Too good to be true on Craigslist

[ChrisRasman]

This happened last week. Some background. Daughter wants an Airstream TT. She has been looking high and low for a used one in good shape at a reasonable price. She has cash. I try to talk her into an older bird, but she has a new pickup, so no go. So I try to help. I find a few, a couple on CL and Facebook. I contact every one for her trying to be a good dad. I get a reply (email) from one later in the day. 'Woman' says she a doctor in the Army, out west getting ready to deploy. I am a vet and have been there (for real) so I go along with it. She tells me has it stored in our home town. I look for her in our hometown and find a Dr by her name. It even mentions she has been called up. The doc asks my name and address and (has my) email. I am okay with that. Next day she tells me its on eBay motors and she sends me an email bill 'generated' from eBay motors. She says its the 'best way, fully protected and with a 5 day money back guarantee for any reason. I have one day to complete the transaction. No credit card, bank transfer only. To call the number on the 'bill'. I log into eBay and nothing was there about it. I call eBay at that point. Its a scam. So other then my name, address and email (it's all on the internet) nothing lost but a little time. Rotten people. Daughter got her Airstream in Georgia and is happy. I did get some legitimate replies, but they came too late.

[hifreqdude]

Yep, Classic scam that has been running quite some time.
They are usually shipping out, leaving the country or returning to an oil rig etc.
I love when they say the item is with the shipper "sealed and ready" for delivery.

Most of the time it is obvious and there are typically several grammar errors indicating that english may not be their first language.

Some people work really hard to avoid work, glad you didn't fall for it.

[ChrisRasman]

Makes me think it's someone local. Lots of scams down here. They like to pick on the seniors. Almost every week one get scammed. Last was (in the news) they got the call from the 'grandson' to bail them out on the phone.

Good news is, the senior centers are training them to be cautious. One was on the news about how she foiled the one who said they were from the IRS and she was supposed to pay a fine over the phone or be picked up. She called the cops instead.

The one that I got mixed up in picked a known local doctor who they must have found in the news that she was being called up from the National Guard. My first response was to Google her and I found her and the story was 'true'. Then I called eBay. Crossed my mind to try to contact the Army to let them know. Didn't do though. Thanks! I let it drop and not a peep. Thankfully.

[al perna]

Well how about this one . In fact you wont believe it but it is true . My accountant , in house gets a email from my partner . This email is perfect name s her I mean I tell you there is no way to know it is not him . So it said go to the trust fund and wire 147k , yes this is not a misprint . He also enclosed a invoice from china . We deal with china . So she send it . Two days latter another email arrives this time 87k , so she wires the money . Then one day latter they ask for 35k . She wires the funds . Next day they ask for 168k . Now she looks at the account and realizes there is nothing left . Then and only then she walks 3o feet to his office and ask where the money for the wire will come from , to which he said " What are you talking about " . We were able to freeze 78k in Hong Kong but it might take 2 years to get it .
My point is they hack your account they study who you email , how you email and where your money is , and then they make there move . Sad but a True Story . Happened in Dec.

[Joatha]

Originally Posted by al perna

Well how about this one . In fact you wont believe it but it is true . My accountant , in house gets a email from my partner . This email is perfect name s her I mean I tell you there is no way to know it is not him . So it said go to the trust fund and wire 147k , yes this is not a misprint . He also enclosed a invoice from china . We deal with china . So she send it . Two days latter another email arrives this time 87k , so she wires the money . Then one day latter they ask for 35k . She wires the funds . Next day they ask for 168k . Now she looks at the account and realizes there is nothing left . Then and only then she walks 3o feet to his office and ask where the money for the wire will come from , to which he said " What are you talking about " . We were able to freeze 78k in Hong Kong but it might take 2 years to get it .
My point is they hack your account they study who you email , how you email and where your money is , and then they make there move . Sad but a True Story . Happened in Dec.

This kind of stuff is exactly what my company does for a living - stopping and block spam, scams, phishing, spearphishing, and all other kinds of security. I love going up and talking to our security team and all the stuff they do on a daily basis to block and detect this stuff. Its incredible!

[isp2952]

Originally Posted by al perna

Well how about this one . In fact you wont believe it but it is true . My accountant , in house gets a email from my partner . This email is perfect name s her I mean I tell you there is no way to know it is not him . So it said go to the trust fund and wire 147k , yes this is not a misprint . He also enclosed a invoice from china . We deal with china . So she send it . Two days latter another email arrives this time 87k , so she wires the money . Then one day latter they ask for 35k . She wires the funds . Next day they ask for 168k . Now she looks at the account and realizes there is nothing left . Then and only then she walks 3o feet to his office and ask where the money for the wire will come from , to which he said " What are you talking about " . We were able to freeze 78k in Hong Kong but it might take 2 years to get it .
My point is they hack your account they study who you email , how you email and where your money is , and then they make there move . Sad but a True Story . Happened in Dec.

Al, This accountant are they in need of a job? They should be. Quite frankly I can't imagine anyone sending a red cent, based on any e-mail. Have they ever heard of Alexander Graham Bell. He invented something called a telephone, just in case that 30' walk was just too much for them.
Man am I sorry to hear about stuff like this. Makes me want to go back to work.

[al perna]

Long story short Jim , my partner lost his money cause he is a Idiot He now knows why businesses have procedures . They are built to protect . And yes my accountant left on her own within weeks of the wires . I don't blame it all on her, but she should have asked and known better .

[ChrisRasman]

Sort of the same thing recently happened to a local city here in SW FL. The city account got an official looking email and paid. Like 1/2 a million I think.