Examples of Suspected Fraud/Fake Emails

[PayPal_Adrian]

Hello everyone!

One of the greatest strengths consumers possess against fraud and phishing is education and collaboration.  To help support your safety online, I'm going to open this special thread up for you.  Here, you can post examples of what you believe to be attempts by individuals to defraud you or others of their hard earned valuables and money. 

Before we begin, a few housekeeping points:

• We will be using this as a "master thread," so if we find an example in other areas of the boards, we may merge the post into this one.

• For everyone's safety, please remove any last names or contact information (including email addresses) from your examples.  In many instances, the names provided by fraudsters are fake or may actually be the name of someone they already defrauded. 

• On that same note, please don't ever attempt to confront a fraudster or attempt to track them down.  Instead, turn the information you do have over to your local authorities. 

• Please also remove any links from your posts, as these could potentially go to spoofed or phishing websites.

Other than that, we only ask that you keep it productive and stay within the Forum Decorum and posting guidelines.  I'll be stopping in on a regular basis to clean house and comment on posts, so don't be surprised if you see my mug - or another moderator - stopping in to say hello! 

With that said, I'm going to start moving posts in, so you might see some older examples mixed in with the new posts.  I hope this thread becomes a great resource for everyone!

Stay safe,

Adrian

[Luckylady7]

Thank you all for posting this! It happened to me today and I almost fell for it. If I hadn't read these,I would have! Here is the text conversation I had with this person: (Hope it helps a lot of people) From phone number: <removed> Hello, do you still have this? DELL VENUE 8 PRO Model 5830 - $175 Yep! OK. I'm buying this for my nephew, i would offer you $230 including shipping via USPS,i will be paying via PayPal, Do you have a PayPal account? Would the postage be included in the $230.00? What is the zip code where it is going? You do know I couldn't send it until the payment was posted to PayPal and not while the payment is pending,right? 23401 What is the email address associated with your PayPal account? What city is it going to? Does the $230 include the postage. If so, I need to find out what the postage will cost. Then I read these posts! And wrote this: Never mind! I am not doing this! AND here is why!!!!! And I put one of these posts here.

[Ed32]

Hey there, were any of the people who messaged you say they want to buy the item for a cousin in Nigeria? I received a message by someone on eBay saying they want to buy the item and have me ship it to a cousin with the name of Steven <removed> in Nigeria. When I searched the address, this forum came up. Any advice??

[kernowlass]

@Ed32

THIS IS A TYPICAL PAYPAL SCAM.

They encourage you to use paypal and often ask you to send the item as a gift to a relative somewhere often Nigeria.

You will get/got a "fake" email that looks as though it is from paypal.....it isn't.

It will say the buyer has paid ...you won't have been paid.

They will tell you that the payment is released when you provide paypal with a tracking/shipping number......this won't happen.

They also threaten legal action...have a laugh at that one and ignore it as its rubbish.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send trackable, they advise it for seller protection etc but it is not compulsory.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[dupree223]

yea had one from rita <removed>, saying buying item for her cousin in nigeria .

[glowfish51]

i've just had the same thing from her!!!! What do i do? Just say bye? theres no money in my PayPal acct.

Help!!!

[kernowlass]

@glowfish51

Ig nore and delete any emails.

[jjaquil56]

Just Received One Name: Redd <removed> Ship To : Tunji <removed> Address <removed> Festac Lagos, Nigeria 23401

[BigDaddy92]

 Here is another one:

Mikel <removed>

<removed>

Lagos Island

Lagos 101001

Nigeria

[dupree223]

i to was nearly scammed today, by a rita <removed>, who wanted me to send a vintage watch to nigeria for her cousin who working there, asked for my paypal address so she could send payment,knew it was a scam, so sent her it. then get a emailsaying payment pending and to ship item today. 

funny thing is the paypal emals were in my spam folder, and also my paypal is in my maden name, and other emails i get from paypal also says my maden name. 

1st mistake - they used my married name, so knew that was a scam.

then as i hadnt replied at all today. got a email from this rita smith, saying is this a scam or what!!!!!!

and to keep her informed, as she had paid and expected a update today.

so i replied.

this isnt a scam, i am in contact with the police regarding this matter.

and nothing back as yet.........

[DRB1976]

I am also dealing with something similar... Paid more than the price for a cell phone and afterwards I was asked to send to his son in Nigeria immediatley as a birthday present. Has an Arizona area code, gives the last name of "Solomon". Claims his son works for the US Embassy on Nigeria... sounded very fishy so I'm glad I found these posts...