note:I had this post on another blog, but decided to move it to this blog dedicated to craigslist scams. All of the content is the original, but due to database issues, I had to just copy & paste the post and comments into this single post.
It is still beneficial and I do encourage people to still post comments and note the names/emails of the scammers that have contacted them. Many have found this post and have validated their concerns of a scam, so keep helping the community.
Original post date: May 6, 2008
So, we all know that the web is vulnerable, including those who use it. Sites such as Craigslist is a hive full of scams. They present warnings in their site and emails, which should be followed! Accept cash only!
Who the hell uses checks anymore anyways? With services like PayPal and the ever popular credit card, why waste more paper?
I just want to expose a scam that I recently was introduced to. I had some items for sale on craigslist. I had a rapid reply from a “Tracy Ramirez,” with this email address: tracieramz01@gmail.com . (I simply do not care about exposing it on the www) Her from name related to this account is spelled Tracy, which already was suspicious. “She” was anxious to make sure that I remove the items from the site and that she was going to buy them for sure.
She did not live locally though and requested if she could send a check and have her mover pick the items up. I was feeling skeptical again, does she just have a mover that runs around to pick up her shit? Anyways, I wanted to play this one, so I said I would only accept a certified cashier’s check from a reliable bank. She said that was cool and no problem, and she would have her secretary mail out the check right away via UPS. I did provide her my address which is no real secret anyways.
She then emailed me at 2:00a (MST) and I thought that was weird. She said her secretary made a mistake and accidentally wrote the check out for $2200 instead of $200. Quite a mistake “secretary.” This was getting way too fishy now, but I kept going with it. This was the major topper here… She also noted in her email that she would entrust in me to cash the check, and to wire the extra money to her mover which she was already needed to pay anyways, and for me to take an extra $100 for myself for the troubles. I looked up Craigslist scams and sure enough, found a report of this exact tactic. I finally notified her and canceled the transaction, while exposing the scam and my acknowledgment of it and never heard from her again.
You can find it here:
http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=20050810/a>
The scam is that some banks would actually cash the check. The scam artist (use that term loosely) does not care about the product, but hopes you will wire the money, and then by the time the bank realizes it was a fraudulent check, the cash is already gone. Why would I wire the money to a mover that was supposed to come pick up the items anyways?
By the way, my skepticism actually came pretty early when her emails seemed to have been automated or poorly written, especially for someone who has a secretary. I mean, I’m not a perfect writer myself, but if you’re in a position to have your own secretary, get some writing and grammar skills! Her emails would note the items exactly how I had it in the item title, like it was copied and pasted. I had a pair of items, so I noted “2 x,” in the title.
Here are some of her emails (I changed the item name only for this post)
Hello XXX,
Thanks for that! I would contact my secretary to mail out your payment first thing in the morning and once she gets back to me i would provide you with the shipping tracking number via UPS,also kindly keep the 2x Items – by: X Manufactuer in good condition till you receive the check and it clears so my mover could comedown for the pickup once all transaction has gone smoothly.
Also my company information would come along the packge
Thanks and would keep you posted.
Here is another
Hello XXX,
How was your day?Thanks for the update,But I want you to understand that the deal is on and my secretary as posted the payment promptly, but there was a little problem which i guess we can handle with care while i contacted her to confirm if the UPS was alright,but to understand that its actually as been sent and but instead of the actually amount $200 for the 2x Items,She made out the check for $2200 she claim that was what i requested but she didn’t get that straight on that.
The payment was already posted before i was inform about this but i wouldn’t want this to delay the sale as i have rectify this with my Bank and all you do once you have the payment is to take it to you Bank and have it cashed and if you would deposit it to clear just to give you no hassle on this transaction and you will then deduct the money for you good plus a $100.
The excess fund on the payment will then be wired to my mover via western union that same days so that he can come for pick up as i already plan on using the excess on the payment to offset the cost of the various shipments he as undertaken on my behalf.Do let me know if i can trust you to have the excess sent to my mover.Thanks.
Regards,
Tracy
Here is the info about the check and addresses sent to me. Unfortunately I can’t scan it right now since there are no current drivers for my old Canon N650U and OS X Leopard. Just to let you know, it is one of the poorest attempts at a fraudulent check I have ever seen. Almost anybody can print on check formatted stationary and they did. Pretty lame production on it.
The from address is Florida
TRACYRAMZ SUPERMARKET (same as email address pretty much)
1794 22nd St
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712
Info on check is California: (which is has a website: http://pahaque.com/ and I ‘m not sure if they have anything to do with this or not, so please do not reflect this scam towards their business. They were probably taken advantage of by this inconsiderate person)
Paha Que Wilderness Inc.,
13202 Stowe Dr. Suite F
Poway, CA 92054
CITIBANK WEST (which is an actual location)
740 Lomas Santa Fe Dr.
Solona Beach, CA 92075
So, just accept cash only and local inquiries.
214 Responses to “Craigslist Scam : Cash ONLY!”
- also tried to scam me
June 12th, 2008 at 10:45 pmTracy Ramirez tried to scam me as well. She used the address tracyramirez02@gmail.com. Pretty much the exact same email text as you posted above. Luckily, my friend had warned me against scammers on Craigslist, and I didn’t have to deal with the consequences. I told her that her “deal” sounded like a scam and that I would not cash her check.It’s so frustrating and annoying that criminals like “Tracy” are out there, ruining perfectly good online experiences. - Brandi
September 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pmIt’s going around with someone named Andy Ford [basicdinstict1859@gmail.com]
also using this email:
Andy Ford [laurenharry10@gmail.com] - Bonnie
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pmbeware of someone else scamming on Craigs List his name is:Benson Collins
[mailto:kokobenson22@gmail.com]I also have Tracy Ramirez emailing me.
The grammar in their emails are the same.
- Doug
September 29th, 2008 at 6:02 amTracy tried to scam me too, as did someone by the name of Williams Perron, who couldn’t talk on the phone because he is a “stammerer”. These people are sick. - William
October 12th, 2008 at 10:28 pmI was contacted today by Andy Ford laurenharry11@gmail.com and basicdinstict1859@gmail.com wanting to buy my item on craigslist, he would pay by check and when check cleared, he would have his movers come pick up the piece, when I wanted his phone number so we could discuss, he informed me he was on a mission and could not talk for conversations were being monitored. He would have secretary issue a check and when he returns in 3 weeks, I could let mover come and pick up item. I am so thankful for this information, saved allot of grief and woe.We can only pray for these people. Sincerely, William - Shawn D
November 30th, 2008 at 3:24 pmAndy Ford was trying to get me. My story is close to many others. I felt something was up…Thank you for blogs and such and all those who contibute. - kb
December 5th, 2008 at 10:19 amThis is what my wife received
watch outThanks for getting back to me..I really appreciate your response to my
earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to
meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need
you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or office address.
3.Your phone number.Hope to hear back from you.
- Sam
December 8th, 2008 at 11:10 amWow. That is identical to whats happening to me now. I’m in the middle of this “transaction”. I’m gonna send them a virus! HA!!! - Bette
December 16th, 2008 at 9:07 pmAndy Ford gave me the same “on a mission” crap as well. He wanted my phone number, address, etc. and would have his secretary send a check for the item and his mover would pick it up once the check cleared. Riiiight. Thanks for having this info online. - Greg B
January 5th, 2009 at 11:12 amAndy Ford tried me too. Same mover bullshot. I told him to have the mover just bring cash and the was the end of it. - keith
January 26th, 2009 at 3:49 pmNot sure the location of where this is happening to everyone else but it happened this week in Raleigh, NC area with Andy Ford – this time using address ,4better4good@gmail.com>. Is there any recourse to stop this kind of thing? - Nick
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pmLookout for Karen Yates as well.kyates0001@ymail.comWhat a bunch of assholes.
- Brenda
February 4th, 2009 at 7:29 amAndy Ford also tried to scam me. Same emails as i’m seeing above.
Goes by: AndyFord78@gmail.com
and, believe it or not . . .
livinggod25@gmail.comThis scumbag will burn in hell, surely.Also, there is morris benson & princess morris, another scumbag whom i wish would send me his fingerprints so we could put him/her/whatever IT is, in JAIL where they all belong!
- Larry Smith
February 7th, 2009 at 8:19 amYou know, guys, Those are all fake names. - LEE WISE
February 12th, 2009 at 4:39 pmI GOT THE SCAM TOO! ANDY FORD 2,200.
CRAIGSLIST. EVEN GOT “A CHECK” FROM UPS TODAY. TRULY FAKE - Rashmi
February 16th, 2009 at 12:01 amAny ford now goes by another email ID and has not quite done his research yet on how not to scam
..he pretty much tried to pull the same one on me for my washing machine and dryer ..Andy Fords – new ID – livinggod2s@gmail.com - Buddy
February 19th, 2009 at 9:01 pmHey, this happened to me. Andy Ford is on the loose again. His new email address isBetterHarvest009@gmail.com . Watch out people. Thanks for the info, saved me from a pain in the ass thing. Someone should really get this guy. - artistiq
February 21st, 2009 at 8:07 pmThere was a reply that mentioned that these are fake names. Which is most likely correct. It is still good to get these names out, as criminals are idiots and tend to make mistakes, like using the same name (alias) again.Some people have asked if there is anything we can do, officially or legally, about this fraud. Well, I’m not a lawyer nor a police officer, and the with the internet, comes a lot responsibility and crime. It is almost impossible for authorities to handle every single instance of illegal activity on the web and I have no idea how they attack it.I really don’t think the police really care about a few hundred dollars stolen here, another hundred there, or if someone got scammed on Craig’s Lists. There are no legal contracts that bind anyone in the transaction to anything. So proof, evidence, and contracts do not exist, so prosecuting is difficult. It is easy to fake a lot of things, including identity. As much as I would like to do something about it, I really do not think there is much except for educating the users out there and hope nobody gets taken advantage of. But if you can report it, then please do, and let me know what happens.
I got my car broken into and my stereo stolen, along with many other items. When I notified the authorities, they asked if my ignition was tampered with. It was not, so grand theft auto was ruled out. A $400 stereo, $200 window, and $200 of tools, skateboard, and misc. items was not enough to draw the cops out to the scene. They told me to file a report online and I received a postcard a few weeks later confirming the report. I sort of understand this, as there are not enough cops to handle these “minuscule” and “non-serious” cases. And if they did attempt to go after the criminals, what and how could they do it? Small jacks like this happen daily everywhere, and many get away with it, because they know there will probably not be a penalty, because nobody is going after them.
It is way too easy to commit crimes on the internet, so each user needs to take necessary precautions, protecting yourself, your personal information, and especially your credit card info.
Here are some steps you can take to be safer online:
1) Dealing with well known sources and businesses is key. If a deal looks too good to be true, then research that business and read reviews.
2) Dealing with secured sites for credit card transactions – look for the verification, but beware, some of these could be faked. Use a well establish transaction option such as PayPal or Google Checkout.
3) When using Craig’s List, be aware of the site’s warnings of possible scams and fraud. When they recommend cash only and deal locally, there are many reasons why. Even if the check is handed to you, it still could be counterfeit.
4) Do not provide your info to just anyone. Make sure that any login or authentication came from the actual site you are dealing with. Pop up windows for phishing occur everywhere.
5) Use Visa/Mastercard/Amex giftcards if possible or under sketchy situations. If you’re not sure and for some reason you need to make a transaction, then go get a credit card gift card and use that.
- Lola Smith
February 24th, 2009 at 8:20 amWilliams Perron (billye103@gmail.com) tried this with me too. Hopefully people will google him like I did to find out it’s a scam! - Duder
February 25th, 2009 at 3:09 pmAndy Ford is trying to scam me right now.New e-mail address: inch2123@gmail.com - visitor
March 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pmGoing by Andy Ford now. Here is the ext of what I was sent:Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check due to the distance as currently out of town.I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential
3.Your phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping
i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check**Thanks
Have a nice day - Tim
March 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pmHA! I just got the exact same email from “Eddie Palmer”. Thank goodness for Google and for scammers too lazy to change the wording of their emails. Saved me a lot of trouble. Thanks! - Steven
March 17th, 2009 at 12:55 amheyy i almost got sammed on craigslist.??? from jackrobinson…i have a question tho if the check was fake?? couldnt you just take it to the bank it was drawn from??? they wouldnt cash it correct??? because its drawn from the bank they would be able to tell if it was real right??
like the check he sent me is from citizes bank if i took that to the citizens bank wouldnt they be able to tell if it was fake????????????please emial me i odnt want to get caought up in some ass olz scam?? - Brad
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 pmYes, This scam is getting really old. Keep posting the emails, names, etc of these jack asses it helps other’s you don’t know! - Aaron
March 28th, 2009 at 2:21 pmJust happened to me today but I googled it first once I saw the request for the Cashiers Check…I wrote back and told William Perron to F*** off.Thanks for everyone posting this type of info it saved me today. - Anke
April 1st, 2009 at 6:04 amEddie Palmer was trying to pull the same deal on me (4better4good@gmail.com). He used the exact same message as the one above. Seems to be cutting and pasting his messages. - debbie
April 1st, 2009 at 7:54 pmWell Andy Ford is still at it. Tried to scam me today. Almost fell for it until I googled him and saw this information. Thanks to all you. - Allan
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:52 pmMake sure that you type scam or rip off after each search name you make.
