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.
Contents:
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Car scam, paying by cheque
Tue, 2009/01/13 - 22:34Well, it seems Im not the only one then. This guy wanted me to send the car to Hong Kong (which I think its not even possible due to car being right hand drive)
First email was "Hi, Im interested in buying the [insert the title of my listing here] Is it still available?"
My reply was "Yes, its still available. What city are you in?"
Next email from him: "lm in hongkong lm payin with check are u ok with it,if ok by u can send me ur postal address that i can send it to.....thanks"
Didnt even ask me if the car started ! or the kms !! LOL I didnt know I was so trustworthy that people would send me thousands of dollars so easily, haha. Even if I hadn't heard of this kind of scam before its too obvious what he's doing.
One thing I will never do again is list anything on craigslist...
This is the guys email btw, so everyone can watch out
clarkson morgan (clarksonmorgan@gmail.com )
Anonymous (not verified)
Craigs List Versa Check Scam
Wed, 2009/01/14 - 01:47Happened to me too. What is funny is I asked him to call me and all he did was send back the same email. Total scam.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Scott [mailto:scott_20@live.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 8:11 PM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: the Pool Slide - $700 (Edmond, OK)
Hello,
Sounds good, i would like to purchase it from you as soon as possible. (I am intrested and ready to buy it now) . will want you to provide me more pictures of this item.The easiest way for me to pay is probably E-Check from my Bank.I know there are a lot of scams so I have no problem with you waiting for the E-Check to go through atyoubank or anything.here is a thing from the E-Check: You will probably need to buy Versal Business Check paper, at any store below in your area,
(1) Shopping Mall
(2) Stationery Store
(3) Office Depot
(4)Office max
(5)WalMart
(6)Staples
For $20.Once you purchase the Versal Business Check paper.I will email you the check and you will have it printed.then proceed to your bank and cash or deposite it.I will wait for your bank to verify and clear the Echeck before we proceed with shipment.As my Bank Operator informed me that it will clear immidiately at your bank as it was from my global account with.Which is Conforms to All American Banking Association rules and standards this is to stop C.O.D.The item will be pickup by my private shipping company,so you don't have to worry about the shipment.
Please Email me back and let me know if this helps
Best Regards
scott joe
128 Seaview Lane
Corpus Christi,TX 78411
Anonymous (not verified)
scam
Thu, 2009/01/15 - 12:01I also got an e-mail about my baby grand piano that I Listed on Craig's list. He or she used the name "Don Williams" and the fax number was 337-680-4010 St. Martinville ,LA 70582.Almost word for word of what everyone else is writing. Trying to say the Bank of america cashier check is legit and just get a versa check and after it clears the bank he'll send private shippers to get the piano. I didn't respond to him after that.
Anonymous (not verified)
Looks like the guys name is
Thu, 2009/01/15 - 12:14Looks like the guys name is Wesley Brown, email address is brownwesley76@yahoo.ca its a scam I guess. To bad. Heres the email I got back from him below.......
From: Wesley Brown (brownwesley76@yahoo.ca)
Sent: Thu 1/15/09 3:26 PM
To: E M
Alright, i am a business man who buy vehicles here in Canada and export them oversea's for sale. I do hope the vehicle runs well, i know buying a vehicle, there should be one or two things i have to fix to make it entise my customer's oversea's, but i dont want a vehicle that has
engine or transmission problems.
I would love to come see and test drive the vehicle now, but i am so busy this period, as some of my containal's occupied with vehicle's will be living
soon, So i am busy inspecting them why they are been loaded. Also the weather is not freindly this period. So i will prefer to send you a CHEQUE for the vehicle's payment. I will send it to you with UPS, which will be deliver to you the next day.. After
recieving it, you will take it to your bank and cash it. After cashing it, then you will notify me. Before i will come pick up the vehicle. If you are ok with that,
then you have to provide me with:
(1) The name you want the Cheque to be on?
(2) The address i should send it to by UPS?
I await your reply, thanks.
Wesley Brown.
--- On Thu, 1/15/09, E M <> wrote:
From: E M <>
Subject: RE: Reply to your "Toyota Celica 02 for sale." Ad on Kijiji
To: brownwesley76@yahoo.ca
Received: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 2:33 PM
Hey Wesley, yes it has a toyota vvti engine with, all regular scheduled maintenance done and no transmission problems. Sure I will take your offer.
Give me a call, when you have time
From: post@kijiji.ca
To:
Subject: Reply to your "Toyota Celica 02 for sale." Ad on Kijiji
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:43:02 -0700
You've received the following reply to your "Toyota Celica 02 for sale." Ad on Kijiji:
From: brownwesley76@yahoo.ca
Hello, my name is Wesley Brown , i am interested in buying your vehicle.... Does the vehicle has engine or transmission problems? Your AD show's that you want $11,500.00 for the vehicle. But i can offer $11,300.00 if the engine and transmission works fine. If you are ok with my offer, please reply my email, Thanks.
Jer (not verified)
Opinions on what I think is a
Thu, 2009/01/15 - 19:07Opinions on what I think is a guy trying to scam me....
Thanks for responding to my mail, And i hope is okay has you said. I will like to continue with the purchase. My payment will be with Cashier's check and will be sent to you via UPS nextday air.And this is the information that i need from you.
