Craigslist / PayPal Scam Attempts

Hi,

I'm sharing my scam attempts thus far in case someone googles the "names" or "email addresses" of those who tried to scam me. I placed a for sale ad for a BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone on Craigslist and received the following responses. Hope this helps!

Attempt #1 by "Laura Garcia [email protected]"

From: Laura Garcia ([email protected])
Sent: Tue 2/07/12 7:56 PM

Hello,

How much is you final price for this posted item?

Laura Garcia [email protected]
10:26 AM (23 hours ago)
to me

I am in Clarksville, US. I will pay the requested $150 but Will you assist me to ship out this item to my husband as a Val gift who went to West Africa Nigeria ,for a a business trip, I want you to also assist me in rapping it with a gift pack, I will pay you extra $80 USD via Paypal or bank transfer for the shipping and the gift pack. I want you to get back to me with your Paypal email ID or bank details so i can make deposit to your account right away and get the item shipped out to my husband.

Thanks

Attempt #2 by "Juan Matrez [email protected] / [email protected]"

From: [email protected] on behalf of Juan Matrez ([email protected])
Sent: Wed 2/08/12 9:33 AM

Do you have this item for sale,And how much are you selling it?

Juan Matrez [email protected]
1:48 PM (20 hours ago)
to me

Dear Seller,

I really appreciate your response to my previous mail. Just to let youknow that I'm satisfied with the condition of the item. Like I said Iwill like to purchase this item for my friend as a surprise gift so kindly withdraw the advert from Craigslist but i will not beable to look at the item or pick it up from your place because i amcurrently out of the state, I'm representing my company on an officialtrip, You will be shipping the item to my
friend just because I'm buying the item for him,

(1) I will like to know why you are selling this item and do you have the receipt of the item.
,
(2)I will offer you $180 for the item and will also add an extra $100 tothe money so as to cover the shipping and insurance charges via USPSExpress Mail.

(3) I will also add an extra $20 to the money to compensate you for sealing a deal with me.

(4)And about the payment, My mode of payment will be through PayPalbecause it is fast for a safe,secure,reliable transaction and easy tosend money online, So get back to me with your PayPal email address orsend me a PayPal money request so that i can send out the payment and
assoon as you received the payment you can make the shipment,But if youdon't have a PayPal account you can quickly set-up one at(http://www.paypal.com) it is easy and save and it's free also your reply will be appreciated by me if you get back to me asap..

Attempt #3 by "Mike Silver Uba [email protected] / [email protected]"

From: Mike Silver Uba ([email protected])
Sent: Wed 2/08/12 3:02 PM

Does it have any scratch?

Sent from my iPhone

Mike Silver Uba [email protected]
3:27 PM (18 hours ago)
to me

Sounds good, i am in the U.S. Air Force currently on duty right now. I am getting it for my son as a surprise gift. I accept your price and will be paying total sum of $220 for item cost & shipping fee. I will provide you with his shipping info for shipment as soon as the payment is done. I can only pay through PayPal so send me request invoice to this address for the payment now.

[AlanJones]

Hi JenJen and welcome to ScamWarners.

Thanks for posting these names and email addresses, they may help others to avoid being scammed.

Thanks for the welcome and you are quite welcome!

Attempt #4 by "maria rose [email protected]"

Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 11:05:01 -0800
From: [email protected]

Hello just want to know if this posted ad is up for sale and also like to
know the working condition and the recent picture if that let me know Asap
Rose

maria rose
5:07 AM (7 hours ago)
to me

Thanks for the fast response actually i was guessing a gift to
buy for my cousin,who is based in West Coast Africa as a wedding
anniversary gift,and while browsing Craigslist, i saw what you have
for sale and found it quite nice as a gift. I am willing to offer $270
for the item, including shipping cost via USPS Post express mail. I
will be paying through PayPal, because its the safest means of online
payment.Kindly get back to me with your PayPal email and full name for
me to make the payment.

Hope to read from you soon

Attempt #5 by "poul smith [email protected]"

Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:13:25 +0000
From: [email protected]

is the item still for sale
get back to me with the pics
and other specifications

poul smith
1:47 PM (58 minutes ago)
to me

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, am so glad to hear from you, I want you know
that am really interested in buying this item, i'm buying this for
someone very special in abroad, I will like to ask you more about this item,

1) Why are you selling it?
2) Let me know the condition,
3) Can you send me some pictures of the item?
4) Am buying this for someone very special as a Valentine gift
5) i will be offering you $240 including the shipping cost
via Usps international express mail service with insurance,

6)This is my first time buying online, I will be making the payment
via PayPal account, because it's safe,fast and secure online
transaction, kindly get back to me with your PayPal email address or
send me money request from PayPal so that i can proceed with the
payment as soon as possible, or you can set up an account at
http://www.paypal.com, so that i can send you the payment ...ASAP,

Get back to me as soon as you can.

