We've been running the something like following article in a rotation on the home page of theBubbler.com for years.
BEWARE OF SCAMS WHEN SELLING ONLINE!
This information was originally posted in our Forums; we're updating our warnings with more examples of things to watch for.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you place your Classified ads:
Please be careful about who you give your contact information to.
Not everyone's intentions are as good as yours. I recently received this email:
i received a call through ATT internet relay requesting to buy my jeep...the caller gave all the marks of being a scam...unfortunately i gave him my email address before i knew about this...please give a heads up to people re: offers to buy their items from long distances without seeing them first (will send an agent, carrier etc.) esp. if they say they will buy them sight unseen, send a money transfer, MO etc...accept nothing but cash...need to warn people not to give out their phone numbers and why
We now filter responses to your ads, to weed out the scammers. "Filter" means that non-direct email responses come to us first for deletion or approval, as we see fit and appropriate.
Our filtering process may case a delay before you receive the response. Nevertheless, stopping scammer's email from ever reaching your inbox is worth the slight delay.
Our filtering catches the vast majority of the scam emails sent to our Members. However, a scam may make it through our filtering process from time to time.
We highly recommend that you do not put your email address in your ad if you have any concerns about being "taken".
If the person contacting you seems suspicious, don't give them any information about yourself!
If you don't feel comfortable putting your name or email address in your ad, use theBubbler's private messaging system to communicate with potential buyers. We can and often do ban the "bad apples" from using Private Messages, but we can't stop them from reading your email address in your ad and emailing or calling you if you post it!
If you need an explanation of Private Messages, check the FAQ.
theBubbler can't be responsible for any communication between our Classified placers and people who contact them (see our disclaimer) - Nevertheless, our goal is for theBubbler to be a safe place to buy or sell.
Here are some things to look out for:
1. People talking about being an overseas agent. They say their "client" wants to buy your item and they will pay to ship it overseas
2. Someone offering to send you a money order for more than your item is worth. They will want you to mail them the balance. The money order is stolen and you will lose the money and your item.
3. Very poor grammar. Many scammers are from other countries and have a limited grasp of English
4. Scammers often have a template they use for their responses. Keep an eye out for the exact title of your ad in quotes or braces. Example "I am interested in your {"1995 Totota Celica for Sale"}.
If you have a bad experience with people contacting you, please send us as many details about the incident as possible (via our
Contact Us page, so we may warn others!
Again, please be careful when dealing with people over the Internet. We filter emails, but we are unable to catch everything. Please be careful about the information you provide people. If someone seems suspicious, do not do business with them. If you didn't put your contact information in your ad, they won't even have your email address until you respond to them.
To view examples of some scam emails, click "Read More" Here are some of the scam emails that have been filtered, if you receive any messages like this, just delete them, do not respond.
Name: THOMAS VARGAS
Email:
dccautos@outgun.com
Message: Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Thomas Vargas,manager of David car compound {DCC},Parc Centre Boeing Avenue 9, Schiphol-Rijk, Netherlands. We specialise in purchase of Autos(car,bike and boat) for customers here in Europe and other part,and we get paid in commission,after payment has been confirmed by the seller to the buyer. I write you on behalf of our client to contact you and arrange for the buying and shippment of your CAR which our client saw on the internet, we would like to know the conditions of the said CAR and probably arrange for payment to get to you and shippment.
My customer is interested in purchasing your CAR mentioned for the sum of $500,and we will arrange for the pick up of the CAR once payment is confirmed cleared by you. Please acknowledge the offer and we will inform the buyer of your confirmation of acceptance to sell and have the funds remitted to you as soon as possible, and i'll like this transaction to be kept in utmost trust. I hope you can understand.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thomas Vargas
NB; PLS SEND THE PICTURE OF THE CAR.
This email has it all: Spam email address, wants to buy the item without seeing it, over emphasizing how much he trusts you, etc.
Name: kath
Email:
katheline_01@yahoo.com
Message:
Hello,
I hereby wish to inform you that i am interested to purchase from you. I saw the advert on the internet today, Kindly give me your best offer.
I will pay you with a certified check. I have a client and colleague of mine who reside in Redding CA,and will be ready to send you payment by post when we both finally agreed on terms.
If its still available for sale, provide the details below with which the check will be sent to ...
NAME.....................
ADDRESS..................(NOT P.O BOX)
CITY.....................
ZIP CODE.................
STATE....................
COUNTRY..................
TEL NO...................
Also let me know the condition,To see the picture.What is your Best offer ?
I look forward to read from you soonest.
Cheers,
Kath...
Beware of anyone that is acting as a third party. They are probably going to pay you with stolen checks or money orders.
Name: jack
Email:
godgoodday@keromail.com
Message: Hello, My name is Mr jack i am intersted in your (1994 klx 650) for sale and i want you to tell me the last price you are willing to sell it and the present conditions of it and my mode of payment is by a Certified Cashier Cheque if you are ok with that i want you to email back with price of the Horse and the present conditions of it.
Thanks...
Regards...
jack.......
Also beware of Emails that don't make sense. The original ad was for a motorcycle and this guy is asking about a horse? I don't know that much about horses, but I've never heard of anyone asking about a "1994 horse."
His first response must have been to someone selling a horse, then he forgot to change it in the messages he sent to other people. Scamming must be tiring. (Yes, this message was sent to several people, (selling various items) all asking about a horse)
Name: Mike Job
Email:
mikejob@uboot.com
Message: Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mike Job, the Managing Director of MikeJob procurement limited, my company is located in Amsterdam,The Netherland. I specialised in buying of new and used goods on behalf of My clients, I'm been paid on commission for the purchase of goods by the buyer and the shippers that are coming for the pick up. I have a client who is interested in your above mentioned good and he has accepted to pay the amount of $25k as you have requested so he will like to see the pics.I will want you to reach me immediately if the good is still available for sale,so that we can complete this transaction in a timely manner.
Thanks and God Bless,
Mike Job.
contact me at;
mikejob@uboot.com
This guy is going to spend $25,000 to buy an item overseas and all he needs is a picture? If the deal seems very complicated, its probably a scam.
If the deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regards,
Keith
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