Sunday, March 22, 2009

Craigslist = scamorama

In addition to being a great tool for prostitution, craigslist is also home of the infamous paypal scammers - trying to sell you something or buy something from you by way of putting money into paypal(which is usually not actually paypal, but a private account with a paypal interface) or some other sketchy account.

And they don't even realize when they are busted. This is an e-mail dialogue that happened shortly after I listed my MacBook on craigslist:


"Ric Mills:" Hi Do you still have it for sale

Me: Yes, do you have any questions?

"Ric Mills:" am very glad to hear from you, am puchasing the item for my needs, i will pay you via paypal and i will add you $140 USD FOR THE SHIPPING, so get back to me with your paypal account for the transaction but if you dont have paypal account you can also set up your paypal account through www.paypal.com. Hope to hear that from you ASAP

Me: Where are you located???

A few minutes later, I received two emails from "paypal" saying that money was being held to be transferred to my account once the item had shipped. Kudos to them for making the address even look like Service@paypal.com...

"Rick Mills:"
HI MATE THE PAYMENT IS NOW MADE SO GET THE ITEM SHIP TO THIS ADDRESS GET BACK TO ME ASAP

Mr Abayomi Adekunle
9, amororo st sokori, ,
Ogun state
Sagamu
Nigeria
121101

Me:
Sorry.
I'm only selling locally.
and I don't have a paypal account so how on earth did you "put" money in it?


"Rick Mills:" hi mate the payment is made so you need to send the item

Me:
No, payment has not been made.
I did not agree to sell you this item, I only told you it was still available.
I will not sell to you.
Go away.

"Rick Mills:"
but paypal sned you an email so you need to mail paypal @ asha@account.com

Me: I'm reporting you.
Hope that's not your real address, because if so, you're in trouble.

"Rick Mills:" you wont me to call fbi

Me: "Wont?" You mean "want?"
Yes I do.
Tell them about how you are currently being investigated by PayPal.
They're not pleased about your fake e-mails - I just got off the phone with them.
P.S. you don't know shit about the FBI.