A Humorous Blog on an Attempted Scam

Check this blog out. Quite funny.

Reader Expresses Thanks for Information

Nearly every day I receive three or four emails from folks telling me about their experience with this scammer. Here's a typical note:

Unfortunately, your story on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 entitled "Integrated Scam -- Craig list Proves Fertile for Con Man" sounds all too familiar to an experience I had with a person by the name of Williams Perron. I was contacted by “Bill,” or dr.billy101@gmail.com, last week regarding a piece of furniture I had been trying to sell on Craig List. Although it was my first time trying to sell anything via CraiPublish Postg List, I had a feeling that something was wrong when “Bill” emailed me stating that his secretary had "accidentally" wrote a check for $3,200 dollars instead of $200. Needless to say, something told me that I should do some investigating and that is when I stumbled upon your article. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that I could have been scammed and robbed of my money so easily. I am a full-time graduate student and volunteer for AmeriCorps so that would have been financially devastating.

Thanks for sharing your story with the blogosphere because of your blog I can sleep much better tonight knowing my money is safe and where it belongs, which is in my possession.

Scammer Tries Scam on Rental Property Owner

Here is a new twist from the scammer, on name, email and details of the scam:

First Email:

From: Howard Richard <h.richardsea020@googlemail.com>

TO: Condo Owner
Hello,
I would like to know if the property you listed is still available.
Best Regards.

Howard Richard
191 swan lane
cv2 4ge Coventry
+44-702-406-4987

____________________________________________________________

2nd Email:

from

Howard Richard <h.richardsea020@googlemail.com>

With regards to the property I am inquiring about, I will like to get some more details about it, I am currently in the Uk and I am Relocating down to the US to do a survey for my employer ( MMH Insurance Group (UK), as we are about to open an office in the state, so due to my non presence to inspect the Property, I will like you to give me the below details,

# I need full details including address of the property and pictures if available for the place.
# Monthly rentals/security deposits.
# If utilities is added to monthly rent.
# When the property would be available.
# Mail me the total move in cost.

I await your response soon.
Best Regards.

Howard Richard
191 swan lane
cv2 4ge Coventry
+44-702-406-4987

____________________________________________________________

3rd Email:

f

rom

Howard Richard <h.richardsea020@googlemail.com>

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 $13,500 can be processed and posted to you soon.

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

I want the 12 month lease to start on the 23th May 2008, 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 furnitures,entertainment system and other appliances that I will need in the property, they will as well be incharge of moving down my luggages down to the states.So the check of $18,000 will be sent over to you which is a relocation grant by my employer, and all you need to do is deduct the deposit $13,500 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 Howard Richard, I am 31 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 pets.

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 at this number +44-702-406-4987
Below is my present landlords information for reference :

Dr.Martin Desmond.
34,TIVOLI GARDEN SE185PD
UNITED KINGDOM
EMAIL: martindesmond2003@yahoo.co.uk

Best Regards.

Howard Richard
191 swan lane
cv2 4ge Coventry
+44-702-406-4987

Scammer Makes Death Threat

One of the people who read this blog played a little game on the Scammer, telling him they took the check, cashed it and went to Australia on the money. The person thanked the scammer for the funds. HA HA!

Here's how the poor sport, using the alias Michael Adams, responded:

--- On Thu, 5/15/08, michael adams <michaeladams111@gmail.com>
From: michael adams
Subject: Furniture for Sale
To: Undisclosed
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 6:42 AM

hey you man,my advice for you ,is to return my money ok.because when am back to the state,i will surely track you and get your life.just get me my money ok.

This scammer is more of a scumbag than I thought. Like I informed the scammer one time before, come to Texas. Please show your face to me.

New Scam Name: Tim Phillips

Scammer is now using the name Tim Phillips. Here's a note from "Tim" to a foiled attempt:

Hello,

According to FedEx Courier Service, I am made to believe the check has been delivered to you. I want you to go ahead with cashing the check. Deduct the cost of the Couch and have the excess funds sent to my mover. My mover will use the funds as the shipping funds in coming for the pickup at your location. So these are your next steps for now....

1. Have the check cashed out at your bank.

2. Deduct the $550 for the item and Take the remaining $3000.00 to the nearest Western Union agent around you. You should find one agent at Walmart.

3. Send the $3000.00 to my mover, Ms Nekeiya Staten, Charlotte, NC 28208 at Western Union, You can deduct the Western Union sending fees from the $3000.00.

