Scam or Legit? You decide!

[fastredpacman]

I advertised this cab in some classifieds section. I got a couple of responses like this one. Tell me what you guys think. Below is the actual email:


Hello,

         i've just been to the site where you advertised your Arcade Cabinet Donkey Kong Jr  for sale. If it's still available kindly get back to me with pictures & a detailed explanation of it's present state. I would also like to know the best possible amount you are willing to sell for.

Thank you & waiting for your soonest reply

Yours Sincerly

Mrs Natasha Nathaniel

Here was my response:

Hi its still available. Its in pretty decent shape and
I would like $175.00 for it. Here are the pics.


Now tell me what you guys think. Don't all these scams sound alike?

[Wizard of DelRay]

Now tell me what you guys think. Don't all these scams sound alike?

Where's the scam?  So far all they've asked is for some pictures and how much you want.  It's when they start talking about cashier's checks and Western Union.  Then it's a scam.

But no.  There's no way you can say it's a scam just by that alone.

[flampoo]

It's a scam. The horrible grammar is a dead giveaway. The sentence structure is like a train wreck. No one is that polite.

Please kinldy thank you sincerely yours... Bah. Humbug.

[MonitorGuru]

At first I was thinking "why are you riled up?"  but then reading the text a second time, I see tons of red flags.

"arcade cabinet DK Jr"....   reversed order.
"kindly"
"present state"
"best possible amount"
"waiting for your doonest reply"
"Mrs"
"Natasha"


This is a romainian forged check scam wanting to happen.  The next email you will receive is that they will send you  a check for $10,175 and ask that you send $10,000 to "a business partner they own money to" in the U.S., and then ship the game to them overseas.

There seems to be a severe increase in trolling for arcade games recently. (this scam has been big in the used car area for years)

Also, since you said you "got a couple of responses LIKE this one", I assume they are virtually identical in wording and as such even more circumstantial evidence that they are gonna turn into forged check/overpayment scams.

If I was responding to you about an ad, I'd word it like:

"Hi. I saw an ad you placed in the Tribune for a DK Jr arcade game.  Do you still have it? Do you have some pictures of it so I can see what shape it is in?  What is the price you're asking for it?  Where are you located?  Thanks, Monitor Guru"

That's written a whole lot differently than the scam letters.   I think someone else recently posted here or on RGVAC newsgroup they were attempted to be scammed with a similar letter.

[clanggedin]

lol

[GGKoul]

Say it's in s**tty condition.

[RayB]

Most people use sh*tty spelling and grammar. Even americans who only speak english. Just head over to any Message Board dedicated to subjects other than computers, technology or arcade games. (For example, go to an automobile modding message board). You'll suddenly realize that smart people who can put more than one sentence together properly are actually in the minority.

Sad, scary, but true.

~Ray B.

[exibar]

It's a scam.  Do a google search on "If it's still available kindly get back to me with pictures & a detailed explanation of it's present state"  and you'll see hundreds of hits with the exact same wording... all scams.

  If they are serious, have them send the payment via western union.  You don't even have to give them your name for that, an alias will do.  All they need is a password to attach to the funds when they western union your money.  All you need is that password (and the $ amount I think) for you to get the money from western union.

  Here are some other tip offs that it's a scam:

"Arcade Cabinet Donkey Kong Jr"  is probabaly the exact wording you had in the title of your ad, is it not?  That's a hint of an automated or quick cut and past response.  Probabaly scripted.
  there are TWO spaces after the "Jr" too, another sign of a poorly programed script.

"know the best possible amount you are willing to sell for" is another hint of a scam.  The scammers try to entice people by offering more than what the seller is asking, or by offering the "top amount" that the seller is asking for.

  another tip off is that you're selling a large item that would have to be truck frieght shipped.  The next step for them is to send you a message stating that they are ok with the price, but someone stateside will be sending a bank check for $4,000.  They'll tell you to cash it and even have the bank verify the check, then send them the $3,825 and they will arraigne for the item to be picked up.  They will never make these arraingements though you will be out $3,825 after the bank calls you and tells you the main branch declared the check a phoney....

   BTW: it takes about 15 - 25 days for a check to fully clear the banking system, YES even a money order, cashier's check, or bank check.

 Please don't fall for this scam...

  Mike B

[Wizard of DelRay]

Just like MonitorGuru, after reading it a second time, I have to agree that it does sound a bit odd.  In fact, I think that exibar has it right on with the cut-and-paste.

Listen to the others on this one as they are probably right and I just didn't interpret it as well as they did (this time )

[fastredpacman]

Thanks guys. I thought so to just wanted to clear it with fellow Arcader's.

[fastredpacman]

Here is the response from the person:
 Hello Rick,
                 from what you say & what i see by the pictures i will agree to pay the $175 for the Arcade. But the thing is i want to count on your word, as i will not be there to physicaly inspect it. I am out to Israel on an official company assignment as of this mornning.
 
Good enough i have spoken with a Coleague of mine back home who owes me quite a sum & She will be forwarding payment to you on my behalf. This will be in form of a US Postal Money Order.
 
I also will be responsible for shipping of the Cabinet down to me in manchester CT.
 
Kindly get back to me with your name & address, so the M.O can be made out & sent to you soonest. Kindly include your phone number
 
Yours Sincerly
 
Mrs Natasha Nathaniel



So come on guys give me some ideas how to mess with this scammer, kind of the same way that that apple laptop guy did with the scammer.

[Wizard of DelRay]

Well, if you want to mess with them a little longer then go ahead and get the money order and have it checked by your bank or post office.  If it's a fake, report them.  I would not bother to reply or would say that it's already been sold.  Whatever you decide to do, don't give out your phone number (at least not a real one.)

[GGKoul]

Spending the Scammer a fake Apple PowerBook and having him pay the custom charges for the fale laptop is by far the best story!! It'll take a lot beat that.

[SirPeale]

Esp if 'she' says she is going to send a POSTAL money order, get it and then take it right to the PO for verification.  If it's fake, then they've got whomever on federal charges.

[Peter Baluk]

hey guys went thru this about 3 months ago.Received a money order that turned out to be counterfeit.Cost me a few bucks but could have been a lot worse.

[MonitorGuru]

You could play a LOT with this person. Sending a very high value fake item is one nice way to get them the customs charge (but you're out the shipping costs AND you are actually then possibly in violation of laws yourself regarding fraudulent customs caims (same as undervaluating something), as well as mail fraud.

Yes, you could continue to go through with this and if you actually got a postal money order then you'd find it was fraudulent once you got to the post office. My guess is they wont actually send one they will claim they didn't have the opportunity to get one and instead sent one from a "well known US bank" such as CitiBank or US Bank or BankAmerica.  Of course THAT one will be fraudulent.


I'd say just walk away.  The chance of the PO / Bank being able to actually use the information to capture anyone is small.  Check the full email headers on the emails and you'll probably fiind they're bouncing through foreign servers as it is.

Say it's sold and walk away is my suggestion, no matter how much "fun" it might be to cheat them. It might end up costing YOU more in the long run (besides time itself).

[GGKoul]

Here's the link to the P-P-P-Powerbook scam...

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

[froggerman]

Here's the link to the P-P-P-Powerbook scam...

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

That is a great story!