Scam, Scam, Scam... Scamaroo Part II

[Mr. Lesbian]

This is a follow up one of my previous thread: Scam, Scam, Scam... Scamaroo.


I decided to go along with one of the scammers and today recieved this in the mail. I am very sure that the cheque is fake for several reasons.

1. At the top of the cheque, it says that the document has microprint. Upon closer inspection, none exists... maybe it's REALLY micro?

2. In the box, there's a circle with text that says "To Authenticate Rub Here". Well, there's nothing there to rub, but I tried for kicks and guess what? Nothing. lol.

I've don't know what an International Money Order is supposed to look like so I don't know what else... I do know that it is a fake. The paper is very thin and seems cheap.

What do you guys think I should do? Take it to cops or somehow try to counter scam this guy? Any ideas?

[kazlab67]

Don't fraud cases go to the Attorney General in the states? Do you have someone in comparison?

[Nevrsumr22]

I'd take it to a bank and see if it is real before you try and put it in your account. If you put it in there and if it's fake they might think you did it yourself or something. I'm no expert by any means. I know just about as much as you do. Jack squat except it's probably fake.


edit -

See what I don't understand is if you sent the bike and then the check bounces couldn't you call overseas and have the police waiting for them when they pick up the bike. I'm sure there is some type of law to protect people from this.

[Hagios]

Time for P-P-P-POWERBOOK episode 2, methinks

Or M-M-M-MOTORCYCLE, or whatever you're selling.

[BadBoy1404]

If I were you I would call WF National Bank in South Central Farlbault, MN. You can read to them the routing numbers/check number and they can verify if it is in fact real. If it is real, score, if not send the guy a hot wheels motorcycle.

[PaulMuaddib]

Bring it to your bank, ask them to validate it, I bet they will say OMG NO WAY THAT IS SO FAKE!

[RhythmsDJs]

The problem is, most banks don't realize it's a fake. With these scams, it normally takes 3-4 weeks for it to come back as a bounced check. I would take it to the authorities or whomever you feel can help with the scam.

What I find funny, is that he only uses his first name and has a signature that isn't even recognizable. Also, what shipping company handling international shipments uses a yahoo email address for their main contact? This guy isn't even putting any real effort into this scam. He should have at least put the security features on the money order...

After thinking about it, you should catch him. Write him back, say the bank wouldn't cash it, and have him Western Union the money to you. Get him in his own game.

[Ducboy]

It's revealed as a scam simply by the diction and even typeface used in the letter. You don't even have to look twds the 'check' to confirm. The whole premise is suspect.

[Mr. Lesbian]

Okay, so here it goes.

This is his very first e.mail to me.

Davy (freetdavy@yahoo.com) has sent you an e-mail:

Dear Thai,
Am writing in reference to your advert for the above mentioned subject. I
saw the price as $5,995.00 and I have a client who really have interest here
in Europe and I want you to give me a little reduction that will allow me
also to see little gain for my efforts as a small scale business.Shipment
will be done by my shipping Agent
Please reply as soon as possible.and let me know what you can reduce for me
Thanks
Davy

and my reply to him:

Hi Davy,

Final price is $5800 Canadian cash only when dealing over seas.

Thanks.

Thai

He comes back with:

Dear Thai,
I am selling it to my client for $7,800.00 and my client has agreed to pay.
He only agree to arrange money order in the name of the owner. There fore
you will need to forward your full name with which the Money order can be
arranged and your full address for Courier and for pick up when the payment
is completed.
Please reply as soon as possible.
Thanks
Davy

At the time, I didn't think a Money Order could be a scam so I thought I'd give it a shot. I gave him the address of my old work, which I know would get forwarded to me (without him being able to trace the new forwarded address):

Okay, send a Money Order to:

Thai Mac
41 ***** Rd.
*****, Ontario
CANADA
*** ***

Looking forward to your reply.

Thai.

He writes back:

Hello Thai,
Thanks for your mail.
The payment will be forwarded to you on Monday. Please as soon as you recieveit, get intouch with me. So that I will be able to get the shipping Agent for the pick up.
Thanks
Davy

A couple weeks past by and he gets very anxious.

Dear Thai,
am very sorry,I came back from sick leave to still meet your letter not posted due to the fact that my patner can not open my mail.
I have personally put your letter with the payment in a mail to you this Morning as promised. It was posted BY A SPECIAL MAIL CALL REGISTERED PRIOR IN BELGIUM with reference number RR 03967275 0 BE.
You must recieve the letter by Tuesday or latest Wednesday and I will expect you to cash the money and get intouch with the shipping Agent immidiatelly and also mail me as well.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Davy

Okay, so now his "shipping agent" starts e.mailing me:

Hi ,
I am the shipping Agent to handle the shipment of the above mentioned '99 ZX-6R - FASTand I learnt you already have the payment for it and the shipment (shipment which is $2,100.00). Davy inform me that you will be sending the money together with his company's profit of $2,000.00 and I am aware that you will have to pay cost of transfer from the money.
Can you please forward to me the balance through WESTERN UNION in order to avoid any delay:
THIS IS MY INFO FOR THE WESTERN UNION:
ILEGWE IFEANYI JOSEPH
56, PROVINCIE STRAAT
2018, ANTWERPEN
BELGIUM
Once it is done put all the info I will need in my mail, e.g. MTCN CONTROL No., THE NAME AND ADRESS YOU USE TO SEND THE MONEY AND MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES IN THE SPELLING OF ALL NAMES.
I will only committ my representative only and after I must have recieved money.
I will need the money for the shipment as soon as possible because it will still take my representative some days to arrange for pick up and he will need money.
Thank you. Expecting to hear from you
Joseph

So now I got this letter with the fake cheque. Let's make things interesting...

