Another scam?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I have a part built loco listed for sale on Classified Steam. I’ve received an enquiry purporting to be from tmar9955  saying ‘I am interested in your Advert posted if you still have it available for sale send me your asking price’. The price is clearly displayed in the listing, and the English sounds a bit off to me. Am I right to just bin this, or missing an opportunity for a sale?

[IdlerParticipant @idle1]

Yes I think your instincts are right, based on having recently sold off a string of surplus workshop equipment online myself. Send him your phone number and tell him to call you to discuss. Almost certain he never will.

The other common one seemed to be asking you to send them more pictures. Apparently they then use them to make fake online scam ads of their own.

[David Hughes 3Participant @davidhughes3]

Hi Duncan

I got the same person tmar9955 responding to my Super7 lathe for sale on the Classifiedsteam site at 06:52 this morning. The exact same wording, definitely suspect.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Thanks, I’ve reported it to classified steam admin and will just delete it

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I don’t want to be a ‘clever dick’ but that wording is so obviously a scam it should have just raised a wry smile, been ignored and immediately deleted. There are a lot of very smart and knowledgeable people on this site so I find it hard believe that anybody could be so nearly taken in by something so obvious. ‘Send me your asking price’ indeed!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Whilst I agree with your analysis, Chris … I would prefer to see the organisers of such  scams properly punished, rather than just ignored.

MichaelG.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

There isn’t enough prisons Michael!

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Just received a telephone call – number witheld to my mobile from “Barclaycard” – we have just put a block on a payment to Wandsworth.. have you attempted any such payment etc. He repeated my card number and 3 digit security number, then advised he would send a text with a six digit security code which was received on the same list as other Barclaycard Text codes are received.

I expressed my unease particulary as the security code is only necessary to complete a purchase. He then by way of “proof” sent another security code and asked me to repeat it back to him.  I said I was unable to do this without speaking to Barclaycard and the caller hung.

Barclaycard advised an attempted payment had been made but obviously without the code no payment was authorised. How do they get this information

New card on its way.

Robert Butler

[AcrosticusParticipant @acrosticus]

I had an identical message, same person, same wording, on 9th April in reply to my ad for a Super7 for sale on Tony Griffiths’ site. I responded to it and got this reply:

Sorry for my late reply, your price is fair enough and I will make payment by Certified cheque You will receive the cheque through the mail as soon as you give me your full name, address, city; Post Code; Indicate phone and mobile phone number, price; I will arrange for the pick up after the cheque is credited to your account.

I then decided to search on “tmar9955” and came up with these forum messages. I won’t be replying to it, of course.

I have also had an offer from a “Carsten Muller” <[email protected]> which I am very suspicious about. He claims to be buying it for a client. I think the wording of the reply (from a different name & email address to the first) strongly suggests a scam, so I will not follow it up.

The lathe is still bolted down to the floor and as I am now convalescing from an operation, and forbidden to bend or lift anything, it won’t be getting moved any time soon!

regards

Tony

 

[Michael Gilligan]

• On Michael Gilligan Said:

  Whilst I agree with your analysis, Chris … I would prefer to see the organisers of such  scams properly punished, rather than just ignored.

  MichaelG.

  The thing is, many of those scammers are already being held prisoner in massive multi-storey scam centres in Asia. They are people trafficking victims lured by the promise of employment, and then held against their will and forced to work the phones/ emails. Each centre has literally hundreds of slaves held there 24/,7.

•    It’s an open secret. Everyone knows they are there and what they are doing. But corrupt governments mostly turn a blind eye. The big bosses are reputedly Chinese crime bosses with enough money and power to do anything in the smaller developing countries.
•   So chances of bringing anyone to justice are slim.

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Well done Robert. The security code was likely a genuine one sent by Barclaycard in response to the scammer trying to use your details to e.g. add your card to his phone wallet. The code messages say “do not share this code with anyone” and that means _anyone_ even people claiming to be from your bank. Also do not enter such codes into any unfamiliar website as there is a variant that involves this.

There have been news reports recently of enforcement action against large scam centres in Cambodia but as ever the criminals are agile and will likely regroup elsewhere.

[Author]

Posts