Craigslist classified for used car: Cheque fraud scam

I run a dj service busines, and recently was sent this email

Good Day,

My name is David Powel,My wife Monica is planning to have her Birthday in Santa Barbara Carlifornia on 27th of September 2007 .I am looking for a good DJ who will come and play on the second D-day of my wife's life, cos the first D-day of a woman life is her Wedding day wich we have had 9 years ago.when i came across your advert i was impressed.At this time,I'm on my way to United KIngdom on a business trip.Let me know your charges for your required services if you are to work for at most five Hours on that day. and if you are out of santa barbara ,we will pay the transportation charges to and from the party venue so indicate in your email if you are out of Santa barbara. what it will costs either via Plane or through Car transport to santa barbara , Carlifornia, ! and what amount you will receive working for five hours at the occasion....Furthermore,Let me have your full names,Address,Phone Number,Cellular Number .Moreso,a copy of the invitation card shall be sent to you in the mail..Waitig to read from you soon as regards this.
Best regards,

David.

After pointing out the date was past tense he correct the date for Nov. 27th .. which is on a tuesday? that made me even more suspicious... after quoting him the price and giving him the advice to hire someone near him ... he wrote this..

Thank for the mail sent...However, immediately every thing as been sealed i will send you a copy of an invitation card that will contain all necessary info you need to know about the birthday party i.e Birthday location.Yes i suggest Hip Hop music as a choice cos my wife is from New York and we are having a lot of guest from NY.....,My wife is one of the reason why am happy and i can do anything to make her happy cos i really love her.I'm pleased with the quotation sent,However, i will like to make the payment and you will mark the date for me on my wife birthday.....However, i will like to let you know that i will make the payment through a check draw from US bank , i want to make the payment so that you can booked the date for me .However, i will want you to send me the details below for the payment to be issue to you without any delay at all.

FULL NAME ON THE CHECK:
ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODES:
PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBER:

Moreover,Please once again,do book the date and also tell other interested person which are interested in your services that the date is no more available.I hope i make sense with that statement i made ! !...Perhaps i will like to know may be you have included your transportation fare with the quotation.I'm on my way to United Kingdom on a business trip.It will be to my pleasure to read back from you soonest.

Best Regards,

Davidson.

So this whole thing smells funny... how can I find out if this guy is the real deal?

his latest email address is davidsoncarr@yahoo.com
but the first email address that he replied from was
jgarcial1304@yahoo.com

??????

Mr. DJ

Please be aware of this scammer on craigslist or possibly other sites. It appears they use the same address and basically the same comments. Below is a copy of our email. Something should seriously be done about this!

Hello,

I can only make the payment thought electronic cashier's check, due to the nature of my profession, and there short notice traveling jobs, I had to leave town and will be back in a week, and also the E-check is new technology and is very legit and fast, if you know are still willing to sell the item for me, proceed to purchase the Business check paper, and let me know the cost of the check paper because am going to pay for it..

So don't worry about the shipment, the item will be pick up by Private shipping company. Get back to me when you purchased the Business check paper..

Thanks

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From: me
To: ed_whelt19@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: fish tanks for sale
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:04:32 -0400

i was wondering if these needed to be mailed or if you are local to me.

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From: ed_whelt19@hotmail.com
To: me
Subject: fish tanks for sale
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:59:27 -0400

Ok,

Thanks for prompt reply, am really greatfull,am ready to purchase it now. The easiest way for me to pay for your item is thought Electronic Cashier's Check, which is an E-Check, draw from (Bank Of America) and all what you need for the E-check is to buy Business Check Paper at Walmart, Office max, Office Depot, Stationery Store, Shopping Mall. And it cost $10. Once you purchase the business check paper. The echeck will be send immediately thought email, for you to have it printed. then you will proceed to your bank and deposit the check. I will wait for your bank to verify and clear the E-check before we proceed with shipment. As my Bank Operator informed me that the E-check will use two or three days before the check will clear at your bank. For you to know more about the echeck you can visit there website www.InstiCheck.com.

Get back to me ASAP to know if this helps

Edward
174 Lackland Ave
Piscataway, NJ 08854
732.733.2052

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From: me
To: ed_whelt19@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: fish tanks for sale
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:17:48 -0400

Hello Edward,

Thanks for the inquiring. The 2 items currently for sale, have not yet been purchased. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks and have a great day.

