Curious but serious buyer, Take the USPS MO, it's as good as cash. Frequently when a seller has a sparse ad I have sent something similar with numerous questions, the only thing that is wierd about this one is none of your listed items would need a freight company... unless it is something no longer listed. |
This is a standard form inquiry sent by a guy to everyone that has a classified at Audio Asylm.I received 3 at the same time on 3 different items.I sent him a note back and never heard from him again.A Scam artist..........Search AA for more discussion. |
I think that all of the questions are reasonable. The very poor spelling and grammar concerns me a bit because this is typical of scam ads from foreign countries. I have come across this type of thing myself in response to somthing I was selling. Write back to the person and see what type of reply you get. I wrote back to a person who sent me a similar type of e-mail. I received no direct discussion or acknowledgements of the contents of my e-mail; rather, I received an equally garbled e-mail regarding shipping arrangements. I then walked.
It could be that the person just doesn't speak English very well; however, I would be cautious.
I would take the postal money order option and cash it. Only then would I send the equipment. I would be more cautious about a cashier's cheque. I have heard of circumstances where such forged cheques even fooled the bank, who might subsequently try to obtain recompense from you. |
It's always a major red flag when someone other than your g/f signs an email xxxxxxxx. i also don't trust the look of his email address.
When someone tries to rush you though a deal it's almost always a scam. this scam seems to be a fake money order and a quick pickup before your bank can notify you. |
i think this is the same guy who is managing his uncle's fortune in Uganda and needs your bank account info to help him get the money out. |
I have read somewhere that there are authentic looking but fake USPS US$ postal money order around. Even USPS money order is not safe now. |
there are fake money orders and certified checks all over the place these days. just google fake money order and you'll have more than enough to read. click on 'images' and you can see what they look like |
I have always found the sentence "what is your final price?" always to be a scam. It is just not a sentence many in the US use.
i would steer clear from this guy for not only that reason, as his entire inquiry sounds "not right" |
WATCH OUT! I received forged money orders from someone with a similarly convoluted reply. Fortunately, I didn't send the goods. I took the fake m.o.'s to the local FBI office. They said it is a common scam. When he pressed me for delivery of the equipment, I told him he could pick up the m.o.'s at the FBI. Never heard from him again. |
There are still some legitimate buyers. Wait for one. You posted this question because you didn't feel good about this guy. Trust that feeling and hold out for a legit buyer. |
It's always safe to ship after your bank says the funds have cleared and your money is safe. The problem is in this day and age of modern computers etc; it still takes 5 to 7 to 10 work days for some items to clear. That long wait tends to upset the honest buyer! |
I agree with the cautions about forgeries. And apply some logic: How does a secretary issue a USPS MO or a cashier's check, huh? Also, that kind of spelling and grammar screams scam ;--)
It's an interesting and unusual approach, because the person is trying to sound like a legitimate audiophile asking the "right questions," but as soon as I read #8 and #10, I thought, "Nope, not doing business with that one!"
. |
Lak... it is NOT safe to wait until your bank clears the funds. Banks by law have to give you access to your money after so many days (I forget how many.) Often it's after this date that the forgery is discovered. Then you're out the money and in trouble with the law. At least, this is what i've read many times. my info could be wrong but i wouldn't bet on it. |
The max for a postal money order is $1000. If they claim they're sending one for more than this you know you have a problem. |
A friend of mine was subject to a similar scam. The fact he is using the "secretary" wording is the same. they send a bogus money order and claim the secretary sends the wrong one which is a greater dollar amount. they ask you to send a check for the difference. by the time you find out that their check is bogus they have already cashed yours. |
Here is another one that I received alot ago...
clementmy07@yahoo.fr
My Dearest One,
I have a proposal for you,this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.
I am Mrs mary Clement from Solomon Islands near Australia. I am married to Mr.William Clement from Abidjan cote D` Ivoire who worked with Kuwait Embassy in GUINEE for nine years before he died in the year 2003.
We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $4.5 Million in a SECURITY COMPANY AFRICA.and befor he made this deposit i am the only one that he told about consingment box as his wife.
Recently, my DOCTOR told me that I would not last for the next six months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church,organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
I want a church,organization or good person that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained.
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians not even good at all
because they are the one that killed my husband in other to have all my
late husband prperties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way.
This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord.Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall
hold my peace".
I don't need any telephone communication in this regards because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the SECURITY COMPANY in AFRICA. I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this BOX.one more thing that i will like to tell you is that this box is been deposited in this company was declare as family treasure not as money. I want you and the church or the organization to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard.
