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
Anonymous (not verified)
New name being used ~ Gabriel Smith
Wed, 2008/04/16 - 20:17Got a similar reply from craigslist using the name Gabriel Smith. The message went something like this:
I want to buy,is it availaible??
We replied and got this e-mail back:
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt responds, However, i will need your name and address for payment,As am only able to make payment by money order at this time b/c i am away on assignment. It will be nice if you can send me more pictures. It will take about 7days 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. I don't mind adding thirty dollars so you can keep it in my favor.Please take the posting off Craigslist today and consider it sold to me, Include your phone number.
Expecting to hear from you soon.
Regards
Gabriel Smith.
I knew something was wrong when we got the same relpy on another posting also at the same time.
Brian (not verified)
Craigs list scams
Fri, 2008/04/18 - 10:28SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM......... i just got hit with this one. I did not know about these till it was too late. If there is a plus side to this, im glad I only sent half the money. Im not giving up on this here is the ad I received and jumped on.
Re: 2003 Mercedes Benz E500 - $4399 (Detroit Metro)
From: Brian Wheeler (briwhee@gmail.com)
Mileage: 43,645 miles
VIN: WDBUF70J53A169283
Hi, I see from your email that you are interested in the condition of the car so you have to know that the car is 100% working and looking very good, no flaws or dents, no scratches or any kind of damage, no flood or wrecked and it has a US clear title, the interior looks great, is brand new condition because I have took care of it like it was my baby(the car is located in Ephraim, Utah ready to be shipped).This is a regretful sale but unfortunately i need money for my son , he is in hospital and i really need money for him. This is why i am selling the car so cheap. BUY IT NOW for $ 4,400 because i want to close a quick and smooth deal with a serious person. About the shipping i can tell you that will be done through TnT express and it will take no more than 3 days. The car will be insured at the shipping company for the transport and the shipping cost is free because my brother work's at the shipping company and he has 1 transportation per year for free. If you are still interested please reply me ASAP.
Thanks
_______________________________________________________
If you want we can do this in this way :
My brother work's at the shipping company and has one transportation per year for free ,The car will be shipped on my expanse, and will be at your door in 2 max 3 days. If you want to continue, please send me your full name and your shipping address so that I will let eBay Protection Program know that you are interested. You will receive an email from them instructing you about how to send payment and
they'll release the funds to me only after you receive and inspect the car. I think that this is a fair way to make business and I hope that you will agree. I don't touch your money until you receive and inspect the car.
Also, I have to let you know that I want the payment prior shipping since I will ship it in the same day or next days the payment is complete .For the moment I can only accept a wire transfer as a payment method and the fastest is Money Gram .Also you have nothing to worry about because this deal will be done in a secure way if you prefer.
In case you will not receive the car as i described to you, eBay will refund you with 100% from the whole amount which you paid to the eBay agent. Even in case you will not receive the car, they will refund you the money. But this is not the case.
You will send the money to eBay Protection Program .I will not see any money until the car is at you.
After you receive and see that the car is the one you want you just notify eBay to forward to me the payment details in order for me to pick up my money. Let me know if this is ok with so we can move forward with this deal!
Regards!
I sent your information at eBay and they will contact you with more information about payment and insurance, also please let me know when they will contact you.
My# 801-386-7224 ask for Brian.
Thanks.
I had several emails with him he sent me his phone number, I did talk to im on the phone. He sent me the title, title was clean, I ran it in car fax everything lined up there too. He was not talking about using an escrow service, {BRIAN} said his brother worked at a trucking company and received 1 free shipping a year.
I still was not comfortable sending money to Canada, but I was still felt he was telling me the truth. He told me he was not comfortable just sending the car to an unknown place, so I agreed to send him half the funds, that was on the 16th. I haven’t herd from him since he received the confirmation number.
Im not letting this go I started a hotmail account. Just for this. If you had the same issue or know of anybody who has please pass this along to them. Please write me I want to compile actual information. I need more evidence to go forward.
Please email me at briancraiglistscams@live.com
Anonymous (not verified)
Why can't anyone catch this
Thu, 2008/04/24 - 10:42Why can't anyone catch this ass hole. I'm in the middle of the same exchange right now and the guy just doesn't get that I'm on to him.
Anonymous (not verified)
i hate scammers
Fri, 2008/04/25 - 15:26i hate scammers
Anonymous (not verified)
Two More Crooks To Watch For.
Fri, 2008/04/25 - 22:59TERRY BROWN (terry_brown04@hotmail.com)
Janet Carrigg (chocofactoryx@gmail.com)
Both of these people are scamming too. I am trying to sell a guitar amplifier and received two different e-mails the same day that I posted the item. The first sending a check for WAY more than the item. I'm asking for $1600 and they sent a check for $4300. The other wants to use a Versa Check. Is there any where that these crooks' email addresses can be submitted?
