Foo - Help: am I being scammed?

OK Foosters, I need some help and although I am a foo lurker I have never posted before. I thought the combined wisdom, experience and discernment of the foo-community could aid me in understanding this situation.

Although the story is a bit long I will try to summarize here and see if anyone has any advice.

So, I posted a bike for sale on roadbikereview. After about a week I got an email from a chap asking for my lowest price. He said he would take it and explained that he is in Alaska. This is where things start to get fishy.

Buyer says he will send my asking price plus shipping and I would send the shipping to the company to have a pick up (not so bad). He sends a website for an international shipping company that had dead links to the US department and a disconnected phone number. The next day I get an email from the “shipping company” stating terms of shipping and how I should send payment.

Here it is:

Dear "zoeglassjd",
We got your inquiry officially from our customer(Mr "said buyer") who directed you to us for the shippment of the bike with you pending him acknowledgement for close to a week now until the confirmation came through today from him.
The estimate you were given is the current total shipping expenses and miscellanous customs and duties fees included along with the payment which is the difference after you deduct the price of the bike agreed between you and him.Find below the information you should use in sending out the shipping funds to our agent in charge of your case in cash via any Moneygram Money Transfer location nearest to you today.
SHIPPER'S AGENT INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME : CHARLOTTE
LAST NAME : SUMMERLIN
CITY--- WINCHESTER
STATE---VIRGINIA
ZIPCODE--- 22601

REASON FOR FUNDS SENDING- SHIPPING LOGISTICS

Please forward to me via email the complete Moneygram Money Transfer information used in sending funds:
1. SENDER'S NAME/ADDRESS............................
2. The REFERENCE number( a 8 digit confirmation number)
3. EXACT AMOUNT SENT................................
Please note all Moneygram wire transfer charges should be deducted from funds available, shipping funds should be sent via Moneygram Money Transfer after you have deducted funds for the bike. Get back to me so that I can update you when our agent who will be at your base to arrange for the pick-up of the bike and the actual pick-up date according to our company policy is booked after receipt of shipping funds which i am to relate to you.
I await your mail response soonest.We hope to co-ordinate the shipping with high efficiency and customer satisfaction guaranteed as its our watchword.
Yours Sincerely,
Kane Smith
Head - Of - Operations..

http://www.global-shipping.co.uk
Going The Extra Mile For You..........
N.B-ALWAYS QUOTE YOUR REF NUMBER AT ALL TIMES DURING CORRESPONDENCE.

--
Want an e-mail address like mine?
Get a free e-mail account today at


A little suspicious? Especially the fact I can get a free email address like these folks have.

The plot thickens this morning when I receive the certified check from “buyer”. The check is for around $2400 for a $750 bike. It is shipped from a gas company in Troy MI and the check is from a insurance company in MN.

Scammalicious? Undoubtedly. But how do they scam me when I have their money in hand? How could they actually scam me?

Am I helping the wife of a deposed Nigerian prince?

What do you all think? Help. It makes me actually love ebay.

Thanks foosters.

--
certified check from “buyer”. The check is for around $2400 for a $750 bike. It is shipped from a gas company in Troy MI and the check is from a insurance company in MN.

Scammalicious? Undoubtedly. But how do they scam me when I have their money in hand? How could they actually scam me?




Yes, you are being scammed. You do not have money in hand. You have a worthless check, but you would be sending good funds (ie. you can't get it back) via their requested payment method. That check would bounce back to your account in about 10 days.

Call and tell them that you have changed your mind.

Cash in hand only.

Ask why you would be getting charged for international customs and duties, too.

East Hill

Don't touch it. If it were legit, he'd send money to the shipping company. The check is fake, and you'll get stuck with the payment to the "shipping company."

Here's one link that explains it better. (http://www.dcu.org/streetwise/march2005.html)

scam

Thanks all. I have already told them that I wouldn't send anything until the check clears. Should I not put it in the bank and wait for it to clear?

Yeah. Bob and East Hill are right. What you have is a worthless check. It wouldn't necessarily be any more reassuring if the message were written in English, but let's face it- that's got scam written all over it (obfuscatory language, poor grammar, it's all there).

OK. When/if you sell things via online classifieds (like RBR) what terms do you set up in the ad (only paypal and a certain shipping company)?

Thanks all. I have already told them that I wouldn't send anything until the check clears. Should I not put it in the bank and wait for it to clear?

Actually, I'd request a wire transfer. If they're legit, they'll have no problem with that. Be prepared to hear all manner of excuses as to why that would be "difficult" for them :o.

...Should I not put it in the bank and wait for it to clear?