Send it to...
Nekeiya Staten
Charlotte, NC 28208

4. Write me an email with the ''Reference Number'' and the total amount sent with the senders full name and address

I am counting on your honesty and trustworthiness to have this transaction well taken care of.


My mover, Ms Nekeiya Staten will be on her way to your location for the pickup upon recieving the funds at Western Union. The earlier you email the details to me, the faster and earlier she comes for the pickup.

I await the Western Union transfer details in your next response.

My Warmest Regards,

Tim Phillips.


timphills05@gmail.com

Scammer Changes Tactics: Testing Rental House Market on Craigslist

The following note is from a reader who almost fell prey to a new twist on the Craigslist scam:

Watch out, this scammer is now preying on the housing rental market on Craigslist. About three weeks ago I posted my house for rent. I received an inquiry from stevenandos@yahoo.com asking for more photos of the house and what the cost to move in would be. I emailed him that information and about a week later got this email:

Good Day,
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 informations so that the check for payment of the deposit $3,500 can be processed and posted to you soon.

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

I want the 12 month lease to start on the 1st June 2008, 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 furnitures, entertainment system and other appliances that I will need in the property, theywill as well be incharge of moving down my luggages down to the states. So the check of $7,500 will be sent over to you which is a relocation grant by my employer, and all you need to do is deduct the deposit $3,500 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 Steve Nandos, I am 31 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 pets.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 at this number +447024045677
Below is my present landlords information for reference :

Dr.Joseph Williams.
34,TIVOLI GARDEN SE185PD
UNITED KINGDOM
EMAIL:mortalrain01@yahoo.com
Regards.

"I received the check for $7,500 on 5/14. It came via UPS with a return address of Derick Hanes, 6688 Blakemore St. Philadelphia, PA 19119. The name on the check was from St Thomas University in Florida. Unfortunately, I deposited the check before I got the next email from "Steve".

Hello,
I got a call from my company today that the payment has been sent to you yesterday and it has been delivered.Thanks for the information.I'll like you to deduct your $3750 from the $7,500 and send the remaining $3,750 to my decorator today.As you know my move in date is around the corner and he needs to start working immediately.So please go to the nearest western union money transfer outlet close to you and send the funds to the below details. You'll deduct $200 from the $3,750 you are sending and use it as the western union transfer charges.So you'll be sending a total of $3,550 to the details below.I'll have my decorator contact you immediately so he can make allnecessary arrangements on how to get entrance into the property so he can start work immediately. Its very important you make the transfer Soonest so i can get there as scheduled.Looking forward to meeting you soon,

USE $200 FOR THE WESTERN UNION TRANSFER CHARGES
1) Name: Nekeiya Staten
Address: Charlotte,NC
28208

You will have to deduct the western union money transfer charges from the amount you want to transfer ,I want everything to get clear to you.As soon as you get transfer done ,you will have to get back to me with the following transfer information,

MTCN CONTROL NUMBER ( 10 DIGIT NUMBER )
SENDER'S FULL NAME & ADDRESS
AMOUNT SENT AFTER TRANSFER CHARGES
TRANSFER CHARGES
SECURITY QUESTION AND ANSWER IF USE.

looking forward to hear from you soon.

When he wouldn't answer my questions about his decorator and why the money was being transferred to North Carolina, I became suspicios and googled Nekeiya Staten. Found a facebook page with a photo of her. http://www.facebook.com/people/Nekeiya_Staten/620843531

I told him I would not western union any money until the check had cleared and he became more insistent that the money must be transferred right away.

That's where this email ended. Beware the new scam!

Craigslist Scammer Using Name "David Brown"

Just received news that a scam by "David Brown" was foiled because of this website. Here's the note:

I just wanted to thank you very much, we just received a check in the amount of 4500.00 on May 05,2008 from the Thomas Lowen 80 New Bridge Bergenfield, Nj 07621
The same bank that is written her and we were going to send this jerk the "overpayment" but I googled the name of Nekeiya Staten and found your posts. Oh my goodness you can understand why I was glad to come across your post. This is what he sent us.drawn off the following bank.

Reeves Co.Inc Bristol Count Svgs Bank

51 Newcomb St. 35 Broadway

Attleboro,MA 02703 Taunton,MA 02780

Here was the note from the Scammer:

Hello,

how are you?well am sure by now we both know you have my check with you as of today,it here and noted delivered by the courier service,i wouldn't want that delay,or the check and shippment to be delayed,kindly go to cashing point or a casino and get it cashed there it will cost you about $300 for instant cashing okay,take that from the balance payment on it not your share and then send the excess left to the shipping company agent asap pay the commission fees from the balance also, i want to be booked for shipment this weekend please,i want you to send the balance funds via MONEY GRAMM OR WESTERN UNION and get back with details as soon as you send it ..i need you to send details..here is the agents information for the transfer;;

Nekeiya Staten
Charlotte, NC 28208

1....mtcn number
2.....actual amount sent
but if its MONEY GRAMM ,i will need

1.....refernce number
Nekeiya Staten
Charlotte, NC 28208
.
Thank you.

