Fraud Explained!!

[kimmiz_choice]

The following scam targets eBay sellers, who may be tricked into shipping goods to Lagos, Nigeria without any payment. First the criminal contacts the seller (usually via a new eBay account, often registered in Singapore) and offers a high price for an item on sale. He or she will request that the item to be shipped to Nigeria via a parcel service (FEDEX, DHL, UPS, EMS) and explains that the buyer will pay via "Western Union Auction Payment (Bidpay)". This is a legitimate company, but that doesn't matter in this case, because it's not actually involved.

The way the scam works is that the seller is told the money will only be released by Western Union / Bidpay when the buyer supplies a tracking number, i.e. when he has already shipped the parcel. To get the seller to ship the parcel, the criminal himself poses as Western Union, sending an email from a free webmail service to the victim using an email address which mentions Western Union or BidPay, for example "westernunionmoneyorderpayment@banknotes.com", assuring the seller that Western Union has received payment from the buyer and will release it as soon as he submits the tracking number as proof of shipping. A seller believing this message to be sent from Western Union will lose his merchandise and the shipping costs.

If you receive a fake Western Union / BidPay message, look at the email address this was sent from (for example, westernunionmoneyorderpayment@banknotes.com or onlinebid-pay@accountant.com). If you take this address and replace the left part with the word abuse you get the email address to which to forward such scam emails (for example, abuse@banknotes.com or abuse@accountant.com). Ask the email service to suspend the email account used for this fraud.

See below for examples of such scams. If you have received any such offers, send us copies. Please mark the subject line:

[419] Lagos: eBay
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Example notification (from "bedfordsuperstore"):

Dear seller,
I really want to buy this item and i need a seller who is ready to sell,i
will be paying 750euro for this item and you will ship it to my client in
Nigeria.
(1)I will be paying you by western Union Auction Payment(Bidpay).
(2)You will ship the item by FEDEX,DHL,UPS,EMS.
(3)You will ship the item to my client immediately you recieve my payment
approval from the western union.
If you agree with these stated terms,send me your full name and address so
that i can go to the western union office immeidately to make payment for
the item.
please please scammers stay off!!!!!!!!!!
Robert Dallas

Here is another one by the same scammer:
dear seller, i want to really buy this item and i want
you to ship the item to my client in Nigeria. i will be paying 600euro
for the item and i want you to calculate the shipping cost and the item
price together. i will be paying with Western Union Auction Payment(bidpay)
and i want you to ship the item via UPS,FEDEX,DHL OR EMS. you will ship
the item to my client immediately you recieve my payment approval from
western union. if you agree with these terms,send me your full name and
address for immedaiate payment at the western union office.
Scammers keep off
Dallas Robert

When contacted by email (bedfordsuperstore@nyc.com) the scammer replied:

Dear seller,
Immediately i go to the western union office to make payment for the
item,they will send you a notification that my payment has been approved
and they will send you a number which you will use to rack your money,the
payment will be delivered to the address you will provide.
And once you have track your money and you have seen that your money is
confirmed then you will give me the tracking number to the item.
Or would you like it if i pay you by MONEY GRAM?
If you still want to sell to me send me your full name and address so that
i can go and make payment for the item as soon as possible.
Hope to hear from you soon.



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Here is the fake "Western Union" money notification which is actually sent from a free webmail account instead of from Western Union:


Dear B. E. Trueger,
Bidpay®Online Payments hereby congratulates you and also want
to inform you that the ® Money OrderSM sent to you from Robert
Dallas has been Approved.