You can try but make sure you don't end up out of pocket if it, highly likely, turns out to be a bad cheque.

You're being scammed. That's a common one that is being done lately - he overpaid by a large amount with a bad check and is expecting you to send him a refund on the balance after subtracting shipping and the bike. Talk to your bank about it, because it's possible for checks to "clear" (sufficient funds) and then come back a couple weeks later as fake once the fraud is discovered, and they'll take the money back from your account.

Thanks all. I have already told them that I wouldn't send anything until the check clears. Should I not put it in the bank and wait for it to clear?

No, you should report it to your local police maybe...it's interstate, FBI office? Not that I think it will get you anywhere, but once you put it in the bank the evidence is out of their hands and will be very hard to track down.

Thanks all. I have already told them that I wouldn't send anything until the check clears. Should I not put it in the bank and wait for it to clear?

Oh, the cheque will clear all right.

But ten days later the bank will tell you that the cheque is worthless, and you will be out the money.

I wouldn't bother putting it in the bank, it'll cost you money.

You can either call and say, 'No deal', or just never go through with it, and enjoy the ensuing desperate attempts to get you to cash the cheque and send the goods.

Keep us informed. It will be amusing to watch if you never deposit the cheque. I promise ;) .

East Hill

How do I report this to the interwebz police? Really, do I have enough info to submit to anyone?

My email response:
You want your fake check back? Should I send it to Cincinnati, Troy, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska, or Winchester, Virginia? So many options.

I'll keep you posted of his responses if you find it really interesting. (oh, so the bikes still for sale!)

Postal Inspector-- he sent you a bad check in the mail, so it's mail fraud.
Local Police at the destination if he gave one (I bet he didn't-- he probably claimed he'd give the info to the shipping company).

How do I report this to the interwebz police? Really, do I have enough info to submit to anyone?

You may or may not, but you should report it and let the agencies figure it out. You could be the one to provide the last bit of evidence to bring these guys down. Here's a link you might find useful:
http://www.cybercrime.gov/reporting.htm

Try here:
http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/?from=home&page=postalinspectors/

There's a banner ad about exactly the scam that's being pulled here.

My email response:
You want your fake check back? Should I send it to Cincinnati, Troy, Michigan, Minnesota, Alaska, or Winchester, Virginia? So many options.

I'll keep you posted of his responses if you find it really interesting. (oh, so the bikes still for sale!)

hehehehe.

It will be great stuff :D .

East Hill

They used waaaaaaaay too many long words for it to be legit. :lol:

Seems legit to me. As soon as I get my money from the son of the Nigeria Minister of Maritime Affairs, I am going to contact these guys and sell them some of my new stuff.

BTW, I am being mildly sarcastic. really.

His response. Priceless:

"zoeglassjd",

I perfectly understand your point of argument but i though i had all this laid down and explained to you before your receipt of payment.If i had sensed this kind of reaction i must confess i would not have authorised for payment to be sent in the first place.The shipping company must have contacted you by now as i informed them of your sending the funds
already and that they should be awaiting the confirmation from you also note that the person
receiving the funds is a employee of the shipping company,thanks for the
concern anyways as i have a family member working with Global Shipping Co and have made it a point of duty to use them for any of my freighting or shipping as i have for years now.Cincinnati Insurance Co is my Insurance comapny and i recieve a monthly payment from them,and i instructed they have it issued out to you,James Gallant is my financial consultant...Obviously the whole $1700 aint meant for the shippment of the bike,they are also picking up some expensive art work for me,that what adds up to the amount of $1700..and insurance covers all of this and like i said,i have use them in the past and they have not failed me in anyway..So do we still have you confused? please i hope we can complete this transaction without any further delays.

OK, lets make this a game. Craft your best response to "buyer". I'll pick my favorite and send it so him. Extra points for creativity and use of a thesaurus. I'll keep posting his responses.

zgjd

jsharr: your moneygram has been sent.

His response. Priceless:

"zoeglassjd",

I perfectly understand your point of argument but i though i had all this laid down and explained to you before your receipt of payment.If i had sensed this kind of reaction i must confess i would not have authorised for payment to be sent in the first place.The shipping company must have contacted you by now as i informed them of your sending the funds
already and that they should be awaiting the confirmation from you also note that the person
receiving the funds is a employee of the shipping company,thanks for the
concern anyways as i have a family member working with Global Shipping Co and have made it a point of duty to use them for any of my freighting or shipping as i have for years now.Cincinnati Insurance Co is my Insurance comapny and i recieve a monthly payment from them,and i instructed they have it issued out to you,James Gallant is my financial consultant...Obviously the whole $1700 aint meant for the shippment of the bike,they are also picking up some expensive art work for me,that what adds up to the amount of $1700..and insurance covers all of this and like i said,i have use them in the past and they have not failed me in anyway..So do we still have you confused? please i hope we can complete this transaction without any further delays.


