Author Topic: New variaton, old scam? (Read 1793 times)

ellmoe · « **on:** February 08, 2009, 09:35:47 am »

I recently wasted 20 minutes on the phone with what turned out to be a new twist on an old scam. I received a call from an operator that wanted to do a live translation of an inquiry. First the customer asked if we had a number of western species (WRC, redwood, etc.). We are in Florida, so I replied in the negative. Then , I was asked, "OK, what do you have", "Go ahead". ("Go ahead "was the magic words for the other party to begin, every exchange took 3-4 minutes!) To paraphrase the conversation, I told him the species we have, "OK, I'll take pine, how much for 10 , 12x12x24" , I give the price, "OK, no problem", "I want to send you an extra $1500 to give to the freight company when they pick-up".

I've heard of this before. Their check is no good, yours' is cashed, and you are out of the product, if it is ever even picked up. I replied "this sounds like a scam to me, I'm not interested." The translator replied, "OK". So, I hung up. What a waste of my time! Then a few days later, I get the same thing on a e-mail request!

What's the matter? Don't they have any money to smuggle out of Nigeria anymore?

Mark

D Martin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2009, 01:02:03 pm »

Yes ther are alot of scammers out there. I have been selling stuff and trying to sell services on craigslist fo extra money and probably 1/4 the responses I get are from scammers

Kansas · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2009, 01:10:24 pm »

Well, I expect to be on easy street at any time. I just got a bunch of confidential hot stock tips in e-mail. How can you possibly go wrong when you can buy shares for 5 cents apiece?

DR_Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2009, 11:01:31 pm »

I'm still waiting on my $5,000,000 check from my long lost relative in South Africa.

he's supposed to senf it to me and then all I have to do is send him back $10,000. I get to keep the rest.

urbanlumberinc · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:30:16 am »

Help me understand this Ellmoe - if they're buying product from you, why would you be giving a check to them? Maybee I missed sumthin here

okie · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:56:20 am »

The scam works in different ways but a couple different scenarios are this. Most banks put a certain hold time on checks of large amounts, a holding period if you will. Scammer sends you a cashiers check for more than the amount of purchase, excess to be used for shipping etc. You deposit the cashiers check, send the "shipper" a seperate check of your own and the "shipper" immediately cashes this check and the cashiers check you recieved is canceled before the holding period is over. A friend of mine breeds german shepherd show dogs and got ripped off this way. A lady called him wanting to buy a $1000 dollar dog, it would cost $500 for the dog to be shipped so she sent him a cashiers check for $1500. The day after he recieved the check she called explaining that her mother was sick and she had to fly out to see her, still wanted the dog, but would he accept the $1000 as a non-refundable deposit and western union her the 500 that was for shipping and when she got done taking care of her mother she would send him some more money for shipping. He did this and the next day the cashiers check was cancelled.

Cedarman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:50:15 am »

When I have doubts, I get a postal money order. I don't think these can be cancelled. Correct me on that if I am wrong.

ellmoe · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:19:57 am »

Urbanlumberinc,

Okie explained it well. If I recall correctly we had the beginnings of this type of scam here on the forum a year or so ago. Someone had listed a mill for sale and a "purchaser" made contact through the forum. They typed with a foreign "accent".

Anyway, the mill was somewhere up north and they wanted it shipped to Miami and then overseas. There wasn't much questioning on price, quality, etc., and with the distances involved it is easy to see where a heavy freight bill would be involved. Our "fearless leader " sniffed this out quickly and after he confronted them publicly, they soon went away. I understand this is a big problem on Craig's list, as well as other open sales forums. Be aware a cashier's check is no better than an individual check in this situation.

Mark

MaddiesDad · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:20:54 am »

Have them wire transfer the funds directly to your bank account. It's usually free (or very little in fees) and instant. Once the funds arrive to that account INSTANTLY transfer the funds out of that account into another account.

WH_Conley · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:42:38 am »

MaddiesDad hit the nail on the head.

