Does this smell bad to anyone?

[JohnJohn]

Background: I am selling the 71 Commando I have. I had it in the local paper along with an online ad. I recently received the following email.

Season Greetings, My name is Justin Christopher, I came cross your advert which am highly interested in purchasing it. I will like you to get back to me with the selling price and more about it's condition if there is picture you can forward it to me... So, I would like you to know that am located in Australia and someone will be coming to your place for the pickup which will be my shipping company. My mode of payment is by Certified Bank Check in U.S Funds which will clear in your bank before shipment can take place. I want you to get back to me if you still have it for sale with your last sking price and more details...Thanks.. Best Regards Justin.

After I reply'ed cautiously. I got this response tonight.

Hello, Thanks for the mail. I want you to know that the price is okay by me and also i want you to know that i am highly interested in purchasing it and i want you to kindly remove the ad off the market and consider is sold to me because the payment is ready to be made out and i want you to get back to me with your full name and address including your phone number so the payment will be made out.. So i would like you to understand some few things about the shipment of it and where it will be shiped to..i would like you to know that it will be shipped to Australia and i have a shipping agent who will come to your place for the pickup so don't bother about the shipment.What i want you to know is that, the payment that would be send to you will comprise the shipping which will carry an additional funds and it will be for the payment and for the shipment and when the payment get to you i will direct you on how the remaining will be used for shipment..So i would like to hear from you with your full name and address including your cell phone number and your home phone number so the payment will be made out..Looking forward to hear from you...Thanks.. Best Regards, Justin.

Does this smell fishy to anyone? I have never sold anything this large that needed to be shipped, much less out of the country.

Thanks for any advice!

[zfinger]

SCAM!!! The check will clear initially, you'll ship the truck, then when his account has no funds so yours will go into negative balance and your out money and a truck.

Dont do it, for more info go to craigslist.com and read the thing about scams.

[jrsxj98]

Man I would be super cautious. Does smell kinda fishy.

[Fergie]

Walk away and report the email to his ISP.

[dyna]

Sounds stinky. Personally Id bail out and state no out of country sales or something of the like. There has been so many scams dealing with overseas purchases. There have been actual bank checks issues that were bogus and the seller gets screwed. Another is ,I will send a check with X amount over for bla,bla,bla. The guy comming will need some of the xtra I send so please give it to him for expenses etc. You fork out $$ and get a bad check that never clears. BTW, do you have any cash in your hand?? cancel the ad?? Gimme all these numbers? Who is he to demand shit? Tell his agent to meet you at your bank with US dollars on your terms then you`ll talk.

[BIGSLVRXJ]

A lot of times when they use first names as their first and last names its those scamming bastards. I had a guy named "Fred James" who wanted to buy my leather Jeep seats one time. The guy sent me a check for $1000 and wanted me to send $700 of it back with the seats. My bank said uhhh no. He's just not speaking the typical Australian tongue either. I'm almost 99% sure its a scam, be real cautious.

[JohnJohn]

Thanks guys.

My last email told him that once the unit leaves me I am done, and not to send anyone to pick the until until at least three weeks after I get funds. I suspect with that I will not hear from him again. I also told him I would not be giving him any personal information. Checks can be made out to BIGoffroad. :)

I'll keep you guys posted.

[YELLAHEEP]

I `gre$"- rtin*q fishy stuff goin' on.

I too got suspicious of the poor grammar and other verbage in his re°`ier. tssies titd/ty0d engli2` with almort i$antical grammar structure - that guy's butchered english makes it look like he may even be using translator sof$tard.
,Blnck (hs d-mah`s and forget about it.

[RichP]

Scam, me, I'd scam the scammers or setup a sting with the police when the shipper showed up...I also highly doubt it's going to kangaroo country either. This smells like a local scam to me....if he does send you a check look at the postmark...

[MyJeepXJ]

Scam, me, I'd scam the scammers or setup a sting with the police when the shipper showed up...
You dont get the scam, there is no shipper to show up. The scam is over a bank transfer, no one is in the US to compleate the transaction because it never gets that far.

Its a 100% scam, the wording is a bit different but its all over the web. Google my friend, you will be amazed at the number of people who fall for this.

Good luck,
Andrew

[xjaddiction]

SCAM! Don't do it.

