I need some ideas

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 07 Feb 2013 Posts: 1

So, my mother put her house up for sale. Some scammer perhaps found my name on public records and posted a craigslist ad using my name. The ad claims the house is for rent (which obviously is BS). He's using a hotmail account with my name and communicating with people who saw the ad. One of these people was smart enough to drive by the house and discovered the "For Sale" sign in the front yard and spoke with mother. That's how I found out about this. So, I am wondering what I can do to mess with this scammer?I am pissed that he's committing fraud in my name! I've considered giving him the run around, maybe even sending him a computer virus. I'm open to any suggestions! Thanks!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:39 pm

Hi dt2012, and welcome to Eater.

First of all - do not start baiting the lad in your own name, as the lad seems to have at least some of your RL info. Even though the risk of a lad getting back on you is minimal, it's there, and it's never worth taking that risk.

Also, here at 419Eater, we do not condone sending virus, malware or things like that to scammers. First of all, it's illegal, and secondly, you don't know if the scammer is using his own PC - in fact, most scammers use internet cafés, so you would with all probability infect the PC of an innocent third party (known as ITPs among us baiters).

I would suggest you contact one of the moderators here at our forum (the jolly people who wears green names), and get advice. Personally, I have zero experience with craiglist scammers, and I consider them hard to bait - but others may be able to prove me wrong.

I am deeply sorry that your name is being abused, and I hope you can somehow make him stop - but to be absolutely honest, I doubt that. But I wish you the best of luck, and if there is something we can do to help you, or advise you, just post away.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:57 pm

^^Great advice.

@dt2012: Have you contacted Craigs List to have the ad removed? Also, if your mom is using a realtor to sell the house, it may be a good idea to contact the realtor company and let them know what's going on.

We had a case similar to that here in my city, and the realtor worked with law enforcement and nabbed the person committing the fraud. But that person was in the U.S. and not overseas.