Classified (Gumtree type) Scam

I listed a bike in the classifieds here in Cyprus and got the following text message on my cell phone from an international phone number:

"hello I am interested in the Bicycle you have for sale on bazaraki.com, please contact me so i can complete the purchase. crissorton2@gmail.com"

a quick Google search got me this
http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=78982

apparently they want you to share with them your paypal details.

I decided to email them out of curiosity.
The email exchange went as follows (you need to start at the bottom):

From: .....
To: crissorton2@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Fidusa Road Bike
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 11:59:50 +0200

If you dont want to put cash in an envelope why dont you pop by to exchange in person!

My address is:

54 House of Scambags and International Fraudsters Street
Nicosia
Cyprus

Looking forward to your response

George

Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 08:53:34 +0100
Subject: Re: Fidusa Road Bike
From: crissorton2@gmail.com
To:..................

I insisted on paypal because i don't have access to my bank account online as i don't have internet banking and i can't go to the bank due to the nature of my job, but i can pay from my paypal account, as i have my bank a/c attached to it, i will need you to give me your paypal email address so i can make the payments as soon as possible for the item, and please if you don't have a paypal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go to www.paypal.com and get it set up , after you have set it up ,i will only need the e-mail address you use for registration with paypal so as to put the money through.

On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 8:28 AM, George Ioannou <<......@hotmail.com>> wrote:
[INDENT]Wow this is fantastic !!! Almost to good to be true.

I would feel more comfortable if you send me the money in an envelope via DHL.
You can send the envelope to the following address:

5 Wenderland Street
CY-5555
Nicosia
Cyprus

Also I have change my mind on the price, I would like €2.500. I hope this does not change things!

I would like to ask a question. Did you decided to trust me blindly because of my global reputation as a seller or because of the deailed pictures on Bazaraki??

Looking forward to your response
George

Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2014 18:02:44 -0700
Subject: Re: Fidusa Road Bike
From: crissorton2@gmail.com
To: <......@hotmail.com>

Hello i just got your mail now...i wish i could come and have a look at the item, but i am presently unavailable....i am a marine engineer and i am presently in Bermuda......I will also like you to know that i will be paying via PayPal...due to the distance as i am in Bermuda presently...I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the Payment...Your (PayPal email)...I hope to hear from you soon, and i will make all transportation preparations for it to be transported to my home in London,UK, I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping i will have my shipping agent come over as soon as you have the full Payment.

On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 8:35 AM, George Ioannou <l..........@hotmail.com> wrote:
[INDENT]Hello

Thank you for your interest.
Are you based in Cyprus??

Would you like to arrange a viewing?

Cheers George

[/INDENT]

[/INDENT]

Maybe a dumb questions, but what can they do just your paypal email?

Not sure either? Does anyone have an idea?

Although the text does sound dubious, he will actually need an email address associated with your paypal account to pay you via paypal. This is standard practice, so unless I'm missing something I can't see what the issue is.

You, on the other hand, appear to be asking him to send you an envelope full of cash.

They should make a book of these. I love the detail they go on describing their life. Tell me more!

Although the text does sound dubious, he will actually need an email address associated with your paypal account to pay you via paypal. This is standard practice, so unless I'm missing something I can't see what the issue is.

You, on the other hand, appear to be asking him to send you an envelope full of cash.

I am guessing you have not seen the link:
http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/vie...p?f=26&t=78982

In terms of asking cash, I wanted to see how far he would take this!
The listing was for €850 and in that same email I asked for €2.500, he didn't seem to mind !!! !

They should make a book of these. I love the detail they go on describing their life. Tell me more!

you can email him ! surely enough he will respond!

I am guessing you have not seen the link:
http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/vie...p?f=26&t=78982

In terms of asking cash, I wanted to see how far he would take this!
The listing was for €850 and in that same email I asked for €2.500, he didn't seem to mind !!! !

I did read the link (like I said, what he wrote is highly suspect), but I can't work out what the form of this scam is: you send him your paypal-associated email address (as people do every day on here) and.........? What? What can he do with that, except send you cash or possibly send you loads of spam emails?

Not sure either to be honest. Maybe he would be asking for more details in his next communications.

