I just received the first scam email for a sailboat I'm selling. It wasn't through my add on this site by the way. It almost gave me a migrain trying to read it such bad wording and lack of knowledge of the english language. Typical I'll send you a money order for more than the asking price you send back the difference type scam. Should I reply with a few choice words or not at all? These scum really get under my skin and I'm really amazed that people fall for this.
Replying to a scammer
- Thread starter chris7319
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No...
Ignore the mail totally. Just send it to the trash can. I selling a bunch of musical equipment and get these mails all the time. They just get delete. Yeah, it is a pain parsing them out of the legit emails, but eventually you will the hang of it.
Ignore the mail totally. Just send it to the trash can. I selling a bunch of musical equipment and get these mails all the time. They just get delete. Yeah, it is a pain parsing them out of the legit emails, but eventually you will the hang of it.
With any offer that you receive from
someone you don't know, you can tell them that when their check clears the bank, usually about 2 weeks, they may claim the merchandise. That will put the scammers off. Mail and wire fraud are felonies.
someone you don't know, you can tell them that when their check clears the bank, usually about 2 weeks, they may claim the merchandise. That will put the scammers off. Mail and wire fraud are felonies.
Chris, me too
hris, I got several scam emails when I was trying to sell my Cat22. I responded to one just to see how far it would go. His second reply told me that he wanted a picture of the "bike" I was selling. Not a clue! I would delete and forget.
hris, I got several scam emails when I was trying to sell my Cat22. I responded to one just to see how far it would go. His second reply told me that he wanted a picture of the "bike" I was selling. Not a clue! I would delete and forget.
Don't Reply
If you reply, you are only telling them that you have a legitimate email and may sell it off to another person or scammer. Just ignore the email.
If you reply, you are only telling them that you have a legitimate email and may sell it off to another person or scammer. Just ignore the email.
Keep Them Busy
Have fun with them. It keeps their attention on you, and in the meantime they're not preying on someone who isn't as informed. I kept one guy busy to the point that he got mad at me. I made him think I'd inherited a boatload of money, but wouldn't ever give him the bank information he kept asking for. I would just talk about all the money I had, how this sounded like a great investment, blah, blah, blah. He would reply to me asking for bank info, I'd tell him how great it was that he'd come to me at this perfect time. He finally got mad and sent me an insulting email. A friend of mine has a boat for sale, got the email you're speaking of. He sent back a reply telling him that he'd never changed oil in the engine, the bilge pump was constantly running, that he really didn't know how the thing was still floating. Didn't matter, the guy wanted to pay him full price plus anyway. You can have fun, and as I stated, keep the guys busy with you and someone else safer...
Have fun with them. It keeps their attention on you, and in the meantime they're not preying on someone who isn't as informed. I kept one guy busy to the point that he got mad at me. I made him think I'd inherited a boatload of money, but wouldn't ever give him the bank information he kept asking for. I would just talk about all the money I had, how this sounded like a great investment, blah, blah, blah. He would reply to me asking for bank info, I'd tell him how great it was that he'd come to me at this perfect time. He finally got mad and sent me an insulting email. A friend of mine has a boat for sale, got the email you're speaking of. He sent back a reply telling him that he'd never changed oil in the engine, the bilge pump was constantly running, that he really didn't know how the thing was still floating. Didn't matter, the guy wanted to pay him full price plus anyway. You can have fun, and as I stated, keep the guys busy with you and someone else safer...
Or, if they're using YAHOO,
you can forward the suspect e-mail to abuse@yahoo.com. That'll put them through the trouble of having to get another e-mail address. Paul
you can forward the suspect e-mail to abuse@yahoo.com. That'll put them through the trouble of having to get another e-mail address. Paul
These are all
mostly the old Nigerian 409 or 419 scams. Or variations. Two approaches: hit delete and be done with them. Or, if you have time, write back stating that the person who got the message forwarded it to the FBI who is now contacting Inland Security in the country where the scam came from. Tell them "they will soon be in contact" with the security authorities in that country and wish them a nice day...." You may get some interesting replies....but, I'd rather be sailing. See link below, and here is an extract: "Some Tips to Avoid Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud: If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service or the FBI. If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation. Guard your account information carefully."
mostly the old Nigerian 409 or 419 scams. Or variations. Two approaches: hit delete and be done with them. Or, if you have time, write back stating that the person who got the message forwarded it to the FBI who is now contacting Inland Security in the country where the scam came from. Tell them "they will soon be in contact" with the security authorities in that country and wish them a nice day...." You may get some interesting replies....but, I'd rather be sailing. See link below, and here is an extract: "Some Tips to Avoid Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud: If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service or the FBI. If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation. Guard your account information carefully."
Scam a Scammer
Tell him you really need the money and you are ready to jump on his check like a bulldog on a porkchop. And about the extra money ... tell him you'll fax him the cash. Tom
Tell him you really need the money and you are ready to jump on his check like a bulldog on a porkchop. And about the extra money ... tell him you'll fax him the cash. Tom
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