Craigslist Buyer scam | Paypal

Thanks to this board I was able to identify a scam quickly by searching the fake buyers email. Here is a copy of the email they sent
***********************************************************
Thanks for your prompt response... i am located in Remsenburg city in
NY,i really need to buy this and send to my son schooling outside the
state as a gift .I have been trying to buy this on eBay but it's very
stressful buying on eBay.I will offer you $260 so as to close up the
auction as soon as possible.I will be paying through PAYPAL because i
have a verified account with paypal and pls if you don't have paypal
account yet, it is very easy to set up, go on to http://www.paypal.com and
get it set up, after you have set it up i will only need the e-mail
address you use for registration with paypal so as to put the money
through.So kindly get back with your paypal email address so i can
make payment into your paypal account.Once payment clears,shipment
will be handled by me through my personal FedEx account,so you don't
have to pay for shipment.Get back to me if my approval is granted.I
would like to see the pictures please.
Best Regards....
Mrs Emily Johnson....
[email protected]
**********************************************************************
I'm located in Cincinnati, Ohio. There many things in their email that tipped me off that there was a problem. First offering more than $100.00 than I was asking for. The other is making some mention about eBay and wanting to see a picture. The ad included a very clear picture and it is not listed on eBay.

Thanks for your efforts in the global fight against lazy ass scammers in internet cafe's. Of course if people would stop falling for scams like this they wouldn't be in business.

Welcome to ScamWarners tigertfun, we are pleased you were able to recognize the scam from what we do here. That is the goal of the many people who make this site what it is.

I just got one with the same name/email.
**************************************************
From: "godowns mail" <[email protected]>

Thanks for your prompt response... i am located in Portland, TN,i
really need to buy this and send to my son schooling outside the state
as a gift .I have been trying to buy this on eBay but it's very
stressful buying on eBay.I will offer you $170 so as to close up the
auction as soon as possible.I will be paying through PAYPAL because i
have a verified account with PayPal and please if you don't have
PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go on to www.paypal.com
and get it set up, after you have set it up i will only need the
e-mail address you use for registration with PayPal so as to put the
money through.So kindly get back with your PayPal email address so i
can make payment into your PayPal account.Once payment clears,shipment
will be handled by me through my personal FedEx account,so you don't
have to pay for shipment.Get back to me if my approval is granted.I
would like to see the pictures please.

Best Regards....

Mrs Emily Johnson....
**********************************************************************************
Also my first email from this scammer came from a different email address.
**********************************************************************
From: emmy1209 <[email protected]>
> Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 5:46 AM
>
>
> ** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
> ** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
> ** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
> ** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
>
>
>
> --
> Hello did you still have it?
>
> Regards
>
> Emily Johnson

Welcome to ScamWarners ScullyDu. Yes, that is a scammer and because of your and others posting, we see that scammers claim to be where every they want to. Checking the headers can help find where the scammer is in many cases.

Your best course of action is to stop communicating with him. Don't tell him that you know he is a scammer, just drop him or tell him it is sold. We don't want to educate them to be better at their scamming.

Just got one from the same e-mail address

godowns mail [email protected]


Thanks for getting back to me.I want to ask you some questions....

1)Why are you selling ?
2)What's the present condition ?
3)Are you the first owner?
4)Pictures available?
5)Your final price?

More so get back to me with your full name use on your paypal account
and your paypal email address so i can make payment into your paypal
account. shipment will be handled by me, and also location where the
item will be pick up so that i can forward it to my pick up agent..
Get back to me if my approval is granted, you also text me on my
number at (615) 745-9557I.... Thanks



Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Thought that it was weird that they included a phone number. Didn't try calling. Again, the original e-mail came from another e-mail address.

On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM, e j <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> ** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
>> ** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
>> ** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
>> ** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Hello did you still have it?
>> Regards
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>

As with the previous listing, they wanted pictures when there are clearly pictures at the bottom of the ad.

Thanks to all who listed ahead of me. Thankfully I caught it.

Welcome to ScamWarners cmj4333 and thank you for posting this information for others to find. Sadly scammers infest almost anything that is online.

From: godowns mail <[email protected]>
Date: 21 January, 2012 11:20:50 PM PST

Another Emily Johnson act...


Subject: PLS ACT FAST AND GET BACK TO ME ASAP....

I just want to inform you that i have just completed the payment and
i hope you must have been notified in your email about the payment i
made through PayPal, you can check your e-mail for confirmation of
payment, I have just make the payment of $2,000.00 CAD i have decided
to add the amount of $500.00 CAD which i paid through PayPal,So please
i will like you to help me wire the sum of $470.00 CAD to my agent via
western union so he can be able to come for the pick up and also
PayPal said they won't release the funds until they get the western
union information from you due to the fact that i emailed them about
the excess payment i made.i will need you to send the $470.00 CAD to
my pick up agent Headquarters where they normally confirm any
commission payment to via western union money transfer(this can be
done from the post office,or online at http://www.westernunion.com) as they
usually have a western union agent there) ,i added extra $30.00 USD to
cover the western union charges which shouldn't be more that $30.00
USD but just to be sure i added $30.00 USD Here is my pick up agent
Headquarter info needed to get the money sent through western union
money transfer


Glenda Laymance
101BB Kensington Park Gardens,
Notting Hill,London
W11 2QT
United Kingdom



Please kindly email the necessary details to paypal : The mtcn which
you will be given at the western union after the $470.00 CAD has
been sent as well as the sender's name and address used to send the
money through western union so i can forward it to paypal or better
still you can email it to paypal directly,that is fine with me as
well for the money i sent to be credited into your account after
they might have received the information they needed to release the
whole money in your account. I will need your address where the item
will be picked up,and my pickup agent will contact you after they have
received the payment in order to book a time for the pick up to be
done. Cheers!

