My first real scammer exchange...

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 3

My first half-hearted attempt at baiting one of these guys. I closed it early as it was getting boring and I was a little worried he might take it out on the dupe he's got working for him in the states. Any pointers for future baiting would be appreciated.

Earl

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So I'm in the market for a rifle and have been just kinda casually browsing Armslist and Gunbroker and places like that. A few weeks ago I find an ad on Armslist. It was a little too good to be true, but there are dumb people out there, I figure. I send him off an email.

Quote:

Hi, is your rifle still available? You mention the price of $1500 but your ad says "you are bidding on". Can you confirm the price? If $1500, consider it sold. Many thanks

Now you might notice that the Armslist ad said "you are bidding on" as I mention in my note above. That was the first sign that something was awry.

But, you know, sometimes you stumble across a deal.

Here's the original ad from Armslist: (link removed). The more clever amongst you may realize that the ad has been flagged and is no longer active. Yeah, I know, I know, it was a rifle with 10 mags and extra stuff. I knew it wasn't real, but, hey, maybe it was a little old lady whose husband had just passed away?
I'll share a little internet searching secret with you. I often search for complete sentences in an ad to do a little bit of buyer research. I want to see if the guy really exists and has a lengthy internet history. Or maybe I'll find that the guy was selling the gun somewhere else at a different price? Or maybe I'll find that it's been on the market for 10 months and he can't sell it. I've gotten lots of deals with nuggets of information sellers have inadvertently provided. So... what did I find? I found another guy selling the exact same rifle. With the exact same stuff. With the exact same pictures.

Quote:

link removed

Now I should point out that the guy selling on Gunbroker has nothing to do with any of this, and as far as I know, doesn't know anything about it. Maybe somebody told him his ad copy and pictures had been listed. I dunno. Anyhow, too bad Armslist doesn't leave their flagged ads up as an example. The words and pictures were identical - pointing to a non-native english speaker - hence him not noticing the "you are bidding on" part...

Anywho, a few days go buy and I thought since his ad was flagged on Armslist I wouldn't hear from him... but, no, I got an email...

Quote:

The price is $1500. Where are you located?

At this point I realize it's a scam but decide to have a little fun and continue the dialog...

Quote:

50 miles west of Chicago. 60174. You?

And he says:

Quote:

I am located in Minnesota. Do you have an FFL where i would ship?

This tells me he's experienced enough to know how the system is supposed to work. At this point I should say I did some research on the IPs in the internet headers of his email and found out that he was located in (or relaying from) The Netherlands.

So then I say:

Quote:

Yep, I’d use a local guy. Are you an FFL? If so, we’ll need to ensure that my guy provides a copy of his FFL to you. Or if you are not an FFL, he asks that you send a copy of your drivers license with the gun. I use XXX at XXX in XXX, XXX. (link removed). Can you let me know total with shipping to Zip 60124.

Do you have an address or business where I can verify you’re real? Assume you’ll want something like a postal money order? Where should I send funds?

And I don't hear from him. So I say:

Quote:

Hello – just touching bases. Was out of town this week. Where should I send funds?

And he says:

Quote:

Welcome back. I accept payment via bank transfer or PayPal. How do you intend making payment?

So then I decide to forget about his ID and jump right in and tell him that I'll wire transfer funds to him. lol.

Quote:

Bank transfer is fine. Let me know the details and I'll have my bank wire the funds to your account next week. How much is the shipping from Minnesota to 60174?

So he comes back and says, here's my back account info:

Quote:

Here is my bank account you will make payment to....
XXX Savings Bank
Account name: Tina XXX
Account no: XXX
Routing no: XXX
Let me know when you have made payment. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks

I'm traveling for work and haven't really decided how much longer I want to screw around with him, so he sends me another email:

Quote:

Hello Sir,
How you doing? I haven't heard from you since I sent you my bank details in which you need to forward payment. Are you still interested in making the purchase? Please get back to me ASAP. Thanks

So I think about it and fire this off:

Quote:

Yep, you bet. I’m in Boston today but left a message for my bank last night when I got your detail. I’ll call them later today and get the transfer going.

Then he gets a little anxious...

