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It has come to our attention that some advertisers have been approached
by potential 'buyers' offering to purchase parts or vehicles for sale,
but who have actually no intention of doing so.
Also those who advertise items wanted such as parts or vehicles, or anything
else for that matter should be wary of suspicious looking email replies
to on-line adverts.
Below is some useful info that is worth reading if you advertise items
for sale or wanted on the internet.
Classified Advertisement Scams...
Scams related to classified advertisements are becoming increasingly
more common nowadays.
In a classified advertisement scam, a scammer responds to an advertisement
that has been placed on the web or in a classified magazine. The advertisement
can be for anything: a car, a motorbike, a boat, a computer... anything
that is being advertised at a reasonably high price. Typical targets for
the scammers are items that are advertised for sale on Ebay or on classified
advertisement websites.
The scammer will express an interest in buying the item that is for sale.
However, the scammer tells the vendor that he lives abroad, and that he
would like to send the vendor a cheque to cover the cost of the item,
plus an additional amount to cover the cost of shipping the item overseas.
If the vendor agrees to this, the scammer sends them a cheque or a banker’s
draft for the total amount. The vendor pays the cheque or draft into their
bank account, and the bank clears it immediately, making the funds available
in the vendor’s bank account.
The scammer then asks the vendor to get in touch with the shipping agent
immediately in order to arrange the shipment overseas. The vendor does
so, and the shipping agent (another scammer) asks for their fee up front.
They usually ask for the fee to be sent via Western Union to enable them
to collect it immediately. As the scammer’s cheque or bank draft
has been cleared by the bank as soon as it was paid in, the vendor agrees
to this, and sends the shipping agent their money.
The vendor is usually then contacted by the scammer, who asks the vendor
to send the rest of the money back as he no longer wants to purchase the
item. There is usually a hard-luck story attached: one common story is
that the scammer’s son or daughter has been involved in an accident
or is seriously ill, and the scammer needs the money to pay for their
hospital treatment. If the vendor agrees, they transfer the rest of the
money back to the scammer, again probably via Western Union.
At this point, the vendor is still unaware that they have been scammed.
They remain unaware of this until the scammer’s cheque or bank draft
completes the bank clearing process – which can take days or even
weeks – and the bank finally finds out that it is a forgery. At
this point the bank withdraws the money back from the vendor’s bank
account, leaving the vendor out of pocket, sometimes to the tune of thousands
of pounds.
In summary, you should be extremely suspicious if:
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Someone responds to a classified advertisement you have placed and
wants you to ship the item abroad, without even having seen the item.
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They offer to pay you the amount of the item, plus the shipping costs,
and ask you to arrange the shipping and pay the shipping agent yourself.
Do not be reassured if you receive a cheque or a banker’s draft
and your bank clears it as soon as you pay it into your account; it may
still be a forgery, and if so, you will lose out.
Below are a couple of actual email replies received by members advertising
items on our website, which are both very suspicious!
Hello sir/ma,
This is Magner's Int'l Ltd, I saw your advert that you are in need of
the aboved mentioned item, we deal in selling of Chevrolet parts, the
above mentioned parts are now in stock,so get back to our with the company
with the last price you are willing to purchase it,shipping will arrange
by me through Merchant Shipping company, Payment will be through Western
Union Money Transfer only.We do ship 24hrs after we have received the
payment and you get the item in next day of the payment has been paid
in.Please get in touch with us so that we can arrange for the payment
and the shipping. Hope to hear from you soonest.
Regards
Director
Mrs Laure stemeer
Margner's Int'l Ltd USA
The above is an example of an obvious scam reply to a classified
'parts wanted' advert.
The company as above appears to be unknown and notice the spelling mistakes
including their own company name and the grammar.
Also be wary of the statement "Payment will be through Western Union
Money Transfer only"
Good day to you.I humbly write as directed by a client who is intersted
in purchasing your '' "Various ******** (**removed for privacy
reasons) parts. However,I will like to know your last offer,view its
picture and to know its present
condition. Also talking of the Shipment to Australia, One of my Associate
will arrange for the shipment.Who resides In US and she has agreed to
make the payment by Cashier Cheque.Also understand that the cheque will
surely clear for the full payment.Moreover, I want you to do understand
better, Below is the Shipping Address:
Del Mar Electronics
# 1037 Melbourne Street ,
NORTH ADELAIDE,
SA 5006 ,
AUSTRALIA.
Fax # {131} 52173204
Tell : +618 8416 0864.But My Phone developed some technical problems,I
believe it will be ok soon.I shall give you a call as soon it ok.I will
like to know more about the Present Condition of it, If it okay,I will
be glad to purchase it from you.Most Important inabout the Picture of
it,Do forward the Picture of to my e-mailbox .
However,I will be glad to view the picture of it and to know its present
condition.Kindly forward to me the Information inwhich the payment will
be made out to you,Asking below..
Full name that will be written on Cheque.........:::
Full address..{P.o Box Or Residential Address} ............:::
State...............:::
City................:::
Zip Code...........:::
Home,office,cell phone #......:::
Country..............:::
All this information is needed to that the payment can be sent to you.
I want you to respond to my mail if you are satisfied with the content
of this letter.You can aswell Fax to me regarding the transaction. Fax
Number...:{131} 52173204 Extend my greetings to your family.I will await
your Urgent respond.
Thank you and best Regards.
This one above, although mentioning wanting to purchase parts,
was in response to an obvious parts WANTED advert.
The address and name used is another non existent company!
If you feel you have reason to believe that you have had a suspicious
email reply to an item that you have listed in our classifieds section
of our website, please forward a copy to our webmaster
so that we can display it here as a warning to others.
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