Examples of Suspected Fraud/Fake Emails

[PayPal_Adrian]

Hello everyone!

One of the greatest strengths consumers possess against fraud and phishing is education and collaboration.  To help support your safety online, I'm going to open this special thread up for you.  Here, you can post examples of what you believe to be attempts by individuals to defraud you or others of their hard earned valuables and money. 

Before we begin, a few housekeeping points:

• We will be using this as a "master thread," so if we find an example in other areas of the boards, we may merge the post into this one.

• For everyone's safety, please remove any last names or contact information (including email addresses) from your examples.  In many instances, the names provided by fraudsters are fake or may actually be the name of someone they already defrauded. 

• On that same note, please don't ever attempt to confront a fraudster or attempt to track them down.  Instead, turn the information you do have over to your local authorities. 

• Please also remove any links from your posts, as these could potentially go to spoofed or phishing websites.

Other than that, we only ask that you keep it productive and stay within the Forum Decorum and posting guidelines.  I'll be stopping in on a regular basis to clean house and comment on posts, so don't be surprised if you see my mug - or another moderator - stopping in to say hello! 

With that said, I'm going to start moving posts in, so you might see some older examples mixed in with the new posts.  I hope this thread becomes a great resource for everyone!

Stay safe,

Adrian

[nikitasmom]

This is an exact 'carbon copy " of the email I received after putting my daughter's  Honda rebel on kijiji

the guys name  was John <removed>  he also calls himself

john <removed>.  YES YES YES this is a scam , you can send him any pay pal email address and he will

 send you an email saying his " shipping agent " will only accept western union

he will tell you to go to western union and pay the 1050 $ to the shipper and after you send him the master control

number ( which he will track on the western union web site ) he tells you that western union will automatically

email pay-pal to release your funds for you "item". At least that's how he worded it with me.

Please don't send this guy any money I am sure he's not the only one doing this

I tracked his IP address its from Nigeria , I noticed in the reply that it doesn't say "reply from kijij" it just says

RE: Honda rebel

I also received emails with similar " at sea " type dialog from : Ruben <removed>, Alexis <removed>, Kent <removed>,

Lisa <removed> , Hendrick <removed>, Johnny <removed>. All with similar emails about being at sea , looking for a gift for a family member.

I hope this helps , anyone that cannot come to see what yu have for sale is probably someone you would rather not sell too

I wish you the best of luck .

we need to look out for each other & keep our hard earned money

[Luke06]

I received exactly the same email just about 2 hours ago, the marine engineer buying gift for dad. I have an atv listed on autotrader. Says he will pay $800 more than I am asking. Red flags were flying like crazy, no way someone is going to do that. I sent the whole email to the fraud dept at paypal.

[nikitasmom]

Well done you listened to those red flags & stopped the scammers  !!!

Now lets hope pay pal can actually do something :0)

best of luck selling your atv to are real buyer

hey wanna trade for a motor cycle lol

[terry-nik]

There at sea and want you go by papal then send you extra money for shipping and want you to send to money store to some company and you get receipt . As your funds are on hold its a scam I got almost same thing from 5 different ppl at sea can't call limited access to internet for banking but can keep replying to me and checking out kijiji. Send me transaction saying from paypal that money is on hold, its a scam. Be warned there clever .

[RollTide]

Thank you for all your posts!! I am currently trying to sell and item and got a response from someone who says they are an oceanographer at sea and wants to buy my item for his uncle. This person, "Bill ******," can only access his paypal account, not his online banking, and will send an independent shipper to my address to pick up the item when his payment has gone through. He will not answer any of my questions and is persistant on me setting up my paypal and sending him my paypal details. I was suspicious from the start and with reading all of your posts, and others, I will not be contacting this person.

Thanks again.

[jazzy5]

I got an email someone wants to buy an item from me but he can only use paypal..should I be leary of this?

[kkootenay]

jazzy5

Not necessarily. The whole point of PP is that the site acts to allow micro-payments between strangers using bank accounts, PP balances and credit cards without allowing strangers to see each other's financial information.

If the item is valuable, be sure to use a Delivery Confirmed shipping service (Canada Post;s Expedited is generally best). Print off the shipping label at home through PP or use the canadapost.ca site. If the value including postage is over $250, add the Signature Confirmation option for a small fee.

If the item is of low value, you may prefer for a US shipment to use the cheaper Small Packet service. This is not Delivery Confirmed but it is automatically insured up to $100 against loss or damage in the mail. If the buyer reports non-delivery, your cost is refunded by Canada Post.

[nikitasmom]

yes its q scam they use the paypal excuse then tell you the shipper only accepts western union

[etkind]

Ahh!

******* Bill , the oceanographer.

Yes, he is sending me emails too. Same story, he can only access his paypal account, not his online banking, and will send an independent shipper to my address to pick up the item when his payment has gone through.

It is a present for his uncle...

Thank you for your posts!!

[smokeybeenthere]

I`ve been told by two people that some character is coming on as a sailor or an oil rig worker that gives long explanation of why they`ll buy sight unseen for full price. Maybe it`s a easy sale, more likely something else.

I`m trying to get answers from Paypal help but so far find their seller terms not supportive, maybe even punitive to sellers.

Let you know what else I find out.