Smells Like A Scam To Me

gmzone

gmzone

CAGiversary!
Feedback
7 (100%)
Got this question from someone on ebay...

"Hi, seller im highly intrested in immediate purchase 2 of your item to my store in africa,and i will be able to pay u via western union money order .i will like to know if u can ship out the item immediately u receive the approval letter from western union in ur mail box cos this item is needed urgently in my store within 3 to 5days.if this term can be agreed forward to me the total cost of the item+shipping,ur name and address so that i can make the payment together .Thanks "

I know what I think about it, but I'll let others weigh in with their opinion.
 
Yeah. Definitely a scam.

First flag: Africa
Second flag: Western Union Money Order
Third flag: request to have item shipped immediately
 
Stick to your guns about payment. Just tell them that until you receive payment you will not ship the items. Explain that is your policy for all bidders and you will not make exception. It's completely impartial and business is business. Always other bidders.
 
Incorrect spelling, bad grammer, etc; can't be a scam :roll:. You would have to be insane to fall for that, that or you just like to torture yourself. ;)
 
Thanks. Just checked out where the buyer is registered. Not in Africa, not in the US, but SINGAPORE of all things.

On a related note, wish ebay would get rid of all the japanese/overseas auctions for bootleg items. People selling box sets of shows that aren't even released yet and bootleg GBA games, among other things.
 
From eBay's Help section, Pay Confidently:
Avoid paying for your item using instant cash transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you don't know. Instant cash transfer services do not provide purchase protection and are not covered by the eBay Standard Purchase Protection Program.

​
I read elsewhere that you should only use Western Union with someone you know (someone related to be safest). I got ripped off several years ago with something like this (though not through eBay), and it sucks pretty hard.

This is an obvious scam.
 
Question how come its easy to scam somebody when using money transfers such as Western Union? I am an ebay user and am curious because I have never heard of the such before.

But onto the main post, it defintely does not sound right. If I were a seller I would expect to receive payment first before I ship. If I receive a personal check I would wait a few just to make sure it doesn't bounce on me. I wouldn't deal with that buyer personally, find someone else interested in the product.
 
All these years Sally Struthers has been telling us to send food to Africa and we're just now finding out it's videogames they're desperate for!
 
Oh hell, I would have sold my server cabinet months ago if anyone of the dozens of Nigerians asking for it had come through... But no, here I am with a wall of fake money orders and one server cabinet looking to be sold.
 
[quote name='Seventh']Question how come its easy to scam somebody when using money transfers such as Western Union? I am an ebay user and am curious because I have never heard of the such before. [/QUOTE]

I'm not certain what you are asking, but I assume you mean, "Why is it easy to get someone to accept a fake cashier's check or money order and Western Union back the difference to someone?"

The answer being that most people are under the impression that cashier's checks and money orders are not "fakeable" and most banks will let you draw against a money order or cashier's check immediately unlike a regular check where it has to clear before they let you draw those funds.

Thanks to resourceful Nigerians cashier's checks can be faked and if you agree to Western Union them back the difference you are SOL when the check bounces and the bank wants their funds back.
 
"Thanks to resourceful Nigerians cashier's checks can be faked and if you agree to Western Union them back the difference you are SOL when the check bounces and the bank wants their funds back."

My question is what's preventing an american ebay user from doing this? Forging a cashier's check and getting the game and then funds bounce?
 
[quote name='Seventh']Question how come its easy to scam somebody when using money transfers such as Western Union? I am an ebay user and am curious because I have never heard of the such before. [/QUOTE]

More warnings and guidelines from Western Union itself

Basically with me they just gave me fake information that I couldn't trace (they gave me the name to send to over the phone); I wired them the money but never got my product or heard from them again. This all happened ~ '97 so maybe there are better ways to track people's email and info now, but live and learn I guess. :roll:
 
I've worked with Western Union in the past (sending and receiving payments for customers). It is definitely not the best tool for the paying of online goods. There is simply no protection for you to get your money back if there's a problem. You should know the person you are sending it to, whether it be a parent or child, or paying a bill (some people pay their mortgages with WU). In your case, it would be very easy for this person to give you false info and a false MTCN. And of course, you never ship before you receive your money anyway!