David
From: david Brown <david_brown50@yahoo.com>

New Identities for Scammer -- Sophie Williams

I received this posting on my other website about a scam that succeeded. Here are the new details:

Check from:

C&J Automotive Limited
80 new bridge
Bergenfield N.J.

Scammers New Name:

Sophie williams
sophithy103@yahoo.com

Name on the check is:

The Berkana Institute
350 10th Ave
Spokane Wa.99202

Bank Name:

Washington Trust Bank in Spokane

Number on the senders info on the fedex package:

805-381-0482 (disconnected)

Email Sample -- Note the Urgency of the Scammer

Here's another email sample from the Craigslist scammer:

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? SORRY FOR THE DELAY, I HAVE SENT THE PAYMENT. THE DELAY WAS FROM THE COURIER SERVICE BUT I WAS ASSURED THAT THE CHECK WOULD DELIVER *TODAY* OR *TOMORROW* UNFAILINGLY, SO TRY TO BE AROUND. NOTE THAT THE EXTRA FUND ON THE CHECK IS THE SHIPPING COST OF ALL MY OTHER PROPERTIES THAT I JUST BOUGHT AND YOUR ITEM ALSO. MY SHIPPER INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY OF MY PROPERTIES AGAIN IF THEY DONT RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENT BY FRIDAY. THEY SAID IF MY PAYMENT IS LATE I WILL MISS THE SHIPPING FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND THEIR NEXT SHIPPING WOULD BE NEXT MONTH.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE CHECK KINDLY CASH IT IN THE BANK ,DEDUCT YOUR MONEY PLUS *$80* FOR YOUR RUNNING AROUND AND IMMEDIATELY PAY MY SHIPPER THE BALANCE THROUGH *MONEY GRAMM*/ *WESTERN UNION *OR* *ELSE THEY WOULD NOT COME FOR THE PICK AND THEY WOULD NOT SHIP MY OTHER PROPERTIES. THIS IS THE NAME OF THEIR AGENT THAT WOULD RECEIVE THE PAYMENT...

* Madhuri Chigurupati,*

* Iselin NJ , 08830*

*KINDLY LET ME KNOW THE PAYMENT INFORMATION SO THAT I WIL FORWARD IT TO THEM FOR IMMEDIATE PICK UP.*

*THANKS SO MUCH I WILL BE EXPECTING YOUR REPLY*

New Identity for Scammer: Gerald Vanderwalker

The scammer is using a new identity. See note below:

My wife almost fell for the same scam, until she told me about it and knew immediatly it was a scam. Unfortunatley she gave our home address and phone numbers. Hope that doesn't come back to haunt us. Here are the pertinant details:
Craigs List Buyer e-mail:Gerald Vanderwalker vandrald1@gmail.com
Fed Ex Return address: 80 New Bridge, Bergen Field, NJ 07621
Check Drawn from: Bristol County Svgs Bank, Taunton, MA
Account Name: Reeves Co. Inc.
Not Signed, but printed Name: Terry Parks....sound familiar???

Stay safe out there!

Reeves Co.Inc is drawn on Bristol Coun Svgs Bank

If you are the victim of a scam, or engage with these creeps, please send me any information you can so I can show other people what they are doing. Send a scan if possible. Here's information that was on one check:

Check # 10304

Reeves Co.Inc Bristol Count Svgs Bank

51 Newcomb St. 35 Broadway

Attleboro,MA 02703 Taunton,MA 02780

Date Check no. Amount

04/30/2008 10304 $3,500.00

Memo ________________ Terry Parks

:211370859:4465064626 "10304

Memo ________________ Terry Parks

:211370859:4465064626 "10304

Notes from Michael Adams to an Intended Victim

The following notes are between michael adams (michaeladams111@gmail.com) and one of his /her intended victims. I'm posting them so that you can see how he/she communicates their scam:

Hello
I appreciate your response to my enquiry. 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. Pls do withdraw ,with immediate efftect, the advert from Web as i dont mind adding $50 for you to do that, so i can be rest assured that the item 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

Next Note:

The payment will get to you today.I want you to understand that the deal as my secretary as posted the payment already, but there was a slight error i guess we can handle with care, instead of the actual amount $ 250,she made out the check for $3500 she claim 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 your goods plus $100 for your run 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**.

