Public Service Announcement...

The only thing humerous about this post is that I am really IRRITATING my scammer.  That is my goal for each transaction, but this one is different.

I want to show you how the PayPal scam works.  It's really pretty clever, but if you pay attention, you won't fall victim to it.

I posted an Apple eMac on Craigslist for $500.00.  There is NO way I could get that kind of money for an eMac even if it were new.  I knew that the only people who would bite would be scammers because they never intend to pay anyway.

Note:  I want to show you what the PayPal confirmations look like.  I will see what I can do to link images.

Characters:

Scammer:   Harold Foxx

Me:  Hugh G. Reckshun

Here's our story...

______________________________

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM, harold foxx <haroldfoxx@gmail.com> wrote:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY

** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home

** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping

** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

i saw your item listed for sale and i like to buy

________________________________

this message was remailed to you via: sale-8fz3j-1167232785@craigslist.org

________________________________

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM, Hugh Reckshun wrote:

Harold,

It is still available.  Where would you like to meet for the exchange?

Please let me know,

Hugh

______________________________

From: harold foxx

To: Hugh Reckshun

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 6:17:44 PM

Subject: Re: Apple eMac - $500

my busy schedule at the office won't allow me to meet you in person  I will want you to know that i will be paying you via paypal so i will want you to get back to me with the details below and if you dont have a paypal account you can just go to there website and register.

PayPal Email Address

Full Name

Total cost

Item Description

so get back to me with the details above and as soon as i get it i WILL proceed with the payment to you as soon as possible.

THANKS

______________________________

On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 2:34 AM, Hugh Reckshun wrote:

Harold,

I completely understand.  I too am busy in the office and find it hard to get away.  What do you do?

If you like, I can hold the computer until the weekend and we can meet then.  I'm sure we can find a central location so neither of us has to drive very far.

Just let me know,

Hugh

______________________________

From: harold foxx

To: Hugh Reckshun

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:59:53 PM

Subject: Re: Apple eMac - $500

send me the paypal details i requested for so i can make payment now and you will just simply ship it because i am buying it for someone. i will pay shipping fee

______________________________

Author note:  I didn't hear from him for a day, so I wanted to make sure he was still on the hook.

______________________________

On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 4:12 PM, Hugh Reckshun wrote:

Harold,

 

Do you want the computer or not?

 

I'm still waiting on your payment.

 

Thanks,

 

Hugh

______________________________

From: harold foxx

To: Hugh Reckshun

Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:37:44 PM

Subject: Re: Apple eMac - $500

sorry ,i would make your payment right away

______________________________

Author note:  The next message I received appears to be from PayPal.  What they do is mask the return address with 'service@paypal.com'.  The address for my message was actually from 'activation@officeemail.net'.  It has the PayPal logo AND the seal at the bottom of the message.  When you read the fine print at the bottom it says that the money will be transferred to your account once they have received the tracking number for the package!

First PayPal Message

Remember:  PayPal doesn't work like that!  When someone pays, it goes directly to your PayPal account.

Oh, and it's TRULY amazing that PayPal even found me because 1.) THAT account doesn't exist!  2.)  I purposely misspelled my name on the account I gave him!

How on God's Green Earth did their system know to send ME the confirmation?!?

_____________________________

Author note:  The scammer THEN sends another message to you stating that PayPal is '***AWAITING FOR THE SHIPMENT TRANSACTION***'.  This is a full graphic with the detail for both parties.

Second PayPal Message

In my situation, "Harold Foxx" messed up.  He didn't change his previous name "David Morgan".  Now, it's time to see what's what.

______________________________

On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 7:32 PM, Hugh Reckshun wrote:

Harold,

 

I received 2 messages from PayPal concerning payment for the computer but there's a problem.

 

The second one from PayPal said that the transaction is between me and David Morgan.  Who is David Morgan?

 

I won't lie to you when I tell you that I'm a little concerned about David Morgan.  I think he is doing something bad.

 

Can you check with PayPal on your end?  I don't want to send out this beautiful computer only to have David Morgan steal it.

 

I just want to make sure your friend gets it.

 

Thanks,

 

Hugh

______________________________

From: harold foxx <haroldfoxx@gmail.com>
To: Hugh Reckshun <hughreckshun@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4:31:49 PM
Subject: Re: Apple eMac - $500

I sincerely apologize for the misplacement. David Morgan is my Secretary and he must have included his name to paypal so that confirmation can be sent to him about the payment. he is not a bad person,he is sincere and i trust him.he also regrets the error. i have informed paypal about it. so please go on with the Shipment and send the tracking number to paypal for verification. thanks

______________________________

Harold,

 

I appreciate your apology for your secretary, but I'm still not comfortable with David's name on the PayPal transaction.

 

I know that PayPal is very secure, but I have read the fine print on the first message and it is VERY clear about how the money will be transferred ONLY when the item is shipped.  It also had some other stuff, but I need to hear from PayPal that the money will be coming to ME and NOT David (your secretary).

 

Could you please contact PayPal and have them send me a confirmation or something legal that ensures that I will get the money once I send the computer?

 

It really will make me feel better.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Hugh

______________________________

From: harold foxx <haroldfoxx@gmail.com>
To: Hugh Reckshun <hughreckshun@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 10:17:20 PM
Subject: Re: Apple eMac - $500

ok i will do just that.

______________________________

Author note:  It took him about 30 minutes to draft another PayPal response.  It is text with the PayPal logo at the top.  I LOVE this one because there are 3 different fonts and everything is BOLD.

Final PayPal Message

______________________________

From: "service@paypal.com"

To: hughreckshun@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:00:10 PM

Subject: YOUR MONEY IS SAFE WITH US

Your Funds has been dispatched for delivery into your PayPal Account address provided and this will be received by you. 

 

Our client  (Harold Foxx) informed us of the mistake made by his Secretary  during notification sent to 

 

us, which was delivered to you by us. we are glad to inform you that correction has being made and your 

 

money is safe with us. we are just waiting for you to send the tracking number to us for verification after 

 

which we shall credit your account immediately.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

Thanks for your understanding. 

 

Sincerely,

 

PayPal Customer care department. 

______________________________

Author note:  I keep giving this guy a hard time.  I really shouldn't.  It's difficult keeping track of all of the lies you send via e-mail.  Heck, I have a hard time lying to these liars.  But, we must all make sacrifices.

I need to see just how far this joker is going to go to get a computer.

______________________________

Harold,

 

Thank you so much for contacting PayPal.  It really does make me feel better.

 

There are a couple things that trouble me though.  The first thing is that the message I received last night specifically said that it was your Secretary.  It didn't have his name.  How did they know it was your secretary?  That was weird.

 

The second thing I don't understand is that in the first message from PayPal, it said that the money would NOT be released until I sent them a message with the tracking code.  It was VERY specific.  In the most recent message, it said that the money has been released to me.  When I checked my account, there was no money waiting on me.  Was there some kind of mix-up?

 

Could you check with PayPal again?  I think they might be having computer trouble.  Isn't that ironic?  I'm selling you a computer and PayPal is having computer trouble.  ha. ha.

 

I have the computer packed and ready to go.  I'm just waiting on confirmation from you and PayPal.

 

You know, PayPal is normally VERY easy to use.  But, this time, it is very irritating.  I'm sure you feel the same way.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Hugh