Just go with your gut on these things. It's sad though when people do fall victim to it. Really unfortunate.
 
I got an email similar to this the other day from someone on ebay. A day later I get an email from ebay telling me not to sell or ship anything to this person since he is no longer a registered user.

Here's the email I got from the person on ebay. I wonder if it's the same person.


helloo, how are you doing,have been looking around and i can across you item and it looks like what i have been sharing for,i am a nurse busy with work and everything,i will love to make you a very good bargin on your item cos i will love to buy it from you,my son is going to be having is birthday by next week,my son is currently with my uncle in west Africa and i will love to get this for him,this is what he want,i really want to buy this from you now,i will be paying you trough Western union auction payment at bid pay,as soon as my money is approved i will love to pick the item up trough my FedEx account so you wont be paying anything asper shipping the item to my son,tell me if this is ok with you and get back to me very soon with your full name and address so i can make full payment now. thanks with best regards"
 
I received an almost identical email to the one the OP received about a week ago. It was for a mint copy of MvC2 for Xbox. I absolutely despise people that try to take advantage of others... my only hope is karma. :)
 
If for some reason you want to trust him, let him send you the money order first, cash the money order, and then send it. I dont know how its going to get to Africa that fast though...
 
[quote name='nwaugh']Is that different from a "scammer?"[/QUOTE]

Here for a month and already being an ass. Is this what all your future posts will be? Spelling and Grammer mistakes? Wonderful. Hope I didn't do anything wrong, I don't want a newbie correcting me! :roll:
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Here for a month and already being an ass. Is this what all your future posts will be? Spelling and Grammer mistakes? Wonderful. Hope I didn't do anything wrong, I don't want a newbie correcting me! :roll:[/QUOTE]

Don't you mean grammar?

^Couldn't resist...
 
Here's what I would do:

Accept, and tell him to send the money.

When he sends it, CALL Western Union to confirm. Dont' call the number from the email, call the number off Western Union's site.

Ask the Western Union representative to verify that there is NO way this money could possibly disappear.

Then, either wait for the money or send when you are comfortable. Western Union is used to these concerns and will speak very frankly with you. If the guy is offering you a fortune, might as well give him the chance to follow through.
 
i got one like that last month, i still have it in my e-mail, its not from africa though

he didnt respond to my e-mail though

hello.
i will love to know if i can still make payment for this item of yours which i saw it listed at CRAIGSLIST in which i will want you to mail me back with the real ammount you want to sell the item and i will like to infrom you that i will be making my payment through WESTERN UNION BID PAY and once you have recived the confrimation letter tht your payment as been made i will love to pick the item up with my fedex account thanks. and if you have any question please feel free to mail me back..........

you catch the double m in "ammount", speeling erroe= scam too right?

might not of been scam, but i wasnt sure
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Here for a month and already being an ass. Is this what all your future posts will be? Spelling and Grammer mistakes? Wonderful. Hope I didn't do anything wrong, I don't want a newbie correcting me! :roll:[/QUOTE]

It's true, I've been acting out a little. I'll try to cut back in the future.
 
i got two last week from [email protected] and [email protected] both said they owned a video game store and really needed my xbox and would like me to send it as soon as i have recieved check they wanted it sent 2-3 day shipping to nigeria i told them i would send it when i have the money in my hand i guess they didnt like that answer cause i have not heard from them since maybe someone will go spam there email lol
 
so much better when they email you asking for money so they can move their supposed 3 million dollars to your bank account... then they'll jump through hoops for you. happened to my dad and he was gung ho about sending an african man some money... i intervened on his email account, scanned fake copies of western union receipts, etc, till the guy gave up.
check out this site: http://www.419eater.com/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top