I got a scam attempt like this yesterday, through an ad listing via craigslist. My item was listed for $100.00, this person offered my $200.00 and wanted me to accept a US "money order" only after I shipped the item.
User was a "Lisa Shilly", apparently based in either Maryland or New York.
First email:
Hello,
I will like to know whether this item is still available for sale,if so pls let me know about the condition.
Second Email:
Thanks for the reply,i will be sending the payment by United State Postal Money Order and after payment went through you will receive a confirmation mail from USPS about the payment sent,So I would ve loved to pay with paypa l but i can't afford to be burnt again and i could not due to this reasons vist this site www.paypalsucks.com.I have registered with fedex courier service and note that upon the acount pasted there is no shipping cost for you,i will offer you ($200.0 0)for the BOSE 321 Speakers so that we can close the auction and have the shipment asap,hope you will like this offer.waiting for your quick response,and hope to have some other business with you in nearest future.thanking you in anticipation,if it is ok by you get back to me on time,and send me your full information so i can continue with the transaction okay.I live in Maryland but amse nding it to my daughter abroad as her n ew year's gift,So pls get back to me so that i can explain how my mode of payment works.Hope tohear from you soon...Thanks & Best of luck.
At this point I supplied an address to ship the item to, just out of curiosity...
Third Email:
Hello,
Thanks for the reply,i have fowarded your address to USPS for the payment so once you receive the confirmation of payment from them i want you to mail me back so that i can send you my shipping information,Once the payment have been approved you will receive a transaction code number which you will tender to there post man in order to colllect the money from him,Is there a fedex location at your area
Then, the kicker!
Email received from "USPS OOnline Money Order Service", actual email address was "transfer.m@mail.com" with an alias of "Customer Care Center".
Email follows:
Dear [name removed]
Thanks for using United State Postal Money Order®, your money is $200 for "BOSE 321 Speakers " and the money was paid in by Miss Lisa . Due to the fact that some sellers don't send out items despite the fact that buyers have paid for the item,we have therefore introduced a new policy that sellers should ship out items after the approval of payment and send us the shipment tracking number for verification : Below is the address where the Postal Order® will be sent to in 3-5 Business days after shipment is verified.
Details and instructions of this transaction
*************************************************
The following item(s) are protected in this USPS transaction:-
Item :BOSE 321 Speakers
Price :$200
Transaction number : 440520023
Amount insured : USD 10,000.00
*************************************************
USPS Verified Buyer's Details:-
[address removed]
*************************************************
The insurer of this transaction is USPS Inc.
The account is managed by USPS center.
This transaction is supervised by USPS SafeHarbor team.
Protecting citizens from scams and fraud schemes with advocacy and knowledge.
Transactions with this buyer are covered by purchase protection against fraud and description errors. For your safety.
This order has been approved, YOU CAN NOW send the items to the buyer and we will like to know more about the transaction,so we implore you to ship the item and mail us the shipment tracking number for verification so that we can transfer your payment to you after it has been confirmed. With this no buyer can stop payment with a false claim that there is no longer any transaction between the both of you after you might have shipped the package, and we will send the Money Transfer to the above address payment in 4-6 business days after we receive the shipment tracking number for verification. We are your mediator,we stand between both the buyer and the seller because we have our reputation to protect. If we do not hear from you as soon as expected the payment will be returned back to the buyer. You can send the tracking number to our customer service for verification.
We will be waiting for you to ship the item and mail us the shipment tracking number so that we can send out your payment. With this no buyer can stop payment with a false claim that there is no longer any transaction between the two of you after you might have shipped. We are your mediator,we stand between both the buyers and the sellers because we have our reputation to protect.
Postal Money Order® are a safe, convenient, and economical alternative to sending cash through the mail. They can be purchased from any Post Office™ in the United States as well as from any rural route carrier. Postal Money Order® are available up to $1,000 with a daily limit of $10,000 per customer. A current government-issued or state-issued picture identification is required for money order purchases over $3000 in a single day. Other features include:
Send Money the
Usps Postal Money Order®Way......
"Domestic Money Orders"
*Purchase with cash, debit card, or traveler's check
*Valid for an unlimited peri od
* Can be cashed at any Post Office or can be deposited or negotiated at your financial institution
*Replace damaged, lost, or stolen money orders.
Thank you for using Postal Money Order®. We look forward to serving your online
payment needs in the future.
Delivery Service**USPS Delivery Post-Man**
Sincerely,
United States Postal Service.
******************************************************************************************
PLEASE, REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS :
So, then I get another email from the buyer:
Hello,
Thanks for the reply,below is my daugthers address so i want you print it out and paste it on the package together with my fedex account number,so you won't be bill for the shippment and now in new york,so i registerd with fedex here in new york,so make sure the address and account number is well pasted on the package before dropping it off.
A shippment tracking number will be giving to you by the fedex agent incharge of the shippment,so send it to me once you receive it.
SHIPPING ADDRESS.
Aliu.Lisa.Shilly
No 8 foursquare street.
Amosun Vill.Ipaja.
Lag.NIG.23401.
FEDEX ACCOUNT NUMBER.
243192145
DECLARED VALUE.
$80
sO PRINT OUT THIS INFORMATION INCLUDING THE DELCARED VALUED PASTE IT ON THE PACKAGE BEFORE DROPPING IT OFF AT FEDEX LOCATION,AND MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR THE SHIPPMENT TRACKING NUMBER FROM THE FEDEX AGENT.
So, two things with the last email. The seller indicates they are in New York, and previously indicated they were in Maryland. Also, they want the item shipped to Nigeria. Why did that not surprise me?
Anyway, beware of this stuff. They are semi-smart and could snag the unsuspecting seller.
Best,
p