An acquaintance recently arranged through craigslist (http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/mi) to sell her car online.
She got an e-mail from a prospective purchaser saying her vehicle was “exactly” what he was looking to buy and the price was right.
He sent her a check for a round number that was $300 more than the price she was asking and explained that it was the minimum amount he could withdraw by check from his money fund. She should cash the check and just give the extra $300 to a person he was sending to pick up the car, he told her.
She took the check to the bank. An alert teller told her it sounded as if it was a scam. The teller made an inquiry of the bank it was drawn on and learned that the check was bogus.
She reported the prospective buyer’s information to the police.
It’s a reminder that you should know people before you accept a check from them.
In fact, last year, fake check scams were the top telemarketing fraud and the third most common Internet scam, according to the National Consumers League.
“Consumers are losing money to fake check scams in frightening numbers, and they’re losing the money permanently to crooks that are operating from foreign countries,” said Susan Grant, Director of NCL’s Fraud Center. “Con artists are growing increasingly creative with their pitches to victims, but the bottom line is the same. Whether you’re being offered a ‘prize,’ a ‘job,’ or overpayment for something you’re selling, if someone is offering to send you a check and have you wire some amount of it back, you’re in for trouble.”
I can’t believe people actually fall for this….I wouldn’t do this ‘favor’ for someone I know….much less a complete stranger. We recently sold a motorcycle to someone from Columbus, Ohio…insisted that he pay in cash and took a money marker to the transaction..on neutral ground…to mark the bills he brought to us. You can never be too careful when dealing with money….there are way too many people out there who know how to cheat the system…and you.
mad blogger…
bella donna…
yes i know there is a lot of scamming going on craigslist.org
iam a landloard in south bend indiana and i posted a room for rent and have had 93 responses and all are scams they want you too rent the room too them and then they send you like 3000.00 dollars in money orders or travelers checks that are all fake my room rents for 550.00 a month at the last one sent me 4000.00 in travelers checks that i was too take 550.00 for my room and send the rest back to another country so they could fly here with is all a scam they use lots of differant name at places but after reading 92 of they they all start to say the same things so beware as i was almost put in jail at walmart for trying to cash one of the travelers check in the amout of 500.00 witch they doint come in that amount they only come is 100.00 amounts witch i did not know but they were happy to tell me this when i was aomost put in jail
thank you
wilfred j secore
here are a few e-mails i have gotten
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:47:45 -0700
From: w_secore@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: room needed
To: samkenny09@hotmail.com
hope to hear from you soon with pic
sam kenny wrote:
Hello,
I am writing just to confirm if you still have the place for rent i want to sublease . Here is all I can say about my self for now. I am 29 years old female and I work full time, Monday through Friday. I was born in UK. WOOD GREEN, but I was brought up in England .I work in Mildmay HIV/AID cure, so we travel alot through this because am one of the perfect workers of the hospital , now i am now in Romania , what we do is to give medcine and to advice those with the positive of this disease , now our next contract is in the state , so i need to get to the state , so i saw your ad on the site i saw that you have a apt/sub to rent which is near to where my contract is , then i decided to email you to know if the sub/apt is still available , and to know more about the apt/sub ok ,i will like you to email me back if u think i will be a good tenant to you . I am not really a sports person, BUT I do love Hockey Games. I am a very out going person and fun to be with. I do play the organ and piano,, and I do have BOTH piano and organ here at my house.I am not a drinker and I don’t smoke and I don’t do drugs. like bike ridding, swimming, and I love to travel. I am presently inRomania, and I will be moving to the state to fully to start a new life and get my own business after 8 years of service in the HIV/AIDS home in romania… I will be staying in your apartment for a A YEAR or More. or less depending on how the lease is draw I will be arriving to the states as soon as possible…… ,i will like you to email me back to my personal yahoomail if you think i will be a good tenant to you , send back to me a message ok
send me the details of the apartment and how many months and the cost month and the condition funished or unf? and i will like to take the sub from you
Waiting to hear from you
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:31:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: “gary clarke” Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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Subject: Re: hi this is Miss Wentz
To: “wilfred secore”
Hello Lorraine,How are you doing?it was nice hearing from you on the phone today,though the phone network connection wasn’t good enough,so that made it difficult to understand what you were trying to say,PleaseYou will have to send the remainder of the money to the receiver below,he is a Car dealer in the United States ,so no need of you sending the remainder of the funds to Rose’s aunt,he is a also a friend of mine so he would be helping Rose to get the car.Here are the Tracking numbers for the package 1Z46V0760196041993 ,Track package with http://www.ups.com as it was sent through the ups courrier service.
Send Remainder through the western union money transfer,
Send Remainder to Receiver’s name: CHARLES BODNAR
Location : SUSSEX , New Jersey USA
I would be lloking forward to hearing from you later today.bye and God Bless.
Gary Clarke.
wilfred secore wrote:
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Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:08:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: “suzzu mrs” Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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Subject: urgent reply!!!
To: “wilfred secore”
Hello Wilfred
I will like u to put the information like this ok
Full Name………….
Address…………….
State……………….
City……………….
Zipcode…………….
Phone number…..
wilfred secore wrote:
here is my number
01-574-855-3550 call me now if you like iam up
suzzu mrs wrote: CAN I HAVE UR PHONR NUMBER
wilfred secore wrote: room is 550.00 us dollars per month there is no deposit required the rom size is 10×12 has large closet and drawers i do require a 100.00 us dollars non refundible deposit to hold the room for you if you do not show up on the date we set you lose it. the room is on the main floor of a 5 bedroom home all utillitys are included as well as cable high speed internet and shared phone room has a bed and tv in it western union as payment or cash the house is within walking distance of stores and city buses pick up at the corner
fell free to comtact me 01-574-855-3550 thank you
wilfred j secore
753 n. elmer st
south bend indiana
46628
01-574-855-3550
ps please sent a pic
suzzy wrote:
Hello,
How are you doing today. I saw your advert on craigslist and am
interested.Am suzzy and am 27yrs old. work with a STOLT COMEX
SEAWAY…..in UK,I am relocating back to the United States. Consequent
for
my educational leave and also looking forward to have my Master degree
in a
good university around…i am searching for accomodation early and i
saw
your add on craigslist and i want to make a reservation for your
apartment Or
be a roommate. I can assure you that you will not have any regrets
letting
out this apartment to me.I am a quiet person and can get along well
with any
body,i am coming over alone,with no family or pets,i do not smoke and i
drink very lightly.
However i will like to know (1) The maximum lease period available
( 2) Exact amount of payment per month
(3) Deposit fee in applicable and other utilities
(3) Method of payment
I will be expecting your email as soon as possible..pls kindly reply me
your
email to my private email box (mrs_suzzy_mom01@yahoo.com )
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regard,
Suzzy
this is just a few i have 93 more but you get the idea