Legit Buyer? Please advise

[kt223]

reply

i just recieved an email for a purchase of a laptop that im selling off craig's list and i googled the phone number that was sent to me and i came up wtih this site. This is a scam. The name on my email is Jessica Bailey saying she is located out of california. I hope that you did not send what you were selling. Someone else tried to scam me last week saying that she would send me a money gram order then i could send the computer after i recieved payment. I thought it was a little sketchy seeing how she would not tell me her location and offered me more money than i was asking for. I then called MoneyGram to confirm the money order, and yes it was a scam. Luckily i did not send my computer, i tried to call the police but they said that they could not do anything since i was not really "scammed" or out of anything. The name was Idibia Fisher, in case anyone recieves an email from this person.

people are sick!

 

[urm]

Look What I Got

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_____________________________________
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:33:29 -1200
From: brianmoore01@gmail.com
To: urmatoru@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: ALIENWARE Area 51m 7700 series -LOCAL ONLY- - $1600

Hello
I will like to purchase your posted item on craigslist, i will not be able to come look at it at your place due to my tight schedule for now. I'm okay with what i see here,I would be happy in picking up the unit in person at my leisure time but if you are nearby ASHLAND area , KENTUCKY STATE since i work with the King's Daughters Medical Center as a Nurse in their Wound Center Department. If you far from there, it's advisable to make arrangement on how to get the unit shipped via my FedEx account # without you paying for any cost.I will be sending you a postal order via my United States Postal Service (USPS) account because they offers both the seller and buyer protection. All i need inorder to get this done is your full name and mailing addres where payment will arrive after the transaction has been sucessfully approved by the postal service.If you wish to compromise with this payment method , kindly get back to me with all what i requested above inorder to finalize payment immediately and as well explain the process on how you will receive payment via my Post Office account.
P.S:-I will be offerring you $1750.00 inorder to get a suitable box and and proper packaging to prevent damages after shipment since it's a Birthday gift.
As for the shipping, you dont have to pay a dime for it cos i will be responsible for the shipping to destination. Upon approval of payment, i will send you a fed-ex prepaid shipping label to you which you will need for the shipping of the package. I will like to read from you if this is okay by you.
Let me have your full name and address as it will be written on the money order.You can reach me at 559-316-4862
Thanks and best regards

I just called the number on that site and asked if a Gloria Williams (which was the name that appeared in the email) works there, and she doesn't! Furthermore, after inspecting my mail box a little bit more, I found two more women that were willing to give me the exact same deal and who all wrote in bad English:

This one is from "Angela Wills"

I'm high impressed and very satisfied with the condition of this item and the condition of the item has movitated me to offer you $2,100.00 for this item of yours.

I will be making my payment through my Bidpay account in which the money will be delivered to your contact address without being stressed.

For the whole shipping process, all will be done by me via my fedEX account as soon as the payment gets through which you won't be charge. Kindly get back to me with your full name, address and phone number, so we can proceed with the transaction as soon as today.

I look forward to hear from you.

Warmest Regards,
Angela

This one from "Jessica Bailey"

Thanks for your email I find your item much irresistible so i feel
the need to negotiate with you on the sale of this item or more unit if
available. i am sorry to say that i am new to craigslist.org and i never
shop online this is my first time of being here. I need the item urgently so
i can meet the sales targetted for the year 2007. I have an offer that i
hope you will grant. I am ready to pay for the item immediately with an
offer of $2100 for it plus your buy it now price/reserve price without
delay. I will handle the shipping charges with the companys' FedEx discount
account. For faster transaction and immediate payment, do provide your info,
name, address and phone number. I will be making payment via United Staes
Postal Order (USPS) . and as soon as you are 100% confirmed of your money i
will then send for the pick up immediately..you can reach me at 559-316-4862
so i will be waiting for your reply as soon as possible,i will be expecting
your email soon.

All these emails from different people are being highlighted blue by Apple Mail. Hmm... same person? Also you get a strange feeling that these names are "too generic" and I think female names were chosen specifically to "let my guard down." Notice the bad English, and the urgent if not desperate tone.

I'm getting chills because I already gave this bastard my full name and phone in previous emails, prompting him to gimme a call to clarify the deal a little bit more. No calls thus far. But with a full name and number, is there anyway I can get screwed?

 

[tonyshucraft]

when dealing with people that are scamming me I enjoy seriously ****ing with them.a Not just with electronics but other things(web cam crap).

It's fun to get on MSN and screw around and see what stupid reactions you get from a bot.

of course you could make this to where you get the check, and verify it. There should be some way. If it's fake. Then do all you can to find there IP, and whatever you can. Take the ********s to court. Have fun.

 

[JNB]

If you even have to ask...

Meanwhile, there's a lot of fun to be had viewing this place...

 

[aethelbert]

You could always try a "p-p-p-powerbook" response to them. But it would be better if the "buyer" had to pay import tax, which probably doesn't apply here.

 

[tonyshucraft]

You could always try a "p-p-p-powerbook" response to them. But it would be better if the "buyer" had to pay import tax, which probably doesn't apply here.

heh, the OP could say that they'd have to pick it up in Canada or something.

 

[dallas112678]

Nope.

I would never do that unless it's an addy of a restaurant I'm willing to go to make the trade. But honestly, are they really expecting that somebody's actually gonna give them their address?

Have you seen that Chris Hanson special "to catch an identity thief?" Its actually pretty common for many American's to get scammed and alot of the scammers are from Africa. Pretty interesting special, one guy actually believes that a supermodel is starting a buisness and he is the buisness partner, and the whole time hes spending thousands to ship merchandise to Nigeria.

 

[ahaley1986]

it seems you figured out it was a scam, but just for future reference to all i had something very similar happen to me. i was selling a guitar on craigslist and the guy sent me a similar email to the one superspiffy received. he sent me the money order and "accidentally" overpaid me and asked me to return the extra money with the guitar. for some reason, i was dumb that day and almost sent him everything, but then realized something wasn't right. turns ou, a week later the bank calls me and the money orders are no good. thank god i didn't ship it. it's apparently a very common practice

 

[bfpower]

Just got the same email

Trying to sell my latest build. Thanks for the heads up - I was about to email them and tell them I would only take PayPal (which would have solved the issue) but I'm glad to not have to worry about it.

 

[queshy]

1000% scam.

Why would he offer you more than you're asking? Hah.

And if you have to ask - it means you're not sure - and it's always best to go with your gut.