Scammer trying to buy my Item! What a Hide!!

There seems to be some confusion here.

1- Do not sell items online using gmail as your contact.

If you use gmail, it does not strip the IP's of people emailing you. You are still able to see their locations. What it does do (provided you use the web interface) is strip your IP on outgoing email. As the seller, using an IP stripping email like gmail actually helps you to protect your privacy if you don't want to reveal any information about yourself to the potential buyer. So as a seller, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using gmail.

It wouldnt really matter what email account you use would it?
I get the fact by trying to sell anything online you leave yourself open for potential scammers, but the way they do it with all their different emails, IP addresses, even phone numbers can be a little too much for the inexperienced. After my experience with a scammer I was smart enough not to take the bait and hopefully other people see the signs and do the same. After I lost all contact with this person I havent heard from them since. At the end of the day they didnt get my money and thats all they care about. I contacted all the necessary places to give them information of the scam attempt but found this site was the most effective. I can actually see that something has been done.
My item is still up for sale but I have since updated it with "NOT FOR SALE TO OVERSEAS BUYERS". I think that will do the trick

My item is still up for sale but I have since updated it with "NOT FOR SALE TO OVERSEAS BUYERS". I think that will do the trick.

Oh, you'd be surprised! Many scammers will ignore that and just keep going with their attempts.

As far as email goes:

If you are going to bait (pretend to be potential victims and lead them on wild goose chases, etc.) the scammers who answer your ads it is best to be even more careful about revealing any personal information, including location, simply because you are deliberately doing things that will make a criminal very angry, and he might actually want to find you. In that situation, which email provider you use is a little more important, as it is best to strip your IP. There is more information about that on 419eater.com

If you are simply going to ignore the responses, or tell them you are not going to sell them the item to them, then it it's not as big of a concern. As a seller, it is always best to keep your personal information completely unlinked from your ads (name, address, phone, etc.), not just because of scammers, but for basic privacy and your own personal safety (and protection of your property). But since IP isn't going to lead someone to your doorstep (it will give an area, but not an exact house/apartment/etc) hiding it is certainly not necessary.

So--if you aren't going to play with the scammers who approach you, use any email.
If you are going to play with them, use one that hides your IP and visit 419eater for other tips.

Thanks for the tip Dotti I for one have no intentions of dealing with these type of people that is best left up to the proper authorities.

The IP in the email header does not actually show who you are.
It shows your ISP (internet service provider) and they location.
In my case it shows San Jose, CA (but I am not there)
If you disclose your real name it can be traced to exact address/location using any of the web search sites like Whitepages.com etc..
However, if you log in on websites like this one, the Admin like @ Dolli can see my real IP and could do bad things with it.

Google Voice:
If you use your real phone (or cell phone #) same problem, thus I recommend you use the Google voice phone #.
It works like real phone and you will receive calls on your cell (without the caller knowing your real number).
It has the option of blocking callers (that is not available on regular cell phones).

The objective of this information exchange is to give others on this website an easy way to quickly verify where the buyers email came from (Which country at least), so if it shows Nigeria, you know what to do.

They way it works for non computer savvy: ?
In your email find how to display the full header information from sender.
Then copy it by selecting all of it.
Paste that in to:
http://www.iptrackeronline.com/header.php
in the email header analysis and hit submit for analysis.

The results will show which country the email was send from.


I strongly recommend to:
Create a Nick name (Border Line is mine) for all dealings on Internet.
Than create a [email protected] (at email service of your choice) ([email protected] is mine)
From now on, only use your nick name on the web for anything you do, including registering to any websites, including this one.
My personal email is for my family and friends ONLY.
Other than them, my bank knows my real name and email.
There is no 100% protection but with above you got some.