This guy gets around--another attempt on Craigslist a few hours ago (6/13/2012):

M.Rodriguez Uba [email protected]

Sounds good, i am in the U.S. Air Force currently on duty right now. I am getting it for my son as a surprise gift. I accept your price and will be paying total sum of $350 for item cost & shipping fee. Send me your name and address for Money Order Payment or a request invoice to this address for Paypal payment now.

From: [email protected]
To: M.Rodriguez Uba <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 1:58 PM
Subject: Re: Motorola XOOM Verizon 4G/WiFi - $250 (Bellevue)

It has light use but cosmetically in very good condition. I have set it back to defaults.

On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 1:35 PM, M.Rodriguez Uba <[email protected]> wrote:


--
Is it in Great Condition?

I recently placed another Blackberry Bold 9700 smartphone for sale on Craigslist. I got the following scam attempt.

Jenkins Craig [email protected] / Garcia Jenkins [email protected]

From: jenkins craig ([email protected])
Sent: Wed 11/28/12 11:55 AM

Hello,
Do you still have it for sale??

from: Garcia Jenkins [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 2:38 AM

Ok..I'm interested in buying it,i will not be able to come in person for the pickup due to my work schedule but dont worry,i will be adding the shipping cost of 100$ to the asking price so that once i pay you,you can help me to ship it through post office,so kindly get back to me with your paypal email address for payment so that i can pay you right away.

I replied that I don't ship and got the following response.

from: Garcia Jenkins [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 3:25 PM

I understand but due to the nature of my work,i can only pay through
paypal,so do try and understand and bear with th situation and get
back to me with your paypal email address for payment.

I gave an email address that is not connected to PayPal and received 3 fake PayPal emails.

from: Garcia Jenkins [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 4:38 PM

i will inform you when the payment is made.

from: Garcia Jenkins [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 5:32 PM

I am just done with the payment and i am sure you must have been
contacted,so kindly make sure you check your inbox and junk for
payment confirmation and help me to get the item shipped through USPS
post office express mail service.

Shipping information...

Name:Mark Ola
Address:2 Onifade street,Dugbe
City:Ibadan
State:Oyo
Zipcode:23402
Country:Nigeria.

Thanks.

Fake PayPal email #1

from: [email protected]® [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 5:29 PM
subject: Garcia Jenks has just sent you an Auction Payment with PayPal (Routing Code:C840-L001-Q999-T8384)
mailed-by: gmail.com
signed-by: gmail.com

You've got new fund

Dear [email protected],

Mrs Garcia Jenks just sent you money with PayPal.

Mrs Garcia Jenks is a Verified buyer.

Payment Details

Amount $275.00 USD

Recipient: [email protected]

Transaction ID: 5Y759872CS4622206

Subject: Ship Before 24 Hours

Note: Blackberry Bold 9700

Shipment preferred: Post Office Express Mail Service with tracking number.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipping Information:

Name:Mark Ola
Address:2 Onifade street,Dugbe
City:Ibadan
State:Oyo
Zipcode:23402
Country:Nigeria.

Address Status:

Confirmed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This PayPal® payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been "APPROVED" but will not be credited to your account until the shipment tracking number is sent to us for shipment verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller from possible fraud. Here are the necessary information needed from you before your account will be credited.The tracking number of shipment,your PayPal ID, Send tracking number to us Via Our e-mail [email protected] and our customer service care will attend to you.

**PLEASE NOTE**
Once the tracking number has been sent to us and shipment verified which is within the next 5 hours
You will receive a "CONFIRMATION EMAIL" from PayPal ® informing you that the Money has been credited.

Thank you for using PayPal !
The PayPal Team

------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ----------------------------
PayPal Email ID : PP315



Copyright © 1999-2009 PayPal . All rights reserved.



Copyright © 1999-2008 PayPal. All rights reserved.
PayPal (Europe) Ltd. is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United States as an electronic money institution.
PayPal FSA Register Number: 226056

Fake PayPal email #2

from: [email protected]® [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 5:30 PM
subject: ***Transaction Has Been Confirmed***
mailed-by: gmail.com
signed-by: gmail.com


Dear [email protected],

This is to confirmed that you have been paid the total amount of $275.00 USD from our client Mrs Garcia Jenks.

We hereby notified you that the money has been deducted from the buyer account in purchased of your item Blackberry Bold 9700.

