| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Latest classifieds scam...
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
 |
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 5:14 PM on 01.13.10 |
->> From my mail today:
"Dear Seller,
I am a Doctor from New York in the Uk.I am a medical research program in United Kingdom in connection with the World Health Organization(WHO). I would need your item for my private usage here.I will like to know the present working conditions of the item..Does it have it's accessories and it's box.I will be offering $ 550.00 for the item including shipping via United State Parcel Service(USPS) down here. I will be making payment via Paypal.I can increase my offer if the offer is not enough.I need this item urgently so i would be expecting a quick response from you.
Regards,
Chris."
Thought this was worth posting since it wasn't quite as obvious as most of these...but the telltale signs are still there:
- Vague references ("Dear Seller," "your item") indicating a cut-and-paste approach
- Poor English
- Easy willingness to offer more than asking price
- Request for urgency
I told him to take his scam elsewhere, we weren't born yesterday here on sportsshooter.com!
Caveat venditor! |
|
Eric Canha, Photographer
|
Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 5:26 PM on 01.13.10 |
| ->> I wonder if that's a promotion or demotion for the USPS..... |
|
Alan Look, Photographer
|
Bloomington/Normal | IL | United States | Posted: 5:30 PM on 01.13.10 |
| ->> Is New York, UK - up here or down here from Lexington VA? |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 9:16 PM on 01.13.10 |
->> Hey! I have an idea! Why don't we submit posts that critique these weak attempts, and give the purpetrators suggestions for improving their approach!! That way, it'll be harder for them to be detected and more of us will get ripped off, and potentially, in trouble with banking authorities!!
Geez, at what point are we going to just ignore these things and move on? There have been an ad-naseum number of posts about this nonsense and I'm not sure anyone is left who isn't able to recognize this stuff.
No offense, Chuck, I know you mean well, and no one can criticize you for thinking of the well-being of the SS community at-large, but this subject has been beat to death and I'm just not sure it's such a good idea to post a critique of a weak illegal solicitation allowing the purps to do it better next time... |
|
Luke Sharrett, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Washington | DC | United States | Posted: 9:47 PM on 01.13.10 |
| ->> Phil, some folks spend their free time scamming the scammers and giving the re-scammed money to charity: http://www.419eater.com/ |
|
Michael Ip, Photographer
|
New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:32 PM on 01.13.10 |
| ->> I responded to something like this once. I followed it through - except for mailing the actual item out. I received $2500 in fake money orders from Benin (which is west of Nigeria). Stupidly I turned the fake money orders into the police rather than framing it for a conversation piece. |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 3:43 AM on 01.14.10 |
| ->> I did one of these once too, even took the fake check to the bank where the teller told me it was good!!! (I must admit it was tempting to take that $9,000...) I knew better, and gave it to the bank manager who thanked me profusely. I was curious how far it would go, and played along. |
|
Bryan Hulse, Photographer
|
Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 10:21 AM on 01.14.10 |
->> Luke: That site (www.419eater.com) is great.
I've been looking through the trophy wall and I am laughing so hard I am crying. They try and get the scammers to submit photos of themselves holding up signs that they don't understand. THAT is funny stuff! |
|
Joey Wilson, Photographer
|
Savannah | GA | USA | Posted: 1:00 PM on 01.14.10 |
| ->> ...the 419eater.com web site is great. I just spent 45 minutes reading hilarious stories on the message board!! Can't imagine wasting that much time on these scammers, but I'm glad these folks are doing it!! |
|
Sam Santilli, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 10:35 AM on 01.15.10 |
->> These posts are more entertainment than anything, which is good, we all need a good laugh. Please keep them coming.
BTW, who actually falls for this ***t? |
|
Joey Wilson, Photographer
|
Savannah | GA | USA | Posted: 1:31 PM on 01.15.10 |
->> >To Sam...
I keep thinking the exact same thing..."Who keeps falling for this crap"??...
But, obviously someone is taking the bait and sending these scammers money or they wouldn't keep doing it... |
|
Ken Shelton, Photographer
|
Wyckoff | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:04 PM on 01.15.10 |
->> Cut-Paste regarding a 1DM3 I was selling this week:
>>>
--
Hello seller,
is your item still available? i will like to know it's condition
Thanks.
>>>
Ken Shelton to john Jan 8 (8 days ago)
It is still available, and just as the ad says, it is in excellent condition
>>>
john connie to me Jan 8 (8 days ago)
Thanks for your reply... I'll like to buy your item and pay you with cash through my PayPal account.. Currently I'm out of the State and won't be available for pick up. moreover, I'm buying this item for my company agent located oversea as a gift, i`ll add the sum of $200.00 to the amount to cover the shipping expenses to him through (USPS) Global Express mail International 8-10 days business. i want you to send to me your PayPal account id, so that immediate payment can be done, and if you are new to PayPal, you can easily log on to http://www.paypal.com/us and set up an account with them with either your Bank account Information or your Credit/Debit Card details and its simple and easier, just in few secs; you get your account activated. PayPal is very secure and reliable.. anticipate a favorable
response from you.
Thanks.
Get back to me immediately.
>>>
Ken Shelton to john Jan 8 (8 days ago)
What part of my ad did you not understand?
Quote: PLEASE: I am not interested in photographing the wedding of your son/nephew/daughter who is traveling in Europe/South America/Australia who wants to send the photos of his/her happy day to his/her uncle, the Nigerian Minister of Oil who will pay me three times the weight of the camera in gold if I just cash this check for $1,500 to cover the shipping and send you the change. Just stop, would you.
>>>
john connie to me Jan 11 (5 days ago)
Hello seller,
I live in Baltimore (Maryland) but i am currently in India and i will be staying there for approximately 7 month but i want to buy the item for my company agent located oversea of the confirmed address that will be given to you by PayPal shortly after the paayment has been made and there is no way i can send the payment except through my PayPal account. Do kindly get back to me with your PayPal email ID so that i can process the payment faster.
Thanks
>>>
Ken Shelton to john Jan 11 (5 days ago)
Bite me |
|
Michael Ip, Photographer
|
New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:30 AM on 01.17.10 |
| ->> How does his paypal scam work? He sends you money and after you send the camera, the money is snatched back due to fraud? |
|
Doug Giese, Photographer
|
Rancho Santa Fe | CA | USA | Posted: 1:55 AM on 01.17.10 |
| ->> Take a look at www.fraudaid.com (many types of fraud) in addition to www.419eater.com (419 scams). I didn't go through the fraudaid site in detail, but the money transferred to your paypal account may be funds obtained via identity theft. You could send the scammer 'good money' while you could be on the hook for the fraudulent money. Pretty nasty stuff. Some of the scams, and the legal complications for the victims, were a real eye opener for me. |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|