To our Mtbr and RoadbikeREVIEW Classifieds Community,
We have been receiving more and more complaints of people who are trying to scam sellers on our site. This scam (in various forms) has a common theme of transferring funds involving a party from a foreign country, usually somewhere in Africa or Europe. The US Secret Service has an article on their site, going into greater detail on this scam.
We have taken a steps to minimize this, but unfortunately this is a case of the few spoiling things for the many. We want to alert you to this scam and warn you NOT to take part in it. Always be as careful and as sure about online deals as you can. Find out as much info about the potential buyers that you can. Like the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is."
The potential buyer says they will OVERPAY for the bike or frame, and they want you to send them back the difference. The problem is, they will send you a Money Order or Cashiers Check that is forged. This is a high quality forgery, and your bank will not inform you right away that it is fake. It can take your bank 5 to 7 days or even longer, to find out that the Money Order or Cashiers Check is forged.
Another version of this Scam involves the Fake Money Orders or Fake Cashiers Checks, and may not involve any overpayment. These are typically emails in the form of the first example below. Again, these forgeries WILL clear your bank initially, BUT later will be found to be fake.
Below are excerpts from emails that have been forwarded to us, outlining the scammers pitch. Also, the words "shipping agent" is a tip-off. Please be cautious, and feel free to warn other in our Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum.
Link to Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Link to US Secret Service site/article: Advance Fee Fraud
Examples of Fraud:
- Thanks for the email response.i will like to buy the American Classic 350 wheels disk which the price is $350 for the shiipment dont worry about that i will arrange for the shipment of the American Classic 350 wheels disk ok..
I have about five of my clients who are interested making immediately payment by a US MONEY ORDER That will cleared in your bank account in 2 to3 days..
One of them has responded very positively and i have given them my own price for selling to Him.
Have added my own profit and gains to your own asking price and they are ready to send payment immediately.
payment by MONEY ORDER !!!
Any amount that is above your asking price! on the MONEY ORDER will be sent back to me..
if you are okay with this conditions i want you to fill in
the following information of sending you the cheque.
NAME TO WRITE ON THE MONEY ORDER .....................
ADDRESSWERE TO SEND THE MONEY ORDER TO ...................
POSTAL CODE..! ....... ...........
STATE.....................
CITY................
COUNTRY......................
TELE PHONE NUMBER NUMBER BOTH HOME AND CELL ...........
LAST OFFER..........
I will ensure that you recieve payment atleast in 10 working days.
As regards the pick up, as soon as you con firm to me that the
MONEY ORDER is cleared in your account, i will inform my shipper to come for the pick! up immediatelty.
I want you to know that any profit i make from this transaction is
how use to earn a living of my life.
Delete the advert from where you placed it on internet cause my
client is ready to pay and consider it sold to my client.
I look forward to read from you soonest.
Cheers,
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- HELLO, I AM INTERETSED IN BUYING YOUR { Bike} AND the price you said {$1200}is okay by me and also i locate in holland and i have a client of mine who is holeing me some amount of {$3,500} which i will ask him to issue a cheque paymnet to you with your own name.pls get back with the condition of the Bike including the pics with this details
{1}FULL NAME (NAME THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE CHECK)...............
{2}FULL ADDRESS (THE LOCATION THAT THE CHECK WILL BE FORWARDED........................
{3}phone number...........................
{4}MOBILE, HOME AND WORK NUMBER).....................................
- DEAR SIR
I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST.
THANKS,
JAMES *******................
- ===================
GOOD DAY,
THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL,I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THIS BYCYCLE,BUT THERE IS SOME THING I WILL LIKE YOU TO KNOW FIRST. MY CLIENT IS OWEING ME $7,000. AND I HAVE MAIL MY CLIENT ABOUT THIS BICYCLE AND HE TOLD ME THAT WE SHOULD BOTH AGREE AFTER OUR AGREEMENT THAT HE WILL SEND YOU THE CHEQUE OF $7000 SO I WILL WANT YOU TO HELP ME SEND THE REMAING BALANCES OF THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNOIN MONEY TRANSFER, AND FOR THE BICYCLE AFTER OUR AGREEMENT I WILL SEND MY SHIPPING AGENT TO YOUR HOUSE TO PICK UP THE BICYCLE. IF THIS IS OK WITH YOU PLS REPLY WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I WILL FORWARD TO MY CLIENT. I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
REGARDS.
DAVID
- DEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USDEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST. THANKS,
PAUL ABRAHAM...............................
- DEAR SIR,
I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USDEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST.
THANKS,
JAMES CLINTON...............................
Be informed, beware, and be smart.
As always, thank you for your support and be cautious.
-Gregg Kato, Site Manager
Mtbr.com & RoadbikeREVIEW.com
classifieds2@mtbreview.com
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