Victim of Fraud
I’m selling my couch. It’s a beautiful couch. I posted it on craigslist. For $2000. Although we got it on sale, the original price for the custom order from Italy was $7000.
Still for sale.
Same day as the post went up I get an email. Careysea@gmail.com (who would probably love to hear from you – such a friendly and generous person) wants to buy my couch. Sight unseen. Coool.
And weird.
I concoct a few scenarios in my head based on the minimal clues: I want a couch, I live out of town. Maybe Carey lives far away and is moving to my area and would like to have some furniture already moved in upon arrival. In fact, living in a part of the world where there are a lot of young students from outside the country it is plausible to imagine a parent outfitting a student apartment with high quality second-hand furniture. But Carey Seagal is not a typical last name for those on a student visa. Not impossible, I suppose.
Without much foreplay and zero negotiation Carey suggests payment through PayPal which I consider an excellent solution to moving a lot of money securely. However, naively, I think, Carey wants me to send my paypal account number – or set one up if I don’t already have one – so the payment can be deposited. Since I understand the way PayPal works I don’t do that. I log into my PayPal account and send an invoice to Carey. That way he, or she, can click on the invoice and securely deposit the money without me knowing her account info – or her knowing mine.
Before long I get an email from PayPal confirming the money is in my account and telling me to “click here”. I don’t. I go to the PayPal website myself and log into my account. SURPRISE! No money – in spite of the email that itemized the $2700 that had been deposited. $2000 for the couch and $600 to be forwarded to the shipping company in Atlanta, Georgia (thousands of miles away) plus $100 to cover the fees associated with wiring the money to the shipping company. Hmmm. Don’t remember that part of the agreement.
Here’s how the scam works:
I’m supposed to click on the bogus email from PayPal (the return address is almost the same as the real PayPal but not quite.) When I get to the log in page it will be bogus but very effectively collect my user name and password. Whatever I type in the password box, I will be directed to the bogus PayPal account showing a balance of $2700.
At this point, if I follow the script, I am elated and immediately look up ways to wire money to the address in Georgia. An address that, undoubtedly, exists – maybe they would like a Christmas card or something:
SMOYE AZEEZ
258 Spring st,NE
Atlanta,Georgia
30309
USA..
Not only do they get my $600, and access to my PayPal account, but they might get my couch, too, if they are organized about it.
Instead, I have reported the fraud to the police, craigslist, and PayPal – all of whom appreciated the information.
Meanwhile, I continue to correspond with Carey. She is still trying to convince me that the money has come out of her account and that PayPal would have sent me confirmation by now. Seems to me that any time she “plays” with me keeps others a tiny bit safer.
Any ideas for what fantastic emails I should send out next?
Maybe some large KB photos of my couch in her inbox?
Hiya this scam is still running i have had emails from mrs kyte terry this morning using urinabo@gmail.com from an item am advertising on http://www.loot.co.uk i will copy the email below, i had also recieved an email the week before wanting the payment and me to ship all my items to america but then changed there minds apparently and wanted it sending to nigeria there email address is sarahmorgan6869@yahoo.com ill copy the email below as you can clearly see another scam
On 31 Jan 2013, at 12:01, “Mrs.Kyte Terry” wrote:
> Thanks for your mail, i would be glad to pay for it as soon as
> possible though i will not be available to come for an inspection due
> to the nature of my work as a Petrol engineering, It hard to make a
> phone calls and visiting of website are restricted but i squeezed out
> time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it. Note: I
> have a private courier agent that will come for the pick up after the
> payment have been made …so no shipping included. You will have to
> reply me back with your address where item have to be pick up so that
> i can forward it to my shipping company to get me cost of pick up and
> delivery to my address. Insisted on PayPal because i don’t have access
> to my bank account online as i don’t have internet banking, but i can
> pay from my PayPal account, as i have my bank a/c attached to it, i
> will need you to give me your full name and your PayPal email address
> and the price so i can transfer the funds Asap for it and please if
> you don’t have PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, just
> visit http://www.paypal.com and get it set up, after you have set it up i
> will only need your full name and the e-mail address you use for
> registration with PayPal so as to transfer the funds. I have a pick up
> agent that will come and pick it after the payment has been made.
> – Email: sarahmorgan6869@yahoo.com
> – Message: Good Day
> How are you doing, i am Mrs, Sarah Morgan from san benito texas my Address is 7856 Nixon Road San Benito Texas Usa, i am proudly interested in purchasing this your product and is there any discount to it??? Do you send Abroad??? if is still online forsale kindly give me quick response i need 2items , i am really in need of it very urgent for my cousin's Birthday coming up next week. You can contact me direct to my E-mail on sarahmorgan6869@yahoo.com Hope to read back thank you
>
> Regard,
>
> Morgan…
THIS IS THE REPLY TO THE EMAIL I SENT BACK
i want it down here with me and make everything private with me here… How much is the cost and the shipping cost via EMS to Nigeria plus the 2items cost ….Let me know the total of everything thank you
Seems this scam is really big in the UK right now! Thanks for posting.
Carey Seagal is still at it. I convinced my friend NOT to respond with the requested PayPal information. We checked out the Craigslist Scams website. Lo and behold, scammers abound. Thanks for running this website.
Thank goodness you were there for your friend!
I was just scammed by the same person listed in the first story above. I don’t understand how this person is still getting away with this and using the same email. I have reported the incident to the police and other agencies. Any suggestions of what I can do to get this person to stop so others don’t get scammed.
I did the same as you. I like to believe there is some law that can step in and prevent this – but there doesn’t seem to be anyway to stop it unless you actually lose money. Then, they can be charged… if they can be found.
My response was to write a post hoping that others who thought it seemed suspicious would get their fears confirmed and steer clear. Thank-you for posting a comment and keeping things current and making it possible for others to know things haven’t changed and they are not alone!
Hi there,
Thank you all for your comments/contribution.
My instinct tell me it is too good to be true and so I am very grateful for all the experienced and wise people who have commented on this scam.
Thank you
Mine came in under the name of Bob Amy Afdahl, same Paypal scam.
Larrie
Haven’t seen that name before. Bob Amy? I guess so, “a boy named Sue” and all that, but even the name part seems suspicious. Thanks for contributing!