[UNCC_99XJ]

Smells like a scam to me. The structure of the sentences tipped me off. Looks like he/she tried to be all proper in their wordings. Also notice how redundant most of the sentences are? Said the same thing over and over again. I agree in reporting him to the proper authorities, so that this person doesn't do it to others too.

[funvtec]

Scam, me, I'd scam the scammers or setup a sting with the police when the shipper showed up...I also highly doubt it's going to kangaroo country either. This smells like a local scam to me....if he does send you a check look at the postmark...


i like this idea!
and haha Kangaroo country!

[rockwerks]

x2 f I where you I would call teh local authorities and string the perp along and follow through with the deal and have them pick him up when he show up with the fraudulent cert check....take the loser off the market

[JohnX]

Basically...He gives you a phony check for the value of the car and the shippers cost. It clears initially. Then he wants you to wire money from your account to his "shippers". After you wire the money no shippers show up, and a few days later the bank finds out his check is phony. Now the wire transfer you did to his "shippers" was legit...and you're out the money.

I once had one where the guy wanted to give me a check for $3500 for a $500 set of tires...$3000 for shipping.

[rockwerks]

Basically...He gives you a phony check for the value of the car and the shippers cost. It clears initially. Then he wants you to wire money from your account to his "shippers". After you wire the money no shippers show up, and a few days later the bank finds out his check is phony. Now the wire transfer you did to his "shippers" was legit...and you're out the money.

I once had one where the guy wanted to give me a check for $3500 for a $500 set of tires...$3000 for shipping.

emaiil im back and ask for the shippers info, see what he says LOL

[JohnJohn]

If the rig wasn't parked at my home I would be all in for yank'in the guys chain.

[JohnJohn]

Basically...He gives you a phony check for the value of the car and the shippers cost. It clears initially. Then he wants you to wire money from your account to his "shippers". After you wire the money no shippers show up, and a few days later the bank finds out his check is phony. Now the wire transfer you did to his "shippers" was legit...and you're out the money.

I once had one where the guy wanted to give me a check for $3500 for a $500 set of tires...$3000 for shipping.

This sounds like the scam he his trying to pull. If that's the case I will contact local police.

[seanR]

We got an e-mail from the Eagle Eye Lottery the other day!
we won $750,000.00 US dollars!
All we have to do is send a lawyer in Engnlad $900.00 and they will send me the check!
I told them to cash the check and keep $2,000.00 and send me the rest.
We will see if we get a responce!

[afd516]

I was selling a dakota pick-up earlier this year on ebay. I recieved the exact same email in which I responded to and got the exact same response that you got. If this doesn't tell you something?

Sold the truck to some guy in El Paso. It is probably in Mexico now. The guy probably tripled his money on it. Bastard. :mad:

[Bent]

I know someone that sold a boat that was to be shipped down that way, New Zealand IIRC. The purchaser showed up with cash. Shipping was handled after the purchase; by the purchaser with the intent on filling the Seatainer. In addition there are legit purchases of vehicles in Australia that are shipped back to England; arraigned and paid for by the purchaser.

[ckh550]

i think while you're at it give him your daily work schedule, where your kids go to school, activities they participate in as well as credit card numbers and Social security numbers just so he has everything he needs.



hope that helps!!

chris


p.s. i'm kidding folks.

[karstic]

i think while you're at it give him your daily work schedule, where your kids go to school, activities they participate in as well as credit card numbers and Social security numbers just so he has everything he needs.



hope that helps!!

chris


p.s. i'm kidding folks.

You forgot mothers maiden name, DOB, and pets name. hasta

[oemjeep91]

i kno this is totally off topic but to johnjohn did u buy or make those tailights

[Beej]

Redundant, but what the hey:

Fraudsters target online car sales.
Latest Car Shipping Scam.....


There is a growing car shipping scam on the internet which has been targeting sellers of cars, boats, motorbikes
and other single high value items, even horses ! We first came across this in January when we were approached by a car dealer in Australia who had been
directed to a website purporting to be 1st Move International's car shipping site.

Car Shipping Scam: The hook
Fraudsters had copied aspects of our site and were advising potential victims that they would buy their vehicle
and ship it via their approved shippers, pointing the victim to this so called shipping site which they had published themselves.

Once the seller had been "hooked" the fraudster then sends a cheque to the seller for the cost of the vehicle
and, very kindly, includes in this payment the costs for shipping the vehicle overseas.