(1) NAME
(2)ADDRESS
(3)NUMBER
As regarded the shipping, my shipper will handle the shipment once we agree on the deal and as soon as my payment gets to you. I will so make your payment in overdraft such that it will cover the cost for shipping and the cost of the Item. You will however have to contact my shipper with the difference of the fund for the shipping after you must have got my check cashed. I need your Name and Address with # to make the check outso that I can have it sent tomorrow. Hopefully we can conclude this transactio.This really has to do with Honesty and Trust.
Thanks for your Understanding and coperation.
Thanks
Dave Muro
Managing Director
Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival
Orlando, Florida
Anonymous (not verified)
I AM SELLING A PLASMA ON EBAY
Mon, 2009/01/19 - 22:38I AM SELLING A PLASMA ON EBAY AND I RECIEVED ALMOST THE SAME EMAIL
HERE IS A COPY
From: lorifranc49@hotmail.com
hello
I am interested to purchase it from you asap,I will arrange the pick-up when you must have gotten your cash at hand.The easiest way for me to pay is through (Electronic-Check).E-Check is simply a check delivery service that endorse and guarantee check delivery through E-mail that can be printed with the use of Business Check Paper.I have no problem with you waiting for the Check to go through in your bank or anything.
You will probably need to purchase a Business Check Paper for printing of the check,it's sold for ($20) at any Stationery store's,Office Depot/Max or Staples.I will re-reimburse you for the cost of supplies to your asking price.Currently,I can't get around to mail a check.Kindly purchase the Business Check Paper then email me your name and address with valid email address for the E-Check Payment with steps to print it immediately.
Lori.
Anonymous (not verified)
scammer
Tue, 2009/01/20 - 08:49This is comical, I am selling a generator on Craigslist and Erik_Harris23@hotmail.com asked if I still had it. Then I received this:
Sounds Good.
I want to purchase the item today and pay you via Electronic Cashier Check drawn from my Bank account it is a real cashiers check after you print it. The check will be sent to you immediately via email all you need to do is purchase a Business check paper at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check on and immediately when you print the check proceed to your Bank to deposit or Cash it,the Business check paper cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the Business check paper to print the check.The item will be picked up from you by my Company shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also I will wait for you to confirm and clear the check before the shipper come to pickup the item from you actually I should have handled this myself but i am not available to do that now i am currently away for my Company seminar that is why i want you to do this and i will pay you $50 to purchase the Business check paper to print the check.This is the fastest and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Business check paper all this process of printing and cashing of the E-check can be done within 2 hours.
Thanks
Anonymous (not verified)
erik_harris23@hotmail.com - SCAM
Sat, 2009/01/31 - 08:42I also received this e-mail:
Sounds Good.
I want to purchase the item today and pay you via Electronic Cashier Check drawn from my Bank account it is a real cashiers check after you print it. The check will be sent to you immediately via email all you need to do is purchase a Business check paper at any Office depot or stationary store to print the check on and immediately when you print the check proceed to your Bank to deposit or Cash it,the Business check paper cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the Business check paper to print the check.The item will be picked up from you by my Company shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also I will wait for you to confirm and clear the check before the shipper come to pickup the item from you actually I should have handled this myself but i am not available to do that now i am currently away for my Company seminar that is why i want you to do this and i will pay you $50 to purchase the Business check paper to print the check.This is the fastest and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Business check paper all this process of printing and cashing of the E-check can be done within 2 hours.
Thanks
Scott R (not verified)
Craigs
Tue, 2009/01/20 - 10:07Sounds Good,
I am okay with the price and condition and my mode of payment will be via Bank Certified Check which will be drawn on Bank Of America,Do not worry about the shipment fees i will handle the shipment via my private shipping company,they will prepare all shipment document and it will also be insured by them after the check has been verify and clear at your bank,the check will be mail via Fedex or DHL 2nd day delivery in which i will need your full name and address to mail out the check to you today,once you received the check you can proceed to your bank and have the check deposited into your account, i will wait for your bank to verify and clear the check before we proceed with the shipping,if this is okay by you, you can proceed to take off the advert on craigslist because i don't want any other interruption by another buyer,so get back to me with your full name and address to mail out the check to you today.
Thanks
Barb Roman
Rock Springs, WY
Scott R (not verified)
Craigs
Tue, 2009/01/20 - 10:11You can add me to the list that received an e-mail from"Barb". The fist contact from "Barb" came within 2 hrs of my post.
Sounds Good,
I am okay with the price and condition and my mode of payment will be via Bank Certified Check which will be drawn on Bank Of America,Do not worry about the shipment fees i will handle the shipment via my private shipping company,they will prepare all shipment document and it will also be insured by them after the check has been verify and clear at your bank,the check will be mail via Fedex or DHL 2nd day delivery in which i will need your full name and address to mail out the check to you today,once you received the check you can proceed to your bank and have the check deposited into your account, i will wait for your bank to verify and clear the check before we proceed with the shipping,if this is okay by you, you can proceed to take off the advert on craigslist because i don't want any other interruption by another buyer,so get back to me with your full name and address to mail out the check to you today.
Thanks
Barb Roman
Rock Springs, WY
Pages