Item information
®Money OrderSM :750 EUROS

Auction Item :Keyboard YAMAHA PortaSound Model PS-3
Auction site : Ebay



Seller Contact Address:

Name: victimname

Addresses: victimstreet

postal code: victimzip

city: victimcity

country: victimcountry

Identification Number: 42-782-719.M


Shipping information Via DHL:

NAME:SEGUN ABIODUN

ADDRESS:25,ABIMBOLA ODUNSI STREET,OFF COKER RD
ORIMOLADE BUS/STOP,IFAKO,OGBA

CITY:LAGOS

COUNTRY:NIGERIA



This money order has been approved and will be sent out TODAY
to the address provided by the buyer and you should expect it
in 4-7 business days after postage has being confirmed.
You CAN NOW send the items to the buyer,Moreover the above ®
Pin Number will be asked for before the delivery of the Money
OrderSM, you will also identify your self with your ®drivers
licence or your ®Social security number.

N.B NOTE THAT THE MONEY ORDER WILL NOT GET TO YOUR RESIDENT IF
SHIPMENT TRACKING NUMBER IS NOT SENT TO US IN THE NEXT 24HRS
FOR SHIPMENT VERIFICATION IN OTHER TO SECURE BOTH THE SELLER
AND THE BUYER.

And if you have any question, feel free to contact our customer
service at (westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com).

TO CONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT CLICK BELOW

https://netsage.finali.com/netsage?customer=wuap&iid=esell-appr&
num=22813469&status=appr&date=20050330country=UK

If the Link above does not work:
Type in or copy and paste this link into your Web browser,Make
sure you copy this link exactly and do not add extra spaces.

Thank you for using Western Union ® Online Payments. We look
forward to serving your online payment needs in the future.

Sincerely,
Western Union Online Payments.



More instructions from the scammer:

Dear seller,
I have paid for the item and i know by now you should have recieve my
payment from the western union.
I want you to please remove the invoice of the item when shipping it and
also you should declare the item as a EASTER DONATION.
Also you shouldnt write down the exact amount of price i bought the item
from you,This will reduce the rate of custom charges when the item get to
my client,they wont charge him much.
And also i will like you to give me the tracking number for the item since
your money has been approved.
Hope to hear from you soon and also to do more business with you.


From:
To: emailaddress
Subject: APPROVED MONEY ORDER(8180658433 ) REPLY TO THIS EMAIL
Reply-To: westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com
X-Mailer: SeeqMail 4.0 (authenticated
westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com)
X-Origin: 213.181.81.125
X-Uidl: 1112178921603078762
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 02:35:21 -0800

WHOIS details for sending network (IP 213.181.81.125):


inetnum: 213.181.64.0 - 213.181.95.255
org: ORG-BL4-RIPE
netname: NG-BROADBANDTECH-20000327
descr: BT Limited
descr: PROVIDER Local Registry
country: NG
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
tech-c: IO243-RIPE
status: ALLOCATED PA
notify: bt@micro.com.ng
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-routes: BT-LIMITED-MNT
mnt-lower: BT-LIMITED-MNT
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20000327
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20001003
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20010507
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20010704
changed: lir-help@ripe.net 20011214
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020419
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020423
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020613
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20030211
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20040406
source: RIPE

organisation: ORG-BL4-RIPE
org-name: BT Limited
org-type: LIR
address: BT Limited
address: 8B Ademola Street,
address: Off Awolowo Road,
address: S. W. Ikoyi,
address: Lagos, Nigeria.
phone: +234 1 2693192
fax-no: +234 1 2693192
e-mail: bt@micro.com.ng
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
mnt-ref: BT-LIMITED-MNT
mnt-ref: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20040415
source: RIPE

person: Israel Oyeleke
address: BT Limited
address: 8B Ademola Street
address: Ikoyi S.W.
address: Lagos, Nigeria
phone: +234 1 2673532
fax-no: +234 1 2673203
e-mail: i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
nic-hdl: IO243-RIPE
notify: i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
changed: ifiok@btlimited.com 20010605
changed: ifiok_moses@yahoo.com 20030917
source: RIPE

[mastkart]

