Online Scams: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t...

A friend in Delta recently shared with us some of his correspondence about a proposed vehicle sale. After several emails, the “buyer” made the pitch, basically “we’ll send you a certified check for $6,000, and you send us the difference between the vehicle cost and our check amount and keep some money for your trouble”. A number of classified advertisers have reported this kind of scam to us.

Our friend’s suspicions were aroused early on, but kept up the correspondence to get to the bottom line. His clues were a “purchaser” from outside of Alaska, very poor English, and finally, the strange payment offer.

Had he fallen for the scam, he would probably have lost at least his $3,000 in a check to the scammer. The usual procedure for these scammers is to send a “certified check” that looks good, but does not pay out in the end. When the certified check is deposited, it is credited to the local checking account, but when the bank tries to collect on the check, it is found to be bogus, and so the deposit is reversed.

Our advice to all of our classified advertisers is this: be careful of all online deals, and especially careful buying or selling outside of Alaska. Unusual payment proposals should be examined very carefully. And….if it sounds to good to be true, it probably isn’t…..

Here is the email from the scammer as he attempts to “set the hook.”

From: Bonny Henn
To:
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 3:34 PM
Subject: PAYMENT TERMS AND SHIPPING DETAILS

Hello, we have concluded, making the paymentThanks for your email and update on the bottom price($2,000),it was accepted by my clientand he has directed us to issue payment to you. I would need your assurance that the property whose payment we would start processing,is in a good condition as the only view our client had of the vehicle was on the internet and this purchase is hinged on his personal judgement of what the property's state and output would be like,in comparison to models of its category. However,he made out a certified cashiers check of($6,000) before he travelled for a conference,for a previous vehicle and its shipment charges etc,but it wasunfortunately sold. The amount on the check he deposited for the vehicle is bigger than what should be paid to you now, so the check is now meant for the total expenses which includes the purchase of your vehicle ,its pick up from its present location and the shipping charges/other necessary shipping arrangements.However he has instructed us to bikery on with this transaction. So when payment gets to you, you're required to deduct the cost of your vehicle ($2,000) and send the balance of($3,000) to my client shipping agent to enable him offsett shipping charges/arrangements. Once the transaction is concluded, My client shipping agent will be coming for the pick up of the vehicle from its present location, on an access to a prepaid shipper for shipment,and also conclude other necessary shipping arrangements. So you dont have to bother yourself about the pick up and shipping rrangements, while title papers and other necessary documets will be sent by you via fedex courier . Please Confirm this and provide (1) NAME (2) CONTACT ADDRESS AND CONTACT PHONE NUMBER(s) for check payment to be delivered to you via regular mail immediately , please remove the add of the vehicle from the internet to avoid complications from other buyers

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