Quote:

Ok sir. I would be waiting for your update so we can go ahead and seal the deal. Thanks

And more...

Quote:

Hello Sir, were you able to get through to the bank? Whats the status of the money transfer? Waiting for your reply. Thanks

And more...

Quote:

Are you still interested? Please get back to me with your final decision. Thanks

So a few days go by and I start thinking about how I can screw with this guy. I say:

Quote:

Yes, the lady from the bank was out yesterday and I was traveling. Just got back from Boston. I have time scheduled with her tomorrow morning. Should be done by then.
Thanks again for your patience!

Then he gets a little more anxious:

Quote:

What's going on here? Are you interested in making the purchase or just toying around? Please get back to me ASAP. Thanks

Then I decide that I'm gonna fuck with him some more:

Quote:

Yes, it went out today. $1500 to your bank. My bank provided this tracking number 0710000131100075394028594452RKXYT263182600200000124. Yeah, I know, that's a hell of a tracking number. Please let me know when you see it and let me know when you ship on your end.

Then like a week goes by and I get this:

Quote:

The money you sent hasn't still reflected in my bank, i need you to call your bank and ask them if the money was sent and when it is supposed to reflect at my bank. I also need you to send me the payment confirmation you got from the bank after you made the transfer. I will be looking forward to hear from you soonest.

So I say:

Quote:

That's odd... My bank shows the transfer as complete. Tracking number is in email below. I'm on the way to the airport now, but will call bank when I land this afternoon.

Then he says:

Quote:

I will check with my bank again. Let me know what your bank has to say when you speak to them. I don't know how to track the transfer using the tracking number you sent me, so i suggest you email me the payment confirmation sent to you when you made the transfer. Have a safe trip. Thanks

So then I get Photoshop out and tell him this:

Quote:

I talked to my bank today and they have confirmed that the transfer is complete and it made it to your bank. I asked them to call your bank and confirm – they did and spoke to the branch manager. She confirmed the funds have arrived on your end. I did a screen capture from my online banking system and pasted below. Can you check with your bank in the morning and see what's what? Assuming all is well, would you ship tomorrow and provide a tracking number?

Heh heh heh, I crack myself up.
A few days go by and I send him this:

Quote:

Hello, have you received the funds? Please let me know when you ship.

He says:

Quote:

I haven't gotten the funds, that's why I haven't shipped out. Can you reverse payment from the account then make payment again? Please get back to me ASAP. Thanks

Then I say this:

Quote:

Something is really screwed up with your bank. I logged back into my bank a few minutes ago and it looks like your bank has already refunded the money – but they screwed up and sent way too much back – they sent me $15,000!!!! OMG. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean for them to send this. I don't know what happened, and I'm sure they made a mistake. I'm so sorry, and hope this doesn't cause any problems for you. I'll send you the $15,000 back right away!!! This is crazy. Maybe you should call your bank on Monday? I'll have my banker call down to your bank again on Monday. Is there somebody in particular that she should speak with? I didn't even ask my bank to try and recall the money – it just showed up. I think your bank made a big mistake.

How would you like me to handle? I assure you that I'll send this money back to you right away. Again, no idea what happened, but very sorry if this causes problems for you.

Then he says:

Quote:

Thanks so much for your honesty and fairness with me I will send you a bank account you will send back the money to as I am having issues with my other bank. I hope you had a good weekend? Once agin thank you and I hope to have a good business relationship with you.

Heh heh heh - I really really crack myself up.

Then he sends me this:

Quote:

Hello sir, please have the money transferred back to this bank account its for my daughter. Thanks
Account name- XXX
Account number- XXX
Routing number- XXX
Bank name- XXX Credit Union

Now, if you're like me, at this point you're probably thinking he's got a few dupes working for him. Some dummy who thinks she's working from home and accepting payment for an international business that is getting a start in the US and forwarding the bulk of the funds to Nigeria or something after taking a few percentage points in payment for her service. As an aside, I called both of the banks and explained the situation to them. One was very welcome and gracious and the other was like "How in the world do YOU have our account holders personal information - this is against the law". Yeah, well, I tried.

