Scammers at work

[TJ Mason]

This item has been posted on the NFAS webboard by Newsletter Editor. I think it's worth copying here, since users of Archer's Mart and other online marketplaces are potentially vulnerable to this type of scam.

This has come to my attention tonight and I thought the quickest way to bring it to your attention was to copy it to you all. So here goes:

"Some time ago I advertised 3 bows for sale, 2 of which sold very quickly. The third bow received some interest but had no take ups. Yesterday I received an E-Mail from an Andrew Wolfe expressing interest. I replied and the attached mail.

Having worked in the Banking Industry for 23 years I recognise this as being a money laundering scam and will not be replying. Additionally, I am conscious that I do not want any other members to suffer any financial or equipment loss.

I think you'll agree when you read the mail that it is suspect and not a typing error.

I think it important to let the members know and to be extremely wary when dealing with potential buyers.

Regards"

Please be aware of this sort of scam.

blacksunshine posted this reply:

Being in the employ of a major Internet Service Provider, I can assure you that this type of moneymaking scam is rife at the moment.
As a result of seeing this, I can recommend several steps to follow so as NOT to get scammed:

* Never commit any cash, credit card/banking details to the seller.
* If the mail looks suspicious, it probably is.
*Take note of the sender's e-mail address. Most ISPs will have an Abuse team, so the first point of contact is them. In this case, the sender is with Yahoo, so the chances are He/She will not be traceable to any degree that will be useful. The fact that anyone can sign up for a yahoo account means that the mailbox will be fairly anonymous. You could call them so as to report the sender. They'll then terminate the address thus preventing further instances.
*Always, if conducting business via the Internet, use a reputable clearing system, such as Paypal, and then only use it for the amounts to be transferred. Again, the same goes for places such as E-Bay. Make sure that you read carefully the full ad/payment methods.

And finally, ALWAYS keep your banking details, Credit card numbers and especially the security number on the back of the card safe.
Remember, there are sometimes clues within the e-mail to show you that the sender is a bit dodgy. If in doubt, DON'T !!

[niceguy]

I've had this scam tried on me several times while selling motor cycles bits. It works on some glitch in the banking system to do with cheque clearance times. You will pay in the scammer's cheque and after a couple of days the bank will inform you the cheque has cleared and you will send off the guy his money. A couple of weeks later the bank will tell the cheque has gone bad and you will left holding the debt. Not sure of the details but I was told by a money guy this was how it pans out. As far as I know it's nothing to do with laundering just plain fraud.

[hypertigger]

i nearly got scammed once, but took the cheque to the bank - they told me the cheque was a fake too, and after i got the check, got threatening emails from the guy saying that i'd taken his money!!

[clickerati]

i've been scammed, but much more subtly. luckily as it was the bank's fault for not closing an old account, i got my money back and let them deal with the scammers.

[Watch_Man]

If the cheque originates from a Bank outside the UK, even if in Sterling, your bank can clear the cheque in 5 working days (Negotiation) and pay the money into your account, however if it subsequently bounces when sent back to the originating bank then they will take the money from you. The other method is for you to wait till the cheque goes through the clearing system (collection) and that can take 5 weeks.

The scammer relies on your bank provisionally clearing the funds and you think you have the money safe and sound but 4 or 5 weeks later you find you haven't.

Our bank gives us the option of which method we want to use.

[Rhys]

Seriously, would anyone fall for that obviously generated email?

[phil_r_58]

Originally Posted by Rhys

Seriously, would anyone fall for that obviously generated email?

Errrrrm...... yes they do. I've had lecturers with PhD's, and even professors actually fill in the bank details from these, "we need to check your password" scams, and click enter, before thinking , "I know, I'll just check with the help desk to make sure these people, to whom I've just given my bank/paypal details to, are actually genuine"

Almost without exception, the grammar in the text jumps out at me. OK, modern students may have problems here. And as we keep telling people till we are blue in the face. No bank will ever ask you to confirm a password/pin, and if it looks too good to be true, it invariably is.

Like many helpdesk people we try our best, but really, we do despair sometimes.

[Furface]

These scammers, they get more believable by the day. Check this link from today's Times.
People: Patricia Hewitt; Helen Mirren - Times Online
Labour ministers stashing funds away? Unbelievable.

[John (OSF)]

Originally Posted by Rhys

Seriously, would anyone fall for that obviously generated email?

They usually work on the basis that it's something for nothing, A couple of years ago I was selling a boat and was looking for 4K I was offered 4.5K if I accepted scam similar to the one on this thread. I reported them as I got a bit freaked as I might be supporting terrorists or something equally bad.
Otherwise, the offer of 500 quid for just cashing a cheque was quite tempting I can tell you.

[sparky steve]

i've seen this scam a few times,
an the advice that has already been give is just forget it,
if anyone asked for money or details the easiest solution is to delete the email and forget about it.

they all seem to have yahoo email addresses these people. i think yahoo should take a big part of the blame, in allowing there service to be used in this way.

just don't deal with anyone with yahoo email. that's what i do.