A very well put together Scam.. Almost got me.. You gotta read it!

GD brings up some very valid points.   If there's a parcel with your name on it that contains something you didn't order, then odds are it's a fraud (so if any of you are planning to send me a new detector gratis, please let me know before you ship it to me, so I don't refuse it).    If you answered an ad and THEN the package magically appeared, what is the specific tip-off that this was a scam and not exactly what you asked for?

Not trying to find fault with anything posted so far, but trying to get the maximum possible value out of the topic and the most information possible to other members so they can avoid the scam artists.

BA

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The idea is here that nothing was going to be sent... it was all a scam...fake tracking number supported by a well constructed (fake) shipping site...What they where hoping was that I would send the money via Western Union... the classic psychology being toad in the water.... will stay there and boil to death if the temp is raised slow enough... at the beginning I saw the ad and contacted the seller for the MD.  then agreement on price followed by payment suggestion of paypal... then the seller entices the buyer saying that he will pay for the shipping and send it through a (what seems to be valid) shipping company...and do COD for the item.... dialog is exchanged and a relationship is quickly developed...and nothing smells better than a good deal....
Well the shipping company (looking very professional and functioning) has done all the work and now required payment.... but hey.. they already did the inspection...so you don't realize that the COD is not needed... and the promise of a 5 day return policy..Sounds safe...website looks safe..I guess this is how business is done...OK.....But wait...Only one form of payment? and it seems too similar to Afriscam?....lemmi look a little further...Oh oh things start to unravel...ah ah...I smell a scam!

Here is the email exchange...

if your detector is still for sale I am interested.  If you don't mind shipping to Canada.

Let me know if you are interested.


Hello,

Still available. BRAND NEW in box with receipt and manufacturer warranty.
It's an useless gift, never used, opened just to test it.
If you agree to pay me the asked price ( 400 British Pounds ),I'm willing to pay for all shipping and insurance fees.

If you want to buy it, just give me your full name and delivery address so that I can arrange the shipment.
The shipping company will handle the payment and offer you 5 days return policy.

Thanks!

That is a fine offer and yes I am willing to pay the 400pounds (that is what you call your currency yes?)

The crux is of course how to get the funds to you..If you have or you create a paypal account online, I am able to send the funds directly to you over the internet.  I do prefer this method because they will escrow the funds and release them when the package arrives.  Very nice system, keeping the buyer and seller honest, especially over seas.  I mean if I send you the money and you don't send the product, I am not going to fly over there and find you, It would just not be financially feasible for me.

The nice thing about paypal is they hold the funds until both parties are amicable.

Post Script "I forgot to ask you if the headphones are wireless?"

My address is
Blah Blah Blah

Yes, the headphones are wireless.
Thank you for your shipping info. Don't worry I'll ship it first and the shipping company will handle the payment and you'll pay with cash.
I'll receive the money only after you receive the metal detector.
Also, you have 5 days return policy, but I assure you this is not the case because you'll love it from the first moment.
The price is £400 GBP - my currency
I'll arrange the shipment tomorrow morning and let you know the details.

Thanks

Hello,

The shipment is started.

Shipping company: Freight Co.
Tracking number: 379390

Please check carefully all folders of your email address.
The confirmation from Freight Co should be in your email by now.
Please read it carefully because there you'll find all the instructions regarding payment and delivery.

Let me know if you have received the confirmation.

Thanks

Hey Danny

     Lucky enough My sister in London works very close to you.  She works on Brixton Water lane off of Brixton.  I asked her to drop off the 400GBP to you in person.  The website gave me your address and she said that it is close to where she works.  Do you have a phone number so she can call you?  I am assuming that your address is : 81 Kingswood Rd. London

thanks

At this point I discover the scam and start contacting people about the shipping company

Danny

A bit of trouble..my sister finished work at 4 and went to that address you gave... its a shipping company and they have never heard of you....So I checked the shipping company that you are using and things don't add up!...the website is from Belize..So I contacted Verisign on the website and the pages don't match..

What is going on?

I cant find this company on any of the international shipping registries.  So I contacted another shipping company and they have never herd of payment practices like that shown from this company..And to promise that the item will be here in 2 days?  The other shipping companies that I contacted said that was impossible.. duty taxes inspection shipping VAT and broker duties...would take more than a week!

So two things.  Either your shipping company that you are using is trying to scam you... or you are trying to scam me!... so F$#@r..what is the deal B&%$h!

You still out there?

Danny boy!

At this point I'm just sending him nasty e-mails because I know it's a scam now!

Oh Danny Boy!

Busy f*#@ing sheep in the field Danny Boy?  Oh wait I know.. thumb stuck in your ass@ because you thought you would try something new, so that is why you can respond?  You poor ugly f*%$er.. nice try b@!$h!

Oh Danny Boy!

Oh wait a sec.. bag slipped off your mothers head while you where r@$ing her, and now everything is awkward at the dinner table? is that why your so busy now?

F*^%er...cant stand that you where figured out you f%#$ing wingnut..luv to meet you and take a couple rounds out of you prison b*^%h!

No response after the last few e-mails...I didn't think I would get one.. it was more cathartic than anything at this point

And so that is it!...a pleasant story..





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If it stops someone else getting scammed than it's all worth it!

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		Quote:			Posted by Viracocha
	if your detector is still for sale I am interested.  If you don't mind shipping to Canada.

See? That explains it all. You were expecting a package. Thanks for explaining more fully.

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		Quote:			Posted by Viracocha
	may the force be with you too lol Posted on: June 28, 2011, 03:01:25 PM sorry, Digger, that one just presented itself way too easy...

Prepare to defend yourself, Vader! Light sabers at the ready!!!

You know, it never fails to amaze me how much trouble the scammers will go through. My wife and I receiver dozens of PayPal scams every week and all of them have super PayPal replica sites. There must be some underground swapping of scam sites going on.

No, before you ask, I do not fall for them. I do private consulting work for Computer Associates in the e-mail antivirus area and I get paid to visit those sites to figure out ways to keep their customers safe if they visit one of them by mistake. This is why I asked you what I did. All of your initial screen shots screamed SCAM to me.

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