Craigslist Scams

More Craigslist Scams

Posted on by aosme

We are having more and more Craigslist Scams reported, everything from scammers trying to rent or sell property that don’t belong to them to scammers trying to sell automobiles and concession trailers. Here are some precautions you can take.

1. Have them show you the home before you rent it, don’t rent sight unseen, make sure they actually have access to the home. Check the tax records online to see who the owner is and if its not the same person you are dealing with make sure to check for their business license and ask to see an ID.

2. Don’t buy a car that requires that it be shipped to you. Meet the people in person, make sure they have a title that has a name that matches their ID.

3. Use common sense, if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.

Re: 200 gallon tank and stand – $400 (KC Metro)‏

Posted on by aosme

New Craigslist scammer, see the scam below from paulee473@aol.com

Hello,
Thanks for your prompt reply.Well, i must say you’ve got a nice item and as a matter of fact, In a transaction like this, i will appreciate it if we can put trust first so that the transaction can go smoothly.
I would have love to come by with cash and pick it up but at the moment am a kinda of too busy to come over,so i think i can send you a cashier check via Fedex Or UPS overnight and my shipping company could come pick it up once payment is cleared.The Check will be excess and all you what will need to do is to just send the remaining balance to my Shipper for pick up after deducting your money,if you are ok with this pls do get back to me with your full name,address and phone number so i can proceed with the payment and pls do keep this item for me and inform other interested party that its been sold..ok

Regards,
Paul

Craigslist House Rental Scam

Posted on by aosme

Here is another example of a craigslist house rental scam.  Here is a copy of the email.

Greetings,

Thanks for your interest in my home. I will want you to know that this home is very much available and it includes all utilities.

I have really decided to rent out the House as a result of my relocation to WEST AFRICA as a construction Engineer.. You will notice that the price i am offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the  absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space.

I am a good christian and i need someone very honest and kind to rent my home. I am willing to rent this home out because i wont be staying there anymore, so you can have the house as long as you want, then purchase if you wish to. You can go ahead and view the exterior of the house because the keys and documents to view the inside is right here with me which i am ready to ship them to your address.

Here is the Address of my House (1320 East Laird Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT)

First Month Rent:$900
Refundable Security Deposit Payment:$400

Please note that you will only be able to drive by the house for now but cannot have a look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the house to you..and the requirement for getting the keys and documents of the house is a fully refundable payment of $400 USD,which is the security deposit.
Please note that the deposit made is fully refundable should in case you finally gain entrance into the house after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or uncomfortable with the interior,but i am giving you a benefit of doubt that you will love everything about this lovely home……

Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose..

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Full Name__________________________________________________
Home Phone (        ) ________________________
Mobile Phone (       ) ____________________________
Work Phone (       )___________________
Date of Birth_________________________________
Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the house____________________________
How many people will be livingin the house____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE HOUSE___________________________

Go check out the house and get back to me as soon as possible.

Feel free to call me @ +2348072664061, or 0112348072664061

Regards.
Kris.

Classifieds Email Scam

Posted on by aosme

Here is a classifieds, EBay, Craigslist type email scam that is going around. Notice that the scammer doesn’t ever mention the product or the price of the item being sold. That is done so they can mass email these scams hoping to trick someone into a reply. Here is what the scam looks like:

Hello Seller,
Thanks for your fast reply about the Item and buying from you well I
will like you to give me the last price of the Item, also I will like
you to go ahead and calculate the Shipping Fees to my Son Address via
DHL Courier Service (2-3 days Delivery) to my Son Address below and
also I will like you to give me the Total cost of the item with the
DHL Shipping Fees to my Son Address below and I will like you to
provide me your Full Bank Details as listed below for the Payment to
be made.

Here is my Son Shipping Information
Name: Adebayo Opeyemi
Address: Nw5/148 Alexander Street, Omitowoju.
City:Ibadan
State:Oyo State
Country: Nigeria
Zip-code:+23402
Phone Number: 07032451573

Banking Information
Account Holder
Account Number
Bank Name
Bank Code
Bank Address

Thanks
Awaiting to hear your fast Reply..

Re:$400 / 2br- Upstairs2bd.room and bath for rent(Albany,Or.)(map)

Posted on by aosme

This is a new spin on the overpayment scam that targets rental property owners on Craigslist.  Here is a copy of the Craigslist scam  received.