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

You must be stupid.. haven't i told you before i sent the money into your account...What is the meaning of all this shit you are talking about ..I want you to know that i have sent you the money and the
money has been deducted from my account and i think you have got the
payment notification from PayPal....and i want you to know that the
money can't be reverse back in my account because the transaction has been updated by PayPal ISP PROVIDER,so you are safe and secure with PayPal... I want you go ahead with you the transaction now if you refused to do, your full details will be forward to the FBI and the PayPal security, let them know that you trying to protect a scam ..
You don't tall me anything like this before i sent the money to you , I want you to go ahead and the the sum of $500.00 AUD to my pick-up agent in United Kingdom and get back to PayPal with the transfer details to credit your account without any delay...You can't have the money until you make the transfer of the $500.00 AUD...so try your hardest to make the transfer done today and get back to PayPal at there customers service care link at [email protected] with the transfer details for you to have your money credited into your account and get back to me also as soon as you are done with the transfer....

Just got one from the same e-mail address

godowns mail [email protected]


Thanks for getting back to me.I want to ask you some questions....

1)Why are you selling ?
2)What's the present condition ?
3)Are you the first owner?
4)Pictures available?
5)Your final price?

More so get back to me with your full name use on your paypal account
and your paypal email address so i can make payment into your paypal
account. shipment will be handled by me, and also location where the
item will be pick up so that i can forward it to my pick up agent..
Get back to me if my approval is granted, you also text me on my
number at (615) 745-9557I.... Thanks



Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Thought that it was weird that they included a phone number. Didn't try calling. Again, the original e-mail came from another e-mail address.

On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM, e j <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> ** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
>> ** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
>> ** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
>> ** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Hello did you still have it?
>> Regards
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>

As with the previous listing, they wanted pictures when there are clearly pictures at the bottom of the ad.

Thanks to all who listed ahead of me. Thankfully I caught it.

I received the exact same message - then a follow up threat (see below)

This is what you will receive. All the PayPal logos will be attached.

January 22, 2012
Transaction ID:2P008163Q9157140X

You've got new funds!!!

You have an Instant Payment of $2,000.00 CAD from Emily Johnson ([email protected]) via PayPal payment service.

________________________________________
Seller: Note to seller:
Hi, I'm pleased to have bought the ITEMS and have paid via PayPal as requested. Regards,

Emily Johnson.
Item # Item Title Quantity Price Subtotal
'' SeaSoft Women's Dry Suit w/ Hood & Gloves '' 1 $1,500.00 USD $1,500.00 USD

Shipping & Handling
(includes any seller handling fees) $500.00 CAD

Shipping Insurance (optional): --

Total: $2,000.00 CAD

________________________________________

This is to inform you that you are required to send a sum of $500.00 CAD to the address below via Western Union Money Transfer and get back to us with the relevant information's which you will be provided with after the money has been sent. You are requested to give us the MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) and the sender's name and address used to make the transfer after which we will then credit the total sum of $2,000.00 CAD into your PayPal span account. Below is the address where the money is to be sent using western union money transfer .

Agent's Info:
Glenda laymance
101BB Kensington Park Gardens,
Notting Hill,London
W11 2QT
United Kingdom
________________________________________

Please note:
We wish to inform you that Emily Johnson has made her intentions known to PayPal that she will like $500.00 CAD to be sent to the recipient's address above via Western Union money Transfer.
________________________________________
This payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been " APPROVED" but will not be credited into your account until the MTCN # is sent to us for verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller in this transaction. Below are the relevant information's required before your account will be credited:
________________________________________
All you have to do is to reply directly to this email with the MTCN and the sender's name and address used when sending the money. You will receive a "CONFIRMATION Email" from Pay Pal® Service informing you that your account has been credited with $2,000.00 CAD as soon as the above information's have been received and verified by us.

Note: As this transaction was done via our e-mail payments service, all inquiries should be directed to us by replying to this e-mail ([email protected]) as it is the one being monitored for your transaction which is because the status of this transaction has not been passed on to the phone service section of our customer care.
Please, understand that this is a security measure to help protect both the Buyer and the Seller. Therefore, we apologize for the inconvenience that we may have caused you.
Thank you for using PayPal !
PayPal Security

Welcome to ScamWarners Kgarcia and thank you for posting the stages of this scam.

It is absolutely a scam and money should never be sent to anyone you do not know by Western Union.

This will be helpful to others.