Dear Kimmiz,
You are Right
I have knowledge in this Computer Internet for 15 Years, As per you said that Seller gets Email address like This westernunionmoneyorderpayment@banknotes.com or
onlinebid-pay@accountant.com Etc Etc but what are you showing is the Left Part But Many people don;t know that Fakers can't create email with xyz@ebay.in or xya@microsoft.com or xyz@westernmoney.com or xyz@icici.com or xyz@symantec.com or Xyz@paisapay.com with just a simple SMTP server. So All seller Beware and recheck and recheck again if you get a Doubt or Amount is Big.In India You can Trace it out IP address but in Country like Nigeria they Log in with Fake Ip where all things are Fake Server Fake Gate Way Ip Fake so there you can't trace it out.:-D:-D Digicomputer Naushad

[aksh_in1]

Actually, someone can infact send an email which will show the sender's address as for instance, staff@ebay.com or billgates@microsoft.com. Anybody can do that with nifty little programs out there on the web along with an smtp mail server. So beware of these "special" payment methods and NEVER ship your product before receiving payment.

[rahuldevnath1]

I HAVE LOST MY 17000/-

WHAT CAN I DO!!

Dear Rahul Devnath,

Thank you for contacting us, your Money Order will be delivered to you this week, the courier had problems flying parcels outside the country in the past two weeks due to security reasons. We are indeed sorry for the delay.

Thank you for using Western Union

WESTERN UNION [bidpay@westernunionon-linebidpay.com]ear Rahul Devnath,
Thank you for contacting us. Your money order was dispatched at the close of business yesterday after we have verified the shipment. You can now provide the tracking numbers to the buyer( Mr. Brian Williams) as your money is on its way to you. We look forward to helping your future online payment needs.

Thank you for using Western Union.

Dear Rahul Devnath,

Thank you for contacting us. You are required to send the tracking number to us via this email address, and upon verification your money order will be dispatched at the close of business the same day we verify the shipment.

Thank you for using Western Union

[tej_85]

yes i too received a few mails from him. but i doubted him
so i didnot complete the sale.
All these fellows are one and this fraud is from india ,i doubt. there is some one in benin city, edo-state,nigeria helping this fellow. kindly take action.
and sellers beware this fellow is after highly priced items.


Hello tej,

How are you doing today?is like you did not recieve my first mail to you,so here is what i have recieved and what i want you to do.i recieved your mail about the item i bought from your store, i am the winner buyer of the item.i am currently out of india,presently in the Uk.so i want to send the item to a friend in nigeria as a chrismas (gift).what i need from you,i want you to send me the total cost of everything so that i can send the money order if you agree with me just send me your name and address so that i can send the money order and this is were i want this item to be delivered:

Mr.Mike Ajayi
street:no 30 lawani street,
city:benin city,
state:edo state
country:nigeria
postal code:23452.
phone number:+2348025612542.
get me the total cost of shipping the item through dhl or fedex courier service and the cost of item to enable me send you the money order with out any mistake,here is my london cell phone number:+447031944309.once i recieve a mail from you i will call you or you too can also call me now.
also provide me with your details like this:
First name:
last name:
street:
city:
state:
zipcode:
country:
phone:

await your urgent response.
Best regards,
jitesh lokwani
************************************************************
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 12:35:20 +0000 (GMT) Printer Friendly Version
From: parker smith
domainkeys has verified the mail as legitimate
To: tej_85@sify.com
Subject: ready to buy
Full Headers



Hello,

I am the winning buyer of your ebay listed item,i am currently out of india now and i do not know when i will be coming back,so i want this item sent to my friend in nigeria,it is a birthday gift,i will be responsible for any additional cost it will cost you,i mean shipping plus handling cost.Do get back to me as soon as possible with the shipping cost so that i can proced with the payment.