DISCLAIMER
THIS ARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MY PERSONAL SCAM PROTECTION STEPS, NO GUARANTEE IS GIVEN IT WILL WORK. DOING ANY OF THE SUGGESTED SCAM PROTECTION METHODS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Here is a TEST
my cell Phone # is
xxxx
if you want to call I will answer ,
but be aware that i might see your number.
The purpose of this test is to find out if you can find my actual name or real cell number.
This is a Google voice # that conects to my cell phone.
I give that number to anyone who wants to know!
The area code tells you where I am, but that is not a problem for me.
Just in case you are very clever and actualy find my information, please do not publish but you can PM to me.

This is the email comunication, I highlighted in RED some clear Warning signs.
Also after checking the senders IP it shows it to be send from Nigeria.
So far I did not proceed, but was wodering shall I play the game, in the hope to get my hands on the "mechanic" to have my revange?
----- Original Message -----

From: Erika Simpson
Sent: 11/29/11 11:54 AM
To: Border Line
Subject: Re: Inquiry for 2003 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo- Quattro $10,300
Sorry about that statement. Mechanic knows what to do with the car
after picking it up.
Let me know if you are still willing to sell or i look for other seller.

----- Original Message -----

From: Erika Simpson
Sent: 11/28/11 11:59 PM
To: Border Line
Subject: Re: Inquiry for 2003 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo- Quattro $10,300
Thanks for your reply. As part of my work to move ups and down i can't
realy make scheldule now to see you. But with a scan service invoice i
can make payment by check and after payment confirmation, my mechanic
will come for pick up b'cus i which to change the wheels.
On 11/29/11, Erika Simpson <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have been so confortable by the information you gave me. Can you
> send me one copy of the service invoice? And what is your prefered
> mode of payment between cashier check or bank transfer.
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: CarsOnlineFree.com Visitor
>> Sent: 11/28/11 11:09 AM
>> To: Borderline
>> Subject: Inquiry for 2003 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo- Quattro $10,300
>>
>> *CarsOnlineFree.com*
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> *Message sent by Erika (
>> [email protected]?subject=Re:%20Inquiry%20for%202003%20Audi%20A4%201.8%20Turbo-%20Quattro%20%20%2410,300
>> ) from CarsOnlineFree.com:*
>> *Inquiry For:* Listing ID: 247891
>> 2003 Audi A41.8 Turbo- Quattro $10,300
>> http://www.carsonlinefree.com/searchCar ... eID=247891
>>
>> This E-mail was originated from IP Address: 196.47.82.26 (view location)
>> http://ipinfodb.com/ip_locator.php?ip=196.47.82.26
>>
>> *Message/Commments:*
>> Dear Sir,
>>
>> I saw your car advert on caronlinefree.com and i was inpressed with it.
>> First of all let me introduce myself to you. My name is Erika Simpson a
>> Telecommunication consultant.
>>
>> As part of my job to move from one location to the other I have choose
>> to
>> buy your car for my nature of job which involve travelling always.
>>
>> Before we proceed further, I will like to ask you some few questions
>> about
>> the car;What is your final asking price? vehicle mileage? and the fuel
>> efficiency problems?, maintenance of the car? can you provide full or
>> partial warranties, a warranty for a certain time period? Can you allow
>> my
>> personal mechanics to inspect the car after part payment is made to
>> you?Are
>> you a direct owner or dealer?
>>
>> Also Advise your prefered payment method.
>>
>> I await your quick response.
>>
>> Erika Simpson

Borderline, it is strongly recommended never posting personal details on our forums, as scammers are reading these forums too, and not the least, spammers. Therefore i edited out your email address and phone number.

Dear David
I appreciate you wanting to protect me but the Scammers already know my email and phone since they are scamming it, so leave it, I want it to be seen, and have no problem with that.
As for the phone number:
This is my Google voice phone that only discloses the location and is not traceable to my actual number, so leave it.
I want to get an email or phone call from a scammer (hoping to finally get to face to face situation with one of them to make my day).

PS
I am fully aware what I am doing.

