Possible Readers Ads scam

[sound surround]

Hi all,

Just this morning I've had an interaction with a "buyer" on Readers Ads which smells of a scam. Their initial message:

Send me the picture and the asking price

The ad had the asking price already. I responded with the Reverb.com page for the item and almost immediately they responded with:

Hello,

I am okay with the Terms and Condition of sale as seen on the advert
including Your Final asking Price as Stated.

I have gone through the content of the advert once again am very
satisfy.Payment will be made out via a Check which will be issue to
you for the payment and pick up will be arrange after the Cheque is
Fully Cleared by your Bank.

I will not be able to come over to view it because im always busy at
work but i believe that all the details of the advert are right and
will want update about the Service History. You don't have to worry
yourself about the shipment, My Shipper will take care of pick up as
soon as you confirm the payment is Cleared by your Bank. let me know
if there is any other miscellaneous payment like,the tax charges, etc
that will be added to it.

Transportation and maintenance cost will be added to the Total amount
that will be issued on the Cheque, it will be used By My shipper who
will be coming for the Pick Up at your location after your bank
confirms cash available for use.My shipper is the one that will act on
my behalf regards the documentation of the change of ownership so any
signation will be sign by my shipper pick up and other all necessary
detail information will be fill by shipper so don't worry yourself
about the change of ownership documentation will be taken care by my
shipper.

Get Back to me with information listed below in order to make out the
Cheque and payment will be issued and send from Kent via first class
Mail

Name to Be Write on The Cheque
Address To Send the Cheque To so you receive and get it Deposited in
your bank.
Your Phone Numbers.
......................

There's no way they wrote that in the 30 seconds from my response. Their username is kierancourtney.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yes, it does sound like a scammer. Thanks. We'll look into it.

...and it has now been dealt with as best we can.

H

[Threecircles Recording Studio]

I've had two emails like this - in fact verbatim copies of the text above.

Alarm bells rang when they asked for a picture of the licence I was selling....

Same email as above so definitely suspect.

Email was kierancourtney2 so maybe a few accounts being used...?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Thanks -- I'll pass that on.

H

[mart88]

Hi I recived this from a 'buyer' for a item I have listed on SOS readers ads.Seems very suspicious.

ema samson antiquebuyer20177@________

Hello,

I saw the picture, I'm fine with the price and willing to purchase it. I will send you check for payment and after the money is in your account, I will provide for transportation.

Do not worry about the shipping, please contact me a transport agent for removal at home and all necessary paper will sign my name. I want to make a proper arrangement to the shipment to avoid delays.

Please reply with details for payment: -

Name:
Address:
Cellphone number:
Home number (if available)
Price:

I will ensure that the payment arrive at your address within 5 working days

Greetings

[Drew Stephenson]

Sounds like the now-standard SOS scammer text...

[mart88]

Sounds like the now-standard SOS scammer text...

Yes it does-I should add that they first contacted me last week asking to see some photos etc
then left it and sent this last night.Fishing or what?

[baward]

I too have had the same email, the same wording. The thing that most concerned me when I received it was the person's lack of civility, just 'Send me the image and price as requested' not even 'Please send me.."

It's from an email address stahirawilliam@gmail.com

[harddrive]

Got exactly the same contact from William Stahira (stahirawilliam@gmail.com)

I have had this in the past from respondees on here to my ads.

Note - they never make any enquiries about the equipment itself. The original response is usually curt and devoid of any human greeting and just deals with 'money'. Then the second response usually involves a convoluted way of payment usually involving a cheque or fanciful international payment transaction - and usually with some third party (like 'my secretary') They must think I was born in a barn. Some, however ...

Hugh and co can boot them off all he wants - they'll just come back with different logins. We just have to be vigilant and not 'bite' to their bait.

Cheers Hugh and co anyway for your support.

harddrive

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yes, I'm afraid they do keep coming back, but it's still worth our booting them off as quickly as we can, so keep the info coming.

H

[hogberto]

Here's another that smells bad.

The 'buyer' is diana.adjadj@***.com

No questions about the gear itself, no suggestion of even knowing what it is. Just:

I'll take it and I am okay with the price £xxx and like to proceed straight with payment by certified cashiers cheque, i will also handle the shipment once the cheque is cleared.

Kindly email the following:

Your Full Name (Name on Cheque)....
Full Address (Delivery Address).....
Cell Phone Number........

Payment will be issued and mailed as soon as you email the requested details.
Looking forward to your reply.

Aye right.

[Forum Admin]

The 'buyer' is diana.adjadj@***.com

Feel free to post the full email address -- that way it shows up in Google searches for anyone checking if an email has been reported.