So then he says:

Quote:

I am waiting for your response prior to my last emails to you. Have you made the transfer to the account I sent you? I need you to send me a transfer confirmation when you done making the transfer. I am waiting for your prompt response. Thanks

And I say:

Quote:

Ok, should have gone back to you last night.

And he says:

Quote:

Alright... Did you send it out to my daughters account? Please send me the transfer confirmation. Thanks

Then I say:

Quote:

Yep. I’m getting on a plane to London in a few minutes, though. Not sure if I’ll have internet while I’m gone. It is only a one day trip (crazy, I know). I’m back Friday night and will get you the transfer data – I’m sure you will have seen it by then.

Then he says:

Quote:

Alright. I would keep you posted and let you know once i have the money in my account. Did you have the whole $15,000 transferred to my daughters account? I would be looking forward to your prompt response. Have a safe trip. Thanks

Then he sends me this:

Quote:

Hello I hope you had a good trip? I am yet to get the money in the account please confirm with your bank and also send me the payment confirmation. Thanks

And, you know, you just know, he's jumping up and down in his Nigerian coffee shop thinking he's hit a big one. So I send him this on Friday:

Quote:

Well, I have some bad news. My boss flew me all the way to London to fire me. I was supposed to go home yesterday but I'm still in London. I was so upset yesterday I got drunk and went on a bit of a bender. Unfortunately, I got a couple of hookers last night and spent about five grand of your money partying with the girls. I'm really sorry - I don't know what came over me. I don't normally act in such a manner.

I'll pay you back, I swear. It might take me a few months though. I need to find a new job. I'll send you what's left when I get home.

Very sorry about all this. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Now I really really really crack myself up.

I'm dying here to see his response. I'm sure he'll forgive me and ask me to send the balance. If he does I'm going to tell him I don't trust wire transfers with all of the problems I've had with 'em and I'll ask for an address to send him a check. I'm sure I'll hear about how he's traveling and would I please send to an address in Nigeria. I may go get a money order for $1.50 or so and then I'll soak the check in goat cheese or something and smear the ink on the check and send it to him. Then I'll follow up a week or so after he's received it with a photo of the check taped to my balls or something.

I don’t hear from him for a few days so decide to send him this to keep it going:

Quote:

Well, I finally made it home. I do have some good news for you, though. I got a severance check and now have all of your money and can pay you back. I'm so sorry for my actions last week – it wasn't very honest of me. I'd like to just send you a check since the wire transfer thing hasn't worked out so well. Let me know your address and I'll go get a certified check and send that to you tomorrow. It's probably the best way to quickly handle this and to make you feel comfortable that I will send you your money back.

then he says:

Quote:

You can make payment via Paypal. Do i send you mt Paypal account?

then I say:

Quote:

I’m not real comfortable using PayPal - i’d rather just send you a certified check.

and he says:

Quote:

Paypal would be best, i don't like certified checks.

and I say:

Quote:

I’ve had problems with paypal and don't trust them. How about a US postal money order?

and he says:

Quote:

What kind of problems did you have? Paypal is the safest and best way. Its the only way i can tell you have actually sent out money since once you make payment, it will reflect in mine. Thanks

and I say:

Quote:

I once paid someone with paypal and paypal took the funds out of my checking account twice and they never refunded the money. what’s worse is the guy that got the money only received one of the transactions. Paypal kept the second payment and never refunded it.

Sorry, I just won't use paypal.

Since we are having such problems with wire transfers, i’d feel a lot more comfortable if we used a usps money order. i’ll scan it and send you a copy of it so you know it's real and will then just mail you the check. Honest, this is really starting to be way too much trouble. If your bank hadn’t screwed up and sent me all this extra money i’d say we should just forget the whole thing.

So then he says:

Quote:

I can accept USPS money order but i do not accept certified checks. Do we have an agreement?

I say:

Quote:

Ok, sounds good. Will be glad to have this over with.

I don't hear from him for a day so I say:

Quote:

Where should I send the check?

and I get this in response:

Quote:

I don't accept checks. How much do you intend sending? I think a western union transfer would be best.