My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please
always be prayerful all through your life.
Contact me on the this email clementmy07@yahoo.fr
address and any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church,organization or good person for this same purpose.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
Hoping to receive your response immedaitely.
Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
Mrs Mary Clement
clementmy07@yahoo.fr
*What do you think ?????
|
scam for sure same thing happened to me same question it would have been a $60000 loss a counterfet us postal money order.he want to come and pick your items up gives you a counterfet check and you loss |
Its a scam, I receive messages those all the time. Write them back & tell them where to go.. |
I think from now on, all such emails should be forwarded to the Dept. of Hom'd Sec. as evidence of possible terrorist activity ;--) |
Sounds like a scam for sure.
Someone just try to scam me last month. Gave me a sobbing story of how her daughter is sick, and then proceeded to tell me that she had to fly to England to bury her daughter and would need the funds right away via Western Union. The funds she was referring to was of course from a fake bank check that was issued incorrectly with a few extra 0s from her friend. Here's the sample mail I got from this scammer in England:
"Good Morning how are you doing today and how is your family? I am the sad est woman right now i felt like dying but i believe God is in Control of my life.
Yes i sent you an E-mail in other to purchase your Item Sorry for not responding early. I got an urgent call from Manchester,UK concerning my daughter health right now i am just sick and tired i had to seek a week off from my duty post in other to be there before the surgery commence.
Yesterday i Informed my customer to make out the payment to you on my behalf which i got a notification that it has been mailed out to you Via USPS REGULAR MAIL SERVICES. I want you to keep an eye on it and reading the shipping i would advise you to suspend the shipping till i return for safety purpose.
Please he said there would be a little change remaining on the money after deducting yours for the Item,I advice you to please keep it for me until i find a way in which you could be able to send it to me here in the UK. DO YOU KNOW ANY MEANS OF WHICH YOU CAN SEND THE BALANCE TO ME?
Respond to this email as soon as you get it promising me that this is okay and i pray we will not fall into any problems which i am into right now. Waiting to hear from you again"
The RED Flags to learn are:
- Bad English
- Overly complicated pickup and payment scheme
- 3rd party checks
- Sob story, or taking advantage of someones ethical or religious background
- Always in a hurry to get the money once the fake check is issued.
If you want to sell your item to fishy buyers with "0" feedback, insist that their check clear before item sent. With USPS money order you should check out USPS web site on scam MO. |
Its just a variation of the Nigerian minister scam. Run like the wind. |
Had one hit me this week. Guy, agreed to price and said his "secretary" would be sending the money. Got an email from his "secretary" stating he is doing mission work and that the mission is receiving a donation that will be sent to me with extra funds. She asked if I would send the extra funds to the mission via Western Union. He had his own freight company and such. They even spent the money to overnight a FedEx letter package with the donation from Maryland, only to be refused by me.
The scammers are coming hot and heavy to the Gon. Hopefully, we are a small enough community that none of us get burned. |
Yes, its scam email see link and scroll down: http://blog.tmcnet.com/call-center-crm/welcome-to-america-now-put-your-hands-up-and-face-the-wall.asp#003451. Since February 2005 this has been going around. Don't get involved and pass this warning to your associates/family and friends. |
A guy sent me money for $6000.00 to buy my amp for $2500.00
and ask me to sent back the remaining balance so his shipper can pick up the amp.I fell on this scam and it hurts.Beware A'gon members.
I should read this forum first cause its exactly what the guy do.Broken english,Sad story and in a hurry to get his money back.No feedback but he's a nice talker.
Learn from this mistake. |
I would hold out for a check from the "Central Bank of Nigeria". |
Are you being serious Alliance? Thats a bummer.
Why would be send you $6000 for you to turn right around and give him the remaining balance. It don't make much sense except that there has to be more to the story. |
I had one close to this 2 months ago. His secetery made the check out for the wrong amount of money. He told me to cash the check and keep a few extra hundred dollors for my problems.
He said once the check clears his shipping company would pick up the TT. He wanted me to send him the rest back to him via Western union. He did send the check and I refused to take it from FED EX. According to the shipper# it came to the US from overseas into VA. He never told me where he was from. The FED EX letter said it was from Bank of California. I spotted this one as a scam and told him the deal was off. His responce was how I was distroying his faith in mankind - He can't trust people and please follow thru on the deal. He then said he will lose money and his customer will be disappointed. |
