Examples of Suspected Fraud or Fake Emails

[PayPal_Andy]

Hey Everybody!

In an effort to make things easier to find and research, I'm going to consolidate as many threads as possible where we have examples of people trying to defraud hard working sellers (Craigslist emails, 'PayPal' emails asking you to send money outside of PayPal, etc).  This will also be used as a master thread for future posts regarding this same situation.

When you post your examples here, please remember to not include last names or contact information of whoever is sending these emails.  There's no way to confirm if that person has been defrauded as well and the name is being used fraudulently.

Thanks for your cooperation and remember, keep the conversation productive, on task, and above all, keep it clean. I know these things can be difficult and frustrating, but bleep filled posts or posts that look like government redacted files will never benefit anyone. 😄

Andy

[minty1]

Please ignore Minty1s post left in error

[Shirley21]

Watch out when using PayPal they do not help you when you have been scammed. Withheld information I needed to file a complaint with the wwwic3.government also would not help by giving me shipping route or tracking number so I could contact the post office to find package that PayPal said was sent

[djfunkshowkid]

WWWOOOOOWWWW, Good thing I didnt fall for this crap...or I could have gotten **bleep**ed

***I TOOK OUT MY EMAIL FOR MY OWN SAFETY***

-----Original Message-----
 Linda 

 djfunkshowkid <Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 3:55 pm
Subject: Re: HP Pavilion DV5 SE (Laptop) - $400 (Arlington, OH)

No your account will be credited once you ship and get back to Paypal
with the shipping tracking number and this is done in order to protect
both buyer and seller.

On 5/9/11,  wrote:
>
> Im a lil bit uncomfortable about that. I've never done paypal this way
> before.  I was in a hurry to sell the computer because I needed the money to
> pay a bill ASAP.  I guess all I can say is that we unfortunatly cancel the
> deal....or you can send the payment...and if I don't get back to you by
> Wednesday, you call paypal and they'll shut down my account and credit you
> back. (i've had to do that to someone myself.)  I can give you all the
> information about me that you need...
>
>
> I've got 5 kids myself....I dont like to be **bleep**ed around, so I dont **bleep**
> people over myself.
>
> I guess its either that or you can schedule a pickup from www.fedex.com with
> a one-time credit card shipment...then it will give you the tracking number.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>  Linda 

 djfunkshowkid > Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 3:40 pm
> Subject: Re: HP Pavilion DV5 SE (Laptop) - $400 (Arlington, OH)
>
>
> I have just made out the payment online now.Go and check the mail you
> sed in opening your PayPal account the confirmation mail have been
> ent there check the inbox or the spam message you should see it
> here........ I will also like you to know that i am having some little
> roblems with my FedEx account as i checked it online now and i was asked to
> eactivate it so i cant do that now as i have to sort one or two thing out
> ith them.So i am sorry as i won't be handling shipment through my FedEx
> ccount again.So, please get the postage cost to the following address
> ia post office (USPS EXPRESS MAIL) at the (USPS OFFICE) and ship out
> he item via post office (EXPRESS MAIL) asap cos i have told my son to
> e expecting it. I have also included $100 extra for the shipping.i
> hink that should be enough for you to ship:
> **removed**

> Let me know how much it costs you to ship.After you ship get back to me
> ith the amount you used to ship. .I am really sorry for the inconveniences.
> On 5/9/11,> wrote:
>
>  Still interested?  I'd really like to take care of this today...and work
> out
>  arrangements to have it sent out tomorrow or Wednesday.  I've been checking
>  my paypal...and havent seen anything there yet.  Lemme know what you think.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  Linda 

>  djfunkshowkid <>
>  Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 1:08 pm
>  Subject: Re: HP Pavilion DV5 SE (Laptop) - $400 (Arlington, OH)
>
>
>  Thanks for your reply,i am located in Chastworth city
>  n GEORGIA ,i really need to buy this and send to my
>  on schooling outside the state as a Birthday gift .I have
>  een trying to buy this on eBay but its so very stressful
>  uying on eBay.I will offer you $430 so as to close the
>  eal as soon as possible.I will be paying through PAYPAL
>  ecause i have a verified account with PayPal.So kindly get back with
>  our PayPal email address so i can make payment into your PayPal
>  ccount.Once payment clears,shipment will be handled by me through my
>  ersonal FedEx account,so you don't have to pay for
>  hipment.Get back to me if my approval is granted.I would like to see
>  he pictures please.
>  hanks.
>  On 5/9/11, > wrote:
>   .....$400...in Arlington (south of Findlay).  Yes its still available.
>
>
>
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   Linda 

>   sale-4fgxa-2370657011 <>
>   Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 12:51 pm
>   Subject: HP Pavilion DV5 SE (Laptop) - $400 (Arlington, OH)
>
>
>   ** 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:  >   --
>   -
>   till available for sale?how much is it??
>
>   -----------------------------------------------------------------
>   his message was remailed to you via: >   -----------------------------------------------------------------
>

[VisualUniverse]

Here's what they sent (my item is listed for $2000), so I came on here and was not surprised to see that the same story has been used over and over:

from:  "Melissa"

