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

[ltpham]

What can I do when I found a bit too late? I shipped the items and now just realize I just lost my ring.

I reported my incident to the local police, IC3, the buyer's police department. i don't know what to do...can someon help me???? Please?

[Seymour-]

Sorry to say but, your chances of regaining your ring are virutally non-existent.  The Police are powerless because no-one forced you to send your ring.

Consider the loss an (expensive?) lesson. After you get over the anger (& disappointment) of being ripped-off (like I was & did), get some revenge by thwarting the scammers every chance you get. Help to inform other people so they won't get ripped off.

[slpearcy]

We are trying to sell a vehicle and buyer says he sent payment.  I received what looks like a paypal email confirmation of payment, but there isn't a transaction showing such payment.  I also received a second email stating the below message:

"As mentioned in the receipt of Payment and as per New PayPal Payment  policy, we have fully debited the total amount (above) from the buyer's  account which includes the buyer's shipper's pick up fees.

In order to complete this transaction and get the funds approved in your account. We advice you go to nearest  Western Union Office, and send the $650.00 USD to the Agent and send usa Scanned Copy/Photograph of your Western Union Transaction Receipt (in .JPG Format)."

This looks like a complete scam to me.  Has anyone else ran across anything like this before?

[kernowlass]

Yep typical scam, see several like that a week.

[slpearcy]

Kind of figured it was after receiving this email.

Thanks for the quick reply.

[dj52309]

I am trying to sale a cell phone on craigslist and I am getting emails apparently from paypal that say the money has been sent to my account but when I login to Paypal there is no such transaction and the person wanting to buy the phone is wanting me to send it to nigeria it sounds like a scam and I am trying to find out what to do someone please help me. This is my first and only time ever using paypal.

[kernowlass]

Nigeria = scam. The  emails are not from paypal and if you can't see the funds in your paypal account then you have not been paid.

This is a scam, ignore that person and i would only sell uk only if i were you.

[kindlegirl69]

Do NOT do anything...actually report the incident to PayPal....I had the same thing happen and fortunately caught it in time (actually, the clerk at the PO told me).  I was able to cancel the transaction and still keep my phone and was out no $$.  Some people aren't so fortunate. 

Cancel your transaction NOW.

[skeeter41]

RECIVED TRANS.NUMBER THAT THEY RECIEVED THE MONEY.IT WAS TAKING OUT OF MY CHECKING.CHECKED MY PAYPAL ACOUNT AND IT WAS NOT THERE. AND NEVER HEARD FROM THE SELLER.I EVEN E-MAILED HER NO RESPONSE THIS WAS MAY 18TH. WELL I GUESS I GOT SCAMED I BOUGHT IT FROM YARDSALE .                                         TY    F WOLFE

[kernowlass]

I don't understand your post. Did you buy something and didn't receive it??