Here in MN we are very Careful.
Allan
http://www.BestProfitsLeaders.com - Gemini Kelso
April 8th, 2009 at 4:04 pmBeware of Jerry James, nice4real001@gmail.com.
Same scam (2200, mover, deduct 100 for your troubles) slightly different back story - Jenn
April 9th, 2009 at 10:46 amAndy Ford is one of the classics… I almost got scammed by him…and when I confronted him – he e-mailed me back that I should go over there(wherever there is) and suck his big d—, along with other lovely profanities…
The new kid on the block is Defoe Beckham… beware – if it’s not Andy Fort – he sounds exactly like him… - Bob
April 13th, 2009 at 9:46 amI got the same text from a Kevin Wheeler. Upon a further request for a Paypal or other means of payment I was told it would be business check. I cancelled it at that point.
Nice to have this information here. - Heather Burchfield
April 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pmEddie Palmer just sent me an e-mail with the same exact e-mails that you all are talking about. Too bad I didn’t think to check him out until I sent him my name, number, and address. That kinda creeps me out that he has that info about me. Good thing I’m moving soon. - Darren
April 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pmJust had a similar experience with Eddie Palmer, and a new on from Dan David. Same story. Very odd text. Don’t deal with anyone except in person and with cash. - Elizabeth Roberts
April 20th, 2009 at 2:16 amYep, same here. From “Eddie Palmer,” “Janet Flakes,” and “Deborah Smith.” All identical wording. Why can’t craigslist do something about this? - artistiq
April 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pmIt is difficult for Craigslist to monitor and control all activity on the site. It is a free service with minimal resources available.It does suck that people are trying to take advantage of the site’s vulnerabilities and the users on it, but it comes with the territory. They do provide tips and services to help prevent it, but it will never completely remove that behavior.Not even eBay is 100% full proof, but they do try their best as well with tools like th rating system.
Just be careful if you are using Craigslist and and if anything sounds too good to be true or suspicious to the slightest extent, then be suspicious.
- Stephen King
April 21st, 2009 at 4:21 amRead the above. Got a similar request from a Joel Sutton. Gonna send me a cashiers check. Wants me to send money to his Mover via Western Union.Sounds fishy to me. - Brad
May 7th, 2009 at 6:50 pmThanks for posting this stuff . where do youturn them in on craaigslist , couldn’t find anywhere for Andy ford’s scam? Thanks I found this and feel better - Tony
May 19th, 2009 at 2:23 pmAvoid rolland.jeff81@gmail.com. Same story as comments above. - Brad
May 26th, 2009 at 12:28 pmI think this one is trying to scam me but I have no proof. This is just my opinion.I replied back to this email address letting them know I still had an item for sale on craigslist.com and this was the email I got in return from:Hello, iam happy that you still have it available,i really like the i saw on craigslist and i think the price is okay, but i will be paying you via cashier check or money order because iam a very busy therefore will not be able to come and pick it up myself but i have a personal shipping company that has been handling my shipment since. But i will need your name that will be on the check and your address where you can receive the check through courier service. Also the payment i will send will include the shipper money this you will help me send to them through western union money transfer so that they can contact you as soon as possible for the pick up.All the charges you will incure in sending it will also be deducted from the payment i will send to you. Get back to me if you are okay with this
_________________ END OF EMAIL ____________________
I replied back and told them to tell me how much the check would be made out for including shipping and the address they wanted it shipped to and maybe I could arrange shipping. I have not heard back anything.
________________ ANOTHER ATTEMPT ? ________________
I was also contacted by josephinesmith000@gmail.com but they have not returned any emails. I am not sure about that email address but it is a gmail.com address.
I would say beware of gmail.com addresses wouldn’t you but that is just my opinion.
- Mike
May 30th, 2009 at 12:06 pmTook a moving job where the owner was out of the country and he sends you a check for $4300, asks you to deduct $500 for yourself, and send the remainder to his “landlord.” I deposited the check but somehow doubt it will clear, haha. And then I just saw an almost identical one today. Beware of the names:1. Paul Anthony
2. Richards Kewell
3. Matthew Afred - Marco
June 1st, 2009 at 9:55 amGot same message from Eddie Palmer:Thanks for getting back to me..I really appreciate your response to
my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to
meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come
for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need
you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or office address.
3.Your phone number.Hope to hear back from you.
- Gary
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 pmI got the same thing from Eddie Palmer. Has anyone had any further run ins with them after you canceled the transactions? - Jay
June 5th, 2009 at 9:37 amThank you for posting this blog! Without your warning of the Craig’s list scam under the name of “Eddie Palmer” I may have fell victim to this scam, too.This scammer used the same exact email listed above for Andy Ford. - artistiq
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 amSomeone noted to avoid gmail addresses on Craigslist all together. I do NOT think you can generalize it to just Gmail accounts, as there are many legitimate Gmail accounts out there, actually the majority of them. I have a couple myself.Just because some bitch-ass criminals have been using accounts from Gmail, it does not mean the Gmail is less secure or safe than others. And You should not discriminate against ALL Gmail users, as you may miss out on a real customer.However, you should be cautious and if you receive a suspicious email, then I would recommend doing an internet search for that email account to see if any suspicious or fraudulent activity has been documented in association with that particular account.
You can create a Yahoo, Hotmail, and many other accounts just as easy.
- Ray
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 amI just posted an ad on Craigslist late last night (12:30 AM) and already had an inquiry this morning at 5:30 AM. The early morning, almost instant response, and oddly worded text all were enough to make me google “Eddie Palmer”.This is what he said in his email to me:“Hello i will like to know the availability of your craigslist item
listed ….and the present condition of the item”Here’s his latest email address: dgreatthings035s@gmail.com.
It’d be helpful if Craigslist kept a list of email addresses used in scams. That way you could just filter out all email from those addresses. In the meantime, keep up the good work!
- DanteFlorence
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 pmI got the same response as above. When dealing with online sales or ANY transaction, always alwaysdo your research first. Even in these times, the old saying still holds true – if its too good to be true…most likely it is. SAFE SHOPPING!!!Thanks for getting back to me..I really appreciate your response to
my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to
meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come
for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need
you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or office address.
3.Your phone number.Hope to hear back from you.
- DanteFlorence
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 pmI also received SPAM from this email address: dgreatthings023s@gmail.comBEWARE of counterfeit enquires online. Cash only, and local buyers please.Also, if a buyer doesn’t call you about your items…..WTF?
- Barb
June 29th, 2009 at 8:39 amNew scam names are these:
Chrissy Risberg [crisberg0809@gmail.com]
Howard Risberg [risberg005@gmail.com]Language is almost identical to a couple of others listed here:Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase, so please do withdraw the advert from Craigslist, i don’t mind adding an extra $50.00 for you to take the advert down from craigslist so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check,and it will be over night payment due to the distance. You don’t need to bother yourself with the shipment ok,i will do take care of that. So i will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1. Your full name
2. Your mailing address be it residential only
3. Your Mobile Phone Number.Once again, I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping…i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check.
Thanks
- Amie
June 30th, 2009 at 8:45 amI just got something from Joel Sutton. I’ve seen a few other scam emails to know this has to be fake so I didn’t even bother to write him back. It was from joel.sutton@ymail.com and labeled to: thaddeusleetad@hotmail.comwhich isn’t even my email address.Hello,I am interested in the furniture that you have for sale.I will like
to know if you still have the furniture available and how much you are
offering for sale with the present condition and also the pictures if
you have .I will like to get an e mail from you as soon as possible today for
these details so we can proceed.Best Regards.
- Chad
July 6th, 2009 at 2:21 amSame thing happened with me, I was extremely excited until I got the “send the extra 3,000 to my mover” part, and realized it was a scam.
In the e-mails, watch out for an e-mail that only addresses your “item” and never is specific about the actual name of the item, or if the e-mail generalizes, i.e. car instead of silverado, or furniture instead of dresser or nightstand.Watchout for
Loretta Gibson
Tufan Jemmy
Adam Kelly
as well… - Jeff
July 18th, 2009 at 1:48 pmany ford at it again!!!! I have items for sale at e-bay–e-mailed me asking how much would sale the item for outside of ebay—almost same e-mail address i saw above inch2124@gmail.com
and wanted me to ship item to 1117 Racine St, racine WI 53403…..being skeptical at heart i looked up this thread and saw all your postings—-THANK YOU ALL FOR POSTING THIS INFO- I will now reply to his e-mail telling him the cost will be 24 million dollars and to go ****** himself hehehehehe - mark
July 20th, 2009 at 10:56 pmI just got the same message from Eddie Palmer, email-dgreatthings033s@gmail.comThanks for getting back to me..I really appreciate your response to
my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to
meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come
for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need
you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or office address.
3.Your phone number.Hope to hear back from you.
Thanks to everyone for pitching in.
- mtnmedic
July 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI think it’s just best to avoid respondents who have gmail addresses altogether. Way too many of these are fake addresses with fake names propogated by some scammers who are always coming up with new ways to make their emails look “legit”. I may catch some flack about this from some real folks who have gmail addresses but I’m not going to spend the rest of my days weeding through all of the junk just to find one or two legit emails from the gmail domain. There’s just too many. Sure, I’ve been duped into READING some of them but never duped into going through with any kind of transaction. My mantra isn’t so much that if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t. It’s ANY email that even raises the remotest, smallest bit of question or doubt on my part gets tossed into the junk bin and marked as “Spam”/blocked at the server level. MSN Mail and hotmail folks have a great tool at their disposal: they can, at the email WEB SITE (where they can check mail), right-click on a sender’s address and select “block the sender’s DOMAIN” as well as block the sender individually. - Paleale
July 27th, 2009 at 2:08 pmSame thing here – just happened over the weekend. Mine was from Eddie Palmer @dgreatthings033s@gmail.com – but check out his pathetic excuse as to why I cannot contact him over the phone to talk about it. (Just havin some fun with it!)I am presently on a mission and we are not allow to make call for
security reason.The only means of communication we have is via the
internet and its been monitored. I don’t want our transaction to be
delayed till then cause i don’t want to loose the item that why i will
ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come
pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed.
Hope to read from you soon.
Best Regards. - Aimee
July 30th, 2009 at 2:01 amI received the same e-mail from Eddie Palmer. What happens after you cancel the interaction??? Any further communication? I am kicking myself for not checking this out sooner!! - Tye
August 4th, 2009 at 10:02 amIf you haven’t already notice, about 95% of all gmail or ymail craigslist ads are phoney..dont waste your time sending a reply to any ads ending with gmail or now ymail - Debbie
August 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm“Eddie Palmer” just emailed me wanting to buy my couch off of Craigslist. It seemed weird to me, so I googled his name & found this site.Thanks so much for the information. I took your information together with my information & contacted the FTC. If everyone who deals with scams on Craigslist would contact them, it would help eliminate them.Thanks.
- Dari
August 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pmI just received an email from a Howard Risberg at risberg001@gmail.com. I thought it was suspicious only because the craigslist disclaimer in the email i received was not highlighted in yellow. Also, he doubled my asking price which I found highly odd. In perfect english, he asked for my email address so that he may pay me using Paypal. I then received a confirmation for paypal giving me instructions. I am writing this so everyone can beware because this seems to be a new form of scamming. It is very well planned but I deleted the PayPal emails so that I do not use the link in the email to log in, I assume that is how they get your information. Again, I’d be careful since everything looks pretty legit. - J
August 14th, 2009 at 9:08 amI’ve learned from past experience don’t bother replying to anyone that says Item in their reply to your ad. Also take caution with people who just ask for a contact number. dont know what their doing with it, but they never call. And don’t bother replying to anyone with a gmail address. thought id share. stay safe out there surfing. - artistiq
August 14th, 2009 at 9:20 amI keep getting comments about completely avoiding any gmail address. Even= though several of these scams have a gmail address, it is not the determining factor.I myself, among many friends, have gmail addresses and they are legit. I could just as easily make a phony yahoo, hotmail, etc. email address. The others do not have any considerable higher security on email creation than gmail does.To rule out all gmail inquiries is not practical or the best approach for security. You could lose a legitimate sale if you disregard all gmail replies.
You need to be vigilant, aware and cautious to ensure your protection from scams on Craigslist.
A) It is more the content and the presentation of the reply that should raise the flag.B) There was mention in a previous comment that if someone reiterates the item in the reply verbatim, then that is probably a warning.
C)Poor grammar is another sign.
D) Any deviation from a straight direct sale of a cash transaction should be a warning.
E) Any third party involvement such as a “mover” is definitely a bad sign.