We do not encourage "baiting" scammers here, instead we always advice (potential) victims to stop communicating with the scammer. The right place to post about baiting is on our sister site 419 eater.com

@David
I am starting to understand this site.
It is place where you post the scam than bitch about it, than do nothing about it.
I consider that waste of time.
Someone has to feel the pain, and if in arms reach what a chance to do so.
As for this site, I will obey and just copy paste all the love emails I get.

Hi leagar72

Could you post up the email address that the 'Haulage Company' is using.

Regards

Alan

me too wanted to buy my truck all the same info

You are to go to any Western Union Outlet or Post Office around you with the shipping fees and send it out to the shipping agent's information via Western Union Money Transfer. The information needed to send the shipping fees is the address included in the payment confirmation sent to you.

This is the guideline on how to send the funds smoothly as requested by PayPal so as to have a full understanding on how to transfer the money successfully in western union office so as not to act like novice or misguide when making the transfer.
When you get to any Western Union location with the money,just request for TRANSFER FORM ,fill in the form with your details (name and address ) and the other section in the form is for the shipping agent details (name and address ) which you already have with you,fill the shipping agent details in the form then submit the form with the money to the agent at the counter which will be processed immediately.
Once the funds has been sent,you will be issued a receipt for the transfer. You have to check on the western union receipt for the MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) which you have to email directly to us. Once we receive the MTCN from you, we will verify the details with western union and once it is confirmed that you have genuinely sent the funds, we will immediately release your pending funds of $10,850.00 CAD into your account within 1 hour without any delay .

Your quick response will be very much appreciated once the money has been sent and our response to your message will be timely as PayPal deals with time.

Please Note: PayPal will be responsible for the service charges [western union transfer fees] incur during the course of sending the shipping fee at the western union office,it will be credited together with all your total fund to be release into your account within an hour after you have send the shipping fee which will be readily available in your bank account.

We are sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Thank you for using PayPal! I will be sending funds ASAP but before i make the payment,there is something i need you to be aware of,i just received an email from the shipping company that will be in charge of the pick up.They are saying i need to pay them their fees which is 2350 before they proceed with coming for it and the only form of payment that they accept is Western Union Money Transfer.and as you know i am on sea for a project .I don't know if it will be ok,if i include this agent's fees in the payment i will be sending you now,so on receipt of the total funds,you will remove the additional funds of 2350 and help me send it at your local Western Union office which can be found at the post office . Let me know if this is ok and i will proceed with the payment
- Show quoted text -wanted me to send 2000 and sum odd dollors to the excate same company for shipping the truck,before my 8 thousand would be relesed to me

the excate same thing just happaned to me....
Jennifer Glower [email protected] to me
show details 6:35 PM (4 hours ago)
I will be sending funds ASAP but before i make the payment,there is something i need you to be aware of,i just received an email from the shipping company that will be in charge of the pick up.They are saying i need to pay them their fees which is 2350 before they proceed with coming for it and the only form of payment that they accept is Western Union Money Transfer.and as you know i am on sea for a project .I don't know if it will be ok,if i include this agent's fees in the payment i will be sending you now,so on receipt of the total funds,you will remove the additional funds of 2350 and help me send it at your local Western Union office which can be found at the post office . Let me know if this is ok and i will proceed with the payment
- Show quoted text -
Reply
ForwardI'm done already. This is just to get you informed that i have finished
sending the payment through paypal with the $2,350.00 CAD on top and i know you should have received the confirmation messages from paypal by now so make sure you check your inbox and junk message folder for the
confirmation email because i have received the receipt here and the money has been completely removed from my paypal account.
Find below the details of the shipping agent:

Name: Bernardine Paulette Francis
Address: 69 Jalan Ismail,Ampang
City: Kuala Lumpur
Postal code: 50450
Country: Malaysia

Kindly get back to me as soon as you have received your total money and send the shipping funds
- Show quoted text -
Reply by chat to Jennifer

Must be from the same scammer!! Most probably using other email accounts. Just another one to add to the list.They dont stop at nothing!!