So I send him this note:

Quote:

Are you fucking kidding me? Fuck this, I’m done with this shit. This has been nothing but trouble from the start. The only reason I’m still talking to you is because your bank screwed up and sent me all that extra money. I’m trying to do the right thing here. It's not like I don't have a lot going on in my life - fuck, I just lost my job and now my wife is thinking about leaving me.

For the last time, I’m going to get you a USPS money order today. Send me your fucking address today so I can send you the damn thing. If you can't get your head out of your ass long enough to stop worrying about me trying to steal from you and rip you off with a bad check then you can just go fuck yourself. In case you forgot, I already got your damn money. Jesus Fucken’ Christ, why would I steal from you?

I wonder if I overdid it? I haven't heard from him. Now, to be fair Lagos is six hours ahead of us - it's 12:54a on Saturday morning. But, of course, I sent him that last note a good 12 hours ago. He's got to be thinking about how he can get a USPS money order from me.

I don’t hear from him for a few days so to keep the hook in and set it a bit more I sent him this a few minutes ago...

Quote:

Dude, we need to resolve this. I'm not comfortable holding on to your money any longer. In fact, I'm no longer interested in purchasing your rifle. Since I originally sent you $1500 and your bank sent back $15,000, I'm going to just go ahead and keep the $1500. I still have $13,500 that belongs to you. I'm not a thief and want to return this to you. I've got all sorts of problems in my life right now – my wife kicked me out of the house last night and I've got to deal with that as well as trying to find a job. I've got enough money to stay afloat for a few months, but let's be honest – your $13,500 is tempting me and it's not a good idea for me to hold on to it. I'm worried that I'll get in a financial bind and spend it and then we'll both be upset. I'm trying to do the right thing here, but I'm not going to continue to work so hard to return it to you. If you continue to screw around you're going to have to call a lawyer and sue me to get it back. I'm sure neither one of us wants that. For the last time – send me an address when you want me to send the USPS money order and I'll send it to you.

This is my last email to you unless I hear from you. Honest? I'd love to keep it. But I wasn't brought up that way and I'm sure this is causing you problems as well.

Been thinking through the next steps, although, truth be told, I'm getting a little tired of it. I really do want to figure out a way to send the guy a picture of my balls on his check, but then I thought that he probably has some dupe in America forwarding the money to him and it's not a confederate but just some dumbass. But maybe I'll send him a picture of my balls anyway. I'll have to think about it.

Here's what I just sent him:

Quote:

Man, this has turned out to be a ton more trouble than it is worth, that's for sure. I went to get money orders at the post office first thing yesterday morning and they printed up 14 money orders. Apparently the max per money order at the post office is $1000.00 each. I bought $13,500 worth of money orders and gave them the cash and got all the money orders. I should have left right then and there, that's for sure. As I was sitting there filling them all out this guy came up to me and told me he was a postal inspector and wanted to know why I was purchasing so many money orders with cash. I told him it was none of his fucken' business. Uh, big mistake. Apparently they get pissed when you lip off to them. Anyway I spent about an hour with the guy and explained that your bank has sent an overpayment to my bank and I was simply refunding the money. He told me he was confiscating the money orders pending an investigation with your bank. WTF, over? I gave him all of your banking information as well as your contact information. He told me "if everything works out" that I can get the money orders back by the end of the week.

I'm telling 'ya, this is way more trouble than it's worth. I'm trying to keep a Christian attitude about it, though, and know that you are out this money and need it back. I don't really have the money to do this, but I thought I should just go somewhere else and get you money orders and send them to you so that you could get your money back. I went to the Money Gram USA place down the street from the bank and got you new money orders. I had to get a couple of them as they had a limit of $4000 per money order. The guy from the post office has your money and your money orders so I had to put these on my credit card. I figure I'll go back to the post office in a few days and they will give me back the postal money orders and I'll just deposit them in my bank account.

Ok, man, this has taken forever. I mailed the money orders to you today and you should see them in a few days. Please let me know when you get them. I'm sorry about not following through with the rifle but with losing my job and my wife kicking me out of the house I just can't afford it right now. Good luck with your sale and sorry this has taken so long.

I scanned the receipt from the money orders and attached it to this email.