:roflmao:

I told you this would be fun :D .

East Hill

All about scamming. (http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/) A must read.

Please send me your bank account information and then I will be happy to look into this for you.

All about scamming. (http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/) A must read.

Fantastic!

Why are all these Nigerian peoples trying to enlist my aid in getting so much monies out of the country! Hmmmm?:D

There's some good stuff on here, they even get the scammers to pose for photos
http://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htm

P.S. I'm from London, I've got a bridge for sale if you want it.

Just want to add for anybody not aware by Law checks have to clear in approx 3 days, so the bank will clear all checks and then when they bounce take the money back.

Sounds to be the banks should be footing the bill!!!!!!

There's some good stuff on here, they even get the scammers to pose for photos
http://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htm

P.S. I'm from London, I've got a bridge for sale if you want it.

London or Tower :)

OK Foosters, I need some help and although I am a foo lurker I have never posted before. I thought the combined wisdom, experience and discernment of the foo-community could aid me in understanding this situation.

Although the story is a bit long I will try to summarize here and see if anyone has any advice.

So, I posted a bike for sale on roadbikereview. After about a week I got an email from a chap asking for my lowest price. He said he would take it and explained that he is in Alaska. This is where things start to get fishy.

Buyer says he will send my asking price plus shipping and I would send the shipping to the company to have a pick up (not so bad). He sends a website for an international shipping company that had dead links to the US department and a disconnected phone number. The next day I get an email from the “shipping company” stating terms of shipping and how I should send payment.

Here it is:

Dear "zoeglassjd",
We got your inquiry officially from our customer(Mr "said buyer") who directed you to us for the shippment of the bike with you pending him acknowledgement for close to a week now until the confirmation came through today from him.
The estimate you were given is the current total shipping expenses and miscellanous customs and duties fees included along with the payment which is the difference after you deduct the price of the bike agreed between you and him.Find below the information you should use in sending out the shipping funds to our agent in charge of your case in cash via any Moneygram Money Transfer location nearest to you today.
SHIPPER'S AGENT INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME : CHARLOTTE
LAST NAME : SUMMERLIN
CITY--- WINCHESTER
STATE---VIRGINIA
ZIPCODE--- 22601

REASON FOR FUNDS SENDING- SHIPPING LOGISTICS

Please forward to me via email the complete Moneygram Money Transfer information used in sending funds:
1. SENDER'S NAME/ADDRESS............................
2. The REFERENCE number( a 8 digit confirmation number)
3. EXACT AMOUNT SENT................................
Please note all Moneygram wire transfer charges should be deducted from funds available, shipping funds should be sent via Moneygram Money Transfer after you have deducted funds for the bike. Get back to me so that I can update you when our agent who will be at your base to arrange for the pick-up of the bike and the actual pick-up date according to our company policy is booked after receipt of shipping funds which i am to relate to you.
I await your mail response soonest.We hope to co-ordinate the shipping with high efficiency and customer satisfaction guaranteed as its our watchword.
Yours Sincerely,
Kane Smith
Head - Of - Operations..

http://www.global-shipping.co.uk
Going The Extra Mile For You..........
N.B-ALWAYS QUOTE YOUR REF NUMBER AT ALL TIMES DURING CORRESPONDENCE.

--
Want an e-mail address like mine?
Get a free e-mail account today at


A little suspicious? Especially the fact I can get a free email address like these folks have.

The plot thickens this morning when I receive the certified check from “buyer”. The check is for around $2400 for a $750 bike. It is shipped from a gas company in Troy MI and the check is from a insurance company in MN.

Scammalicious? Undoubtedly. But how do they scam me when I have their money in hand? How could they actually scam me?

Am I helping the wife of a deposed Nigerian prince?

What do you all think? Help. It makes me actually love ebay.

Thanks foosters.

And this, bikeforum readers is why people can still get scammed in this day and age. Even when it is plainly obvious, greed obscures all logic.

craigslist is warning these days about accepting any cashiers checks or money orders, or selling to out-of-town buyers. by the time the bank gets back to you and tells you that the check was bad, the item has already shipped / buyer has taken delivery.

:eek:

All about scamming. (http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/) A must read.