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From: ed_whelt19@hotmail.com
To: me
Subject: fish tanks for sale
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:54:20 -0400

Hello,

I am interested in your item, I hope the item is still available for sale..

Edward
174 Lackland Ave
Piscataway, NJ 08854
732.733.2052

Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with the transaction asap and my mode of payment will be via Electronic Cashier Check drawn on my bank (Bank Of America) as there are too many scams on internet with bogus Money Orders and personal checks,The electronic cashier check will be sent to your email so all you need to do is purchase a business check paper at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check and immediately when you print the check proceed to the Bank to cash or deposit the check,the Business check paper cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the Business check paper and for accepting my mode of payment.I should have handled this myself but i am not available to do this now i am currently away for my company seminar that is why i want you to do this to facilitate the transaction.
The item will be picked up from you by my shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also i am in no rush to pickup the item till funds are cleared at the bank.
Electronic Cashier checks is fast,secure and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Business check paper so proceed to delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted and get back to me asap to complete this transaction.

Regards
Harold

Got this when helping my kid sell their rig

" From: Timothy Lee (timlee648@gmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/18/07 3:26 PM
To: Steve (karens_injun@hotmail.com)
Thank you for the prompt reply.i would have like to come in person with cash but i have left the State,back on the ocean to sail...i'm satisfied with the condition pasted on craigslist on trust and i will offer you $1900. Due to the distance i will make your payment via
Electronic cashier check that will be drawn on Bank of America(BOA)and send to your email box and get it printed on your PC with Business Check Paper,then take to your bank for verification and get it cash the same day. If this goes well with you kindly proceed to get the check paper at Shoping Mall or Office Max and return back to me today with your name and valid contact adddress that will be drawn on the check,so that the check can be email out to you plus the cost for the business check paper as soon as possible without any delay. After all,i make arrangement for the pick up
Thank you,while looking forward to read from you soon."

Wife told me this a scam and frame reply as to cash payment being only option. No response as yet, (Sun 10/21/07 12:28 AM). Heh, heh, heh.

I got the same crap ... from a "Brandon Collins". Google'd the name ... He is not the 2007 UT Football player, not the Reno Tatoo Artist, not the WelterWeight boxer, or the Financial Adviser at Smith Barney.

Bottom Line ... If it:
... smells fishy, it's a scam.
... is in POORLY WRITTEN English (read the text), it's a scam.
... is not a local buyer, it's a scam.

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From: Brandon Collins [mailto:brandoncollins117@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 8:20 PM

Sounds Good.
I will like to proceed with payment asap and will like to handle shipment myself when you must have gotten your cash at hand.I work with an auditing firm and will not have time to mail a check.I am in no rush to pick up the item till funds are clear at the bank.As there are too many scams on internet as regards buying and selling with large bogus account.My mode of payment will be via Electronic Cashier Check drawn on .(Bank Of America).Electronic Cashier checks is fast and secure.You will probarbly need a business check paper to print and cash or deposit the check today.The business check paper is sold for $20 at any stationery store,staples or at your local office supply outlet.I will add the cost of supplies to your asking price with an extra offer for accepting my mode of payment.I will need your name and address with valid email address to send the Echeck to your email which you can print immediately when you must have purchase the supplies at staples or any stationery store.Kindly delete the advert of this item if my mode of payment is accepted.I will await your email asap.Read more about Echeck via www.q-check.com
Thanks.

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hello seller,
> hope this item is still availlable for sales.l have read
> the mode and condition on your postage in craigslist.can you attach
> anyother picture to view.because l willing need to purchase the item
> for my uncle.as l was been contact about this issue since 3days
> agos..please kindly email me back to proceed with payment because l
> will not use more than Echeck to send your payment.this Electronic
> Cashier Echeck is good because its drawn in bank of america and is
> legitimate and secure to facilitate the deal between me and you and
> for you to have your fund ontime.once l received your name and address
> check would proceed to issue by my client today before will send via
> your email l will want to you to kinldy go to shoping mall or office
> depot and ask for Blank check paper immediately you have this sturf
> purchase you we received the check immediately.once the check verified
> and clear in your bank l will arrange for pickup through international
> dependable shipper company to come and pick it up for my uncle.plans
> to mail me back.
> thanks

Beware...this is just like all the others, if you know this person and they are legite please let me know. Thanks