Is this a scam?

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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:43 pm

Hey guys, I need some help here. I am trying to sell a guitar on Craigslist here in Canada and I got this reply.

Quote:

Dear Seller,

i am interested in buying your item.Please let me know it's condition it's exact price. And also i will organize a home pick up from my desired shipping company In Canada that will come to pick up the item.Most importantly, note that payment would be made via Bank Transfer.And also you are requested to have an account with our Affiliate Bank[ Royal Bank Of Canada Or TD Canada Trust,CIBC] to facilitate quick payment that will be made to you. If you don't have an account with the requested bank, you are advised to open account immediately.If my Terms and Conditions pleases you, kindly revert to me for further proceeds

Well I was a littel leary but those are all pretty reliable banksand a bank transfer I thougth would be pretty safe. So I told him that he can transfer me the money to my account and once that is done and the money is in my account then I will release the item. He then sends me this

Quote:

Presently am away to Scotland on my sabbatical leave to see my wife that newly gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby girl.You are kindly requested to get the item ready so that i can send my Home Pick-up shipping company to come for the item and make payment promptly.Most importantly, note that payment would be made through Credit-Card Payment Transfer for following reasons:- I do not have a pay pal account and am not interested in having one too.
- Due to My busy schedules, I won't have the time to locate any Poster or courier Service in this region that can enable me make payment to you via Cheque.
- This is a small Island, Hence there is no Western Union or Money Gram Money transfer service to enable me send money to you most convenient and easy way for me to pay for the item is via means through Credit-Card Payment Transfer because of the availability of Internet facility there and access to online banking.
Kindly note that you will be requested to remit payment for my Home Pick-Up Shipping Company via western Union; hence I would be making payments for both the item and shipment.
I shall be willing to offer you an additional $150 [One Hundred&Fifty Dollars] if you can help me pay my home pick-up company on confirmation of both payments in your credit card .
You are kindly requested to provide the under listed details. On receipt of the requested details, the Credit Card payment transfer shall be transferred to your card promptly.
BANK'S NAME:

BANK ADDRESS:

ACCOUNT HOLDER'S NAME:

CREDIT CARD NUMBER (16 DIGITS) not Debit Card):

CREDIT LIMIT:

PHONE NUMBER:

CELL PHONE NUMBER:
We wait on your prompt response so that the payment shall be made timely to you

Thanks for your co-operation.

Scam?

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:49 pm

No doubt at all. It is a scam. Tell him you have already sold the guitar and discontinue any further contact.

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:50 pm

Yes is the short answer.

I'm no expert on these shopping transaction scams, but the alarm bells went off from line one of your email.

I think it'll end up as an overpayment scam, the funds will appear to clear, and he may even change his mind and send you a cheque. Either way, he'll ask you to refund him the difference.

You're experienced enough to know this I'm sure, but I just thought I'd back up what you were probably already thinking.

EDIT: Just read this bit:

Quote:

- This is a small Island, Hence there is no Western Union or Money Gram Money transfer service to enable me send money to you most convenient and easy way for me to pay for the item is via means through Credit-Card Payment Transfer because of the availability of Internet facility there and access to online banking.
Kindly note that you will be requested to remit payment for my Home Pick-Up Shipping Company via western Union; hence I would be making payments for both the item and shipment.

So does he have access to WU or not?

Yep that confirms it for me, overpayment scam.

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:54 pm

So... the dude is paying money to you and he needs your credit card number, credit limit etc...
And this doesn't stink a bit?

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:58 pm

yeah I figured its a scam but I was just double checking.

I knidly told him that paypal is free to use and takes 10 min to sign up for and thats all I can do for him. Hopefully he leaves me alone.

Hey PRSgirl maybe you want to buy the guitar? Very Happy

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:10 pm

Hmmm now he wants to know what bank I bank at so he can do a bank transfer.

Would you trust a bank transfer? I mean he HAS to have the money in his account to be able to send it to mine.

I am not really sure about these buying scams...

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

No, he doesn't have to have money to make a transfer, he can flash your account.

A lad can open a bank account, pay in a fake cheque, the balance of which will go straight on to his account, he can then transfer that to your account, you see the funds in your account, except there will be more than you were expecting, you will be told to send the overpayment to his shipper via Western Union, a little while later, your bank finds out the funds sent to you were sent via a fake cheque paid in to his account, which later bounced, leaving you to pay your bank the money back.

Or he could have a phished account of another victim etc

Or, he will send you a spoofed payment receipt from the bank saying your account has been credited blah blah blah

This is a 100% scam, just tell him you have sold it to someone local for cash.

[edit]

Damn, I have had quite a few lagers, edited this quite a few times, am I making any sense Confused

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:16 pm

^^^^^ DON'T DON'T DON'T!

The scammer already has your personal address and other details. For god's sake don't give him your bank account # too! You'll wake up and find that a very large check has mysteriously cleared and wiped out your entire account, plus whatever line of credit you might have behind it.

If you're upset with the guy, get yourself an anonymous gmail address, then a mentor here, and then go after him, but please just drop him now without pissing him off in any way.

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:19 pm

He is now trying to get you to reveal your banking and account information. Everything about this screams run away - fast and far. Block his e-mail address if you no longer want to deal with him. Break off all communication with the bastard.

@stangconv23. I'm a PRS girl and very faithful. So unless it is a PRS guitar.... Smile

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:26 pm

Please help keep Eater reader-friendly by not requoting the previous post in full. We can all read it above ^^^^

Thanks guys, I figured as much. I was just double checking. I will leave him alone.

Although he would have a tough time getting into my account. My bank is kinda on the small side, and my Mom works there and I know all the employees. SO if he walked into the bank noone would believe him. If he tried calling in he would need my personal password for phone banking. But still I will tell him its sold!

Thanks everyone!

To PRS girl its a left handed double neck.

Link removed, just in case trolls want to mail you or flag your add etc, PM the link to PRS - SP

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:24 am

Something seems wrong...

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:45 am

Scam Patroller nailed it. I suspect that he is planning a bank transfer from a phished account rather than flashing, but the payment will be for more than the cost of the guitar, with a request to send the overage to either him (oops, I sent too much or a client in your country who owes me money blah blah blah), the "shipper", or someone else.

Nicely spotted, stangconv23 Very Happy

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:29 pm

Stan,

This is how I got into baiting. I used to sell guitars and amps on Harmony Central all of the time. I constantly got emails from these guys wanting to buy my instrument with check or money order.

Aside from the flaming evidence that this is a scam, why don't you ask the 'buyer' questions about why he wants to by the item. Never mention the item's name, as he won't know it. I used to try to get them to describe why they needed the particular item and just asked very specific questions about it. It was hilarious to watch them try to come up with answers for a product about which they know nothing. 9/10 times, they didn't have a clue what the product was. Typically someone spending $1500 on an amp will know the product.

Good luck on selling the guitar!

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 10

This is most definitely a scam. Drop him quickly!