I remember that one when it was still unfolding. :lol:

OK, lets make this a game. Craft your best response to "buyer". I'll pick my favorite and send it so him. Extra points for creativity and use of a thesaurus. I'll keep posting his responses.

zgjd

jsharr: your moneygram has been sent.


What do we get if we win? The Buyer's Certified Check for $2400!? hehe! :p

OK, lets make this a game. Craft your best response to "buyer". I'll pick my favorite and send it so him. Extra points for creativity and use of a thesaurus. I'll keep posting his responses.

zgjd


Here is my submission: FTW!!

Dear Kane Smith,

Thank you for your understanding and reassurance that the funds sent by your insurance company are, in fact, authentic. However, in light of the recent circumstances I will be unable to send you the bike, nor the check. However, I do have an opportunity for you that would benefit us both. My name is (Your Alias Here), I am the credit manager in a bank here in (Some City and State). I am contacting you of a business transfer, of a huge sum of money from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that everything has been well taken care off, and all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction. To ease your apprehension, I got your contact from the British chambers of commerce and industry, foreign trade division. PROPOSITION; I am the account officer of a foreigner named Gerald Welsh who died in an air crash along with his wife on the 31st October 1999 in an Egyptian airline 990 with other passengers on board. You can confirm this from the website below which was published by CNN.WEBSITE. http://www.cnn.com/US/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin are alive to make claims for this money as his heir, because they all died in the same accident(May his soul rest in peace). We cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased, as all documentations will be carefully worked out by a lawyer for the funds Twenty- Eight million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars (US$28,500,000.00) in a domiciliary account to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin. Because after four years the money will be called back to the bank treasury as unclaimed bills and the money shared amongst the directors of the bank. so it is on this note i decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the next of kin/beneficiary to this funds rather than allow the bank directors to shar! e thi! s money amongst themselves at the end of the year. It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following information if you are interested.

1.A Beneficiary name.In order for me to prepare the PAPER WORK for transfer of the funds in your name.
2.Details particulars of your contact address.
3. Direct Telephone and fax numbers;.For our personal contact.

I shall be compensating you with 25% of the total sum on final conclusion of this project for your assistance, as I have also thought of doling out 5% to charity organisation from your locality based on your recommendation another 5% for the services of the lawyer while the balance 65% shall be for me for investment purposes in your country as i cannot bring back this cash to my country. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me immediately.

Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you by informing you of this transaction from my bank as I will advise you to kindly desist from responding at all if you do NOT intend to render any assistance. Endeavour to respond via my secured email address: zoeglassjd@mjonesfamily.org

Thanks and best regards, Zoeglassjd

They troll classified sites looking for larger ticket items. I usually get a couple on every bike I sell. Always start off "I want the bike at your last price..." Never a question about condition, size, miles, etc... Usually some grammar errors etc... Just delete and move on.

Help: am I being scammed?If you have to ask....

My letter:

Mr x:

You are located in Alaska, but are receiving regular payments from an insurance company based in Ohio that doesn’t even write its primary business in Alaska. You are using a shipping company that only has ports in England and deals with oceanic shipping containers, yet they will do a pickup of a bicycle from my doorstep in <US city>. Yet somehow the agent for funds from that shipping company is based in VA. You somehow managed to get the insurance company to remit a single check issued to me, which would be a violation of insurance accounting rules, meaning they could not treat that payment as a loss. I have trouble just getting my employer to switch my payroll deduction within a two week window, your skills for getting customer service out of your insurance company are most impressive. I must say I am still a bit confused, but I think we can proceed with our transaction.

Now, to the matter of the funds you have provided. The funds in excess of the amount of the afore mentioned agreement for purchase of my bicycle are simply insufficient to purchase any expensive artwork. Just the other day I purchased a framed Star Wars poster for $500 (signed by George Lucas himself). I’m curious what kind of expensive art is so cheap. Perhaps I would also like to purchase some of this art, and have it shipped via the inexpensive super-personal service unit of a UK port/warehouse shipper.

As to the issue of delay. My local bank branch is unfortunately under construction, and they are not accepting non-electronic deposits. To that end I must use a different bank to receive funds from your check. I have arranged a time for a meeting with the local teller such that they can cash this check, but via phone correspondence they have informed me that checks such as this will require a 10 day waiting period before said funds can be disbursed to my person.

Immediately following the disbursement of the cash funds I will deduct the previously accepted terms from the balance, and remit the remaining to the US super-service shipping company’s agent of the UK shipping company.

The bank has also informed me that there may be additional costs associated with the liquidation of this financial instrument. Should these arise, I will deduct them from the remaining funds.

It is a pleasure doing business with you.

-<name>