Hello

Thanks for the details on the Property, I am satisfied and
will like to go ahead with the renting process, I will like you to go ahead
and reserve the property for me. So I will be needing the following
information so that the check for payment of the deposit $2400 for six
month can be processed and posted to you soon.

Name:…………
Address:………….
Phone number(cell and land):…………

I want the 6 month lease to start on the 12th August 2009, I
will also want to notify you that I have in the mean time arrange with
an interior decorator who will be handling the purchase of furniture,
entertainment system and other appliances that I will need in the
property,
they will as well be in charge of moving down my luggage down to the
states. So the check of $4,500 will be sent over to you which is a
relocation grant by my employer, and all you need to do is deduct the
deposit $2400 for six month
and you will forward the rest to the Decorators so I can have the place all
prepared for my arrival.
All applications and lease will be signed as soon
as I arrive.

Also for familiarization I Am Gabriel Johnson, I am 45 yrs of
age, a British citizen, married to a lovely lady, with a daughter
(Family
staying over in the UK), I work with MMH Insurance Group (UK), as a loss
adjuster agent, I am a Christian, reserved in Nature, Non smoker also
i don’t keep pet.
I look forward to meeting you and hope to have a good
relationship as a tenant with you.

I await the details.you can reach me on this number +4470457 29267

Below is my present landlords information for reference :

Dr.Joseph WIlliams.
34,TIVOLI GARDEN SE185PD
UNITED KINGDOM
EMAIL:josephwilliams2xxp@yahoo.com

Regards.
Gabriel
191 swan lane
cv2 4ge Coventry

Craigslist Scam from dr.jonathan100@gmail.com

Posted on by aosme

This is a typical Craigslist scam, notice near the bottom of this article you will see the second email requesting the overpayment back.

 

Hello,
Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant
purchase, so please do  withdraw the advert from Craigslist, i dont
mind adding an extra $50  for you to take  the advert down from
criagslist so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the items.

 I  will also like you to know that i will be paying via bank check, and it
will be over night payment due to the distance .You dont need to
bother your self with the shippment ok, i will take care of that, so i
will need you to provide me with the following information to
facilitate the mailing of the check.

1.Your full name.
2.Your mailing address be it residential or postal address.
3.Your phonenumber.

I assure you once again i will take care of shipping.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
dr.jonathan
——————————————–
This is the second message I received.

 
Mr. Nathaniel,
How are you doing? I want you to understand that the deal is on as my
secretary has posted the payment already, but there was a slight error
i guess we can handle with care, instead of the actual amount  for the
item, she made out the check for $###  she claimed that was what i
requested  but she didn’t get that straight.
So once you have the check please cash it and  deduct the money for
the item plus $20 that for your running around expenses. The excess
fund should please be sent to my mover via western union, this fund
will be use in offsetting the cost of the shipment he as undertaken
for me recently.
**Please email at once to let me know that i can trust to have the
excess funds sent to my mover**

Regards,
dr.jonathan.

Craigslist Scams

Posted on by aosme

Craigslist Scams

Craigslist Scams


Craigslist scams are really making advertising on Craigslist risky, especially if you are unaware of the scams. Emailscammers conducted a test and listed several items on the popular classifieds website to see what kind of scammers would reply and sure enough we had different scammers reply to every ad we placed. Here is a sample reply we got.

Hello I appreciate your response to my inquiry. Am interested in buying it from you. I would love to come and check it myself but I just got married and am presently on an honeymoon trip to Hawaii with my wife. Please kindly withdraw with immediate effect, the advert from Web as i don’t mind adding $50 for you to do that, so i can be rest assured that is held for me. I should believe it is in good condition as stated. I will be making the payment via a Certified Check, which my secretary will mail across to you. I’ll be picking the item from you with the aid of my mover. My Mover will be coming to pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Pls I will need both your full name and physical address to issue out the payment.

You may notice that this Craigslist scammer doesn’t mention what the item is, and they are willing to purchase it sight unseen. But the big signal this is a scam is because of the certified check payment. As you may have already guessed, the chertified check will intially clear your bank, just long enough for the scammer to pick up the item, but will later be found to be a fraud check. The other senerio is that the scammer will change his mind or overpay you and ask you to wire him/her the over payment back.