I also need it in order to delete the account.

[Forum Admin]

I worked it out... diana.adjadj@yahoo.com has been banned.

[hogberto]

I worked it out... diana.adjadj@yahoo.com has been banned.

That's the one - thanks!

[Code1]

Hi,

I have just received what appears to be a scammer contacting me about items I am selling:

Name: John Cole
Email: jc4017947@gmail.com

The typical cheque/ postal request to pay for purchase without viewing.

Message content below:

Hi,

Glad to hear from you.This sounds good and it's like we can come to
an agreement,so keep the ad off market and consider sold to me.I am
okay with the price £2,999.,your details is needed for payment to be
issued out to you via post,in which reputable courier will handle the
shipment.

So do not worry about that OKAY.An excess money we be included on the
check payment which would cover both the item bought and for the
pick-up okay.All you need to do,Once the cheque clears in 3 working
days,you are to deduct your payment,afterward the remaining funds
in-cures shipping for the pick up at your location... I will send the
shipping agent details when the payment clears.

Get back to me with your details as requested below:

Full name...

Residential address...

Cell Phone number...

Home Phone number...

I will await to hear from you with regard this as soon as possible.

Thank You.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Certainly looks like a scammer. We'll delete them from the system.

H

[Forum Admin]

He's banned. Reads like the standard overpayment cheque scam to me.

You did the right thing by posting his name and email here, so Google can index it and anyone searching for them will see this topic and any other references to possible scams by that email address/user.

[forumuser919422]

Hi,
I’ve just received the below message re an item I’m selling....

—
Enquirer details:
Username: morrisonpeggy
Email: mrdmann96@gmail.com

Message:
Send pictures with your asking price.
—

The listing has the asking price (although it is ONO).

I’ve just noticed the username is similar to one called out in the warning header text by SOS although looks like they may be using a new email address. I had stupidly replied with some pictures and details of the item.....

[Forum Admin]

Hi,
I’ve just received the below message re an item I’m selling....

—
Enquirer details:
Username: morrisonpeggy
Email: mrdmann96@gmail.com

Message:
Send pictures with your asking price.
—

The listing has the asking price (although it is ONO).

I’ve just noticed the username is similar to one called out in the warning header text by SOS although looks like they may be using a new email address. I had stupidly replied with some pictures and details of the item.....

Thanks for the alert. I have deleted that account and blocked the email.
Just ignore any further emails from that address (and blacklist it in your email program if you don't wish to see them).

Ian G

[forumuser919422]

Thanks for the alert. I have deleted that account and blocked the email.
Just ignore any further emails from that address (and blacklist it in your email program if you don't wish to see them).

Ian G

Thanks Ian.

[doodleberry]

I have also received a similar set of messages in response to my advert, and it smelled fishy. Poor English for a start. Name was "mrd Mann" and the email address is "mrdmann96@gmail.com". On the initial email I got from SOS, his username was "morrisonpeggy". He asked for pictures, which I sent (so he has my email address) and then received the following response:

Hi,
Glad to hear from you.This sounds good and it's like we can come to
an agreement,so keep the ad off market and consider sold to me.I am
okay with the price £2995 your details is needed for payment to be
issued out to you via post,in which reputable courier will handle the
shipment.

So do not worry about that OKAY.An excess money we be included on the
check payment which would cover both the item bought and for the
pick-up okay.All you need to do,Once the cheque clears in 3 working
days,you are to deduct your payment,afterward the remaining funds
in-cures shipping for the pick up at your location... I will send the
shipping agent details when the payment clears.

Get back to me with your details as requested below:

Full name...

Residential address...

Cell Phone number...

Home Phone number...

I will await to hear from you with regard this as soon as possible.

[Forum Admin]

doodleberry - as suggested to the previous poster, just ignore their/his emails and do NOT proceed with this. It smells like the "cheque overpayment" scam where they send you more than you ask for, then ask you to send them the difference. Their cheque is fake but will clear initially (making you believe you have their money; in truth you do not, as banks take weeks to verify such things), and if you do send them the difference, you'll be out of pocket and they'll know what your bank details are!

Be warned - give it a very wide berth!

[doodleberry]

Thanks Admin, glad I checked up on the forum!

[Guido3]

I had a similar one yesterday. Knowing it to be a scam I replied with a heavily inflated price which they still agreed to. It must be automated.

I wonder if their next reply will be as I educated them in a few Anglo-Saxon swear words!!!!!

[Forum Admin]

I educated them in a few Anglo-Saxon swear words!!!!!

I think even AI bots can understand those!