Thanks for the prompt response.. I am ready to buy it now for birthday gift
for my son and i am at sea at the moment  as i am an oceanographer  and due
to the nature of my work, phone calls making and visiting of website are
restricted but i  squeezed out time to check this advert and send you an
email regarding it. I really want it to be a surprise for my son so i wont
let him know anything about it until it gets delivered to him, i  am sure he
will be more than happy with  it. I insisted on paypal because i don't have
access to my bank account online as i don't have internet banking, but i
can  pay from my paypal account, as i have my bank a/c attached to it, i
will need you to give me your paypal email address and  the price so i can
make the payment  asap for it and pls if you don't have paypal account yet,
it is very easy to set up, go  to www.paypal.com and get it set up, after
you have set it up with paypal so as to put the money through.
I have a pick up  agent that will come and pick it up after i have made the
payment.
Thanks

Fortunately I came to this board first before I responded. I thought it sounded fishy (or should I say, phishy).

[Eddiee]

This is a scam, I get this very exact response (word for word) after trying to sell something on craigs list, as a matter of fact, I get 20+ of these a day. I am done with using paypal as a means to receive money for items sold.

[BYPASSJO]

SINCE PAYPAL IS VERY SECURE, WHO SAYS WE CAN'T JUST KEEP ANY EXTRA MONEY THAT THE SCAMMER DEPOSITS IN THERE AND TEACH HIM A LESSON TO HIS SCHEME.  WE ALSO HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW THAT WANTS TO DEPOSIT $1,OOO MORE SO WE CAN DRAW IT OUT AND SEND IT TO THE DRIVER TO PICK UP THE TRACTOR.  

WHAT IF WE DIDN'T DRAW OUT THAT EXTRA MONEY? WOULD WE BE IN TROUBLE? WE CAN SURELY HIDE OUR TRACTOR AND SINCE HE IS AT SEA, HIS HANDS ARE TIED!  WHY COULND'T WE SCREW HIM INSTEAD OF HIM SCREWING US.  AFTERALL, ANY MONEY PUT IN PAYPAL IS OURS TO STAY. NO ONE CAN TAKE IT OUT EXCEPT ME FOR ANY REASON! WOULDN'T THIS GUY BE SCREWED! 

WE HAVE TOLD HIM WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE SECONDARY MONEY HANDLING, BUT NOW INSTEAD OF GETTING THE CASH FOR THE DRIVER, HE WANTS A MONEYGRAM SENT TO A LADY AT HIS OFFICE IN GEORGIE SINCE HE IS ON A SHIP AND CANNOT GET THAT ACCESS.

WE COULD SURE USE THE MONEY!

[bigfurbdog]

I am trying to sell my truck on Craigslist and found a buyer who seemed very legit until he sent me this last emil saying he wanted to buy the truck.  He wants me to use paypal and he will send me the money then his pickup agent will come and get the truck and all the applicable paper work after I have confirmed the money.  This is my first time using it and I just want to make sure I won't get cheated somehow, there's a lot to the letter to believe but a couple of lines that make me uneasy, can you please help!?

Here is a copy of the letter:

I can't come all the way to albuquerque right now from staten island new york.. I'm on sea.. And so busy.. I'm a sailor actually.. Anyways don't worry about coming to see it right away.. My pickup agent would be coming for the pickup and every other paper work.. Well that's after you've confirmed the money.. I love the tundra and i would love to make it my baby asap.. Its cool and smart just how i want it.. 23000 is a fair price.... I love what i see and for it to be in great shape its really cool.. I would love to make payment via paypal asap.. If you already have a paypal acct.. Get me the acct id.. The mail u used in opening the acct.. If you don't you could set it up via www.paypal.com that's how i could effect payment to you right now..
Let me know ok...

B Jansen..

[Ooobarracuda38]

Dont do it! I got a very similar email with the same excuse. Except this guy wants me to pay his shipping fee for him before "paypal" credits my account with the price of my vehicle as well as The reimbursement. It sounds way too fishy so I called paypal and They confirmed that it was a spoof. Here's the last email he sent me: Hello ,this is my intention known to paypal and they are doing this just for the security measure between both of us.PayPal said they won't release the funds until they get the western union information from you due to the fact that i emailed them about the excess payment i made.i could have done this from here but I have tried to pay online but i will need a credit card which i didn't bring aboard the ship,and there is no post office(there is usually a western union section in most post offices) or any western union agent on sea! so i have to ask you to help me with the pick up fees.Thats why i added the money to he payment i made through paypal.please i don't want to loose the car i'm getting from you.i need that badly Thanks. -- i will like to inquire if this car is still available for sale? James...

[myharley]

Same thing happened to us this week  - selling  a car on craigslist.  This buyer emails and says they want to pay through paypal - she's  a marine chef at sea and doesn't have credit cards, etc and want us to first send $1250 of our own money via western union to her shipping agent and then the money will transfer to our paypal account. Even had a fake email from paypal saying for security reasons they will not transfer the funds until we give the western union transfer number for the shipping fees.  What a scam!

[rdc1134]

stop don't do it scammer