Please kindly confirm if the transaction ID is correct with the confirmation of the money sent to you.

Transaction ID: 5Y759872CS4622206
Routing Code: C840-L001-Q999-T8384

Please kindly get back to us with the Tracking Number of the item posted for other process of crediting your account.


You can get back to us through our customer care at
[email protected]

Thanks for using PayPal!.
The team PayPal.

Fake PayPal email #3

from: [email protected]® [email protected]
date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 5:31 PM
subject: You have a payment pending***Ship Now!!!
mailed-by: gmail.com
signed-by: gmail.com

You have a payment pending !!!

Dear [email protected],

This is to Notify you about the Payment made by "Mrs Garcia Jenks"([email protected])" to your PayPal account.The payment has been successfully made but due to security reasons, not until you send us the shipment tracking number,your money will remain in our ESCROW.

This a new measure we are taking in order to protect both Seller and Buyers against fraudulent activities.Once you have ship the item,send the shipment tracking number to PayPal Customer Service Department :[email protected]


**PLEASE NOTE**
Once shipment has been verified and the tracking number sent to us,You will receive a "CONFIRMATION Email" from PayPal informing you that the Money has been credited.

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your account.We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,
PayPal Verification Department

------------------------------ ------------------------------ ----

PayPal Email ID PP120

Thank you JenJen,

You are helping out a lot.

I got another one.Same story this time for a car sell:
He would transfer the money via paypal +~3000AUD for shipment and I should forward the shipment money to a western union account. The three paypal mails looked similar, got them from [email protected]
For everyone googling on this:
Name used by him: John Russel
e-mail used: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Western Union "Agent" name used (money to be send there)
Nathan Warlock
58 Owen street
Tipton
West Midlands
UK

I tried to sell the car on gumtree.com.au

Got two different offers, both the same scam trick: really annoying because they start of quite decent:can I get pictures from the inside, copies of the service book,... and only after a couple of mails come to the point of being unable to inspect the car and wanting a transfer.

Welcome to scamwarners philipp42,

Thank you for your time to post the email addresses and names used. Your information will help others avoid being scammed when they do a search.

I was trying to sell my car in Craigslist and received two emails attempting to pay me the amount I've posted or more by PayPal. The emailer was trying to get my personal information (name) and PayPal account because they said they cannot see the vehicle in person but will pay to my PayPal account. Although I said I do not use electronic means to receive payment (must be done in person with cash or certified cashier's check from local bank and I'll need to see their ID), the email insist that I open PayPal so they can pay me. This is obviously a fraud and the emails were from the followings. BEWARE OF THESE:

Craig Smith: [email protected]
Joe Luke: [email protected]
[email protected]

Here's another PayPal Scam email regarding a car we were trying to sell on Craigslist. This one is from Jennifer William. So many sections of the email message are exactly like other messages we read on this website. It was very helpful to compare our email message to others - now we're convinced it's a scam.
======================================================================
From: Jennifer William
Date: Dec 2, 2012 1:44:56 PM
Subject: Re: 2012 Hyundai Accent GS Hatch - $13295 (Annapolis, Md)


Thanks,I would have loved to come and check it out but am currently not in the states for now.And thats why am arranging for a pick up.i think i can trust you..I am buying this for dad as i promised him early this year and I am a Network installation manager It hard to make a phone calls and visiting of website are restricted but i squeezed out time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it.I really want it to be a surprise for my dad so i wont let him know anything about it until it gets delivered to him, i am sure he will be more than happy with it.i don't have access to my bank account online as i don't have internet banking, The transaction will be made via PayPal for the safety of both because i've linked my account with paypal so i can pay for whatever i buy online via paypal.i will need your name and address including your paypal email address for the payment.I will like to know if the tittle is clear or you still have a loan to pay on it. You can now send me your PayPal email so i can pay in right away and also include your preferable pickup address in your reply so i can forward it to the pickup agent to schedule date and time to come down there to pick it up once i get your money to you..If you don't have a paypal account, you can easily set up one...log on to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy. hope to hear from you soon.

1) The pictures?
2) The present condition?
3) Are you the First Owner?
4) Your PayPal Email Address?
5) Your preferable pickup location?


Regards
Jennifer.

What email address did the scammer use this time, jakinusa?

I got the same exact e mail as jakinusa, word for word from Jennifer William. It came from [email protected]

Welcome to scamwarners jennsfer and thank you for posting the email address.

Email addresses and the script that the scammer uses is helpful to others when they use search engines to investigate possible scams. It is just another tool that possible victims might use.

Thank you for being helpful to others.

Bryon