Scam Alert
October 25 - Cyberspace
Cyberspace has become a big happy playground
for con artists, and unfortunately our Classy
Classifieds have not escaped unscathed. One advertiser sent
in this email he received, which was the culmination of his correspondence
with what he originally thought might be a real buyer [typos
have been left intact]:
"Okay Mr. Howard, I will take the
offer for £3,800 and I would have love to send cash for
payment but I have made some cash expenses lately so I don't
have enough cash at hand right now, reason beeing that my wife
just had our second baby (very happy).
"Alternatively payment will be in
a certified cashiers cheque drawn from a u.s bank which is also
as good as cash.I will instruct my client in states who owe me
$7,500 to procure a cashier's cheque of $7,500 with funds remitted
in your name and send it to you, to make this transaction concluded
fast and smoothly, when the cheque is cashed, I will want you
to deduct your payment which is $4,250 and I will require you
to wire the difference/remainder to my shipping agent via western
union to enable him arrange the pick up alongside my other goods
with his shipping company.
"However, for the incovinience of
this part of the transaction, I am giving you $.60..for any
expenses it might cost you in wiring the remainder of my money
to my shipping agent to upset the shipping cost, e.g phone calls
and transportation. this exclude the western union charges and
the cheque cashing fees if required. In order to get the payment
to you my client will reqiure the below information
FULL NAME...........
HOME / STREET ADDRESS....
ZIP CODE......
CITY......
PHONE NUMBER(S).......
"I will be anticipating your reply
asap.
Regards.
Capt Abraham"
The advertiser noted in his email to us,
"I'd hate to have someone get burned responding to this
kind of thing. It's pretty obvious how it works, and I was glad to have been informed in advance by your warnings. BTW, I am
still getting responses to the ad, and probably will sell the
trailer shortly - great job, as usual!" |