Car Shipping Scam: The Con.
Say the car is being sold for £ 4000.00 and the shipping costs are £1000.00, you, the seller, get a nice little
cheque for £ 5000.00 which you duly bank. The bank may even advise you that the funds are in your account,
cleared and safe.

Car Shipping Scam: The Sting.
Within a few days you will be asked to send a slice of this money to the shipping agent in order to pay for the shipping. ( the shipping costs of £1000.00)
You are requested to send this money by Moneygram which you do as you have been paid..
This Moneygram is untraceable and cashed immediately.

Meanwhile your bank tells you 10 days later that the original cheque has bounced and promptly takes the
money out of your account.

You have just been conned. For £ 1000.00 !

Good advice.
Always, always, get your bank to confirm, in writing, that funds have cleared, are available for use and cannot be taken back from your account. Be cautious of overcomplicated transactions involving shipping agents, business partners, middle men and so on, all designed to leave you seriously out of pocket, and the crooks with your cash.

As with all online transactions please check the credentials of who are you are dealing with.
If it sounds to good to be true, then it normally is.

UK shipping companies, or Freight Forwarders, belong to the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
You can check their site here: www.bifa.org (http://www.bifa.org).Better still why not call the shipping agent personally and check them out.
They do a good job and will be happy to help and advise on all things shipping.

This article has been written by Jim Limerick, managing director of 1st Move International Removals (www.shipit.co.uk (http://www.shipit.co.uk)) and Autoshippers UK (www.autoshippers.co.uk (http://www.autoshippers.co.uk/Index.htm))
Members of the British International Freight Association., Membership Number 1884

This article is copyright free and can be used by any parties, provided acknowledgement is made to the author
and a link back to www.autoshippers.co.uk (http://www.autoshippers.co.uk) is placed on the your web page. Thank You.

1st Move International Ltd.
International House
Chittening Estate
Avonmouth
Bristol BS11 OYB
Tel 0117 9828123
Fax: 0117 9822229
Email jim@shipit.co.uk (emailjim@shipit.co.uk)

[JohnJohn]

Today's Email. it's getting fun now.

Good Afternoon,
How are you doing this afternoon,I came online to update you inregards to the arraiver of the check and i did got your email, I was contacted by Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust that my Father was in there huspital for operation all because he was sicked, Suffering from an Trypanosomiasis and i am unhappy, because i love him alot,because is the only person i have has a father.Truly is a Old man of 82 years of age, But i still was him in this world as a father.All my son know's him and they regards him, All my family knows him as a father.
Now that is suffering from an Trypanosomiasis, I dont know what to do and i was told he will go under a surgical operation to hill the Trypanosomiasis sickness...I will be travlling out of country tomorrow afternoon 25-12-2005 to visite him in Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trustl "UNITED KINGDOM ". But i know the lord will take control of things.
However, Talking of the Update regarding the check, You know i always told you it will surely come in the mail and am trying all the best to see you surely have it in hand for your payment...Every things on Business based on trust, It's truly we have not meet or see each other before, But the way you communicate with me, This make me fill happy and detect you are honest person, So i Urge the associate to go ahead and mail out the payment out to you, Now that the payment has been mailed out..
Am very happy and glad, Yesterday a News eas passed to me about the status of the check, My associate told me that the check was mailed out via Us mail, and it was register via is associate, it was insured..I am traviling with all My son into the UK to look is condition in huspital.
First of all, I will Appreciate, If you do proof your honest by emailing me once the check get to your hand..... Aswell, the clearance of the check Update, The check should be take to your bank for deposite once you have it in hand, It will clear in 1 to 2 working days of payment...Once the check clear, I will direct you on how the picking up will take place, I am sure you are getten me rigth for all arrangement, The associate has booked the shipping company that will arrive at your destination place to get it pick up then.
I have bougth a Laptop computer registerd with Internet to communicate with you when i get into UNITED KIGDOM,Will be able to check my email to read from you and futher the transaction with you, I know all will be alrigth, Just the matter of time and day. I always pray, because of the problem on my neck now.. I know i will spend some money at the huspital, because for someone to go under operation in huspital is not so ealy, I know the lord will hill him in Jesus name...
Today is 24--12--2005 which is {Saturday}. Try make sure you always check the mail for the arriver of the check, I will be glad if you can do respond to me in the email every day as Update of transaction.I will reply you once i got your email.
Thanks and best of regards.
I will be awaiting your Email Today.

[seanR]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanosomiasis
Well he picked a good sickness!