Thank you.
*************************************************************
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 00:53:12 -0800 (PST) Printer Friendly Version
From: jitesh lokwani
domainkeys has verified the mail as legitimate
To: tej_85@sify.com
Subject: I Will Be Sending The Money Order Today Or Tomorrow
Full Headers



Hello Tej,

How are you doing today?got everything,i will be sending the money order today or tomorrow.once the payment has been made,you will be notifield via email about the payment.thanks

Best Regards
Jitesh Lokwani
****************************************************************
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 16:31:03 +0000 (GMT) Printer Friendly Version
From: parker smith
domainkeys has verified the mail as legitimate
To: tej_85@sify.com
Subject: Re: ready to buy
Full Headers



hello
i recieve ur mail , i like to tell u some detail about myself i m a business man ,i am about 30years of age , i like to pay for your goods with bank transfer with your account number to enable me forward the money into your account .you can deliver the product through FEDEX NIGERIA , to the following adress
70 New Lagos Road,Benin city,
STATE;Edo state
COUNTRY;NIGERIA
COUNTRY CODE;234
NAME;ALFRED DELE
*************************************************************
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:25:48 -0800 (PST) Printer Friendly Version
From: jitesh lokwani
domainkeys has verified the mail as legitimate
To: GNAN TEJ
Subject: PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE EARLIER TODAY
Full Headers



Hello Tej ,

How are you,payment has been made earlier
today?and i was notified via email that payment has
been approved so once you are notified via email do
contact the bank via the mail they send to you about
the money order to enable them tell you how you
will get your money.Thanks

I await your reply soonest.
Best regards
Jitesh Lokwani
************************************************************
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 12:00:09 +0000 Printer Friendly Version
From: western union
To: tej_85@sify.com
Subject: Western Union Auction Payments **ORDER PENDING** (27576497)
Full Headers





Dear A M MOHAN RAO,


Western Union® Auction Payments has received your email address from Jitesh Lokwani to inform you of the order to have a Rs. 17999.00 (391.00 USD) Western Union Money Order sent to you for:

Auction Site: EBAY
Auction item:SONY ERICSSON W550i
Auction item number#:6461417336

Please verify that the following address (as entered by the buyer) is correct.

A M MOHAN RAO ,
PROJECT OFFICER,SBIMahabubnagar,
509201, Andhra pradesh.India.

This order is PENDING approval. Most orders are approved within hours of being placed; however, there may be exceptions. Some items may be considered high risk because of the item cost or description. These types of orders are subject to additional verification and may take longer to approve. You will receive an Order Approved email from us when this order is APPROVED. You SHOULD NOT send this item to the buyer until you receive the confirmation email informing you that the order has been approved before you can ship. If your address information is correct and you do not wish to register, this will in no way affect the delivery of your payment once the order is approved. It may take up to 2-3 weeks for this status to reflect in newly registered seller' account but will not in any way affect the delivery of your money order if APPROVED

Thank you for using Western Union® Auction Payments. We look forward serving your online auction payment needs in the future.

Sincerely,

Western Union® Auction Payments

BidPay.

[pratik1036]

TWICE IN 3 DAYS MY LAPTOP HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY REGISTERED INDIAN EBAY MEMBERS WHO TURN OUT TO BE FRAUDULENT/FICTITOUS MEMBERS, ARE NOT LCOATED IN INDIA DESPITE BEING REGISTERED with WWW.EBAY.IN AND WANT ME TO SHIP THE LAPTOP TO THEIR FRIEND IN NIGERIA as a birthday gift.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT SUCH THINGS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? WHAT GUARANTEE ARE YOU GIVING THAT MY NEXT LISTING WILL NOT BE BOUGHT BY ANOTHER BUYER WHO IS ALSO A FRAUD?

THIS MEMBER 'ranjith_shuab' , IS ALSO NOT IN INDIA, LIKE THE PREVIOUS BUYER 'samwat2'

HE HAS EMAILIED TO ME THAT HE IS NOT IN INDIA AND WANTS ME TO SHIP THIS LAPTOP TO HIS FRIEND IN NIGERIA AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT

SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO WITH THE EBAY MEMEBR 'SAMWAT2'

THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN 3 DAYS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT SUCH TRANSACTIONS, AS THIS SHOWS HOW HELPLESS AND IMPOTENT YOU ARE...

