Scam Warning
There
has been another fresh spate of attempted scams.
They seem to follow a simple pattern.
You receive an interested email asking for details/
pictures
The next email confirms the purchase.
Then they want to send too much money, arrange for
their "shipper" to collect the item and that you can forward the
balance .
They rarely negotiate on the asking price.
The key elements to look for are:
- Poor use of English (although it's a rather sad reflection
on educational standards that many non-scammers can't spell either)
- Repeating the whole name of the item, as if they don't
really know what it means ( see the repeated use of "Boxford 4.5" lathe, CUD Mk1" in
the example below)
- The use of Western
Union Money Transfer. They may be a legitimate company but scammers
seem to love them. Paypal has banned it so draw your own conclusions
- Please note that they
have started to use female names. They change names and email addresses
almost daily.
What to
do
- Ask the potential vendor for phone numbers etc (they use
Yahoo/ Hotmail type addresses as a rule because they're disposable and
untraceable)
- Don't be afraid of ignoring them
- If their offer is too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be very careful
Examples of scamming emails:
Example 1:
mr gerrard richardson wrote:
> Hello, As regarding the
sells of the your Denford Viceroy 5 x 22 BGSC
> lathe,i am interested in
your(Denford Viceroy 5 x 22 BGSC
> lathe--£60)advert
and i will want you to get back to me with the full
> present condition and the
picture if is available so that i can be
> rest assure about this
transaction.
Example 2:
Hello,
I want to inform
you that i saw your adverts and i am interested
in your(4pcs--Denford lathe cabinet
stand)advert and i will want you to
get back to me with the full present
condition and the picture if is
available and the price.
Best Regards.
Mr Paul Richardson.
Example 3:
Hello,
Thanks for your
mail response.I am from Republic
of benin.i'm okay with the condition
and am okay with
the price of Boxford 4.5" lathe, CUD
Mk1.
As regard
the collection arrangement,I have spoke
to my company reputable collection
agent concerning
the collection arrangement of the
Boxford 4.5" lathe,
CUD Mk1 from your location and also
to make collection
of some other consignment for me in
another location
and i will compensate you with
£50 to remove the
advert as soon as you consider that
the Boxford 4.5"
lathe, CUD Mk1 has been sold to me
from now and I will
want you to remove the advert from
the site so that i
can be rest assure about this
transaction.
As regard the
payment i will instructed my
business associate in united kingdom
to issue you the
cheque in the amount of £4,300
including the
collection fund arrangement for the
collection of the
Boxford 4.5" lathe, CUD Mk1 and also
to make
collection of some other consignment
for me in another
location and when the cheque cleared
in your bank,you
will deduct the cost of the Boxford
4.5" lathe, CUD
Mk1 and the compensation fees of
£50 and the remaining
balance will be send to my company
reputable
collection agent in cash via western
union money
transfer to make arrangement for
immediate collection
for the Boxford 4.5" lathe, CUD Mk1
and also to make
collection of some other consignment
for me in another
location in Renfrewshire.
If this is
okay with you I want you to get back
to me ASAP with your full
name,address and landline
phone number both mobile number,so
that the payment
can be issue out to you. Thanks for
your understanding
in anticipation.
Best regards.
Mr Paul Richardson.
N:B:-I WAITING FOR THE CHEQUE TO
CLEAR BEFORE THE
PICK-UP COMMENCE.
Example 4
My Name is John Whatty,I come accross
your advert,i have much interest
in it and i will like to know the presently
condition and your asking price
including is pics and don't hesitate
to e-mail or call me with your last
offer.
Regards.
John
07023053416