Something along the lines that paypal is asking me for your Visa nunber/ security code/ password ..... etc in order to complete the transaction. It would be hard for anyone to fall for that though!

I guess it either ends up as a "goods not received" and refund scam; or more likely you'll be asked for some sort of fee to complete the sale (perhaps to the shipping agent): maybe the latter followed by the former?

I don't think asking for PP deets is part of the scam (as FFM says, that's needed to make a payment), rather it's part of the smokescreen.

I guess it either ends up as a "goods not received" and refund scam; or more likely you'll be asked for some sort of fee to complete the sale (perhaps to the shipping agent): maybe the latter followed by the former?

I don't think asking for PP deets is part of the scam (as FFM says, that's needed to make a payment), rather it's part of the smokescreen.

That was my best guess as well. I don't bother with any overseas sales, just because it would seem much more of a hassle to get anything resolved if I was subject to such a scam.

They will send you a fake email from paypal. either a "you've got funds" email in the hope you will post them the item without actually checking your account or something along the lines of "your paypal has been hacked, enter your password here to unlock it"

I guess it either ends up as a "goods not received" and refund scam; or more likely you'll be asked for some sort of fee to complete the sale (perhaps to the shipping agent): maybe the latter followed by the former?

I don't think asking for PP deets is part of the scam (as FFM says, that's needed to make a payment), rather it's part of the smokescreen.

That would make sense!
I am wondering whether this guys is capable of arranging a "shipping agent" in Cyprus though!

something along the lines of "your paypal has been hacked, enter your password here to unlock it"

This

[*]Buyer pays real money into your real paypal account.

• You send goods to buyer.
  
• Paypal finds that buyer's account was fraudulently used
  
• Paypal removes fund from your account. And freezes your account
  
• Profit!
  

I do appreciate that most paypal scams involve the scamer getting your goods for free but I have the feeling that they are not after the bike/car/boat etc in this case.

I get the feeling that they are after cash!

Don't send them any cash then? You know, just as a thought,

I'd like to get to the bottom of this: I'll need your banking deets, Mother's maiden name etc.

I'll have to go off the grid, so don't be too alarmed if you don't hear from me immediately.

I look forward to hearing from you.

He responded !!!! Horray !!!!

From: <.......@hotmail.com>
To: crissorton2@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Fidusa Road Bike
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 17:20:37 +0200

We were discussing with some friends on a forum on how this scam really works and we cannot figure it out.

Do you take advantage of the Paypal buyes protection to get the item for free (and then sell it on) or are you trying to get enough personal details (paypal email/ password/ etc) to steal money from me??

I am really curious (a bit like Curious George) so please do get back to me !

BTW how did you like my address

"54 House of Scambags and International Fraudsters Street"

Funny??

Looking forward to your response

George
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 15:53:10 +0100
Subject: Re: Fidusa Road Bike
From: crissorton2@gmail.com
To: <...................@hotmail.com>

you should have one already

On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 3:52 PM, criss orton <crissorton2@gmail.com> wrote:
[INDENT]i can only pay you with paypal friend, i want you to open a paypal account it is easy
[/INDENT]

I think he would ask you to pay the (fake) shipping agent fee and would send you a fake "funds received" letter for bike+shipping amount or even pay from a stolen PP account. He doesn't want the bike, he wants money for some kind of services, shipping etc. Just my two cents.

Hi Guys,

we received a very similar sms from this guy a couple of days ago. Same email, for a listing in the Cypriot bazaraki.com . My father did get into conversation with him/her, it's a good thing that he doesnt have a paypal account so i had to get involved

they confirmed as above that they will handle the shipping themselves but as you said, after "paying" they asked my father to send the extra 400EUR they deposited without notice to a shipping company via western union.

I just checked my spam folder and I did receive a fake paypal email that there's money paid into my account from patricia gold.

so as kaiser said they were after the 400 to the shipping company!

Annam welcome to the forum.
When LFGSS in on the case there is bound to be an answer !!!

Annam are you from/based in Cyprus? You can join our Cyprus thread here:
http://www.lfgss.com/thread114417.html

Just had this happen to me on gumtree, not actually proceeded yet but was suspicious so thought checking lfgss would be fruitful!

Be warned people!