buying a car with pay pal scam

Welcome to Scamwarners anomadtoo.

To cut it short the scammer will fake a payment and pay you extra for you to reimburse his fictional collection agent by Western Union.

There's no payment and no collection agent and he just wants you to pay him money for nothing.

If you're selling, never pay anyone anything. If he has costs he can pay them the same way he paid you.

The warning sign is the baloney about not being able to phone you and not wanting to view the vehicle. That's to hide that his story is all lies which would be exposed if you checked his phone number. He's probably in Africa or the Far East and has no interest in your car. It's your money he's after.

Got the idea, cheers. Also, got another ad response, but with a much shorter message, this time from a Janet (even though the first query was from a MR Hayes on [email protected]). Janet did not bother to tell me the whole story about being on an oil platform, just indicated Paypal, to which I politely replied this is not an option - he/she promptly disappeared.

What worries me is the scale of the phenomenon. Do they try all Autotrader ads? Do they actuially find people who do what they are told and send them the monies?

Also, the email address @btopenworld.com indicates there is another victim, as you normally get this address domain with a service from the BT and it is attached to a fixed phone line.

FC

Hi Fifth Cat - to answer your questions.

Do they try all Autotrader ads ? - as many as they can, and ads on any other site on the internet. Between drinks they just send the same message hours on end to every advertiser they can find - and not just for vehicles. Recently someone got a reply from a male concerning a wedding dress. They aren't reading what they're doing, they're just sending template replies. They don't start reading until you bite. To them it's like an afternoon fishing.

Do they actuially find people who do what they are told and send them the monies ? - yes quite a lot. When it appears someone is buying their item so easily without quibble, the seller tends to lose caution and misses the warning signs. It's basis deception - people see what they expect to see, especially if it's what they want to see.

The email address @btopenworld.com indicates there is another victim - Possibly not. A domain name can be 'spoofed' but there are scammers in the UK too. They're not all living in Africa.

**SCAMMER, WINSTON LAMOKE**

Start at the bottom and read to the top....It all seemed fishy to start with. I have found this identical story he fed me ,on other posts below mine.

Too bad I typed your name in Google, and you are a KNOWN spammer!! Get lost ass hole!

From: Winston Lamoke <[email protected]>
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: xxxxxxxx
Subject: Piano

Like i said in my previous email that i am currently on sea and i don't have a personal phone, i would have love to call you too but we are struggling with phone connection right and i hope you will understand that email contact is the best for now.

Regards.

From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Piano
To: "Winston Lamoke" <[email protected]>
Received: Thursday, May 16, 2013, 5:22 AM

Do you have a phone number that I can reach you at? I am in Ohio, and you said you have a pick-up agent....are they coming from WA? I am always skeptical when selling something online, so I would like to speak to you as soon as possible. I hope we are able to complete a smooth transaction, and that your Father will like his Piano!!

From: Winston Lamoke <[email protected]>
To: Xxxxx xXXXX <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 4:30 AM
Subject: Piano

Good to hear back from you, i am located in WA. i am buying this piano for my father as a surprise gift, i am okay with the price, i am a marine engineer at this moment i am presently working offshore, sometimes access to regular emails and phone calls are very poor in offshore due to inefficiency of phone and internet connections, more so we are often constrain from accessing the internet or making phone calls, i insisted on PayPal because i don't have access to my bank account online and i don't have internet banking too, but i can pay from my PayPal account as i have my bank a/c attached to it, you don't need to bother yourself about the shipment because i have a pick-up agent that will come for the pick-up they will also determine and secure the shipment, get back to me with your PayPal email address so that i can make the payment, i will also need you to provide me with the following information in order to facilitate the payment.

1.Your Full name.
2.Your PayPal Email Address.
3.Your phone number.


Kind Regards.

--- On Thu, 5/16/13, Xxxxxxx <[email protected]> wrote:

From: XxxxXXXXX
Subject: Re: Message regarding your Pianomart.com Ad
To: "Winston Lamoke" <[email protected]>
Received: Thursday, May 16, 2013, 3:44 AM

Winston,
The only pictures I have are the ones posted in the ad on pianomart. I have attached them in this email as well. I am asking $800 but willing to negotiate. I am not familiar with paypal, but I will check it out. I am not sure if I am comfortable using this service if I can not guarantee payment, I am not sure how it works. Where are you located, and would you be paying for shipping? The present condition is perfect. All the keys work, the 3 foot pedals work, and all of the electronic options work as well. There are no gouges or marks on the piano. It was my grandmothers, and has just been sitting(inside of course) since she passed 12 years ago. If you are still interested let me know. Xxxxxxxxxx.

