411 scams on Craigslist?

[blueindian]

So, I have got some things listed on Craigslist. Here's an email I got today. . .

dvd player - $25 {offer$50]
From: "salami seun" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, July 13, 2005 5:44 am
To: [email protected]
Priority: Normal
Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version

hello seller
> i am Mrs.Donna Williams ,i work in
> England with a famous tellecom operator i saw your
> item on display in craigslist and i am interested in
> buying it for my daughter on her forthcoming 25th
> birthday.i use pay pal,money gram,money transfer and
> also bid pay for my business transactions.so, anyone
> you find suitable please reply me immediately so we
> can finalise on this transaction,also i need to know
> if the item is in a great condition.
>
>
> MRS >Donna Williams

[cheapie]

So, I have got some things listed on Craigslist. Here's an email I got today. . .

dvd player - $25 {offer$50]
From: "salami seun" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, July 13, 2005 5:44 am
To: [email protected]
Priority: Normal
Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version

hello seller
> i am Mrs.Donna Williams ,i work in
> England with a famous tellecom operator i saw your
> item on display in craigslist and i am interested in
> buying it for my daughter on her forthcoming 25th
> birthday.i use pay pal,money gram,money transfer and
> also bid pay for my business transactions.so, anyone
> you find suitable please reply me immediately so we
> can finalise on this transaction,also i need to know
> if the item is in a great condition.
>
>
> MRS >Donna Williams



why would anyone pay more than you're asking for a $25 dvd player and pay to have it shipped across the pond? if they mention western union then bingo.


survey says.....scam

[SnowSurfer]

yes i would love to pay double the price, plus shipping for your dvd player...maybe she really likes to watch ntsc movies or something?


screaming scam.

they could at least make it semi belivable like saying they live in Walla Walla Washington but they just went to england on business and they really want to watch dvds so could you send it to them right away...

[Jeffbx]

From: "salami seun" <[email protected]>

hello seller
i am Mrs.Donna Williams

Everyone knows that Salami Seun is just another way to spell Donna Williams.

[modena]

Not sure if this relates at all, but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-07-10-cyber-mules-cover_x.htm

[InfiniteNothing]

So, I have got some things listed on Craigslist. Here's an email I got today. . .

dvd player - $25 {offer$50]
From: "salami seun" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, July 13, 2005 5:44 am
To: [email protected]
Priority: Normal
Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version

hello seller
> i am Mrs.Donna Williams ,i work in
> England with a famous tellecom operator i saw your
> item on display in craigslist and i am interested in
> buying it for my daughter on her forthcoming 25th
> birthday.i use pay pal,money gram,money transfer and
> also bid pay for my business transactions.so, anyone
> you find suitable please reply me immediately so we
> can finalise on this transaction,also i need to know
> if the item is in a great condition.
>
>
> MRS >Donna Williams


Seems fine to me. Take the money via paypal and then what do you have to worry about?

[Paymaster]

Seems fine to me. Take the money via paypal and then what do you have to worry about?

A reversal of charges from her *unconfirmed* paypal account. She gets a free dvd player, you get screwed.

[InfiniteNothing]

A reversal of charges from her *unconfirmed* paypal account. She gets a free dvd player, you get screwed.

It seems like it would be a slam dunk to dispute the paypal charge with your bank. I'm not too familiar with this but provided you had delivery confirmation from the post office, Paypal shouldn't be able to do a thing.

[ufcrusher]

It could be all about the player region. If she wants to have a player that will play Region 1 discs or unlimited region players, she might not be able to get that over there.

If you feel like its a scam, tell the person that you are contacting paypal regarding the issue since you would have to send the product overseas. I am sure that she will balk once you say that.

[blueindian]

I'm not even going to respond. I know it's a scam attempt, I got the same message for a TV and a set of speakers.

My post was really more of a "wow, can you believe these idiots are trying this scam on CL now?" type of thing.

[Jeffbx]

It seems like it would be a slam dunk to dispute the paypal charge with your bank. I'm not too familiar with this but provided you had delivery confirmation from the post office, Paypal shouldn't be able to do a thing.

Yeah, they absolutly can - this is one of the biggest problems with Paypal at the moment. 'She' paypals $50 for the DVD player & BlueI ships it off. About a week later, Paypal gets notification that the credit card used was stolen. Paypal must refund the money to the CC company - guess whose account it comes out of? The seller in this case has zero recourse. Sucks.

That's why from time to time you'll see a seller on ebay that will only take bank account transfers on paypal - no CC payments.

[InfiniteNothing]

Uhm no. Paypal will only mess with your paypal account not with your "real" money.

When a chargeback occurs, the money that is subject to the chargeback is deducted from PayPal’s bank account. In turn, PayPal places a temporary hold on the same amount in the seller’s PayPal balance (i.e., the funds are frozen).
From: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/seller/ChargebackRisk-outside
They also have a chargeback fighting team just for this senario.
Furthuremore, there is a $5,000 seller protection program:



How do I qualify for the Seller Protection Policy?
http://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif
In order for a transaction to be eligible for protection under the Seller Protection Policy, the transaction must be marked as SPP eligible and sellers must:

Have a qualified Verified Business or Premier Account
Ship to the confirmed address on the Transaction Details page
Retain reasonable proof of postage that can be tracked online
Require signature receipt on items equal to or more in value than $250.00 USD

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_help-ext&eloc=1479&loc=1474&unique_id=2128&source_page=_home&flow=

[jstreet]

I remember hearing about a scam where a buyer would offer to overpay (using illegal funds, forged money orders, etc) and then ask you to refund the different from your personal (legitimate) funds.

Dunno if that's the case here though, as PayPal is involved.

[InfiniteNothing]

I remember hearing about a scam where a buyer would offer to overpay (using illegal funds, forged money orders, etc) and then ask you to refund the different from your personal (legitimate) funds.

Dunno if that's the case here though, as PayPal is involved.
I didn't see any such refund request. Hey and if it happens... just say "no". :shrug:

[Jeffbx]

Uhm no. Paypal will only mess with your paypal account not with your "real" money.

(paypay info snipped)




That's a little better, BUT - in the event that 1) the buyer has no funds in their paypal account, and 2) you don't qualify for seller protection (like if the buyer doesn't have a confirmed address), you're still on the hook to pay back the money to Paypal. So if you're not careful, you can get hosed pretty badly.

Check out http://www.paypalsucks.com/ for some interesting info. I like Paypal & use them all the time, but it's good to be aware of their shortcomings.

[InfiniteNothing]

Oh wow. Cool info. No wonder they were sued and had to pay up. I wonder how profitable Paypal is (since they watch the penny's like a miser and charge like 3% transaction fees). There should be a nonprofit paypal or something (sending money around the world with ease seems like something that should go along with our age of enlightenment and technology).

[oogeooge]

just accept payment by bidpay. it's the same thing as getting a western union money order. and buyer pays all the fees too.