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
Jane (not verified)
CraigsList Scam
Sat, 2007/09/01 - 10:58Thank you very much for taking time to post your experiences. I received the same boilerplate email through the Portland CraigList. I knew it sounded hokey, so searched and found this site. It was great to so quickly have my suspicions confirmed.
Anonymous (not verified)
Check scam, probably from Al Qaida.
Sun, 2007/09/02 - 11:11I got similar Email while trying to sell my bike from a Seth Lorsen it read:
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 probably 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.
Thanks
I noticed this Email is like another on this page. I still dont really get it. So do you get the money after they skim or what? I reported this freak and their is nothing that can really be done. I think if you are smart and no when something sounds to good, dont do it.
Anonymous (not verified)
same scam!
Sat, 2009/01/03 - 16:51I got this yesterday.
Craigslist Item!!!
from: dave muro(davemuro5@hotmail.com)
date: 2009. 1. 2 fri pm 1:15:31
to:
Good Day
I want to purchase the item today and would like to pay you via Electronic Cashier Check drawn from my Bank of America 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 of this Below listed store to purchase Business check paper :-
(1) Office Depot
(2) Office Max
(3) Stationery store
(4) Staples Store
(5) Shopping Mall
(6) Compusa
to print the check on and immediately when you print the check proceed to your Bank to 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 currently on a Business trip with the company that wants to send you the check. 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 and get it cashed .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. Please provide me with your full name and address as soon as you have bought the check paper and give me your last price again ok?
Dave Muro
Managing Director
Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival
Orlando, Florida
Anonymous (not verified)
THANKS TO YOU, NO SCAM HERE...
Fri, 2009/02/06 - 10:26I received this e-mail today for an item I had for sale on Craigslist. Just because the grammar was so poor I decided to google the dude and found this website. Hope this helps someone else...
Good day
i am interested in buying your Item . I wish I could be there in person but I am very Busy right now . I will like to know if you
would accept acertified cashier check for the payment of the Item,i also
need to know your full name and address including your phone
is also needed in which payment will be sent to . I am in no hurry about
this . as soon as you get the check just proceed and deposit it for proper
clearing at the bank . Concerning the shipping, i have a shipping
company who takes cares of my shippment .So don't bother about the
shippment. The check would be sent in Excess funds to Cover the shipment of
the Item and we would not deal on that Untill check clears at your bank .
when the check has cleared then you shall proceed and send the excess
funds to my shipper Via moneygram at a near by walmart store so they can come for the Pickup of the item .I will also
like to know if is still in good condition and shape.urgent response is needed for procedure of payment of the Item
BEST REGARD
Dave Muro
Managing Director
Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival
Orlando, Florida
Gopi. (not verified)
Same operandi but for phones - - check this below two emails
Tue, 2007/09/04 - 23:16Subject: Payment Error.
Hi,
How are you today? Good i hope, I just wanna use this time to let you know that the payment has been posted out to you by my client, But there was a little problem on the payment. a payment of $2,500 was mistakenly sent to you, and can not be stopped, Now i am urging you to please honor the package when it arrives and take it to your Bank for cash, And when you have the fund in hand, you will need to deduct your fund from it, and then send back the remaining $2,000 balance back to a Charity home which i will be given you the Coordinator's information of where you will be sending the money back to through the Western Union Money Transfer because i do work for a.
You will be getting the payment between now and Thursday, please email me back and let me know if this can be a done deal, and i will trust you till you have the payment, here's the information of where the payment was posted to as follows:
-----
-----
-----
$2,500
Please email me back and let me know if everything is correct and if i can trust you on this.