From: Winston Lamoke <[email protected]>
To: XXXXXXXxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 12:31 AM
Subject: Message regarding your Pianomart.com Ad

Winston Lamoke is trying to contact you regarding Make offer! Need to sell ASAP!

Name: Winston Lamoke

E-mail: [email protected]

Message: I am interested in buying your piano and would like to receive additional information about it, such as present condition, last asking price and pics if available, i will like to pay using PayPal. Here's my email-([email protected])

Regards.
Winston Lamoke.

Great job lindsayp1989 and welcome to Scamwarners.

I am glad you were able to search the internet and find this thief here. Offshore difficulties with the internet and phone yet he can still email and pay via Paypal. Typical scammer.

In this scam he does not want the Piano. He wants to steal your money. He will tell you lies and send fake emails from Paypal. Pretending as if he paid you. He really did not. It is a fake email. He will tell you that Paypal will release your money/funds after you send an over payment via Western Union or Money Gram to an agent, shipper or mover. In reality you are sending it to the scammer. No one will ever come for the Piano and you will be out the money you sent.

This same scam works with fake check and money orders. Your bank may cash the check. Days or weeks later they will inform you of the fake. At that time you will repay the money back to the bank. The bank may close your account and report you to Law Enforcement for Fraud.

I suggest that you sell the Piano Face to Face and not alone. Accept cash or meet the buyer at his bank with cash.

I also removed your personal information from your post.

Thanks Bryon!! Not too tech savvy, just wanted to share my experience with these people. I placed my ad on pianomart.com....it is crazy these people just sit around all day sending the same emails to countless people....GET A LIFE! A real one Anyways!!!

Was amazed to see that dodgy old ken Willis goes back so far.. He contacted me tonight with that same copy pasted email from that same [email protected]. I have given him this kind reply:

What's wrong 'Ken'?
No reply?
I'm an honest hard worker so it makes me laugh at c$@?! like you.
Bet you have an ugly mrs who you don't wanna be with?
Everything about your life is a lie because you don't want the people you know in you life to find out that really you are a worthless piece of shit.
Front up big man. Face to face.
Would love to rip your head off and piss down your neck.

No reply yet. I can't stand these morons

Just had 2 contacts following this pattern from [email protected] original text came through as "carenquiry" not a phone number and also from [email protected].

Luckily the emails were so similar it alerted me to a scam, and I'd only given paypal which was the same as my email id. Guy asked me to take ad off internet - have now emailed and said I know it's a scam, but sure, when there's money in my account and cleared. I doubt he'll try to pull off the scam now.

Welcome to Scamwarners Boulderado,

Yes, it is a scam. It is best just to ignore him and he will go away

Thank you for posting the additional email addresses. This will help others avoid his scam attempts.

yet another scammer, it seems to me at least. Just to let others know.

After publishing a car classified ad at ebay was contacted through ebay (from johnsterricks ebay user) with the following message:

is this still available for sale and what your best price get back to me with this email austin_moore321 at outlook.com pls is bcos dont check my ebay thanks

replied to the indicated e-mail as requested and received the following response:

From: austin moore <[email protected]>

It's good to read from you i'm okay with the condition and price of this item, i'm seriously interested i will be paying you with my PayPal account because it's attached to my bank account and its safe and very secure way to make payment. If my mode of payment is accepted just send me your paypal email address,(Paypal ID) I have a private courier agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been made,and have your money to you so no shipping included the price. And if you dont have a paypal account, you can easily go to http://www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy. If you also have some more pictures, might want to have a good look. Please do get back to me with your PayPal e-mail and full name on so i can make out payment ASAP. I want your honesty in return to my faithfulness to you during this transaction. Your immediate response is really appreciated.
Kind regards,

replied saying that he could pay through ebay since I accept paypal as a payment option and got this response:

Making a bid on the auction is not a problem but that will take a long time and you will also be over charged by paypal for receiving a payment for an ebay auction. I'll suggest we conclude everything right now by me responding to the paypal money request you will send me. Please get back to me a.s.a.p. My paypal email is [email protected] nd you can also send me your paypal email so i can make the payment asap.

seriously? I reported the user (johnsterricks) to ebay.

hope it helps others.

Welcome to Scamwarners rafaelgomas,

Thank you for posting the information about the Ebay scammer. You did the right thing by demanding payment through Ebay.