Sent him an e.mail alittle bit ago:

Okay, I need your full name, address, telephone number and bank details so
that I can give you the money. I will also need your social security numbers
and passwords as well.

Waiting to hear back from you.

Thai.

He actually writes back! I thought he'd know I had caught on.

Thai,
To send money by Western Union, this is all that you need:
THIS IS MY INFO FOR THE WESTERN UNION:
ILEGWE IFEANYI JOSEPH
56, PROVINCIE STRAAT
2018, ANTWERPEN
BELGIUM

Once it is done put all the info I will need in my mail, e.g. MTCN CONTROL No., THE NAME AND ADRESS YOU USE TO SEND THE MONEY AND MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES IN THE SPELLING OF ALL NAMES.
I will only committ my representative only and after I must have recieved money.
I will need the money for the shipment as soon as possible because it will still take my representative some days to arrange for pick up and he will need money.
Thank you. Expecting to hear from you
Joseph

He must be getting a little excited now thinking it's gonna end up working.

I play along some more:

I'm new to Western Union, they say that I need all of your personal info
including passwords so that they can set up a secure transaction account.
Also, they need for you to send a test amount so that I can verify that the
account is indeed secure and that it is you.

Please let me know.

Thai.

Oops, looks like he's getting a little impatient.

Please Thai,
I am sorry I have a lot to do. Go to any western Union office, you dont need any special account for me NO!. take the money and my information that I sent to you there and tell them all you want is for the name you gave to them to collect the money in Belgium.
They are the one to give you the control number which is like the password which you will mail to me here. Without this control number, nobody can collect the money.
So why do I need a secure transaction account for just a transaction that I am doing with you once? Sorry I dont need it.
Once you get to western union with the money you wish to send and my full info as it was given to you, you need no other thing unless you are asking them to open a special acount for the transaction and this is not neccessary at all.
Waiting to hear from you
Joseph

So, that's where I'm at, at this point. What advice can I get from the fellow SBN'ers on how to screw him up? And have some fun too?

[Krazy Hawaiian]

Dont send him shit put the check in the bank, (Dont spend any if your bank lets you draw off it) worst case it will come back, but he'll get the bad check fees. In the mean time send him all sorts of shit, put him on mailing lists go to any blacklisting site and put him on every address on there blacklist LMAO that will overflow his box with shit mail. Do it from a New fake account you make on hotmail or yahoo from a public comp in a internet cafe. Works like a champ. Ive done it many times when someone screws with me.

[Hagios]

So many places to start...

First thing first, say that your bank is giving you hell about that money order and you can't afford to send the money Western Union.

[AnnieMei]

ask him if he has paypal since Western Union isn't accepting your business. ^_^

1) take it to the bank and have them cash it.
2) wait a week and half before responding to the git.
3) answer any emails after that week stating that WEstern Union offices are not open during the times you are free, and you will need to work out a day off to get to a nearby WEstern Union
4) wait another week.
5) answer any emails stating that Western Union cannot verify the informaiton and that he must confirm it.
6) wait another week.
7) call bank to see status on fake MO.
8) go to the nearest Walmart, toysrus and send him a $.99 toy. Buy a huge box, place toy in middle of box, fill with tons of peanuts/packing material/dog shit/ etc. Mail box via USPS to his place stated on his letter.. Insure box for $2499 and do not mark as gift (he will have to pay the taxes on something that is not a gift). Send box.
5) check status of MO with your bank. They will tell you its fake.
6) Be happy now that you made the scammer pay FEES on a $.99 toy insured for $2499

[bumblebee]

Tell him you are waiting to receive the funds from his check. When his check clears the bank, proceed further, unless you are not going to sell the bike. Maybe the check is real and you have sold the bike. IF you take the check down and present it for payment at WF National Bank in MN, (try to contact the names on the check) They will cash it or not. Maybe you will have to open an account in their bank, using this check and not your money and wait the check hold period out. You haven't done anything wrong and if you present the check and ask them what's up, you aren't in trouble. Don't drag yourself into trouble trying to f*(k with him.

[weasel1]

Report him to the Secret Service, here's a link to their webpage listing the various field offices:

http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml

These guys try this crap everywhere, I've seen multiple instances of this on other boards as well. One person even played the scammer long enough that he got the scammer to call him, but the number was to a Secret Service agent working on the complaint... (lol) The scammer wasn't happy, but it made for a good laugh.

[Mr. Lesbian]

LMFAO!

Davy is really starting to get angry now:

From:
joseph davy <freetdavy@yahoo.com>

Sent:
September 30, 2004 6:37:54 PM

To:
Thai Mac <thai_mac@hotmail.com>

Subject:
RE: UpOnOne.com Classified Ad - '99 ZX-6R - FAST!


Thai,

For God's sake, get the money for the Agent to him today unfailingly. The buyer is giving me problems. Waiting to heaer from you . Please let me have your phone line I need to talk to you.

Davy

I'm loving this reply to him, I'll laugh my ass to the beer store if I actually get some cash in the mail!

Hey again Davy, I just got back from the Western Union office. They say it will cost me $322.47 to send you the money. I don't have that much to do the transaction as I am a student and don't have much money. Can you send me some cash as soon as you can so that I can pay to wire the shipping amount to you? I just want to finish this transaction as soon as possible. Please send it to the same address as you have before.

Thanks!

Thai.

I'll let ya know if it works. This could be the new ultimate counter scam! Fuckin' eh!