This is a scam right?

[Stike]

My Vetta combo is on Craigslist. Got an email yesterday asking my lowest price, I reply with it and get this today.

"Im okay with the last asking price of the item and i

will love to be the next owner of it so now i want

you to get back to

me with all this necessary information listed below;

NAME TO BE ON THE CHEQUE

YOUR STATE

YOUR ZIP CODE

YOUR ADDRESS

YOUR OFFICE AND MOBILE PHONE

inorder to

make out the payment and as i have made you to know

that i will be making this payment via certified

cheque

... And i have a shipping agent who will be incharge

of the item pick- up,So immediately you receive and

cash the cheque you can contact my shipper for pick

up.

Kindly get back to me right now with the necessary

information and pls i want you to consider the item

sold right now and if any other interested buyer

contact you , You should be telling them that it has

You should betelling them that it has been sold to me

...Thanks so much for your

understanding and i hope to deal with you in future.

Warmest Regards"

Any snappy comebacks or ways to fuck with this person for fun?

[Travis]

Just give him the info of someone you hate.

[Steve Haynie]

The words that get me are "shipping agent" because you can go

ship the amp yourself and the guy will have less hassle.

At the same time, if you receive a good certified check it makes no

difference. If you are asked to ship outside the USA then you may

want to start being cautious.

Do Candians use the spelling "cheque"? (I do not want to start an

argument about shipping to Canada. I would do it.)

[cmatthes]

Total scam!

Sure, give them all your personal info...

I got nearly the identical language for a listing I had late last year.

Unless, of course, it just happens to be the same guy.

[Stike]

So any sugestions on how to screw with this guy? HFC email blitz?

[Steve Haynie]

So any sugestions on how to screw with this guy? HFC email blitz?

How about asking him to send a photo of himself holding a sign reading "I take it up the arse!"

[Crwth145]

A friend of mine's been through something like this involving counterfeit postal money orders. He ended up turning it over to the local Postal Inspector.

Another form of Nigerian fraud.

------------

(from google: "Nigerian classifieds fraud")

Important Fraud Alert:

Nigerian Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam

The Nigerian Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam involves a response to an online offer to sell or auction goods (usually expensive items). Here is how the new scam may unfold:

The con artist "buyer" emails the seller to express interest in the item, offering to pay with a U.S. bank cashier's check.

Once the offer is accepted, the "buyer" makes some excuse for sending a cashier's check that is several thousand dollars more than the cost of the item and wants the seller to send excess money:

1) to cover transportation costs for the purchased good;

2) because the buyer's secretary made a mistake and put the wrong check in the envelope;

3) with the purchased product; or

4) to a third party to cover an existing debt.

Credibility is added to the ploy when the "buyer" insists that the money only be sent after the cashier's check clears.

The cashier's check is an elaborate counterfeit and it takes the bank longer than usual to discover the fake.

The seller thinks they have received a good check and sends the good and the extra cash.

The bank notifies the seller the cashiers check is a counterfeit and removes the check amount from the seller's account. The seller lost the goods and cash.

Counterfeit Cashier's Check Alert:

Consumers must be alert to the fact that just because money from the check may be made quickly available doesn't mean a check is valid. The check must go back to the originating bank and it must clear. This process can take several days and, in the case of an elaborate counterfeit, may take a few weeks.

Report Nigerian Fraud Attempts

If you or any member of your family has been a victim of any form of the Nigerian scam, contact the United States Secret Service, the lead agency fighting this fraud at 202-406-5572. If you receive an email relating to advanced fee fraud, please forward the email to the Secret Service at: [email protected].

If you receive a letter in the mail, you may send or fax it to:

U.S. Secret Service

Financial Crimes Division

950 H. Street, NW

Suite 5300

Washington, DC 20223

Fax: (202) 406-6930

If the scheme targets a United States resident but involves a Canadian address or phone number, inform PhoneBusters by sending an email to [email protected] or calling toll-free 1-888-495-8501.

[blackfbiv]

Do Candians use the spelling "cheque"?

No, but CANADIANS are known to...

Steve, Steve, Steve...

Dion

[alpep]

run

[MR714]

Total scam!

I see almost an identical email that comes through on a regular basis from fraud customers where I work.

[Zipper Neck]

So any sugestions on how to screw with this guy? HFC email blitz?

If I were you, I'd keep playing ball with him. Just keep within good terms with this guy while also reporting him to the proper authorities. Messing around with this guy won't nearly be as sweet as getting him nailed down for fraud.

[frank_c]

come on...they'll never find the guy, and if they DO, you'd never hear about it.

[tafkathundernotes]

Bomb Nigeria

[Crwth145]

come on...they'll never find the guy, and if they DO, you'd never hear about it.

What if the "shipping agent" is the scammer or partner to the scam?

My guess is the game plan would probably change some once the "cheque" arrived.

Unfortunately as for "never hear about it", that's how the FEDs are traned to operate; you'll never hear from them again unless you're needed.

That's how the Secret Squirrels keep you from potentially jeopardizing any on-going case or investigation. Yeah, it sucks.

But I say turn it over to 'em, anyway. Makes 'em earn their pay and might help keep some of 'em out of mischief...