Thank you,

Jullian.

This looks like a scam to me!

Hello
I appreciate your response to my enquiry. Am interested in buying it from you. I would love to come and check it myself but I just got married and am presently on an honeymoon trip to Hawaii with my wife. I would love a surprise change of furniture in our home on our return. Pls do withdraw ,with immediate efftect, the advert from Web as i dont mind adding $50 for you to do that, so i can 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 mail across to you. I'll be picking the item from you with the aid of my mover. My Mover will be coming to pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Pls I will need both your full name and physical address along with you phone number to issue out the payment.
I await your urgent response.

Hi,
The conversation below transpired this week about my computer for sale. I believe that Mark Smith is a scam.
............................................................
From Mark:

Thanks very much for your prompt reply but for now am very ill but will still be able to deliver the payments to you directly and you know what is involed about father and son and i have promise him that i will sending him a pc as his birthday
you are a woman you will undestand me more so am assuring you that you will get your money for the pc or to make thing more easier am willing to add you an extra of $80
you are required to send me your paypal id or residence address for me to deliver you payko online order cheers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Compaq Presario Desktop PC - $150
To: mark.smitt1@hotmail.com

From Me:

Sorry, my husband refuses to ship the computer. He is, however, willing to transport it by car to a nearby destination to exchange the product for the funds.

----- Original Message ----
From: mark smith
Subject: RE: Compaq Presario Desktop PC - $150

Hello,
I would have loved to come for the inspection but I'll be leaving for England for a training in a week time.The item is for my son's birthday gift who traveled to spend sometime with his mum where she works in the US consulate in west africa.I'll have to add some extra for you to send it to him as soon as possible.I'll be paying you through paypal or payko money order as soon as you make your decision i will pay you $320 for the item and shipment fee; it's secure and protects two parties in a transaction.
Get back with the following information
for me to make payment fast
Full Name:
Full Contact Address:
Tel Number:All this information should be provided correctly
please to avoid wrong payment. I will forward my wife
residential address to you for shipping as soon as the
payment reaches you.
I will be very grateful to hear from you soon.
Best Regard,

________________________________
>
> Subject: Re: Compaq Presario Desktop PC - $150
> To: mark.smitt3@hotmail.com
>
> Yes. It is still available.
>
>
>>
> >
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: mark smith
> To: sale-884246006@craigslist.org
> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 1:00:54 AM
> Subject: Compaq Presario Desktop PC - $150
>
> ** 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
>
>
> HI
> Is the item that is listed up for sale still available contact me asap lets run it
> _________________________________________________________________

I do one of two things to these scammers:

1) Sometimes they have been reported on scammer websites. I reply to their email with the link to the site that lists them as a scammer, basically telling them the gig is up;

2) For fun, I send them the info they want, except I use a fake name and give them the address and phone number of the local police department.