A long time ago when I was new to ebay I fell victim to this too-common "nigerian scam" Same story, some asshole who wants to buy my item for his son/father/friend/etc whose away for work/school/missionary work in some other part of the world. He wants to buy my item and send it to that person as a gift. Extremely hasty, sends you a fake paypal payment and wants you to ship the item right away, he "send" a shit ton of extra money to ship it faster and to use a fast shipping service. Yes, that was me, I sent the buyer the laptop, I thought the payment was real and I didnt think to check paypal, went entirely off the email. Lost a laptop (was an old POS, but regardless...) and about $50 of shipping money. today I received 2 of these emails for a laptop I have on craigslist. This makes a total of about 13 of these attempted scams for me, not counting the one I fell for. So anyone else here see anything like this? Anyone else also fall for it, or am I the one and only on AG? I know it happens a lot, and it works because theyre still doing it. It happened to me many years ago, in like 2003 I believe. it still gets to me when I get a new email from these scammers OH: On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 3:35 PM, Alan <[edited link:mario:]>wrote:Hi I hate to tell you this but another buyer from nigeria offerred me $1000!!! I might sell it to that person... On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 5:11 AM, gregory palichleb <gmpalichleb@gmail.com> wrote:Thanks for your swift response I live at Apt 363 7th Ave New York, NY 1001, I’m really interested in buying this item, You don't have a paypal account!that why i offer you that amount cos it include the shipping cost i already told you i have problems with my eBay account that why i come here on Craigslist and i would have love to see what i want to buy face2face and pay in cash but i don't have access to do that am on business trip here in Russia and i don't know when i will be back that why, I really need your help please let me know if you can help me. I need someone I can trust to help me with the shipping as i am presently in Russia (this time he's apparently in russia, who knows whats going on there, but obviously anyone from anywhere can say anything:mario Thank you. On 11/8/11, Alan <[edited link:mario:]> wrote: > Hi ok send me the money for the computer to this email. Thanks A lot I love > you so much for giving me so much money I ...(some stuff I said I'd rather not share with assemblergames... for nigerian scam artists only :mario > > On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 12:40 PM, gregory palichleb > <gmpalichleb@gmail.com>wrote: > >> Well ....... I understand how you feel i promise if you can help me i >> will pay for the shipping including the item fees and any order >> charges and that is why i said we should use paypal for the payment >> cos paypal is save and secure for both sellers and buyers online >> fastest way to pay and 100%fraud free for more info log on to >> www.paypal.com please i'm seriously interested in this item so i will >> not afford to lose it please help me! >> >> Thanks! >> >> On 11/2/11, Alan <[edited link:mario:]>wrote: >> > WOW $500?!?!?! THATS AWESOME hurry up and send me the payment PLEASE!!! >> > $500 is SOOOOO MUCH money I cant wait to get it thank you sooooo much!!! >> I >> > love you so much!!! >> > >> > On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 1:53 PM, gregory palichleb >> > <gmpalichleb@gmail.com>wrote: >> > >> >> Thank you for your reply,Am highly interested in immediate purchase of >> >> your item. i'm a eBay buyer and seller but due to some hacker that >> >> hacked into my eBay account and it was suspended till further notice >> >> that is why i came on Craigslist to purchase this item for my fiance >> >> who had to finish her missionary course in West Africa.i will offer >> >> you $500 for the item including the shipping cost and I'll be paying >> >> you via PayPal. let me know if you are interested in selling this item >> >> for me and get back to me with your PayPal money request for the >> >> payment asap.i will need your quick respond..... >> >> >> >> Awaiting your reply >> >> Regards. >> >> >> >> On 11/1/11, Alan <[edited link:mario:]> wrote: >> >> > The very least I could do is $180 because I already dropped it from >> >> > $220. >> >> > >> >> > On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 1:42 PM, gregory palichleb >> >> > <gmpalichleb@gmail.com>wrote: >> >> > >> >> >> ** 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: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> Hi, >> >> >> >> >> >> Will like to know what is your best offer ? >> >> >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> This message was remailed to you via: >> >>[edited link] >> >> >> If this email is a scam or spam please flag it now: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> <[edited link:mario:]> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Hi, >> >> >> >> Will like to know what is your best offer ? >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> >> > >> >> >> -- >> Hi, >> >> Will like to know