Which scam is this? Updated...

[TilliamWe]

I saw an add on Craigslist over the weekend, for an 06 Chaparral at a much too low price. Not contact phone #'s, so I sent to the generic craigslist e-mail. Just today I got this response:

"Hello ,

My name is Ashley, and I'm emailing you about the Chaparral I have for sale. The boat is in perfect condition, with no need for any additional repairs. Flawless
condition, no dents and no mechanical problems. It has never been in salt water. It has 110 hours and it comes with trailer and all the extras included. It has a clear
title with no loans or liens on it. The price was reduced at 3,500$ as I need to sell the boat before the 27th of July when I will be leaving with my platoon back to
Afghanistan, so I don't want it getting old in my backyard.
If you have any other questions, or need more info, please feel free to ask.

Thank you,

Ashley"

The ad is no longer up. So what is this scam?

Thanks.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Brother, that scam has been going on as long as we've been in the middle east. I'm sure if the internet had existed earlier, the deployment in question would have been "Vietnam" or "Korea". These jokers are trying to win the hearts and minds of fools who would believe that a soldier has absolutely no other recourse than to just "give away" an item that competent friends or family members here in the states couldn't handle. Makes me mad when these scammers use the "I'm being re-deployed bit". As angry as I get when I hear the same scum working over elderly folks and wiping them out. Argh!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

You often see "I'll ship the vehicle to you and if you don't want it I'll have it stored locally" in these types of ads too.

I responded to one of those ads once just to see what a line of BS I'd get. Asked for the VIN on the truck. Legitimate VIN was given, checked exactly to the specs listed. I emailed back and asked what state it was registered in and how recently. They said it had current registration in a nearby state. Ran the VIN through that state....no response. I sent them the no response message from my work email and asked if they were serious about shipping the vehicle to me or if I should just assume it was a scam. No response from the seller. I forwarded the info on to our detective section who passed it along to state. Last I heard they tracked down the source of the CL ad to a vacant monthly rent flop house/apartment building in Florida... Oh well, I tried.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

I am the nigerian prince and need to send you money, please give me your routing number and bank acount

 

[robert graham]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Well, these scams must be working often enough to keep these scum in business!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

I was expecting the "i'll ship it" or "you send the money, I'll mail the title" response, but that's not what I got. But what about a contact number or something? That's all I got. Not a very aggressive scam!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Ok, it took one more e-mail than I thought it would. The other shoe has dropped. it's the "Ready to ship scam"!

"Hi William,
Right now I am at the military base getting ready for Afghanistan. This means that I am doing a special training and I am not allowed to get out of the unit. The boat is already at the shipping company in Topeka KS sealed and ready for the shipping. My presence won't be necessary because I prearranged the deal with Amazon. The deal includes free delivery and it will arrive at your address in 3 days. You will have 5 days to test it and inspect the boat prior to making any purchase and if by any reason you find something you don't like about it you can send it back at my expense.
If you are interested in knowing more info about how it works, i can ask Amazon to send you an email with more information on how to purchase it. Amazon will contact you shortly after they have the details with all the information that you need to complete this deal and you will also have proof that I am covered by them and a legitimate seller. If you would like to receive the email from Amazon with all the transaction information please reply with your full name and ph# and they will contact you right away.

Regards"

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

You mean like this one i got the other day

My name is Sgt. Benny Brooker. I am in the Engineering military unit here in Ba'qubah in Iraq; we have some amount of funds that we want to move out of the country. REPLY VIS THIS EMAIL: sgtbenny32@w.cn

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This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

 

[projo198]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

I'm 30 minutes from Topeka; just tell them I'll go pick it up, take it out and then let you know how it ran!

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Had somebody try a similar scam on me few weeks back. I was selling a mower for my estate tractor. Got an email from this guy asking condition, no mention of price and asking me for PayPal info. I don't have one, and told him so. About a week later he sent another message saying money was in my account, plus money to pay for shipping company, and asking where to send the shipper. I would have to cover cost of shipper, that's what he added the extra money. He couldn't pick it up since he was at sea. Notified PayPal about it, they replied it was a scam they would take care of it. Haven't heard from him since.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Entertainment/resources to make the most of these scammers.

http://www.419eater.com/

So what is scambaiting? Well, put simply, you enter into a dialogue with scammers, simply to waste their time and resources. Whilst you are doing this, you will be helping to keep the scammers away from real potential victims and screwing around with the minds of deserving thieves.

It doesn't matter if you are new to this sport or a hardened veteran; if you are wasting the time of a scammer, or frustrating them in any way well that's good enough for us, and we would welcome you to join with our now very large community.

Although this site concentrates mainly on the Nigerian 419 scam, we are happy to deal with other types of scams if and when the opportunity arises. We also have a large team of experts dedicated to the removal and closure of fake scammer banks and sites.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/363/enforcers
This was a show I heard on Vermont Public Radio, and its worth a listen. Its an interview with a few guys from 419eater who string along a Nigerian scammer for MONTHS.
I'll warn you though, they send this scammer places that could have easily ended his life. Some people have issues with that.
I don't.
If I asked you to hold a belt sander to your face, and you do it... That was 100% YOUR decision, and I'll laugh at you for being that dumb. Same logic.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

I'm 30 minutes from Topeka; just tell them I'll go pick it up, take it out and then let you know how it ran!

Hahahahahaah!! That's funny right there!

 

[duke33]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Had somebody try a similar scam on me few weeks back. I was selling a mower for my estate tractor. Got an email from this guy asking condition, no mention of price and asking me for PayPal info. I don't have one, and told him so. About a week later he sent another message saying money was in my account, plus money to pay for shipping company, and asking where to send the shipper. I would have to cover cost of shipper, that's what he added the extra money. He couldn't pick it up since he was at sea. Notified PayPal about it, they replied it was a scam they would take care of it. Haven't heard from him since.

I just had to deal with a similar scam. I asked him about it and have'nt heard from him since. He "implored" me to borrow the $900 for shipping before the money was sent to my pp. account. Some peoples children.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Entertainment/resources to make the most of these scammers.

http://www.419eater.com/

OMG I just found a new hobby. I'm setting up another email account as we speak.

This is gonna be a blast!

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

halfmoa, Definitely keep me updated.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

halfmoa, Definitely keep me updated.

The best one so far has 11 emails back and forth in less than 24 hours. This dude has already sent fraudulent paypal receipts, ebay transaction forms, bank statements, the whole 9 yards. The story is he's selling his new 29K car for 2K because he's going to Afghanistan again... I just keep changing my mind about payment, how to ship it, everything. I'm trying to get him to write something on a piece of paper and take a pic of himself holding it to prove he's real. Any suggestions on what he should write? I'm thinking "Starcraft" and I'll change my avatar to it...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

Glad you have the time halfmoa. I'd try to send you the address of the scammer I got, but I think I deleted it.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

If I said what I would like to do to these scampers from nigeria the moderators would have to remove the post because of the "adult language" .Removing their gonads with a dull saw blade is about as graphic as I will describe.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Which scam is this?

Re: Which scam is this?

The best one so far has 11 emails back and forth in less than 24 hours. This dude has already sent fraudulent paypal receipts, ebay transaction forms, bank statements, the whole 9 yards. The story is he's selling his new 29K car for 2K because he's going to Afghanistan again... I just keep changing my mind about payment, how to ship it, everything. I'm trying to get him to write something on a piece of paper and take a pic of himself holding it to prove he's real. Any suggestions on what he should write? I'm thinking "Starcraft" and I'll change my avatar to it...

HA! Thats awesome.