BUYERS SHOULD also BE MADE TO LINK THEIR BANK AND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT SO IF THEY DEFAULT UNDER ANY POLICY AND DO NOT FOLLOW THE SELLERS INSTRUCTIONS( BOTH TIMES I HAD CLEARLY MENTIONED I WOULD NOT SHIP THE LAPTOP TO ANY PLACE OUTSIDE INDIA, AND STILL THESE ASSHOLES BOUGHT MY LAPTOP AND ASKED ME TO SHIP IT TO THEIR FRIEND IN NIGERIA), THEY WILL BE FINED OR WILL HAVE TO PAY FROM THEIR LINKED ACCOUNTS AND SO THAT THE SELLER HAS TO NOT SUFFER LIKE I AM, SINCE LAST 3 DAYS, MAINLY DUE TO YOUR INADEQUATE SECURITY MEASURES AND YOUR INABILITY TO CURB SUCH TRANSACTIONS AND PUNISH SUCH EBAY MEMBERS...

TELL ME WHAT WILL EBAY DO TO PREVENT SELLERS FORM SUCH HARASSMENTS AND PUNSIH SUCH BUYERS APRT FORM SUSPENDING THEIR ACCOUNTS?

IT IS SO SIMPLE TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT WITH EBAY AND THEN CREATE SUCH PROBLEMS FOR SELLERS....

EVE IF EBAY SUSPENDS BOTH THESE MEMBERS, SOMEONE ELSE WILL BUY MY LISTING ITEM TOMORROW WIHT SAME RESUTLS. WHAT GUARANTEE DOES EBAY GIVE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN?

[sapana@ebay.com]

Hi pratik1036,

I will strongly reccomend you and other community members to report such users (Fraud / asking for shipment to Nigeria) to Customer Support Team using Contact Us link. This helps the Trust and Safety team in investigating such users and taking appropriate action to increase marketplace safety.

Warm Regards,
Sapana

[anindya2004_in1]

Here's one from my side

QUOTE
=====
MRS KUMAR AJA Signed-By: yahoo.co.uk
To: anindya73@gmail.com
Date: Dec 12, 2005 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: You Won eBay Item: Nokia 9210i - with 128mb MMC with music & videos. (6463148057)

Hello seller,
I have bought a phone in your shop i am out of india for a business trip and my name is mrs kumar aja i will like the item to be shipped to my husband Nigeria who went on vacation as an xmas gift and i will like you to know that i will be responsible for any other charges and will like you to know that payment will be made via western union and will like you to provide me with these conatct information so that i can make payment if it suit you ok
here is the conatct information i need
FULL NAME: CONTACT ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIPCODE:
COUNTRY:
=======
UNQUOTE

These people are uneccassry wasting time and causing delay in sale transaction....ebay should strictly say no to NIGERIA CUSTOMERS.

[atulnc1]

DO NOT SHIP YOUR ITEMS TO THE FRAUDS.THE Western Union / BidPay MAY BE FRAUD. BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHILE DEALING WITH SUCH BUYERS.

ATUL

[sastaitshop]

I Either do not reply to their email or reply saying "Details Forwarded to FBI".

They are getting smarter day by day.

Previously it was easy to identify them. These days they even ask deliveries in Spain and other areas.

They also make payments using stolen cards and accounts in Paisa pay. NO MATTER WHAT - DO NOT SHIP THESE PRODUCTS>

Because you know that the payemnt they have made is STOLEN MONEY. ANd you will receive a Charge Back soon.

Please encourage new ebay sellers to interact and better understand these scams by visiting the community boards ...

Regards !!sAsTaITsHop!!

:) Sunny 🙂