- Guest
August 19th, 2009 at 11:28 pmLoretta Gibson is trying to scam me right now. Told me that she wants to buy my used Macbook and additional 4 of similar computers for 5000 with the shipment from Japan.I said ok, n’ just received a mail from “Dundee Bank of Canada” like “the transfer is done, but you have to send the items, so we’ll approve and money actually will be in your bank account”. The format, design of “bank” email is like a homepage of some drunk lamer, who just copy/pasted parts of several irrelevant texts and pictures (gif animated – some bucks flying from up to down). - Guest
August 19th, 2009 at 11:30 pmOh, and I forgot to say – the bank manager is Albert Einstein. LoL - Jessica
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:00 am“Eddie Palmer” tried to get me too with a couch for sale. I wondered why the hell someone wanted my ugly floral print couch without even looking at it! - Andy
August 27th, 2009 at 11:10 amEven I had been contacted by Eddie Palmer and to my surprise I even recieved a check and had been asked me to cash it and then his mover would come to pick the item.Did any one get the check? If so, did any of u try depsoiting the check and whats the aftermath?Thanks
- cbluenola
September 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pmI have been contacted by Andy For of craigslist but as dating on line. I am very leary because today he asked me to send his little girl $100. He sent me pictures and everything. He said his wife died 4 years ago and I want to believe him, but I know it is a scam. After reading about dating scams it made me feel like an idiot, but a cautious idiot. - gogi
September 5th, 2009 at 4:00 pmI got the same damn thing some Smith Allen email bullshit. I knew it was a scam thanks to you guys posting this blog . I told him off. - Chris Harges
September 14th, 2009 at 10:02 amJust got a Craigslist inquiry from matjoe75@gmail.com.Hello, iam happy that you still have it available,i really like the picture i saw on craigslist and i think the price is okay, but i will be paying you via cashier check or money order because iam a very busy therefore will not be able to come and pick it up myself but i have a personal shipping company that has been handling my shipment since. But i will need your name that will be on the check and your address where you can receive the check through courier service. Also the payment i will send will include the shipper money this you will help me send to them through western union money transfer so that they can contact you as soon as possible for the pick up.All the charges you will incure in sending it will also be deducted from the payment i will send to you. Get back to me if you are okay with this - Joseph
September 29th, 2009 at 10:44 amJust had someone named Dammy Walker try to do the same thing but it was with a listing I replied to. She was looking for a mover to move her stuff, for 400 bucks she wanted me to receive the payment in the mail, and give the rest to her landlord because she was out of the states. The emails are as follows:Sounds Good,
How are you doing?It’s really nice to hear back from you quickly,it shows your effectiveness and i think I’m going to be satisfied if i let you handle the moving,I’m looking for a good and honest person to help with the packing and moving of the listed items from my old to new apt within the area.
4- Three Sitter Couches
2- center Table
2- 21 inches TV
3- Table Lamps
2- Rug (50 lbs)
I’m willing to pay $400 for moving this items within 20 mins (no stair case or elevator),i think this is a reasonable price since you already have the list of items I’m moving and the distance,it shouldn’t take more than 2 hours to have this items moved,you will be provided with the date and time by my new landlord,as soon as I’m done making payments to you for the moving he will be taking you to the pick up and drop off address in person immediately i contact him that i have finally paid for the moving service.I need to know your area and zip code to see if you can do the moving Job fast and quick,This is very Important for me to know.I want the moving to be done before i get back to the states on october 3rd,i already made arrangements for the payment and also the keys tothe apts,my landlord will be showing you the apartment so the locations shouldn’t be a problem,he will there to help you,i will be calling the landlord of the old apartment so he can be around the house for packing,i will instruct my client to issue Check and mail out the overpayment so you can deduct the $400 which i believe is a reasonable amount for moving the items listed within the area,then have the remainingfunds wired to the landlord of the new apartment via MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER so he can bring down the keys to you and he would beavailable when you drop the items,the remaining funds you will be wiring to the new landlord is the balance payment for my new apartment,I’monly doing this cause I’m presently out of the states and i want things to go smooth and perfect before my return. If you think you can handle this move,kindly get back to me with the following details ..
(I)Your Full Name On Payment:
(II)Your Residence address where it will be delivered to(no P.O.Box please):
City:
State:
Zip Code:
(III)Home and mobile Phone numbers:
I will be waiting to hear back from you.
Thanks and God bless.
Dammy.Good, my Client will mail out the Check to you as soon as possible and i will update you with shipment tracking # of ups for deliver ..Once you got the Check deposit it to your bank acct as to be Clear in there…so that you can have your money $400 for the mover ..and you will get the rest of excess funds send to my new landlord for the past payment of my new apt so that you can have key of the apt to move my property in there for me immediately. Also you don’t have problem ..Cos the job will not take off your time.
- pete
October 1st, 2009 at 4:01 amandy ford is trying to scam me haha so obvious
trying to make me pay some guy (courrier to pick up the itm so i can be credited cash for the item. the amopunt of cash is four times the amount of the item price anyway
he goes by the name andy.ford003@gmail.com - Enya
October 25th, 2009 at 6:19 pmPeople…stop listing “names” anybody can make up any name and use it. I could call myself Mickey Mouse and it wouldn’t mean a thing. THIS is what to avoid: 1) ANY payment other than cash!Now isn’t that simple?You meet a person in public and exchange your item for CASH, MONEY, MOOLA, DINEROS, PESO, EUROS or whatever other kind of currency. Don’t take anything but money! Why is that so damn hard?
- artistiq
October 26th, 2009 at 5:31 pmWell, listing names here has helped many verify some of their suspicions, so there has been some benefit here.Names are simply names and can be anyone, like Enya’s previous comment, so a name may never show up as fraudulent or related to a scam, so some people may never know.Like Enya mentioned, the best way to avoid a scam on Craig’s list is simply to avoid the possibility of it happening.
1) Meet the person in a public area – try not to meet at your private residence where you may expose your property or location if not desired.
2) Only take a solid verifiable form of payment – CASH MONEY! No Checks! No Money Orders, No Cahsier’s Checks! No Gift Cards! No Tokens! No Credit Cards! CASH CASH CASH! Bring a counterfeit marker to verify too if your skeptical.
Keep in mind, it’s Craig’s List too. this ain’t Nordstrom’s. Your selling some junk and someone is buying it. Straight up old school garage sale/Swap Meet with the help of technology. No receipts, no customer service, buy and sell at your own risk! If you feel there is too much risks, then go buy it at the store or donate your crap to a Thrift Store or Charity.
- denise
December 6th, 2009 at 5:03 amkeep a look out for mark ford or andy ford or robert kinney they are scam artist - Zac & Monique
December 28th, 2009 at 10:28 pmwell we WERE scammed he (“Andy Ford”) got us the prix!!! he was usingandy.ford005@gmail.comprobably has a NEW email address already and trying it on the next poor sucker!!!
- Hai-Tan Le
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 amI got one requesting the same procedure but issuing business check. Her name was Rita Jones. - William Faulkner
January 15th, 2010 at 9:11 pmSame scam, different person- “James Taylor”, email is james.tay0981@gmail.comMAN am I glad I checked online first!First email from him:
Hello
i saw your ads online and i am interested, kindly please let me know your latest price for now and i want to know if it still available
Kindly get back to me soon via email
awaits your earliest response.
regards
Second email from him:
Hello
Thanks for writing back.This is exactly what I need.I’d really like to pay you in cash at hands.But right now I’m not within your reach that I could easily come for the payment and pick-up .
I am an Engineer in a Private Organization. We move from one location to another. I would make arrangements for it to be picked up after you must have confirmed payment with your bank.So my means of payment will be Certified Bank Cashier’s Check or Personal Bank certified Check or Money orders,which is more secured and better than any other means of payment.
Your asking price is okay by me and I would be willing to send you the asking price and I would include the shipping fees which i would highlight later.Please Note that my shipper will come to your location for the pick up after you have confirmed the payment.
If this is ok by you,I will need these information below to enable me send the payment out to you immediately so that we can proceed.
Full Name…
Address to mail the payment….
Cell Phone number….I will mail you the payment as soon as I get the information and let you know when you will receive it.
regards
- Sunil
March 25th, 2010 at 7:59 pmJust got a Craigslist inquiry from ermark78@gmail.com.Hello, iam happy that you still have it available,i really like the picture i saw on craigslist and i think the price is okay, but i will be paying you via check because iam a very busy person therefore i will not be able to come and pick it up myself but there is a shipping company that has been handling my shipment since that i will ask to come for the pickup. But i will need your name that will be on the cheque and your address where you can receive the check through courier service. Also the payment i will send will include the shipper money this you will help me send to them through western union money transfer so that they can contact you as soon as possible for the pick up.The western union charges you will incure in sending it will also be deducted from the payment i will send to you. Get back to me with your information if you are okay with this - Jerolene Beechy
May 10th, 2010 at 8:02 amHi,Another good thing to do if you are looking for rentals is to check with property appraiser websites. You can find out who owns the house and square footage and all that. I found quite a few rentals when I checked they were owned by somebody different with a different amount of square footage and bathrooms/bedrooms etc. Then you know for sure they are scams! - Migdalia Bissol
May 19th, 2010 at 4:05 pmRecently I published my email address on a forum and started to receive tons of phishing emails I report them to the phishtrackers website this can help other people identify the scams. - Endri
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:24 amScammer’s Name: John Hopewell
Email: johnj304@gmail.comWill call from an Arizona Number 602-512-1782
and try the mover’s scam where the cash is given to the mover. - Stephanie
June 29th, 2010 at 7:59 amA certain Deborah Smith was really interested in my couch and wanted me to remove the lisiting promptly from C…LIST and said that she would send the money since she was moving in from out of town and would have her movers pick up the furniture. The whole email sounded fishy especially when “she” ordered me to take the posting down. Didnt really indulge the whole scam to see how far it would go. The email acct used wasdeborah.smith000@hotmail.com – - Jim
June 30th, 2010 at 9:51 amBeware of Maria Flores!I was scammed by a “Maria E. Flores” of Bethesda, MD, whose address on the check envelope was a resort hotel in Charlotte, NC! The fake check was a CITIBank Check. Fortunately I never tried to cash the check, but got suspicious when the “woman” kept emailing me saying that the check was in the mail and then asking me if I had cashed it yet. The amount on the check was well in excess of the original selling price agreed upon.From now on, my advice is to only accept cash on the spot by locals who respond to your ad. Be sure to specify that you only accept cash for goods sold and you will save yourself a lot of grief from scammers in the future.
- Greg Winn
July 16th, 2010 at 1:36 pmAdd benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com to the list as of today….. - Angela
July 27th, 2010 at 10:55 pmI am dealing with this as we speak . The guy Jack Palmer actually mailed me a check. I already called the bank it was writen on in hopes that they will help me dispose of it. I feel so dumb! I cant beleive this! Same exact scenarios. “im out of town bullshit” “I will send you a check so you can pay the movers and them wire the rest of the money to the movers” This guy actually called my cell phone tonight. I didnt answer. Idont even know how to response at this point. Do I let him know I figured him out? - Larry
August 4th, 2010 at 11:17 pmwatch out for Karen Flores. the email that was used was karenflores5@gmx.com
i was going to buy a bike from her and this is what she sent meI would like to let you know upfront that this Bike is priced at: $2850
I also like to tell you that I’m not selling this vehicle for profit or due to a lack of money. The reason for selling is that some recent events in my life made me change my perception of certain things that I considered important in the past. The funds received after this sale will be directed towards charity. Right now I’m traveling with UNICEF as a volunteer.
On the other hand, you shall know few things about the bike. The title is clear and is in an excellent condition without any dents or scratches. It was always garaged and the regular maintenance was done in time as well as the oil changes. The bike was never involved in any accidents or flood damage. The motor never let me down, look great and run smoothly.
I’m not trying to offend you, but if you intend to apply for a loan or financing, please don’t go any further because the bike is priced for a fast sale, and I require a cash transaction. The process will be managed by eBay Company and the transaction will be made only through their eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection plan for the safety of both. If you are still interested and ready to agree with my terms, please reply so I can forward you the detailed description of the eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection Plan.I am looking forward to your reply.
Thank you,
Karenand this too
The price of the bike $2,850.00 includes all the shipping and handling costs. The vehicle is located in Helena, MT at a shipping and storage facility ready to go. If you decide to purchase it, you will receive all the documents of the bike (owner’s manuals, keys, clear title, bill of sale) in order to register it under your name. Regarding the payment, I will use only eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection program. If you are interested, this is how eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection program works:
– You send me your full name, complete address (I need for shipping) and your fax number.
I open a transaction with eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection. eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection will contact you with an invoice regarding our transaction. You will send the payment to eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection and they will ship the vehicle to your location. After you will inspect/drive the vehicle and decide to keep it, eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection will forward me the funds and the deal is done. Basically, eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection will secure the funds until you will receive and inspect the bike. You will have 5 days inspection period. If the vehicle is not like described, you will have to ship it back on my expense and they will give you a full refund. This way, you will be able to inspect the vehicle before committing to buy it.
In order to move forward, I’ll need the following info from you, so I can set up a new transaction case through eBay:
1. full name
2. shipping addressThanks,
Karen - Ralph Conrad
August 7th, 2010 at 6:07 pmOh my goodness! KAREN FLORES if I ever find you I am going to $&#()*&$(*)@&$)#*$()*$#@()*$()#@ you up!!!This idiot tried to use charity as a scam… She or He, probably he, wanted to send me a jeep from florida and then have me pay for it with “ebay protection auto plan”. She would then take the money and donate it to charity…. Oh my, that really pissed me off. I sent the person all the wrong info and told them i hoped a piano falls out of the sky and lands on their scamer a55! - Ralph Conrad
August 7th, 2010 at 6:13 pmTHE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS CRAP IS TO STAND UP TOGEATHER AND FIND THESE PRICKS…… I always tell the people that i forwarded the emails to the FBI and that they have the ability to track them via IP address…. lol… I think i am just making myself feel better… But i hope it freaks them out for just one second… lolHAVE FUN WITH THEM, HAVE THEM WAIST THEIR TIME AND LET THEM SEND THE CHECKS. TELL THEM EVERYTHING IS GREAT AND LETS DO THIS DEAL!!!!!! THE MORE TIME THEY WAIST, THE LESS LIKELY THEY WILL PROFFIT FROM US! - Patrick
August 8th, 2010 at 12:48 pmI share your frustrations and have thought about taking some action too. The only thing is that it is difficult to really obtain solid evidence even if you were to get an IP address, it doesn’t guarantee that you can pin point the actual individual responsible.The BEST WAY to avoid this bull sh!t on Craigslist is to make sure you have “CASH ONLY” in your post and that you “ONLY ACCEPT cash.” Also helps to note “local transactions only” and “serious inquiries.”It won’t totally get the scams off, but if that is your request as the seller, not too many of these individuals will try to pull a scam like this.