[JohnJohn]

LOL Sleeping sickness :)

I wonder If I can get the check cashed at one of those check stands where you pay them 15% of the check.... KIDDING!

[UNCC_99XJ]

dammit, somebody beat me to googling the illness...LOL

and WTF is a "huspital???"

[creeperjeep]

Is there any thing wrong with trying to deposit a possibly fraudulent check?

It should be interesting to see what that guy sends you.

Try to verify funds and whatnot, get the bank to OK the funds and see what happens

[87manche]

Is there any thing wrong with trying to deposit a possibly fraudulent check?

Only for the person that wrote it. I would certainly sit on that check for a few days after it's deposited. He seems to be in a hurry for you to see the funds, so I would imagine he's counting on the "float" between banks.

[gearwhine]

In no way did any of those 3 replies mention what he/she/they wanted to buy. That right there looks like the same responses were probably sent to many other people as well, "probabaly" (meaning definitely) meaning it's a fraud.

[JohnJohn]

In no way did any of those 3 replies mention what he/she/they wanted to buy. That right there looks like the same responses were probably sent to many other people as well, "probabaly" (meaning definitely) meaning it's a fraud.

urrr?? Read the first three lines of the second reponse I got from him. He said consider it sold, remove the ad, give me your address so I can mail payment.

Anyway. UPDATE:

He is sending me a check and I should have it by the end of the week. I told him quite a few times that HE will have to pay the shipper and I will not be refunding any funds or paying anyone with funds in the check he has sent to me. We'll see how this turns out. :laugh3:

[scorpio_vette]

i would deposit the check imidiately but don't tell him you received the check until 1 or 2 days later. that way you have a time cussion to work with. also tell the bank that your concerned about the check and want them to keep an eye on it to make sure the funds are there. it can take upwards to a week or so before they notice that the out of country check doesn't have any money. i just watched something about that on 20/20.

[djinn]

You can always call the issuing bank (listed on the check) to see if it is legit. I have heard of checks bouncing back 1 to 2 months later as bad. Not that any of this matters - it is a classic scam, right down to the wording. Check out www.bustedupcowgirl.com or www.419eater.com for more of these type scams, and how some people tweak the scammers.

[gearwhine]

urrr?? Read the first three lines of the second reponse I got from him. He said consider it sold, remove the ad, give me your address so I can mail payment.



ummm....re-read what I said...I dind't say he didn't want to buy it...I said he never mentioned THE ITEM he was interested in. In no response did he mention a 71 Commando, or Jeep, or even a vehicle.

[riverfever]

I have a 250 dirt bike that I am tryiing to sell right now. I don't have it in the paper but it's listed on 2 different 4 stroke sites. Today I got this email message:

hello
i am interested in buying you bike i will like to know the latest
condition of the bike more over i will like to see more of the bike by you
mailing me the current pic of the bike also i will like you to mail me
the following details full name ,contact address plus phone number both
home and cell phone more over i will be paying you with a check
payment or money order i will like you to contact me as soon as possible
rtegards
my name is john andrew and you may contact me at
317-422-0366



Sounds really lame. I'm going to try and call the guy. I'm only asking 2600 for the bike. I definitely don't feel comfy with his method of payment.

[riverfever]

Yeah...I called the guy. His name is John Andrew. Sounds just like what was going on with the Jeep. The number was disconnected.

[red91]

Does it strike anyone else as odd that when you buy something at the store with a check, and then decide to return it that most stores require 10-14 working days to make SURE the check cleared ?

I'd have your bank call his bank before I talked with him again.

[JoeShmo]

I had a guy send me an email JUST Like that (except it was obviously written by somebody who spoke french, you could tell) when i was trying to sell my liberty (Daily Driver). He wanted to send a check for $20,000 and i was to refund him $5000 upon the check clearing. I told him he was a scam artist and never heard from him again ;)

[TRNDRVR]

Nigerian/you fill in the blank Fraud Scheme. (http://www.ksl.com/?sid=95079&nid=250) It's a scam!!!

Play it out though. :D

[Menzenski]

Scammer baiting hints and tips (http://www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm).

[Joe]

My friend got the same type of email concering a motorcycle he had for sale. He eventualy received two money order for the amount of the bike plus shipping. The money orders where from the US post office. I toll him to go check with the post office to verify that they where lageit. Haven't talk to him yet but once I have the chance I will update.

Scam don't do it.