Anonymous (not verified)
me too
Tue, 2008/05/06 - 15:23guy wanted to buy my chair I bought for $30. I listed of for 10-15 but craigslist removed the dash and showed 1015 so I scammed the scammer!! Haaha
Anonymous (not verified)
Almost Failed the scam test.
Thu, 2008/05/08 - 18:29So here is what I was sent...
On May 4, 2008, at 9:35 PM, Joanne Gunderson wrote:
** 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
i would be very interested if it is still avaliable
Joanne Gunderson
400 Wren Circle
Brookings, SD 57006
THIS IS MY REPLY (I KIND OF BELIEVED IT UNTIL I FOUND THIS SITE; THANKS)...
hi,
Yes the car is still available, but I am currently in the twin cities and wont be in Green Bay,WI until the 16th.
Thank You for you interest
Jon
THEN IT'S REPLY...
On May 6, 2008, at 7:03 PM, Joanne Gunderson wrote:
Thanks for getting back. The easiest way for me to pay for your item is thought Electronic Company Bank Check, draw from my Bank and all what you need for the E-check is to buy Versa 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 or cash the check. I will wait for your bank to verify and clear the E-check before we proceed.
And also don't worry about the shipment, the item will be pick up by Private shipping company.
Joanne Gunderson
Hi,
I would prefer a cashiers check through certified mail. It might take longer, but I'm not going to be home until the 15th. Thank You.
Jon
On May 7, 2008, at 12:47 PM, Joanne Gunderson wrote:
Electronic Company Bank Check
am going to call you,but i don't have calling card right now,so i can only make the payment thought electronic bank 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. The E-check is new technology and is very legit and fast, this is a Verified and Certified Electronic Bank Check. If you know you are still willing to sell the item for me, proceed to purchase the Versal Business check paper, and i will pay for it.
Hi Joanne,
Please call me sometime today or tomorrow so we can discuss the arrangements and understand each others plans.
Thank You
Jon
May 7, 2008 12:49:23 PM
i can only make the payment thought electronic bank 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. The E-check is new technology and is very legit and fast, this is a Verified and Certified Electronic Bank Check. If you know you are still willing to sell the item for me, proceed to purchase the Versal Business check paper, and i will pay for it.
May 8, 2008 she wrote:
The tittle will be sign by the shipper when they get to your place for pickup. And they will also prepare for the remaining shipment paper from your place. so letme know when you have the check paper for me to send the check ASAP.
Thanks
So, Yea, not much to say and these people really need to find a job. Also, thanks to everyone for opening my eyes for this scam
Thank you all.
Anonymous (not verified)
RANDY SMITH SCAM
Sun, 2008/05/11 - 15:14Same with me, woooowwww, this guy has been a scammer since Sept 2006 and the police / authority still can't catch up with him? What a great country we live in ...
I will give him a fake no and address to teach him a lesson, so he can waste his time, producing the check, sending it to a fake address, at least and I hope he learned a lesson.
Here is my case:
Sounds 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
Thanks God Bless You
Here is my full information below
Thanks.
Randy Smith
1412 Clark St
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Fax (337) 680-4010
Anonymous (not verified)
That's hilarious. Not really,
Fri, 2015/05/01 - 12:19That's hilarious. Not really, but I'm from Rock Springs, and that address belongs to a dirt road hillbilly trailer park full of Nascar / bud light fans that sits behind "Steve's Auto Repair". There's no way someone in that park barely speaks English, nor would they have a fax machine. "Randy Smith" is a great name for a hillbilly, but someone with a name like that... they'd also speak better English. Since it's a trailer park, there should have been a lot #. Also, the fax number is way off. Wyoming only has one zip code (307) and the prefixes for Rock Springs are 382 & 362. Little things like this can help you avoid scams in the future. I've also seen them use addresses from real estate sights (where the home is empty and up for sale or rent).
Julie (not verified)
Craigslist Car Scammer
Fri, 2008/12/05 - 07:18UNBELIEVEABLE, I just had the exact same and I mean almost word for word on what was said to you on your car you put on craigslist. When I suggested the wire transfer or money order thing his comment was Am out of state right now, and i don't have that such amount here,and also am not with my check book, so i can only make the payment online through electronic check.
The electronic check is new technology and is very legit and fast, this is a Verified and Certified electronic Bank check for online transaction. If you are still willing to sell this item for me, proceed to purchase the Versal business check paper, for you to receive the payment ASAP.
Regard's
Peter W. Kendig
118 Seaview Lane
Corpus Christi,TX 78411
This is the guys name and e-mail address. I am so glad I ran into this web site and it was totally on accident that I had.
"Peter Kendig"
Thank you for these postings otherwise I would of had no clue that this was a scam.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
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