The other scams to watch out for is “counterfeit” money which can still happen in a cash transaction.
Also, I suggest that if your items are small enough, that you should meet potential buyers away from your actual home, possibly in a safe and well-lit, well-visible parking lot of a store or someplace like that.
You never know who you may be dealing with off of Craigslist and you want to make sure that during the sale, you and your products are safe.
- Debbie
August 11th, 2010 at 5:46 amThanks Larry and Ralph. I also saw the ad for a trike on craigslist. I searched her email and got your posting. I received the exact same email from Karen Flores. Then searched the vin# she posted and it was for an ebay auction that ended a month ago. Glad you posted!!Thanks for your help. - Craig
August 12th, 2010 at 9:06 pmKaren Flores got me too with the same bike only this time its in Lake Elsinore, CA. This time she’skarenflores8@gmx.com. and she sent me the same email Larry got.I would like to let you know upfront that this trike is priced at: $2850
I also like to tell you that I’m not selling this vehicle for profit or due to a lack of money. The reason for selling is that some recent events in my life made me change my perception of certain things that I considered important in the past. The funds received after this sale will be directed towards charity. Right now I’m traveling with UNICEF as a volunteer.
On the other hand, you shall know few things about the trike. The title is clear and is in an excellent condition without any dents or scratches. It was always garaged and the regular maintenance was done in time as well as the oil changes. The trike was never involved in any accidents or flood damage. The motor never let me down, look great and run smoothly.
I’m not trying to offend you, but if you intend to apply for a loan or financing, please don’t go any further because the trike is priced for a fast sale, and I require a cash transaction. The process will be managed by eBay Company and the transaction will be made only through their eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection plan for the safety of both. If you are still interested and ready to agree with my terms, please reply so I can forward you the detailed description of the eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection Plan.I am looking forward to your reply.
Thank you,
KarenThe old saying is true. If its too good to be true it is.
- Dano
August 15th, 2010 at 4:25 pmAndy Ford is interested in my Rv on Craigslist. said he was in US Military - Stephen
August 20th, 2010 at 8:27 amAndy Ford is at it again… andy.ford003@gmail.com He is looking to buy some horses today - Tom
August 30th, 2010 at 12:21 pmLook out for Avant Jones, ironandgrills00@aol.com, and indwork8276@googlemail.comThey all three emailed me about a dining room table. Avant Jones claims to be a “deaf Woman with a husband who only speak German” - Kim
September 9th, 2010 at 8:18 pmironandgrills00@aol.com just tried to get me too. I have the check in hand and will be turning it over to the police tomorrow. I knew there was something fishy about it so I am glad that I did some investigating before doing anything with it. - janet Gamel
September 12th, 2010 at 7:12 pmthe same movers scam, only this time the name is Andrew Breslin can these guys be stopped? I’m lucky that I had the distinct feeling that this was a scam. What if I had been more desperate or uninformed about scams? Thank you for your blog. - Raul
September 14th, 2010 at 2:00 pmI’m must reiterating that you should only accept CASH and have a face-to-face transactions. None of this shipping or make a deposit into my/your account bull sh!t.A so called, “Lauren Ostrowski”, ( itecdesigns@gmail.com ) has been pulling some new scam – seller crap, by posing as a “victim” of a previous scam, and stating that “she” is a “single mom” and can’t risk anything like that again.She mentions that she will only accept a deposit and then ship the item to you – like that doesn’t sound like a scam already. This is one of the first rules NOT to do on the Craigslist safety page.
She even tries to state that she will provide a bank account number to you, and that no scammer would ever do that, because that’s crazy, right? She request that you should go to a Wal-Mart and make a deposit into her account. I played her little game just to give her some sh!t, and found out the account number was just a Netspend prepaid Visa card. it was a 12 digit account number ( 4039-9541-8474-8593 ) starting with a “4″ (which Visa’s do).
So, essentially the request is for you to deposit towards the prepaid Visa which is not as easy to track as a real bank account or check. Not a bad scam you got going on, single mom beeeeaaaatch!
- Steve
September 17th, 2010 at 7:23 pmironandgrills00@aol.com tired to scam me for a bedroom set. Was suspicios when they would not call. Same routine that has been described in everyone else’s post. Took the check to my bank & asked them to look into the check. I never signed it or acc# or anything. They called the credit union name & said there is alot of fraud with this account. Bank kept the check & sent to their security department - Jessica
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:03 amI just got an e-mail from advant jones and googled the e-mail address and found this blog…. Here is the e-mail I got for him/her…Thank you very much for your swift response and for telling me the
item is still available.I want to let you know that i am a deaf Man
and i am satisfied with the conditions has you have stated in the
Craigslist.I have a schedule already,for i need to attend an important
seminar in Iowa so i wont be able to come to check it at your
place.Since i am ok with the condition,i will be sending you a
certified check that will cover the amount of the item and the moving
funds.You are to take your money for the item from the check after
cleared in your bank within 2-3 days and have the rest sent to the
mover via western union money transfer or money gram.For your
inconvenience,i will add $100 with the payment to be your running
around fee.I’m always a busy person and will not like to miss this
item .The information of the mover will be sent to you after the check
is received and he will be at your location for the pick up with a
signed note explaining that he will be assuming responsibility for the
item on my behalf. Kindly get back to me with the following
information for issuing of the payment……..
NAME:
ADDRESS :
CITY:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE NUMBER:
Have A Splendid day - genevieve
October 18th, 2010 at 10:27 pmlooks like benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com but the name for this email is jerry smith. is another craigslist scam.it seemed strange that he never mentioned the item that he wanted to purchase just would talk about the “advert”.
he wanted it promptly removed and needed my name/address/landline/cell number to send a certified check and arrange for some type of pick up. i told them that i could schedule shipping and that i only accept cash,usps money orders or paypal.but unfortunately i did give him my mailing address and cell number.though both are public i still feel a bit duped. - April
October 19th, 2010 at 11:40 amThis was the email I got… luckily my husband found it suspicious and told me not to reply, then I got the bright idea to research it online…Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed
that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon as possible.1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
- Ami
October 29th, 2010 at 6:41 pmSame EXACT email as April’s sent to me by THOMAS PARKER. Buyer Beware! - Alexis
October 30th, 2010 at 7:20 amI got two scammers off of an ad I placed, selling a wedding dress and one of the same scammers off an ad for wedding shoes.
The one who responded to both ads was Jacob Gibson (odd that a man would be looking for a wedding dress and shoes, but some women use their partner’s email…). The text of his follow up email was nearly identical to that of others previously mentioned:Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving
i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have
cashed the check**Have a nice day.
Interestingly, he used a different email address after I had responded to his initial email for each ad. The first email addresses used were: muktoubi@gmail.com and avogebi@gmail.com
The follow-up email address used was: jacobgibson@capital-process-network.comThe other scammer was Mary Thompson, marythomp0001@gmail.com.
The text of her initial email was:
Just saw ur ad on craigslist. Could I possibly get more pics of it?
After I sent additional pictures, her response from a second email address, marythomp01@gmail.com, was:
Hello again,
Thanks for your response and pictures. Its quite a lovely dress and i would love to buy it. This is my first thing am buying off craigslist.com
I really want to come see it and try it on but i cannot as i am out of town due to work and preparation for my wedding. I think i have seen enough pictures so far so i would love to buy it off from you as will
be relying on your judgment.
My method of payment would be through a Certified Check since am not around and can not remit cash from here as this is coming impromtu. Please let me know the final asking price so i can make arrangements
as i will handle the shipment myself and i will be sending my mover down to pick up the dress at your place.
Kindly provide me with your full name and mailing address to which the Certified check would be sent so we can wrap this up real quick as the wedding is just around the corner.NB: I also want to inform you that there will be an excess amount of funds which you will forward to my mover (for shipment purposes).
Mary.
I was suspicious with both as soon as the mention of a check came up and more suspicious when they both spoke of using movers to pick up the items at my address! Sorry, but I NEVER give out my home address to people I don’t know.
- Alexis
October 30th, 2010 at 11:44 amThird scammer on the same wedding dress ad:
Initially, this one was named “Laura.” dphills16@gmail.com
and then responded to my response as “Derrik Lawson” derricklawsonhigher@yahoo.com
with this email:Thanks for your swift respond,i want you to know that am okay with
your offering price as am willing to offer you extra $15 for it, so as
to assure me this belong to me and not to any other interested
buyer,please let me know as i will be making out a Money Order to
you…Kindly get back to me with
your Full Name*********
Home/Office Address*********
City*********
State*********
Zipcode*********
Phone Number… to enable payment reach you,Meanwhile i will have my
Mover come over to your location to meet you for the pick up after you
have confirm the delivery of the payment,so let me know and get back
to me with the info to enable payment reach you
Thanks - LaVonne
November 3rd, 2010 at 5:16 pmThis scam is still going! The name I got was Jacob Gibson. How sad! - brian
November 9th, 2010 at 5:03 amSame scam….using the name Jacob Gibson now, but the same bad grammar, etc…..thanks for the heads up.. - Katie
November 11th, 2010 at 10:11 amI just received the exact same email from mary thompson. - Jill
November 12th, 2010 at 12:21 pmHello!!
Thanks so much, everyone who’s posted, for confirming my suspicions…. I replyed back to “Jacob Gibson’s” first e-mail asking if it was available…. he then replied back with the “pay by check and the movers and the needing of my name and addy and business addy and phone #” standard issue scammer e-mail….
I could only laugh and reply back with, “I suppose ya want my SS #, too!!”
Idiots!
Thanks for posting all of your experiences, it helps keep everyone informed of these idiots that just want to scam good people….. - jennifer
November 14th, 2010 at 5:29 pmJust got the Jacob Gibson email on St Louis craigslist!
Thanks for the Heads up!!!! - Daniel
November 15th, 2010 at 10:33 amYep, “Jacob” is at it again! He replied to ads for my wife’s two coach bags and my kettlebells…hardly believe he’s interested in al that
- Lauren
November 18th, 2010 at 6:26 amI too got a response on a Craigslist add from “Jacob Gibson”. The thing that tipped me off was about having the movers come and get the item. Uh, my listing was for tickets! - Nick
November 19th, 2010 at 9:58 amThey are using a TONY LLC now, with email address davidattusani01@capital-process-network.com - kevin marsh
November 19th, 2010 at 8:46 pmi recieved emails from derricklawsonhigher@yahoo.com about a card collection that i had for sale . He supposedly had his secretart send a check/money order but it was an overpayment of 800.00 dollars he wanted me to cash the 2 postal money orders and send him minus my expenses the difference i went to my bank then was sent to my local post office and founf out that they were counterfit. i had mailed $500.00 worth of product out when i recieved the money orders the clerk at the p.o. said they were the best counterfit money orders she had ever seen. I the found out if i had deposited them ionto my account and wrote checks i would have been in a lot of trouble now Iam out the $500.00 worth of pfoduct. I filed with the U.S. Postal Inspector and 1 of the first emails was addressed fromdphills16@gmail.com. So thank you to this website as i was able to gather a little more ifo on this person I surely hope he is found and prosecuted. - Alisha
November 19th, 2010 at 10:09 pmI listed a refrigerater today on Craig’s list Austin… He is still at it!!! SCAMMERJacob Gibson [jacobgibson@capital-process-network.com]Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the
check**Have a nice day.
- Megan
November 22nd, 2010 at 2:17 pmSo I put an add up for couches and was fine and naive about the email until the last one. I forwarded it to some friends and then decided to google the name and email address and found this blog. Apparently, he has already sent the check – what do I do with it if I do get it?? Anything? - Patrick
November 22nd, 2010 at 2:22 pmThere’s been a few comments from others that their banks suggested bringing in the check to the bank that the “check is from” and/or reporting the crime to your local police department and they would probably confiscate the fraudulent check. I’m not too sure what they can actually do with the check at this point except add it to evidence for further research upon the source of the check. - Cheryl
November 23rd, 2010 at 12:30 pmI received 2 emails from Jeff Timothy- 1st one from ipegeva@gmail.com, and the follow up from timjefftim@capitalprocessnetwork. I was suspicous because he asked for NO info just wanted to buy it. Thanks for the warnings. I received the following e-mail:Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the
check**Have a nice day.
- ed
November 24th, 2010 at 4:55 pmi got scammed what do i do, i sent the money thought western union, but i noticed in time it was a scam i canceled the transaction what do i do with the money??? - artistiq
November 26th, 2010 at 11:33 amKeep an eye out for this name:
Lauren Gardner – lauren.gardner30@hotmail.com -Even noted “she” was from the United Kingdom. Not sure why a scammer would even resort to propose an overseas transaction, which is already a huge warning sign.Just remember to always do face-to-face transactions locally. If you can’t see the seller/buyer in person, the merchandise up close, and can’t accept or give cash directly, it is likely a scam.