what is your best offer ? >> >> Thanks! >> > -- Hi, Will like to know what is your best offer ? Thanks! On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 3:36 PM, Alan <[edited link:mario:]> wrote: Hello I hate to tell you this but another buyer from NIGERIA offered me $1000!!! I might sell it to him. he also offered to send me... (more stuff for nigerian scam artists only:mario On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 12:10 AM, kelly frank <kellyfrank1950@gmail.com> wrote: Hello seller, Good to hear back from you i live in Brooklyn ,N.Y and i will be leaving for the united kingdom in the next 2 days for a rugby coaching course. I will like to buy this for my son schooling in abroad. i will pay you $250 for the item and i will be paying you $100 for shipping through USPS Priority Mail International for the shipping to my son. i will pay you through my paypal account. Please get back to me with your paypal name and paypal email account so that i can make the payment asap.And also if you don't have an account yet you can kindly set up at www.paypal.com then you can get back to me with your paypal name and e mail address for the quick payment .. Thanks. On 11/7/11, Alan <[edited link:mario:]> wrote: > Hi sorry I didnt realise I had this message. Yes the laptop is still > for sale for $180 firm. > > On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 3:39 AM, Kelly Frank <joejohn60@gmail.com> wrote: > >> ** 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: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams >> >> -- >> is this item still available for sale? >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------ >> This message was remailed to you via: <[edited link:mario:]> >> If this email is a scam or spam please flag it now: >> >> <[edited link:mario:]> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------ >> > another one: Alright, am getting this for my Nephew schooling abroad in the UK(its for her birthday), I would have love to come to your place in person to see it and i would have also love to call you but am currently away on a job with Shell on the gulf, so i can't really call out due to the low signal level over here. I'll pay you $500 including the shipping. All i need is your PayPal email address so i can make the payment ASAP. If you are interested, could you please mail me back via this mail box with your PayPal email so i can make the payment ASAP. its very urgent, I await your quick reply. THANKS.
Although I don't sell through eBay, I'm glad to learn about these scams (in order not to fall for these)... though it sucks knowing there's people doing this.
dude same shit happened to me earlier this year, when i was selling jtags on ebay someone contacted me and offered me nearly 1000 dollars for it but idk it seemed fishy and then i told him hold on but he said he already sent then kept emailing a few times a day saying where is my tracking number, your a scammer, i contacted the authorities, then sent me a fake letter from the "fbi" saying they are investigating me and i am going down. got letters from paypal saying i received money. I called up paypal and they said they have no history of the transaction and that the emails where form a fake imposter paypal address. I wrote him a lng email giving him a piece of my mind ;p bottom line be smart when daling with money online! there are lots of scam artists
Just ask them to pay via Western Union. Not that they'll agree to it, but you'll get to hear all the creative excuses as to why they can't make payment!
Other way around, in most online situations. Still waiting for the replies, they may have figured that I figured them out.
Western Union are impossible to get your money back. It's why Nigerian scammers selling things use it.
People tried to scam me on eBay before, it didn't work because sometimes I am crazy paranoid. What is really dangerous is when they actually hacked a bank account and send you money which you later have to give to the police, if they start investigating.
Right. Which is why they never use it to pay people with. Because once you get their money (For a laptop as an example), they can't charge you back or try to scam you. You have their money already! That's why, if they want to pay fast, ship fast, and give you all the signs of a ripoff, just go "Sure. Send me a western union. Take you like 5 minutes, and I'll totally do everything". Then watch the begging show start as they plead with you to use an alternate method that's scammable.
If you want to have a good laugh, and maybe learn some tricks to keep the scammers busy, check out this site: http://www.419eater.com/ I had good fun with the scammers before, I love to waste their time.
I have never fallen for a scam. I did have one guy want to buy this air exchanger from Craigslist for $800. He sent 3 money orders for $800 each and wanted me to send him the difference back. The money orders looked pretty authentic. So I went to the post office and asked them to verify them. Sure enough, they were bogus which I had suspected them to be. With 99% of the situations, use your common sense and you'll avoid the scam.