I'm thinking next steps will be to fill out an envelope and put a stamp on it and then photoshop an official looking "return to sender" stamp on it and then in a week or so tell him the post office returned it to me.

Then this morning he sent me this:

Quote:

What are the tracking numbers for each of the money order you sent out? I need the tracking numbers on the receipt and then mail them to me. Waiting for your reply. Thanks

Then I sent him this:

Quote:

The money order numbers? They’re on the receipt I sent you last night. I didn’t use FedEx or anything to send you the money orders – I just put them in the mail. Please let me know when you receive.

then he says:

Quote:

How do you mean you put them in a mail? Did you send it via USPS or UPS? Check the receipt for the tracking number for each one of them and send them to me. I will be waiting to get them soon. Thanks

then I say:

Quote:

Yeah, USPS. Just put a stamp on the envelope and dropped it in the mailbox.
Money order numbers are:
794940230842763, $4000.00
794940230559444, $4000.00
794940230848201, $4000.00
794940230347283, $1500.00

And just to be a good guy, instead of sending the receipt as an attachment I embedded it in the email - I want to be sure he sees that I accidentally left my Amex number (fake but will pass a check digit test) on the receipt.

then nothing from him. so then I sent him this on Thursday:

Quote:

Ok, now this is just ridiculous. I just received the morning mail and the letter I sent you was returned to sender as undeliverable. But, of course, the envelope was open and the money orders were missing. Very funny. I don’t know what kind of game you are playing here but I’m done. I hope you got your money but I don’t really care anymore if you did or not.

Please do not contact me again.

And just to be really helpful, I sent him a copy of the returned envelope where I let everybody know there were money orders in the envelope…

A few days go by and I hadn’t heard anything from him… so I send him this:

Quote:

Looking backwards at this now I don't understand how I didn't realize you were a thief all along. The postal inspector called me yesterday afternoon and explained that he had been in contact with "your" bank in Florida and they told him a few interesting things. First, that account is under investigation for fraud. Second, that the bank did make a mistake and sent back the incorrect amount to my account and that there were recalling the $13,500 immediately. Apparently there is nothing I can do about that. The good news is that the post office is giving me back the money for the USPS money orders that I gave them last week. I called Money Gram USA and put a stop on the money orders I sent you this week. They have told me that they were able to cancel the three money orders for $4000 each as they have not been paid. Unfortunately, though, the money order for $1500 was cashed in New Haven, Michigan yesterday.

So, I guess I am out $1500. I'll consider this a lesson in my stupidity for trusting you. I've turned over all of the banking account information, the contact information I have for you, the email addresses, the internet headers, and all the rest. The postal inspector tells me he thinks you are some guy in the Netherlands. Great. So you probably never even had a rifle to begin with. Well, I guess I learned a lesson the hard way. I don't know how it could have been you that cashed the $1500 money order if you really are in the Netherlands but your partner in Michigan certainly did. You know that I did the right thing all along – I tried to refund money that I thought you accidentally sent me. You know I recently lost my job and that my wife has left me. If you have a Christian bone in your body you will send me back the $1500 you stole from me. You know I can't afford this and keeping this money isn't the right thing to do.

Really, I figured this was the end of it. Then today I get this email...

Quote:

I am so sorry but i know nothing about all this and i can assure you i will make sure your money is returned to you but i need you to resend me the money order tracking number or picture for the $1500... Once you have done that, i will make sure your money is been return to you. Waiting for your prompt response. Thanks

Soooo.... if he knows nothing about this, how can he make sure my money is returned? I'm pretty much done at this point, but it is kind of lol with him sitting there steamed thinking that his local moron screwed him over for $1500... lol. I’m gonna bring this to an end for two reasons – one, it’s getting old. Two, I’m a little worried that he may decide to stick a knife in the back of his local dummy for stealing $1500 from him.

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:12 am

Way to mess around with a lad! Did you report the back accounts to Alan? He has methods of getting info to the right banking people who close mule accounts. More effective than trying to call yourself.

Your photo chops are awesome....

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 3

Alan? No, tell me more. Contact info?

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 3

Done. 2x piggies. lol.

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