- Tim
November 27th, 2010 at 12:31 pmRe: Nintendo DSi (NEW) – $140Saturday,
November 27, 2010 3:57 AM
From: “Jacob Gibson”
To:
Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving
i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have
cashed the check**
Have a nice day. - Brick Bricklin
November 27th, 2010 at 12:32 pmSame scam for me from Jeff Timothy. Fast responder. I didn’t bother replying. I DID, however, edit all my Craigslist posts to say “Cash Only” and “Local Buyers Only” - Patrick
November 28th, 2010 at 9:41 pmIf you cashed a check, it was a counterfeit, so that means YOUR bank account will be held accountable for the funds. Return the money to the bank and explain the situation. - Laura
November 29th, 2010 at 1:59 pmI got the Jacob Gibson e-mail this weekend. I posted a treadmill on Chicago Craigslist. This was my first time posting on Craigslist but I could tell this guy was not legit. He had scam written all over him. Got the same “I will send my driver” nonsense as everyone else. - ed
November 29th, 2010 at 7:50 pmadd this bastard to the list he almost got me, he pretends to be a well mannered business personjerry smithnever accept anything from him!
- Ant
November 30th, 2010 at 10:00 amwatch out for this person too – same as all the other scammers, out of town, movers will collect yada, yada yada – HENA SIDDIQI - Ant
November 30th, 2010 at 10:02 amHENA SIDDIQI is the person email henasiddiqi@gmail.com - Jordan
November 30th, 2010 at 8:06 pmI just received a scam email from a Jacob Gibson. Same word for word email was sent to me. He wanted to buy my item..I copied and pasted his email which can be found in the lisitng..did a search on Facebook, and sure enough, it lead me here. Thanks - Mark
December 1st, 2010 at 3:40 pmTHANKS for the heads up! “Jacob Gibson” just sent an email asking if my end tables were still available (posted 2 hours ago!) and I was going to reply, but thought the gmail address looked weird (ucakozi) and just for the heck of it I’d Google his name. Dumped that email in a heartbeat! - ed
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:33 amnew scammertroy mendez with email: troy.mendez7@gmail.com - Doug
December 3rd, 2010 at 10:52 amOK, I’m in the middle of an identical situation with identical email message verbage. There’s got to be a way to track and catch these dumb crooks while their email IPs are in use. Has anyone investigated with success? - Kevin
December 3rd, 2010 at 10:35 pmJeff Timothy is still at it. Same message, same line and same capital process network return email address. My listing specified “cash only” “local pick up” so there is no difference for scam persons. I believe there is a “bot” that is loaded onto the sight by the scam people that looks for new posts. The first mail is to see if you will bite and the second is to sink the hook. If you go that far then they reel you in. For all who want to know what to do with the checks, shred them. They are fakes and you can be held responsible for cashing them. The best thing to do is decline the offer of a check and as a go between.Enjoy! - Anna
December 4th, 2010 at 6:49 pmI got the same type of message about a wedding dress I was selling on craigslist from a guy who now calls himself Gordon Maxwell with an email address of gordonmaxwell50@aol.com and look out for his “shipping agent payment department” Penny Atterton pennyatteron37397@hotmail.com. after receiving a tracking number from Gordon, I followed it on UPS. It was intercepeted and re-routed to another address on the day it was supposed to arrive. I let Gordon know I didn’t receive the check and it was re-routed to another address. I advised him since I did not receive the money I was relisting the dress. I did not hear anything back from him but the fake cashier’s check from Citizens Bank came 6 days later than he claimed it would and was for $1,200 over the selling price of the actual dress. I had been very suspicious and googled – cost courier service pick up wedding dress – to see if I could find out how much a courier service would actually cost to pick up a wedding dress and found this website. Thank you all for sharing your stories as well. What a life saver it has been! Also, thinking why on earth would someone pay more for a courier than the actual dress costs. Besides, someone could have bought the dress brand new right from a bridal shop for less than this person was paying for the dress and the courier. What a scam. Seller Beware! Sell only to locals on craigslist.Below are some of his emails just in case you received something similar.“Hello,
I am interested in the Wedding Dress you posted on the classified ad and I will be glad to purchase the Wedding Dress from you and I hope you will love to sell it for me. I am gordon maxwell and I’m interested in buying the Wedding Dress for my daughter that is why I am searching through the Classified ad and I cam across your Wedding Dress and I find it lovely, I hope to hear back from you if you are interested in selling the Wedding Dress.
Gordon”
More notes from the fake Gordon Maxwell….
“Hello,
Glad it is your first posting and I would love to buy the dress and thanks for the reply to the interest I have in the dress and I am glad it is still available, I am very much interested in it. How much do you want to sell it and what is the present condition of the dress? I will love to have some more details of the dress too. How many times is it worn? What is the length and size?
Gordon”
Another…….
“Hello,
I had concluded with my daughter on buying the wedding gown. The link of your ads had been sent to her but I will like you to send me more picture as well as details of the wedding dress and she really likes the wedding dress. I’m interested in buying this gorgeous wedding dress for her wedding ceremony and we are in a top gear of preparations, Which means buying a wedding dress, is very important to her. She is very okay with the price, size,and the designs. Sending more picture will be awesome. I am satisfied with the amount I saw on the classifed ad website. I would have been happy to travel down for the pickup and take a glance on the wedding dress or pay via paypal, but I’m kind of busy with a project that was awarded to me. and I’m out of home for the past few weeks and some other preparation for the wedding ceremony because I’m a single parent. We both really like the dress and I’ll instruct on sending payment via certified united postal money order {which I purchased from the post office}or a certified cashier check . I would had love you to send the dress via a courier service but my daughter insist and she gave an instruction that she wanted someone ! I mean a picker to come for the pick up from your location or a public place of your choice so that the picker can handle it with care and do some other things on the dress with dry cleaning. The Money order that will be sent will include your payment for the wedding dress and for the picker.
After Money orders clear your bank. An agent will be picking the item up from your location. Excess funds for the shipment will be sent to the agent. I’ll email her contact to you as soon as you received the payment via FedEx/UPS. How should your name appear on the Money order and what full home address should I mail it to and your phone Number I should be able to contact you, I mean With your valid phone number. Kindly consider the wedding dress sold to me.Cheers and God Bless
Gordon Maxwell”
Another……..
“Hello
How are you doing today and I hope you have removed the ads from the classified website. I will be glad to hear from you.
Gordon.”
Another…………
“Hello
I am sorry I did not write you. I sent out your payment on Saturday as we have discussed earlier. I hope you can write me back. Here is the tracking number (). I hope to hear from you soonest.
Gordon”
Another………….
“Hello
I want to inform you that the check had been delivered to your house address today via UPS courier service and here is the tracking#() for the check package and you can check it out on http://www.ups.com. Contact me as soon as you receive the check, once you receive the check please cash it at your bank instantly or you will be ask to deposit the check for 24 hours and come back for the cash the next day, and then you can deduct the money for your item plus extra $50 which is a miscellaneous for you and you are to wire the remaining funds to my shipper via Western Union Transfer, so that she can be able to come and pick up the wedding dress . This fund will be used in off setting the cost of the shipment that as undertaken for me recently and they will be needing a part of that to come over to your place for the pick up. My daughter will be glad to wear the wedding dress.
Below is my shipping agent payment department to wire the remaining balance to via western union money transfer and you can contact her directly here. pennyatteron37397@hotmail.com.
Penny Atterton
13671 HWY 28
City: Whit well
State.Tennessee
Zip code..37397Note: That the western union transfer fee should be deducted from the remaining balance.
As soon as you have fund send out via western union transfer, kindly get back to me with the western union transfer details on the transfer receipt as below so that my mover can schedule for the pickup of my item by tomorrow..
1}.Sender’s name and address
2}.MTCN numbers {10 digits}
3}.Amount sent after deducting the transfer fee.
5}.The exact time and location that you will be available for my shipper to come for the pickup of my item at your place by tomorrow.Please let me know at once if i can trust you to have the excess funds sent to my shipper because I have lots of goods to be picked up for me aside my transaction with you.I will be expecting your email with a confirmation on this issue at once. I will be very much glad to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
Gordon Maxwell”
- Pat
December 6th, 2010 at 9:45 pmThere’s a new scammer….from daviddatusani01@gmail.com – beware!! - Cheryl
December 10th, 2010 at 1:11 pmI have never posted anything to sell before, I got a interest in an AB-PRO Machine. The name is Jacob Gibson, I got the same emails as so many above, the whole, I will send a check after you cash it, the mover, etc…. I replied to him saying I was not comfortable with that, I am a single female, and if you can’t provide more information than that, lose my email. He is using the email JamesWeaver@Gmail.Com.. FYI!! I was suspicious, I have some computer smarts and did a header search on it, then Googled James Weaver, and he has a announcement that a scammer named Jacob Gibson using his name, so therefore he won’t accept emails from Yahoo or Gmail… WHAT SCUMS these people are!! Thanks for all the names and I will look here before I ever respond to anyone again. Great Site! Thanks…… - Amanda
December 12th, 2010 at 7:09 pmNew Craigslist Scammer… wanted to send certified check then me to mail out my item.
Original email from “Jerry smith”
Reply email from “jerry smith” - susan
December 13th, 2010 at 6:15 pmyes benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com is scamming again Jerry Smithvery nice emails – but why does he need my phone number when it is already posted on craigs list – thank goodness for this blog –I responded that I could only take a check for the exact amount and would contact him once it cleared – I had him send it to an office address – also told him i would not remove the post from craigslist until he picked up and that if check was wrong amount it would be tossed.
- Annicka
December 14th, 2010 at 4:22 pmI got the Jerry Smith (benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com) guy too! What a douchebag! I gotta sell my stuff quick and aholes like this scammer get all in the way! - Mayers
December 16th, 2010 at 7:14 pmGlad we checked here before moving forward. We had the two different email addresses:
Simon Davies with email address of: simondav001@gmail.com and
Tony LLC with email address of: daviddatusani01@gmail.com
send us similiar replies like the following:Hello, How are you doing over there …. i really appreciate your response to my email. I want you to consider it sold, pls do withdraw the advert from CL to avoid disturbance,I don’t have time to come over to take a look because of my Business but you don’t need to bother yourself with the shipment, I’ll take care of that by engaging the services of a mover, hence I’ll be sending a certified cashier check and it will be delivered to you via UPS, so I’ll need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1.full name on the check.
2.Full Physical address to post the check
3.City, State and Zip Code
4.Home & Cell Phone to contact you.Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via UPS NEXT DAYSERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be responsiblefor shipping i will have my mover to come over as soon as you have cashed the check.
- matthew
December 20th, 2010 at 4:49 pmScammer responded to 4 different adds with the same message (DUH! changed the wording idiot) his email is Me I told he could have the items but he had to send me nude photos of his sister. No response back I guess the deal is off, Oh well thats life. Have fun with these idiots its good for the spirit. - matthew
December 20th, 2010 at 4:51 pmHis email is: Me dphills16@gmail.com do not know why it did not show up right the first time. - Rob
December 24th, 2010 at 4:33 pmJacob J Gibson is still at it. Contacted me via email jamesweaver2624@gmail.com with the following email:
Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
> i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do
> withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
> i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
> following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
>
> 1.Your full name to be on the check
> 2.Home or work address
> 3.Your cell/phone number.
>
> **I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving
> i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have
> cashed the check**
> Have a nice day.On 12/3 I received the following:
Hello Robert,
How was your day?I want you to understand that the deal is on as my secretary as mail out the payment already,but there was a slight error i guess we can handle with care,instead of the actual amount $100 for the shoe she mailed out payment for $1500,she claim that was what i requested for,but she didn’t get that straight.So once you have the payment please cash it and deduct the money for your goods plus $50 that for your run around expenses.The excess fund should please be sent to my mover via western union,this fund will be use in offsetting the cost of the shipment he as undertaken for me recently.
**Please email me at once to let me know that i can trust to have the excess funds sent to my mover**
Best Regards and Stay BlessedYou get the picture, The check for $1,500 arrived today via USPS. The check was Restoration Hardware out of Greenwich, CT. The address on the USPS envelop was Antioch, CA. Needless to say, this transaction will not take place. Thanks to everyone who replied to the initial scammer notice.
- CL Visitor
December 25th, 2010 at 9:45 amLand Terry landterry04@yahoo.comandJacob J Gibson jamesweaver2624@gmail.com
“Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do
withdraw the ad from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.You will not be responsible for moving,i will have my mover come over
for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check**Have a nice day. ”
glad i found this site
- Lma
January 4th, 2011 at 5:36 pmHello,We are looking to buy this furniture, would like to know if the item is still available for sale and what is its present condition?Await Your Response..
Thanks.
Hello,Glad you wrote back, I’m pleased with the condition and price of the item and i’m ready to make the purchase.I’ll be responsible for the pick up,I already have a solid agreement with movers who will be coming for the pick at your location.
I’ll send you a check via FedEx or USPS(1/2 day delivery) and i’ll add an extra $20 for you to keep it in my favor while check arrive also the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up as i have other properties also to be moved alongside with yours.I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address that i can send the check to.And please include your cell and land number in case I or the movers wants to reach you.