Next note:

thanks for the reply,am interested in the tv stand storage.the total amount you will deduct is $500 and the western union charges.

Next note:

I want you to have the excess funds wired via Money Gramm.My mover needs the money to facilitate pickup arrangement. Here is my mover's information to have the excess funds wired to via Money Gramm (transfer in minute).
Name......... Nekeiya Staten
City.........Charlotte
State........NC
Zipcode....... 28208

You'll need to deduct the transfer charges from the funds okay.I will be expecting the transfer details asap. Also i want you to send a scanned photocopy of the receipt for the transfer. I await your response.

Next note:

Hello,please update me .what is really going on?i want you to have the fund wire to my mover and let me know the best time for my mover to come for the pickup.get back to me asap.

Californian Scam Foiled -- Michael Adams' Attempt

Here's a scam foiled:

Hello, my name is Jose. I live in California and I noticed your name with this e-mail address on a recent Craigslist article on the internet. I am not sure if there is anything you can do, or how that article relates to you, but I wanted to tell you a brief story about a similar situation that happened to my girlfriend and I.

My girlfriend posted an ad on craigslist on April 24 2008. She wanted to sell her couch, a love seat, and 2 lamps for $200.00, the following day, she received an email from a -Michael Adams stating that he was interested in buying the furniture, but he was on vacation in Hawaii but he would have his secretary send a cashier's check, then he would have his mover pick up the furniture as soon as the funds cleared.

On May 1st 2008 he (Michael Adams) emailed my girlfriend and told her that his secretary misunderstood the amount, and that she accidentally made the check out for $3,500.00. He then proceeded to tell my girlfriend to cash the check, and deduct an additional $100.00 for her troubles, and send the remaining balance to his mover.

On May 2nd 2008, my girlfriend received a check via Fed Ex for $3,500.00. It looked authentic, however, when I looked at it, the signature was computer generated, there was a bank from Massachussets stamp on it, with a Company that made name badges next to the bank name.

My girlfriend and I had a discussion, so I went online and typed the return address on the Fed Ex envelope, and I discovered that the name Thomas Lowen 80 New Bridge Bergenfield NJ was the same name that had been used on someone else as a scam. I then read the blog and I quickly posted a message for anyone else to be aware of this guy.

Apparently this guy uses different names with different return addresses so as not to raise any suspicions. My girlfriend still has possession of the check, and today,(May 5th 2008) Michael Adams sent her an e-mail stating to please cash the check and send the rest of the money to his mover in New Jersey, and to please her back to him as soon as possible! I told my girlfriend to e-mail him back saying that she has to go out of town for a couple of days and she will contact him as soon as she gets back.

I do not appreciate these kinds of people taking advantage of citizens who are simply trying to sell things on the internet. What else can I do? I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Scammer Changes Name to Michael Adams

Here's another note from a reader:

WOW!!I almost fell for the exact same scam. However, some of the things did not make sense, so I went online and did some research on this -Thomas Lowen 80 New Bridge Bergenfield, NJ and BAM!! I come across this scam. I posted an ad on Craig's list and immidiately got a respond from a Michael Adams who insisted on rushing me a cashier's check, but said that he had just gotten married but he would have his secretary send a cashier's check. 3 days later a receive a check for $3,500.00 and an email stating that his secretary had made a mistake, but to cash the check, and deduct the $200 original dollars for the furniture and he would also throw in an extra $50 for reserving the furniture, and an extra $100 for my troubles so long as I would cash the check ansd send back the remaining balance. ALMOST FELL FOR IT!! Some advice, ALWAYS DO A LITTLE RESEARCH BEFORE YOU CASH A CHECK THAT IS OVER THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT. Thank you so much for posting this and I hope there are no other other people out there that have fallen for this scam!
Josev

Craigslist Scam Requires New Blog

Since making my first post on www.pr-me.blogspot.com about my effort to fight the Craigslist Furniture Scammer I've received a new comment almost every day from a new person who's being scammed. You can see those entries at my other blog.

Since I was getting so many notes, I thought it would be best to create this, a blog dedicated to fighting the scammer (and to re-orient my other blog back to energy communications).

So herewith I will start blogging the notes and emails I receive from poor, jipped folks out there in the hopes that more people will do some internet searches before falling for the scam.