Suspect scammer

I've had a reply to an ad on another site from a James Leeson, using fractured English, offering to arrange his own pickup and pay by cashiers cheque. This despite me saying it was collect only. I've told him that it is cash on collecton only, and have heard nothing more. Wikipedia reckons cashiers cheques are often used in fraud, so beware.

These pay in odd ways and 'collect' scenarios are always scams, it seems.

Neil

P.S. Using another site to sell? Shame on you!

From wikipedia:

The counterfeit cashier's check scam is a scheme where the victim is sent a cashier's check or money order for payment on an item for sale on the Internet. When the money order is taken to the bank it may not be detected as counterfeit for 10 business days or more, but the bank will deposit the money into the account and state that it has been "verified" or is "clear" in about 24 hours. This gives the victim a false feeling of security that the money order was real, so they proceed with the transaction. When the bank does find that the money order is counterfeit and reverses the account credit many days later, the customer will usually have already mailed the item. In many cases the "check" or "money order" is for more than the amount owed, and the victim is asked to refund the difference in cash.^[

^{So you lose your goods and they take you for a sum of cash through the refund element. I have heard there is often a courier scam wrapped into the bundle as well.}

^Neil

OK so I've advertised it on here. LBSC Betty. Absolute bargain, hope I don't get killed in the rush.

Infact, sellers should also be aware of buyers paying for items in advance using paypal and then coming to collect in person. It is possible for a buyer to pay for an item using paypal, go collect the item in person, and then immediately raise a "I have not received my item" case with paypal, who will immediately find in the buyers favour as you the seller are not able to provide any proof of delivery of the item. Paypal will only provide you with Seller Protection if you can provide both proof that the item was sent and received by the buyer, leaving you totally unprotected from fraudulent buyers.

Graham

Insist on them signing a document stating they have collected the item? If they won't sign they don't take it away. Could always take a picture of them with the item too.

Andrew

That's what I do if I take something to some one or they collect it. I didn't on a camera lens that was bought using paypal off ebay and then collected but maybe it would be wise to have something that proves that the buyer has it.

John

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Well, if you're selling pretty low value stuff, then it would be a pretty stupid scam, as you could quite happily refund the money, knowing you did actually send the item and refuse to do any subsequent business with that buyer. So if you can't afford to lose it then maybe you need a better delivery service.

Michael W

I've had another one! A Mr Dane Jenning wants to buy the advert. I suppose they only need one sucker in a thousand.

Edited By duncan webster on 17/08/2016 21:31:51

I live in the middle of nowhere in the USA.. I was selling a 14 1/2" South Bend Lathe through various outlets. A scammer similar to what was described here was very persistant about collecting the lathe and paying for it with a cashiers check. Also wanted Me to pay His pickup crew with cash when They got here as "He could not trust Them with a check." If He admitted He could not trust Them, why should I trust ANY of them. They were going to drive around 1000 miles to pick it up. Took a coon ages for Him to drop off the radar.

I'm sometimes tempted by a life of crime. I'm sure with a little thought it would be possible to make scams like this much more convincing. Fortunately for the well-being of society the thought of prison deters me - I cannot shower with other men.

Cheers,

Dave

PS. Had to look up Mark's "coon ages". My nearest raccoon would be in a zoo, though there are a lot of llamas round here.

I got another call yesterday from some scally with a very strong Scouse accent. She had clearly got my name and phone number from somewhere. This follows on from a similar one several weeks ago which was almost certainly the same outfit. She (this time - the last one was a he) said she was ringing about "a recent minor traffic accident" I'd had. When I asked he to tell me more, she asked me if I'd had any accidents in the last 2 years. When I pointed out she had claimed I was involved in some form of accident in the first place and asked her why she was now asking me, she just repeated the question. Obviously she wouldn't tell me if she'd had any accidents in the last 2 years herself and hung up on me.

The previous call was able to tell me my number plate, car make and model and my full name and said "one of his clients had been involved in an accident with me". Again, strangely, he was unable to provide any details of said alleged accident. I pressed him for details of this fictitious prang and he hung up on me.

Clearly these scallies are out fishing, rather like a fortune teller, trying to lead you on so that you tell them about some prang you've had. But rather then pretend they will make a claim for you, I suspect they will actually be looking to make up a claim against you.

The first one had a phone number and when you rang it you couldn't get anywhere or talk to anyone. The second number was ID withheld. The coppers should be arresting these people but there are now so few of hem left that it's a hopeless idea.

I had another from Microsoft Technical Services a couple of days ago. Looks like they are around again. Not had one for years. Seems my Linux PC is screaming for help via Windows. I didn't know they had built that in.

John

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