Regards
Tony - Lma
January 4th, 2011 at 5:39 pmThought I’d post this that I just received. Thanks to this web site I recognized it as a scam - Peter
January 6th, 2011 at 3:29 pmTroy Mendez also tried to scam us last month. Same story, different verse. Do not fall for these people. Our bank said that unfortunately too many people do. Ours involved Troy Mendez as the primary mover/shaker allegedly from NY or NJ, his “mover” Barbara Goldsmith in Shreveport, LA, and a Wells Fargo check signed by Priscilla Hunt of Hunt Enterprises in CA that was mailed from Harry Anderson at Uniport Inductries in Woodcliff, NJ. - Cameron F
January 10th, 2011 at 3:47 amMandy Bowen.. Same shit tried to pull it off on me for a $100 dollar guitar. WTF is the matter with these people. They’re just lazy and believe it’s okay to steal from hard working people. I hope karma will catch up with them eventually! - Judy
January 15th, 2011 at 6:47 amI had the same correspondence from James Weaver/Jacob Gibson. Watch out for this. Thanks for this website. When I googled Jacob Gibson, I learned of the scam. - Patrick
January 15th, 2011 at 9:00 amOverseas ScamOne of the latest scams out there is a UK or England based seller. Which, any overseas transaction should be a red flag, even out of state should be considered a scam.I’ve inquired to several posts for some products, mostly computer equipment, and even though the ad shows up in my local area, the seller reply states that they are currently in the UK.
One reason I assume that the UK is chosen, is because english is still the primary language, and the criminal feels this would make it less suspicious. So, I feel that Australia is probably another location that my be used.
Anyways, the scam usually starts off with a reply like this:
“Hello,
The item is new, under warranty, and the final price is $600
Now I’m in England with job.
I will come back next year. The product is here with me, in England. I don’t have who i ship it. My family is here with me.
So this is what i suggest, i think this is the best and safest way for the two of us.
I will ship it to you. I will support all the shipping taxes. Shipping will take usually: 3 days.
Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.
I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast!
The solution is provided by a international shipping company DHL.
It is explained step by step below:
– First I will need your shipping information (i.e. name and address).
1. With this info, I will go to a DHL Location send the item to your name and address provided.
2. DHL will inspect the package and all the legal papers.
– As soon as the item is in DHL custody, you will receive a notification from them.
1. After that, you will make the payment for the item.
2. Once the payment was sent, they will deliver the product to your door step, and you will verify that everything is as supposed.
– If by any reason, you will not be satisfied with the package, you will return the product to DHL with no expense!DHL Express reduces risks associated with Internet transactions by acting as a licensed, trusted, neutral third party for on-line transactions.
The seller leaves the merchandise into DHL Express custody.
The merchandise will remain in DHL Express custody until the buyer provides the payment informations.
Once the funds are verified by DHL, the merchandise will be send to the buyer.
If the buyer will not be satisfied with the merchandise, DHL Express will send the merchandise back to the seller.
Also the payment will be sent back to the buyer.
The seller will receive the payment only if the buyer will contact us and tell us that he will keep the product.I will be waiting for your email.
Best Regards !”I replied and said that coincidentally I was stationed out in London and that I could meet up directly with them. There was no reply.
watch out for this type of reply and these addresses:
rosswalker5s@aol.com
lauren.gardner30@hotmail.com - Patrick
January 15th, 2011 at 9:05 amPrevention TipsOne way I that seems to help prevent fraudulent responses to your posts, is to make the buyers aware that you are aware.You should always note in your posts something like:
“CASH ONLY – LOCAL TRANSACTIONS ONLY – SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY”This will show that you are aware of the scams out there and will NOT put up with any bullsh!t and should help filter some of the criminal buyers out. It is NOT a guarantee, but it has helped with my posts.
- Frank
January 24th, 2011 at 3:46 pmAll – just got the exact benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com email…Glad I checked here! - Bobbie
January 24th, 2011 at 4:55 pmThank you for this blog. I was suspicious of an inquiry on some furniture that was made by Jerry Smith atbenjaminworldlink2@gmail.com. The inquiry came within MINUTES of the posting. The inquiry was identical to what is described above and everything here reinforced my suspicions…THANKS TO ALL - lara
January 26th, 2011 at 10:06 pmI too am so thankful for this blog! before i got in the middle of a mess! Mine were as follows from:ironandgrills00@aol.com
Zhejiang Coating Co Ltd <workingindustries@gmail.comThanks for the response to my message… Just to let you know that i’m okay with the condition and price of the item and ready to buy it also my form of payment will be via Certified Bank Check/business or personal check which would be mailed to you via Fedex or UPS overnight delivery.
I would be responsible for the pick-up and the movers shipping fees would be included in the check to be mailed to you in order to avoid further delays and to enable the pick up company to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location plus i’m in the process of moving to the United Kingdom and i’ve got other items ready to be shipped alongside to the UK after check has been cashed.
Would love to come for the viewing but i’m afraid that might not be possible due to my work frame. If you have more pics please include them in the next email so I can get a better look. Also, would appreciate if you could delete the posting from the site to avoid other buyers as im definitely buying it. if this is okay with you and you kindly write back to me with your full name and address (not p.o box) including your cell and land number so I can make out payment ASAP. Sorry to approach you this way if i sound rude.
Thanks for the details provided. I presume we seal this a deal? I’ll contact my secretary so that payment will be issued out to you ….please i want you to consider the item sold and keep off other interested buyers that would make inquiry cos am ready for it’s purchase.
As i’ve let you know that pick up and mover’s fee will be included in your payment, so upon cash of check, you’ll make the pick up money payable to the movers and the movers would arrange an appropriate time for pick up at your location as i have other properties to be moved. I will keep you posted with the ups tracking number and the movers details. I believe this is based on trust.
- Jean
February 8th, 2011 at 9:08 amyeah this Jerry Smith did same thing to me last week : benjaminworldlink2@gmail.comhe claimed he wired me a check but exceed my post price, $100 over for the ‘trouble’ … see his email below – I think if someone offers more money than you ask, you need to be careful, they are testing if you are greedy, if you are, you will be sending money to the ‘mover’ …… …
Hello, i have been informed that the check will be delivered to you
today.Once you have the check, deduct the Cost of the item i am buying
from you($300) as i promised you another $100 for your running around
in cashing the payment and all the stress i must have put you during
the course of this transaction making $400 you are to deduct and have
the remaining funds wired by Western Union Money Transfer to my movers
today, so that as soon as they have the money, they could contact you
and schedule a pick up time with you.The money will be wired to their
head Office accountant in Adelphi,MDHere is their info to receive the money via Western Union
NAME…………….Gayle Fairman
ADDRESS……….3509 University Blvd E
CITY………………Adelphi,
STATE……………MD
ZIP CODE………20783Once you have the money sent to the mover, you will need to get back
to me with the following details…. - Duncan
February 8th, 2011 at 10:01 amHaha, “JERRY SMITH” just tried to get me yesterday! From the email benjaminworldlikn2@gmail.com “he” sent this reply to my ad:Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from
you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that
i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the
check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
as possible.
1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,
Please get back to me asap.Thanks for the blog, a google search of the e-mail address sent me here. I wish there were something we could do about these crooks.
- slugnet
February 12th, 2011 at 7:14 pmAnother scam from daviddatusani01@gmail.com.Here is the email:Hello,
Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $20 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
- Nancy Johnson-Fischer
February 13th, 2011 at 7:43 amSimilar message as last posting, first e-mail from Ann Mokay. Second from Mokay, LLC with e-mail addressdaviddatusani01@gmail.com.Beware!
This is the third time I’ve gotten messages like this. Will not deal and may not be posting on Craigs List any more. - slugnet
February 13th, 2011 at 8:30 amAnd a follow up, when I didn’t reply to the first scam email. By the way, he is using the name Trostli Larsen, and this time a different email address for the follow up. Nothing suspicious about that . . .trostli_larsen3@globomail.comHello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do withdraw the ad from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check..I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.Though you will not be responsible for moving,i will have my mover
come over for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check**
Here is my relay # 765-523-2844..ThanksHave a nice day.
Trostli Tarsen - Patrick
February 13th, 2011 at 8:43 amI wouldn’t let some of these criminals detour you from using a great service like Craigslist. There are many services including eBay that are not 100% scam proof.Taking precautionary steps and being diligent about your post(s), how, who and where you sell will help you filter out the criminals.1) Always note this in your post:
“CASH ONLY! LOCAL TRANSACTIONS ONLY! SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!”
Although, this is NOT a guarantee, it will help inform buyers that you are aware of scams and you are looking for serious buyers.2) Email Correspondance
Have solid email conversations/correspondance with your potential buyer before providing full name and phone #. This way, you can try to get a reading of your buyer, watch out for spelling, grammar, other compositional hints and what the person is really after.3) DON’T TRUST ANYONE
Not saying that everyone is bad, but you can’t simply trust everyone. And you must treat ALL potential buyers the same and consider the same risks.4) Meet away from your home
If possible, try to meet in a well lit, public area like a parking lot. Sometimes this is difficult with electronics that may require testing, but they do make AC adaptors ($20) for your car that can assist with this.
Some items like furniture may be large and hard to move, so try showcasing these items in your garage, and avoid bringing a stranger into your home. - Pro Drummer
February 21st, 2011 at 9:00 amJerry Smith just tried to scam me also. I never deal with g-mail accounts anyway. I even put on my advertisments “I will not answer g-mail account reply’s” here is the e-mail addresses he used with me:benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com
jjsness123@gmail.comHere is the e-mail he sent me and my reply.
His e-mail:
Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon as possible.1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
My Reply:
Don’t try to fuck me over.
Sounds like a scam! You show up here w/ cash in hand or no deal, no certified checks, no personal checks, no money orders, etc…just cold cash. Cash will also be verified with a counterfeit marker.How fuckin stupid do you think I am! Who the fuck is going to give a perfect stranger that info? Only an idiot! You don’t need any of that info for a certified bank check. Who you trying to fool? Besides you’ve now sent and replied from 2 different e-mail accounts. What do you do…get that info from people and then go rob them. MY HOUSE WOULD BE THE WRONG HOUSE , TRUST ME!
Sorry bud….no deal. I’m not selling because I need the money. I’m selling because I don’t need the drums. Go try to fuck someone else asshole..
- Patrick
February 21st, 2011 at 9:08 amthanks for sharing your experience with these dumb-asses.But, I’d like to point out that gmail accounts are no more riskier than any other mail service (yahoo, hotmail, live).On many of these services, all you need is another email account to be able to create a new email account.
By forcing your replies to avoid using gmail accounts, you are potentially reducing your potential real customers by a significant number.
The best way to avoid scams on Craigslit is to note that you are aware of the bullsh!t that is out there, and that you will only accept CASH, Local Transactions, no third party transactions and Serious Inquiries only.
It doesn’t matter what email service they use, as long as they fit your requested criteria then you’ll be able to filter out a lot of crap.
- Pro Drummer
February 21st, 2011 at 10:50 amHey Patric…thank you for the comment. Every scam out there is usually tied to one of those general mail accounts because you can get an account based on lies you can be anonymous. However you make a good point, if you delete every reply from general mail whether it’s g-mail, yahoo, live, etc…You can potentially be shooting yourself in the foot. I guess my advice would be “be cautious and aware of whom you’re dealing with and use good sense when dealing w/ strangers”. Your advice is good and I always include the terms listed above in my adverts.It’s sad that people put their God given talents towards screwing people instead of using it to succeed in life. - Jes
February 21st, 2011 at 2:03 pmLooks like “Mary Thompson” is at it again or never stopped.Same situation: wedding dress on craigslist for sale.“Just saw ur ad on craigslist. Could I possibly get more pics of it?”
w/email add of (marythomp0001@gmail.com)
Feeling skeptical as usual of all craigslist responses I asked “What add?” Response was as follows:
“I would love to buy the wedding dress. This is my first thing am buying off craigslist.com
I really want to come see it and try it on but i cannot as i am out of town due to work and preparation for my wedding. I think i have seen enough pictures so far so i would love to buy it off from you as will be relying on your judgment.
My method of payment would be through a Certified Check since am not around and can not remit cash from here as this is coming impromtu. Please let me know the final asking price so i can make arrangements as i will handle the shipment myself and i will be sending my mover down to pick up the dress at your place.
Kindly provide me with your full name and mailing address to which the Certified check would be sent so we can wrap this up real quick as the wedding is just around the corner.
NB: I also want to inform you that there will be an excess amount of funds which you will forward to my mover (for shipment purposes).
Mary.”
W/ the new email of “marythomp01@gmail.com”Yeah… I don’t think so…
- Lyn
February 24th, 2011 at 9:20 amJust got an e-mail from a Mokay after trying to sell something on Craigslist.Hello,Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $20 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
Mokay - A.D.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:50 amI suspected this guy from the get-go , thats how i found this blog, I googled its name. Heres Jacob Gibsons response to mine….
——————————————————————————————————————
Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price, pls do withdraw the
ad from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.You will not be responsible for moving,i will have my mover come over
for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check**Have a nice day
——————————————————————————————————————-
Heres my reply to his last response… Yeah right , now PISS-OFF! - Maria
March 1st, 2011 at 12:21 pmJust got the exact same email as the women above, what a waste of time
marythomp01@gmail.com - Bob
March 10th, 2011 at 3:38 pmBeware…I got this from Jacob Gibson today. It is identical to the scam response mentioned above on October 30, 2010“Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price listed so pls do
withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your phone number.**I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for moving
i will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have
cashed the check**Have a nice day.”