Ebay buyers and sellers should always pay through Ebay's system. Ebay requires this to be protected and it is their policy. You should never communicate with a buyer or seller outside of Ebay's mail system.

Thanks again for posting the script and email address ( [email protected] ).

Hey all,

I posted my truck for sale on CL last night and minutes later i got a response asking whether it was still for sale and for my email address...gave it to him and just got this:

Have a great day.
On 2013-06-28, at 8:48 AM, Mide Marino < [email protected] > wrote:

I'm seriously interested in buying it from you and im buying it for my first son im okay with your asking price i want you to know that im an engineer for Don Pedro offshore oil and im currently onboard right now and i really want it as a surprise birthday gift for my Son.i will like to know why you are selling it and also its condition i can only pay through paypal at the moment.i want you to text me back with your paypal email address so i can make the payment now but if you don't have a paypal account yet you can set one up at http://www.paypal.com/us and it wont take you less than 3mins to do that as it's secured and reliable i will be responsible for the payment fees/charges on this transaction do not worry about shipping or picking up as my pick up agent will come and pick it up from you once have made the payment to you and i will also need your full name address i will be looking forward to read back from you soon.Mide marino

I responded:

Hello Mide,

I appreciate that you are interested and thank you for it. I have a Paypal account but am unsure about this transaction. I would prefer it if you sent your agent to see the vehicle first. I would like to meet him and get his credentials prior to comitting to anything. Please ensure he can identify himself and you.

Please forgive my wariness, I've heard and know people who have been burnt before through Paypal and I would like to have this happen both for your protection and mine.

Which rig are you working at? I have a friend who works on the rigs in Mexico…

BTW, your name wouldn't happen to be Randy Nguyen, would it? Wow! what are the odds that the two of you work at the same Company and you both have a son with a birthday coming up and you both want to get a surprise car for him???

I'm seriously interested in buying it from you and im buying it for my first son im okay with your asking price i want you to know that im an engineer for Don Pedro offshore oil and im currently onboard right now and i really want it as a surprise birthday gift for my Son.i will like to know why you are selling it and also its condition i can only pay through paypal at the moment.i want you to text me back with your paypal email address so i can make the payment now but if you don't have a paypal account yet you can set one up at http://www.paypal.com/us and it wont take you less than 3mins to do that as it's secured and reliable i will be responsible for the payment fees/charges on this transaction do not worry about shipping or picking up as my pick up agent will come and pick it up from you once have made the payment to you and i will also need your full name address i will be looking forward to read back from you soon.Randy Nguyen

Oh yes, you've been reported…and hacked!

Message came from:

Mide Marino <[email protected]>

I've reported him/her to craigslist as well.

I am FURIOUS because i just received not one but TWO scammers. First one i was unsure about so i wasted half an hour of my life listening and sympathizing with him cause he said he was on ACTIVE duty... that really pissed me off after reading your forum about all these scammers! I immediately sent him a text telling him what a disgrace he is to the United States and a turd of a human!
Now that i know about these scammers, when the second guy text me the first question i asked was "are you paying cash?" and i still have no response. So all you need to know is either sell LOCAL or CASH!
Its sad that some people would go this extent.... so i would like to THANK you all for helping me avoid being scammed!

P.S.- they both sent me text asking if its still available and then stating that they are interesting without even SEEING the car or asking the price and that they would pay with PAYPAL and have a shipper pick it up...odd much?!

Welcome to Scamwarners jjsherin,

You are correct it is best to sell at public place with cash.

What were the phone numbers the scammers used to text you? If you happened to get an email address also post that. This information will help others when they do an internet search on a possible sale.

Also both scammers are not US Soldiers. They are not even here in the US. They are more than likely in West Africa or Malaysia.

Hi everyone, I'm from Denmark and you need to forgive my englisch mistakes I register here just to post what I get today do to selling great honda civic:

Hello,

Thanks for your response. I Agree to buy your Car, So i will be paying directly into your PayPal account without any delay. Get back to me with the details below :

Name:
PayPal Email address
Cell Phone No.:
Total Cost of the item.

Or you can send me a PayPal money request, so once i receive the details i will go ahead with the payment through PayPal and then i will contact my shipping company after you get the payment, so i won't be able to come for the view of the Car Because of my Work right now , I will need your home address for the be Picked Up by the Shipping Company..My shipping Company will handle everything Transport preparations perfectly whenever they come for the pick up after you received and confirmed the total funds into your PayPal account.

Have a nice day.

Henri
His
tel nr: +457624803803
email [email protected]
Is it possible to track down this program/person?? Or punish him for being such an fraud/swindler?