Ellaine
Hello,
My Name is Shola Adewun an IT specialist based and worked in Montreal Canada. i have intrest in buying your posted item on craigslist and the price is very ok by me. I would have preferred to get your money to you in person and inspect the item, but due to distance between us i will not be able to make your payment in person. I will get your money out to you through WESTERN UNION Money Transfer and your money will be available to be cleared at any western union payment outlet. To get the money cleared you will go to western union payment outlet with the payment control number (MTCN) and the answer to the test question, this are the information you need to get the fund cleared at the western union payment office. Before i will be able to send your money out to western union you will need to get back to me with your needed info for payment (name,location address and valid phone number), this are your info to make your payment with western union
I will be expecting your email.
Concerning the shipping and handling of the package, i will take care of that with my shipping account with courier. Just let me know with your needed info to make your payment with western union in good time.
Thanks...
Anonymous (not verified)
Please remove my address
Thu, 2008/03/13 - 07:15Hi,
This is Gopinath Srinivasa Reddy., I was supposed to be a victim of this Scam Fraud.
I have posted this below Scam Mail., I forget to take down my address., I appreciate if you could remove my address for my confidentiality.
Thanks for your help.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same operandi but for phones - - check this below two emails
Submitted by Gopi. (not verified) on Tue, 2007/09/04 - 23:16.
Subject: Payment Error.
Hi,
How are you today? Good i hope, I just wanna use this time to let you know that the payment has been posted out to you by my client, But there was a little problem on the payment. a payment of $2,500 was mistakenly sent to you, and can not be stopped, Now i am urging you to please honor the package when it arrives and take it to your Bank for cash, And when you have the fund in hand, you will need to deduct your fund from it, and then send back the remaining $2,000 balance back to a Charity home which i will be given you the Coordinator's information of where you will be sending the money back to through the Western Union Money Transfer because i do work for a.
You will be getting the payment between now and Thursday, please email me back and let me know if this can be a done deal, and i will trust you till you have the payment, here's the information of where the payment was posted to as follows:
Address
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
$2,500
Please email me back and let me know if everything is correct and if i can trust you on this.
Ellaine
Khalid
Done
Sat, 2008/03/15 - 11:15Address is now removed.
--
Khalid Baheyeldin
Anonymous (not verified)
damn scammers
Fri, 2007/09/07 - 07:54i've recieved the exact same email as a few of you mine came from bizebony9999@hotmail.com under the name Barry Johnson, i refused to send him any info and asked him how stupid he thinks people are if he's using the exact same email on everyone and expects us not to find out about them. not to mention the fact that people post on a .craisglist.com site and the "person" wanting to buy it claim to be in another state...why the hell would someone from madison wisconsin be reading the stlouis craigslist.
John (not verified)
Me Too B
Mon, 2009/09/07 - 14:52I placed a car on craiglist and received the following From: Barry Johnson :
Hello,
The Payment has been mailed.
It will get to your address within 3 to 5 business days via USPS postal service.The payment will get to you with the fund to cover your payment and also shipment.This is because the amount I placed with my company is refund for a cancelled order and being a refund it can only be written on a single check.Futhermore i informed you in my previous e-mail that I am currently away from home as i work Crewing Manager in a ship so will not have time for pick up in person.
The shipping co agent will handle the pick up when you must have gotten your cash at hand.I am in no rush with you till payment has been cleared in your bank.The balance will be sent to the shipping co,so they will be able to offset shipping & tax charges, on pick up. You can delete the advert today then write me back when payment has been received via USPS postal service.
I will await your response asap.
Regards.
BJ
Anonymous (not verified)
I had a similar interest from
Fri, 2011/06/24 - 15:31I had a similar interest from a "Barry Johnson." I was dumb enough to proceed with the whole thing.
He sent me $2,500 via a bank certified check. I deposited the amount, took out $800 for my vehicle, and forwarded the remaining balance to his "vehicle mover."
The next day, he emailed me w/ some ridiculous story about how his uncle was in a car accident, and he cannot proceed with the vehicle purchase.
Now, he is asking for a refund of $600, and allowing me to keep $200 for breaching our 'contract.'
Not really sure what the downside is yet for me (I get $200, and am able to sell my car still)... I'll try to update once I find out what happens next.
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