- BeekerC
March 15th, 2011 at 12:11 pmI often times list items on both Craigslist and eBay. Aside from increasing the exposure of my item(s), the listing price on Craigslist can’t be beat. While I do allow for local pickup for eBay, all Craigslist deals are face-to-face and cash only (i should probably go invest in one of those counterfeiting pens though). If someone contacts me through Craigslist and wants me to send it (or they’ll send a shipper to pick it up), I point out that whenever there’s shipping involved, I use eBay and Paypal. I ask them to email me their ebay userID and I will send them the item number for the eBay listing (I sell most of my stuff there as buy-it-now with best offer so there’s no waiting) through the ebay messaging system.Oddly enough, the couple of times I’ve gone this route, the inquiries have been legit and deals were conducted satisfactorily – until (potentially) today. The tip-off on this email exchange was that, in examining the SMTP message header, the From: address did not match the Reply-to: address. Now this, in and of itself, is not proof, just like not all gmail, yahoo and hotmail addresses are in use by scammers. However, this in conjunction with poor grammar, “my phone is disconnected because I’m moving”, offering to pay by company check and practically insisting that I wait until the check clears before proceeding (oddly enough, this is where the really bad grammar popped up), my red flags went up. Since they implied a face-to-face was not convenient, I went with the eBay alternative – funny thing is that the word “ebay” was part of the hidden Reply-to email address.If I don’t hear from them after that, I’ll post a follow-up with their email addresses and the full text of their email. If it turns out to be legit, then let the above serve as another tool to use in the ever vigilant fight against on-line scamming.
- MJay
March 20th, 2011 at 7:40 pmThanks to all those who commented previously.I got an email to my CL ad from “Tom Davis” – the first email came from tom.tomytomy.david555@gmail.com. I wasn’t aware of that this was a scam so I replied. Then I got the email about cashier’s check, will pick later after check is cashed etc. That sounded suspicious and it came from benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com mentioned previously.MJ
- BIG AL
April 5th, 2011 at 12:10 am3april 2011 I got the same crap from TomDavis @ tom.tomytomyetc as reply #166 above..then the second email came from benjaminworldlink2. the different
address smelled like a stinking fish. thanks guys ..I did send my name and address and tel # so I will have to live with the consequences. BIG AL - J.R.
April 7th, 2011 at 8:15 amTom David benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com at it again.Email I received:Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon as possible.1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
- DR
April 28th, 2011 at 6:00 amJust got this email at 2am by Troy Mendez:Hello
I came across your ad and I am interested in the purchase,please back
to me ASAP with the present condition,last price and I will be
responsible for the pick up..
Troy Mendez
troy.mndz4@gmail.comWhy would someone inquire on its freakin condition and price if I carefully wrote <> in my ad!!!
Blocked and sender and did not respond!
Great blog, thx!
- Candicee
May 3rd, 2011 at 10:39 amSOO happy I found this site. I just searched for the below email address: benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com because look at how obviously shady this is….Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from
you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that
i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the
check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
as possible.1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
*He also emailed from: tmdvd23@gmail.com this first time. Don’t fall for it!
- Cindy
May 4th, 2011 at 12:17 pmI just got and email from Mokay on Craigslist. Here is what it said…
Hello,Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via FedEx 1/2days local delivery.I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
Pretty much the same email as the other people. Thank you so much for this blog you saved me so much time and stress!!!!
- Seller
May 6th, 2011 at 9:14 am….I don’t think so…..LOLMessage 1) jw6375193@gmail.comHello,
We are looking to buy this furniture, would like to know if the item is still available for sale and what is its present condition?
Await Your Response..
Thanks.Message 2) Mokay LLC davidatuusani01@gmail.com (see above post)
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
——This is definitely a scam and I accept cash only, I’m trying to sell something, not cash your bad checks——
- Jenn
May 8th, 2011 at 5:45 amIs there anyway to report these people? I received the same email from Mokay LLC and not impressed! - Patrick
May 10th, 2011 at 11:54 amYou can always try to report it to your local authorities, Unfortunately though, this may be looked at as a petty crime, if that.For one, most items on Craigslist are under $1000, so a lot of this would not even be grand theft up front for the item. But the crime isn’t stealing, it is essentially counterfeiting checks and a bank fraud in the end. Now, the checks could be over $1000, but not sure how that is classified in a fraud.I know many people, including myself, that have had car stereos, TV’s, and other car or household items stolen and most police departments will have you do the routine report file, likely online, and they will contact you if they hear anything. They are not going to send an urgent request out unless someone got injured, or something of major value was stolen or damaged. Police are too busy busting skateboarders rather than dealing with “real crimes.”
And technically, I don’t think the “buyer” has officially committed a crime by responding with their email reply and suggestion to make the “purchase.”
If you can get the authorities involved early, they may want to lead the criminal into sending you the counterfeit/fraudulent check. Now at that point, the buyer will have committed a crime of counterfeiting, and it is possible that the authorities and/or the bank of the counterfeit check may want to progress with an investigation and criminal charges. I would not recommend progressing forward with any transaction on your own or providing your information, address, etc.
Another challenge is finding the source location of the criminal can be difficult, but some sophisticated IP address tracking might help with emails and/or tracking of the counterfeit check and postage may help too.
- Patty
May 11th, 2011 at 12:24 amPatrick, Thank you so much for all the advices. I learned a lot from this blog.
Today I got and email from Jef Timothy etowigu@googlemail.com and Dennis Kolb wavuole@gmail.com on Craigslist.These guys have been using the same message for years!!Here is the message:
Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i
will like to buy this item for the exact price, pls do withdraw the ad from
Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check.I
will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.You will not be responsible for moving,i will have my mover come over for
the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check**Have a nice day.
- Neil
May 13th, 2011 at 5:31 pmLike Patty I got this from Jacob Gibson. Same person even down to the grammar and spelling mistakes:Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said
i will like to buy this item for the exact price, pls do withdraw the
ad from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that
i will be paying via check.I will need you to provide me with the
following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address
3.Your cell/phone number.You will not be responsible for moving,i will have my mover come over
for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check**Have a nice day
He was using the email bozevif@gmail.com
I had just signed up with Graigslist and listed a guitar amp for sale. I actually responded to see what he would say. I got this:
I have since receive the confirmation from my secretary and a certified check which i believe is easier and faster as been issued to your name and address as provided by you some hours ago and would be delivered via priority mail within 2 days ,but to my greatest surprise the payment was issued out to the sum of $2,610 instead of the actual cost of my purchase . She claimed that i requested for that amount to be issued out to you but am very sure i only made a request for just the cost of my purchase.This is a terrible mistake and i was just informed about this so please once the check is delivered please take it to your Bank and have it cashed
You will then deduct the cost of my purchase plus an extra $100 to offset the cost of your run around expenses.The rest of the fund should be sent to my mover via Western Union money transfer which is available in every Walmart or K-Mart store around you the same day so that my mover can make the trip over for the pick at once. **I will need your response via email assuring me that i can trust you to handle this with utmost care and have the remaining fund returned appropriately as requested and will hope that your intentions remains noble though out the duration of this transaction**
I told him he was a scammer and I would only deal face to face with cash. He played stupid asking me what I meant by a scam so I told him. He still insists on sending me a check and keeping an extra $50 for the delay. I just emailed him back and told him not to send it. Well, if he does, I will take it to the local authorities along with all the emails including source headers.
Thanks for this site!
- Holly
May 13th, 2011 at 9:26 pmAnn Mokay LLC is busy in Wisconsin. Demanded that she call me about the furniture she wanted; same scam scenario. Haven’t heard back. Don’t think I will. And she better not show up at the address I gave her. - V
May 20th, 2011 at 1:42 pmI don’t understand how this scam is supposed to work. If the banks will actually cash the checks, and you can walk away with cash, what do you have to lose? If the checks are fake and can’t be cashed then how does the scammer hope to gain anything from this? - Patrick
May 20th, 2011 at 2:00 pmThe scam was explained in the original post and in the comments. There are several variations now, but the gist of the scam is that the criminal buyer writes the seller a fraudulent check for over the asking amount. And then request that you wire the some of the extra cash to their pick-up person, which is really the buyer and probably a low risk account like a Wal-Mart visa card or just a direct money transfer to them, and then tells the seller to keep the rest.So, the unsuspecting seller goes and cashes the check, expecting that they are going to cash in. They get the cash and then wires the oney to the seller, and then you keep the rest. But guess what?! The person who cashed the check is responsible for the outstanding funds. When you go cash a check, they bank or service location retrieves the casher’s information, driver’s license, name, address, etc. The check casher is responsible for all funds if the check ends up bouncing or comes back as fraudulent.Not all banks or check cashing locations have the updated technology to verify the check immediately, so this scam is still working. The check could possibly have a real bank account number on the check as well to an unknown third party’s account. Once they find out, and report it, it’s all coming back to the person who cashed he check.
So, although the criminal may not get all of the money, they get some of it and they do this a few hundred times, then it adds up quickly for little effort and they are rarely found or held accountable.
- Ben
May 22nd, 2011 at 1:52 amTom David is another one.
He sent me emails using 2 different addresses,
one was benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com and the other was tomytomy.david44@gmail.com.
I sent an email back saying I will not be scammed…we’ll see what happens. I wish all people were decent. - James
May 23rd, 2011 at 11:19 amAndy Ford is now Mark Ford, same scripted emails. Email address used was bigsmallee20s@gmail.com - Sivanthie
May 25th, 2011 at 2:27 pmAndy Ford is up to his tricks again. I have listed my car on a forum.
Subject: Re: 1992 Mercedes Benz 500E
To: mb500e@live.com
From: andy.ford003@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 14:00:13 +0000Thanks for getting back to me and i appreciate your prompt reply..I am
presently out of town now but i am buying this for my friend and i will
like to make the payment for this via Paypal and also my mover will
come for the pick-up…So kindly send me your Paypal account ID and i
will send the Payment for this item instantly and once the money
clears in your account ,my mover will come for the pick-up.
if you don’t have a PayPal account yet, you can set one up at
http://www.paypal.com it cant take you less than 3mins to do that, i will be
expecting your PayPal email so l can pay and also get back to me with
your best price
on this. I will be waiting.Also kindly send me your number to where i can contact you, Mine is
+447045737931
From: MB 500E
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 06:42:43 -0700
To:
Subject: RE: 1992 Mercedes Benz 500EYes, the car is still available.
The price is $13,500 OBO
The car is in excellent condition, I have maintained the car is perfect condition since I purchased it in 2000.
Regards,
Sivanthie Orgonas> Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 08:30:03 +0100
> Subject: 1992 Mercedes Benz 500E
> From: andy.ford003@gmail.com
> To: MB500E@live.com
>
> Hello,
> Is this car still available for sale ? I will like to know your
> reserved price and the present condition…Kindly get back to me
> soonest
> Thanks
> +447045737931
> andy.ford003@gmail.com - Christine
May 25th, 2011 at 9:44 pmthank you for telling me about this guy that was a scammer i got an email last night about my couch i was selling and he said the same exact thing telling me he would send a certified bank check via fed ex ups and he didnt even bother neigoiating price or anything or even want to look at it it seemed a bit fishy so i decided to look his email address up and came across this website
he said his name was tom david he had to alternate emails that i just noticed while looking and seeing if it was a scam i luckily didnt get any money scammed but i know what he was going to do was going to be a crime and i hope he gets caught i already reported him and soon report his fraud check to the police so they can hopefully catch him - Christine
May 25th, 2011 at 9:50 pmhere is the email the person sent me
Hello,
> Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from
> you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that
> i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the
> check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
> place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
> as possible.
>
>
> 1. Your full Names
> 2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
> 3. Your zip code
> 4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,
>
> Please get back to me asap. - Christine
May 27th, 2011 at 11:31 amlike all the othersjason4clifton@aol.comHello,is this available? and when would you be available to show this?
Yes it is and whenever
Hello,
Thanks so much for writing back but I’m sorry I won’t be able to come see it anymore, embarking on a 3 month business trip to New York tomorrow morning, I had plans to be in your town, that got changed. I still want it anyway, getting it for my cousin as a surprise. If you could sell it to me when I get to New York I will mail you a bank official check to cover the cost and also add funds to cover the shipping to where it will be needed.
I’ll arrange for a shipper/mover to handle the pick up and delivery so it doesn’t stress you. I really need this, quite important and urgent. I will be more than glad if it can be sold to me. Email me back with a name, address and your phone number for the check, write back soon. Thank you once again. I will be waiting to hear from you.
Thank youthought it was a scam from the begggining these people email you at like 2 am in the morning and stuff I knew then after the first one that it was the same guy heres a diff email that hes probally been using too
- Christine
May 27th, 2011 at 11:36 amlike all the othersjason4clifton@aol.com - Christine
May 27th, 2011 at 11:37 amHello,is this available? and when would you be available to show this?Yes it is and wheneverHello,
Thanks so much for writing back but I’m sorry I won’t be able to come see it anymore, embarking on a 3 month business trip to New York tomorrow morning, I had plans to be in your town, that got changed. I still want it anyway, getting it for my cousin as a surprise. If you could sell it to me when I get to New York I will mail you a bank official check to cover the cost and also add funds to cover the shipping to where it will be needed.
