Is it scam?

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Hi all,
I'm new about the scam and I'd like to know if my story is related to it Smile

Here is my story:

I recently posted a topic on some boards because I decided to sell my Panasonic Plasma TV.

After a few days, I received several emails from very far users (I'm in Italy, they are in SouthAfrica) telling me they wanted to buy my item.

I answered to some of them and they asked for my personal datas sending me emails like this:

Quote:

Thanks for the mail......Am very glad to read from and it is a pleasure ........ and i want you to know that the item is mostly needed in west Africa for my friend who went for program there is will be very happy if you can kindly act fast because the item is needed as matter of urgent so i will like you to kindly get back to me with your full bank details arrange below.....

Full Name........
Bank Name........
Account Number...........
Iban................
State..........
City............
Country............

so i will like you to kindly get back to me fast so i can forward your details for the payment because i have contact my bank about this and here is the shipment address below......

Name....Adegoke Adebayo
Address........ Dupe Photo Dogo Bus Stop Apata
State...Oyo
City...Ibadan
Country........Nigeria
Zip Code.......23402
Phone Number...+2348054586401

so kindly get back to me fast with you details so that i can forward it for the payment so do act fast and i want the shipment by FedEx Or UPS so kindly let me know the total cost for the shipment.i hope you understand....Good Seller..God bless Thanks
Joak

I don't understand how this kind of scam works, he's not asking for money in any way but he wants to pay for my item before sending...

Anyone can explain me?

Thanks a lot Wink

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:01 am

Hi and welcome to eater Very Happy

What he'll do is send you a check or money order, for more than the amount you are asking for the item. He will then instruct you to send the overage, to his "shipper" via Western Union. The check will be fake.

** Retired ** Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 750 Location: Air

like lotta said, it stinks of a cheque scam.

Well done for seeing this bullsh*t for what it is and signing up and posting it for us to see so we could give you the assurances you sought.

Others arent so level-headed.

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:09 am

It stinks to high heaven sgambo and is a classic 'overpayment' scam.

There are two variations on a theme:
First scenario, the scammer sends you payment for far more than you expect. He explains the mistake and asks you to send the goods along with the refund of his overpayment.

You then find that his original payment was a fake, and you have not only sent him your goods, but also a sizeable refund.

The second scenario is that a 'correspondent' bank contact you saying that their customer has made a payment to you, but before they are able to release funds, you must send the goods to their customer.
The 'correspondent' bank is really the same scammer using a different Email address.

Hope that convinces you that this is a transaction that you don't want to touch with a broomstick... Very Happy

Also, pop his address into a google search, and see what you come up with: Dupe Photo Dogo Bus Stop Apata

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:20 am

Key phrases that usually mean scam:

Quote:

kindly act fast because the item is needed as matter of urgent

In fact he uses it twice.

Quote:

get back to me fast with you details so that i can forward it for the payment so do act fast

Gives the impression that you must hurry. Therefore you don't have time to realize the problems. They count on you wanting the money as soon as possible so you will jump at the chance.

He wants your bank details immediately. Not even try to get more information about the item (although I don't know what your ad looked like). He doesn't need those details.

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:50 am

@sgambo - welcome to Eater. Very Happy

As the rest have said, it is a scam. More information on this and other types of scams can be found at our sister site ScamWarners.

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2922

As others have said before it is a scam. He will send you more than the item is worth and explain this as either a)please pay my shipping agent via Western Union or Moneygram or sorry my mistake please send me (return) the extra via Western Union or Moneygram. Either way the cheques is fake and he is relying on you acting quickly and sending him some of your money, before your bank tells you the cheque is dodgy. The bank will then want their money back. A cheque can take up to six months to clear.

As for the item itself 99% of the time they don't even know what they are buying, let alone actually want it. They just want you to send them some money asap.

Well done on spotting it. Why not tell your friends about it too, then if they sell anything on-line they will know what to look out for. The advice on craigslist now states to "sell items locally".

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:25 pm

Quote:

Address........ Dupe Photo Dogo Bus Stop Apata

That made me bite an eyelid..... Smile

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:44 am

Great rule of thumb...

If it contains (in any form)

Quote:

Full Name........
Bank Name........
Account Number...........
Iban................
State..........
City............
Country............

It's a scam

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 75

Quote:

Address........ Dupe Photo Dogo Bus Stop Apata

Oh those crazy lads... Razz