My bank will let me set up an account($100.00) and put a flag on the account, can not be withdrawn from except in person at the bank by me or my wife. That way, even though these guys now have your account # and routing info they can't do anything with them. Take the money out and put it in your regular account and use it normally.

ErikC · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:11:04 am »

I wouldn't waste any effort trying to outsmart these clowns. An honest deal won't involve this money back factor anyway. Just walk away from it. I have a buddy who lost 1500 bucks on this one with a car. I went into the store where he western union-ed the money 10 minutes after he did it. Too late to stop him

I wish I'd of got there sooner, the second he told me what he was up to I knew he just lost $1500. He'd never even heard of this type of scam, that's why they still do it.

urbanlumberinc · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2009, 04:25:07 pm »

I never ship anything until I have the funds in hand, if they want to pay by check, I tell them the product doesn't ship until the funds clear my bank. Once in awhile someone will get all huffy about that, and I'll invite them to take their business elsewhere. I found a site online thats dedicated to turning the tables on these foreign scammers. Ebola Monkey dot com. It's pretty amusing

DR_Buck · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:59:19 pm »

Quote from: Cedarman on February 09, 2009, 06:50:15 am

When I have doubts, I get a postal money order. I don't think these can be cancelled. Correct me on that if I am wrong.

There is a lot of counterfeiting of money orders and bank certified checks these days. I won't take either.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:14:54 pm »

A friend of mine got an order for 2000 bologna sandwiches the other day. He only had to pay the truck driver $5,000 for the trucking, which he would he could then charge to the buyers credit card.

Frickman · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:23:44 pm »

I've listed some excess equipment on Craig's List and have gotten replies from the same scammers. I just tell them cash on the barrel head when they pick up the equipment, that usually gets rid of them.

Night Raider · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:13:15 pm »

So here's what I've just run into, I saw a classified for a 2006 John Deere 3520 with loader, mower, backhoe etc... all this for $5500. I thought it seems suspiciously cheap but doesn't hurt to email, I was told the price included shipping and insurance to me, so I asked where is it? Here is the response,

"The tractor is in Whitehorse, YT.

I want to finish this deal through eBay International Trading. They will hold your payment and release it to me only after you will receive, inspect and agree with the tractor. I will give you 3 inspection days.

I will start the shipping in the same day with the payment confirmation.

The delivery process to your location will take 5-6 days.

Tell me if we can get the ball rolling and I will contact eBay regarding our transaction. after that they will send you the information of the purchasing.

Thanks"

I don't understand the angle, I also don't understand the ebay trading, but it sure seems like a scam to me.
Has anyone run into this before? I guess it is possible someone is just trying to get rid of it fast.

It's getting to the point you can't use the internet when you're tired anymore. lest you miss something.

ErikC · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:27:35 pm »

Some of these guys even have fake e-bay pages. Maybe the E-bay international trading page they direct you to is a copy. If so I bet they won't hold the funds!

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:28:35 pm »

We have a couple of members up in the Yukon. Maybe you can get one of them to look the tractor over. The one guy is pretty close to Whitehorse.

That might put some starch in his shorts.

logwalker · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:40:42 pm »

Just get this through your head...there is no tractor.

DR_Buck · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:36:52 pm »

Night Raider,

As one who does lots of eBay, you can title that listing as SCAM

Night Raider · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:15:44 pm »

I was pretty sure it was a scam when I saw $35,000 of equipment for 5,500. I just couldn't get my head around how. I don't much like buying things site unseen and defenitly wouldn't buy used equipment without seeing it. I often wonder if this actually works for the scammers?

beenthere · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:18:03 pm »

A lot of these type of listings on Craigslist for Deere, NewHolland, Kubota...in the neighborhood of $25 k items for about $5 k.

Must catch a sucker once in awhile to make doing it worth the trouble.

But for sure, a SCAM

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Author Topic: New variaton, old scam? (Read 1793 times)