I’ll arrange for a shipper/mover to handle the pick up and delivery so it doesn’t stress you. I really need this, quite important and urgent. I will be more than glad if it can be sold to me. Email me back with a name, address and your phone number for the check, write back soon. Thank you once again. I will be waiting to hear from you.
Thank youthought it was a scam from the begggining these people email you at like 2 am in the morning and stuff I knew then after the first one that it was the same guy heres a diff email that hes probally been using too
- Scott
June 2nd, 2011 at 9:06 amAlso just received an offer for purchase from daviddatusani01@gmail.com that seemed very suspicious. Here is the text:Hello,Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via FedEx 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
- deana
June 3rd, 2011 at 7:14 pmMy husband got scammed this same way. We lost $2500. it sounded so strange but the bank assured us the check cleared so my husband sent the money as requested. Then, the bank said they meant it was available but not cleared and the check was returned and we lost our money. The local police took the report but never actually did anything about it. The banks fraud department said “sorry”. Look out for this guy “Tom David”benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com
The western Union went to Tara Segall 1341 Allard Ave Eureka, CA 95503
if anyone has any info on this same guy, please let me know. Thanks - Deb
June 6th, 2011 at 6:51 amJust got suspicious about someone offering this deal and luckily checked it out and found this blog. The email was from Mokay LLC davidatuusani01@gmail.comThanks for all of these postings. Saved me lots of time and aggravation. Here is the email:Hello,
Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via FedEx 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
- David
June 6th, 2011 at 5:42 pmScott,Got the exact same email (verbatim) from this guy. I think it might be a scam. Here it is:Mokay LLC davidatuusani01@gmail.com
Hello,
Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via FedEx 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
- Amber
June 6th, 2011 at 7:06 pmadd andrewcole500@gmail.com to the list - Liz
June 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pmPoor wording clued me in right away! Add these two to the list – exact same wording as previously listed:
thtommy101@gmail.com
benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com - Deepti
June 15th, 2011 at 7:51 amDeana,
I also got a mail from “Tom David” benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com, with similar request, he was so insistent on my removing the post from Craigslist that I thought of checking him out on the web, and yes there is this blog!! Thanks to everyone here, I saved some energy and lots of money.Regards - Susan Bowman
June 15th, 2011 at 9:39 amGot a scam email today from Tom David benjaminworldlink2@gmail.com. He sent me this email today. Same individual that scammed Deana #189 above.Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon as possible.1. Your full Names
2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)
3. Your zip code
4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
- Claudia
June 15th, 2011 at 10:01 amI had Tom Davis try to scam me! his email is benjaminworldlink2@gmail.comHello,Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it fromyou so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed thati will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have thecheck cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at yourplace..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soonas possible. 1. Your full Names2. Your Mailing Address, be it Residential or Office address(Not P.O.BOX)3. Your zip code4. Your Phone numbers both land and mobile Lines,Please get back to me asap.
- Bruce
June 19th, 2011 at 10:03 amkodeewi@gmail.com
daviddatusani01@gmail.comThis joker just tried pulling the same scam on me.Hello,
Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via FedEx 1/2days local delivery.
I’ll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.Regards
From:
Mokay
To:
** 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–
Hello,Am interested in this item, hope you don’t have a buyer yet.Get back to me with the detailed condition.
Thanks
David
- Bruce
June 19th, 2011 at 10:36 amI also have another one that has tried to pull the same scam on me.He also uses two different email addresses and same kind of line.Sideboard –
From:
Perry Smith
To:
** 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–
Still available?Re: Sideboard –
From:
Perry smith
To:
Hello,Thanks for getting back me am ok with the price and the condition..
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from
you so please kindly withdraw the advert Please to be informed that i
will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check
cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place.. I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
as possible.1.Name to be issue to…
2.Contact Address(City,State,Zip code)
3.Contact telephone number home,cell or work…)Pls note that FedEx/Ups does not deliver to P.O box and the payment
for the item will be overnight to your address asap.i really need this
item and i will appreciates you if you can help me to save item till
the payment arrives as it will save me some extra cost.. and my
shipper will come as soon as you have the check cashed in hand, So
please send me an email only RegardsThanks
Awaiting for your prompt response
Re: Sideboard
From:
Perry smith
To:
Hello,Thanks for getting back me am ok with the price and the condition..
Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying it from
you so please kindly withdraw the advert Please to be informed that i
will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check
cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place.. I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
as possible.1.Name to be issue to…
2.Contact Address(City,State,Zip code)
3.Contact telephone number home,cell or work…)Pls note that FedEx/Ups does not deliver to P.O box and the payment
for the item will be overnight to your address asap.i really need this
item and i will appreciates you if you can help me to save item till
the payment arrives as it will save me some extra cost.. and my
shipper will come as soon as you have the check cashed in hand, So
please send me an email only RegardsThanks
Awaiting for your prompt response
Re: Sideboard
From:
Perry smith
To:
Hello how are you doing? sorry for the late respond please i just
check my email just now anyway i just wanted to let you know that your
payment has been issued and sent to you via FedEx courier service
which will be deliver to you on monday latest 10AM once you receive it
let me know so that all the arrangement for the pick up can be getting
done i will soon email you the FedEx tracking number and shipping
company information to you till then stay blessedPerry
- DM
June 21st, 2011 at 9:06 amSame scam with TROY MENDEZ – troy.mendez6@gmail.comSame initial email wanting item – no problem with price, etc….movers et al…..
SCAM-SCAM-SCAM - Jana
June 24th, 2011 at 10:32 amdaviddatusani01@gmail.com nearly got me. Same song and dance as the others I’ve read here by him. Verbatim. I should have checked it out sooner. I will next time. I actually have the check in hand right now for $1500.00 more than the cost of my items for the ‘movers’ located supposedly in another state. I am looking forward to letting craigslist know about this guy. My suspicions were raised. But I am a first time craigslist lister. I guess I’ve learned the hard way. Thank the Lord it’s not too late! - Lisa
July 6th, 2011 at 4:42 amGood ‘ole Mary Thompson (marythomp01@gmail.com) contacted me after I listed a wedding dress on craigslist. After reading this, I found out I was scammed immediately. I got suspicious after she wanted to pay me an additional $3000 over the asking price for me to give to her “mover”. Yah right! She also offered an additional $50 to me for taking down the ad. My first listing on craigslist and I think all 4 inquiries have been scams. - Milo
July 9th, 2011 at 12:31 pmFrom Troy Mendez in regards to purchasing my wireless mics:Hello
I came across your ad and I am interested in the purchase,am satisfied
with the price,please back to me ASAP with the present condition and I
will be responsible for the pick up..
Troy Mendezand then:
Hello,
Thanks so much for the prompt response to my mail,The price is okay by
me,I really wish to be there to check the mic kit but I am not
chanced due to My job,Payment will be via cashiers check/bank
certified check,I believe what I am buying from you is in good
condition so I want to secure the purchase to avoid loosing
it,Concerning the pick up, my mover would be at your place for the
pick up after you have received and confirmed payment .please do
provide me with the below information to facilitate mailing the
payment to you so as to have this transaction completed ASAP
Full Name……………………………………………
Address where payment will be sent to not p.o.box…………
City………………………………………………..
State……………………………………………….
Zip Code…………………………………………….
Cell Number…………………………………………
Hope to read from you soon,so please do
withdraw the ad and to be rest assured on my side that i have bought
it.I Await your response as soon as possible.
Troy MendezSoo glad I came across this post! Let’s get this snake!
- sheila
July 9th, 2011 at 2:12 pmYes, I just got an email from Troy Mendez. “Certified bank check”, sending movers. I replied “cash only and if you can’t come yourself because of work etc., send a friend” And he wrote to me at 2:30 am on a Friday night regarding antique chairs. Hmmm.
Thanks for the heads up. - DG
July 21st, 2011 at 2:44 pmI just got a Troy Mendez email as well…troy.mendz11@gmail.comHello
I came across your ad and I am interested in the purchase,am satisfied
with the price,please back to me ASAP with the present condition and I
will be responsible for the pick up..
Troy MendezWord for word as Milo…
- Ali
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:39 pmThank you so much for this site. I thought something was fishy so I looked up Mokay LLC and found this site. Phew – that was a close one. No idea what I should say to the guy though. Should I just ignore him? - Darri
July 23rd, 2011 at 5:18 amI received the exact same scam as Bruce from daviddatusani01@gmail.com. EXACTLY the same. I googled “Mokay LLC” and found this blog. - Darri
July 23rd, 2011 at 6:48 amJust received a second scam email in response to my craigslist ad from a Joseph Kuntz (jjosseepphkunntz@gmail.com):“Thanks for the prompt response, I am quite satisfied with the condition .I am also interested and I will like to make an instant purchase, so kindly end the advert on Craigslist, I do not mind adding an extra $25 for you to close the advert on craigslist so that I can be rest assured that I am the prospective buyer, I would have loved to come take a look but I am a very busy man I am very sure you understand. I will also want you to know that I will be paying via Certified Check, and it will be sent to you via courier service due to the distance. You don’t need to bother about the shipment, as that has been taken care of…… So I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1. Full Name on the check
2. Address where payment will be sent to not p.o.box (because my courier service does not deliver to p.o box)
3. City
4. State
5. Zip Code
6. Phone Number
Once again, I will like to remind you that you will not be responsible for shipping as I will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check .
Have A Nice And Rewarding Day Ahead .” - Allison
July 24th, 2011 at 8:37 amI recently received responses from several scammers including
timmosun01@googlemail;gracehails@yahoo.com;king.kind017@gmail.com
re: an item I just put up for sale. They all wrote basically the same email
as below:john owen | ping.xu06@gmail.com | Add to Contacts
Hello,Thanks for getting back me am ok with the price and the
condition..Thanks for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying
it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please to be informed
that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the
check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon
as possible.1.Name to be issue to…
2.Contact Address(City,State,Zip code)
3.Contact telephone number home,cell or work…)Pls note that FedEx/Ups does not deliver to P.O box and the payment
for the item will be overnight to your address asap.i really need this
item and i will appreciates you if you can help me to save item till
the payment arrives as it will save me some extra cost….and my
shipper will come as soon as you have the check cashed in hand, So
please send me an email only RegardsThanks
Awaiting for your prompt response.
- Travis
July 24th, 2011 at 3:58 pmTroy mendez is at it again.Beware of troy.mendez6@gmail.com.Same old song and dance.Claimed to be hard of hearing,God Bless him if he really is,but I now have a check for $2,350.00 for a $450.00 lawnmower that he trusted was in good condition.Never wanted to see it,wire my movers the rest of the money,etc.Luckily I did NOT fall for it.It was written on Travel Agency Commission Settlement.CITIBANK,N.A. Of course I called his bluff and he no longer correspondes with me.The check was sent with no instructions,no mention of his name anywhere.He even threatened me with the FBI.Good Luck.Still at a loss as what to do with this worthless piece of paper.Too bad there are people who do fall for this.I understand now he has several e-mail addresses.No business with Troy Mendez!!!!!! - deb ram
July 24th, 2011 at 5:04 pmI got the same email as all aforementioned above. I responded by giving the name of the Special Agent in Charge of my local FBI office. Plus that address. Maybe that will get somebody to act on this criminal. I have been reporting this ‘operation’ for 3 years now and they are still at it, in business to defraud innocent people. We need to act to stop this type of illegal activity, these people have been on too long a leash for far too long. - Patrick
July 25th, 2011 at 8:36 amThe least you can do is try to contact your local police dept. and report the issue. I’m not 100% sure what they will do at this point, since technically the criminal has only propositioned a transaction which may be against Craiglist recommendations, but has not suggested that they will do anything illegal at this time although we know exactly where they want to go with it and I don’t believe that is considered a crime by the law. Only when they would send the fraudulent check over will the authorities really be able to do something, unless they want to jump in on a stake-out mission and try to lure this criminal into their hands. - Patrick
July 25th, 2011 at 8:38 amThanks for commenting about this and your efforts to try to stop this crap. Hopefully the authorities see some value in pursuing these criminals and do something about it. - Travis
July 25th, 2011 at 2:45 pmIt was a lesson well learned.Skeptical about re listing the mower,but now I know what to look for.Thanks for the site,there is a lot to know. - Patrick
July 25th, 2011 at 2:53 pmIt is unfortunate that a few bad apples can ruin an opportunity and future ones as well. I would not let them force you to NOT use tools like Craigslist. Just make sure you are aware and take necessary steps and precautions to ensure who you are dealign with is the real deal.Again, as I have noted in my previous post and comments, by making sure your post has:
“Cash Only, Local Transactions only, Serious Inquires only” you can filter out most (not all, but most) of the b.s. Feel free to add other verbiage into your post like “No checks, no money orders, no scams, etc.” to let viewers know that you will not tolerate that crap and you are aware of that kind of activity. This will not guarantee that you will get legitimate buyers, but it does help. Also, I suggest never meeting at your home, try to meet in a public place such as a parking lot.As far as the paper check you were sent, you could potentially contact your local authorities and/or bank and see if they do anything with it. Not sure if this is considered “too petty” of a crime for them to get involved, but if it for thousands of dollars I would assume that falls under some major counterfeiting fraud.
CraigslistScamsinfo 