[TheSubaruJunkie]

Usually I'm very cautious when dealing on the internet. But, with the past 8 to 10 years of flawless transactions I guess I have put my guard down.

I want to share a recent dealing that could have cost me $1500. It almost sounded too good to be true, and that alone is enough reason to believe its a scam.

Here's some background on the situation:

Im shopping for a new bike,and im lookin for the best deal around. I used Crazedlist to search ALL craigslist for the bike Im looking for, at the price I can afford.

Located in PA, I find a 2006 Specialized Enduro s-Works for $1500. Exactly the amount of money i have to spend, and even MORE bike than Im originally looking for. The bike retails for close to $4500. So I email the seller, asking if maybe he is willing to ship. Included below are the original emails:

I saw the Specialized Enduro you have on Craigslist.

Its the bike I am looking for, at the price I am
looking for. Problem is, Im located in Sacramento CA.
I was wondering if you were opposed to shipping the
bike?

Thanks,
-Brian

Hi Brian ,

I still have the Specialized Enduro bike for sale. I want you to know that the bike is in perfect working conditions.. Right now i am gone in Texas, but i hope that`s not going to be a problem because i can still handle the transaction. Before i went to Texas, i left the bike along with several other items in the custody of The Online Outpost because i wanted to sell them on eBay when i return, but something came up back home and i decided to sell them before i get back, but not on eBay, because i need to sell them faster.

So if you are still interested let me know because i can make the transaction immediately. Just let me know and i will explain all the details of the transaction...

Thanks,
Fred

Yeah details please.

Whats this online outpost you speak of? Do they have
a website I can visit to read more about them? Will
they handle the transaction and shipping?

Also, im not sure if I missed it in the ad, but what
kind of rear shock does the bike have?

Thanks
-Brian

Brian,

Let me explain you how The Online Outpost works. They are one of the best eBay selling services, you simply drop an item to one of their stores or they pick it up from your home, you find a buyer and they will take care of the rest. Before i went to Texas i left 13 items for sale in their custody, they picked them up from my home. The shipping is included in the price of sale, they offered me a discount on shipping because i am selling a large number of items and i can afford that.
Basically, they have the bike insured and ready for shipping. As soon as i will have your shipping details i will send them to The Online Outpost and they will start the official procedures. They will email you with an invoice and payment instructions, you will have to send the payment to one of their trading assistants by following the payment instructions. After you will send the payment details to them, they will validate the transaction and will start the shipping ASAP. If you will have questions, then you can ask them directly.

So if you agree with this terms and with the price, then i will need your full name and shipping address in order to start the transaction. As soon as i receive this details from you i will forward them to The Online Outpost.

Thanks,
Valente Fred

I am still interested in your bike if its still
available.

I would like to know what kind of rear shock you have
on it.

My info is:
Brian XXXXX
XXXX XXXXX XX
XXXXXXX, XX XXXXX

Let me know, thanks
-Brian

The last email was sent to him last night, and just as he said, this morning I recieved two emails from "the online outpost". One was a customer profile for Mr. Fred Valente praising him as a valued customer since 2006. It also explained a protection plan they offer incase the item doesnt get shipped etc... etc... However, there was one KEY item they mentioned that really rung a bell: "Our customer Fred Valente require the payment to be done through MoneyGram money transfer service."

I almost fell for it too, however, google saved the day. A quick search for "The Online Outpost Scam" revealed plenty of other situations, where craigslist ad's were replied to in the exact same way.

So, yeah. I have paid attention to previous scam schemes. I have seen all the MSNBC's and thought i was aware, however... this one flew right under the radar. I wanted to bring it to light incase anyone else is confronted with the same type of transaction so they do not fall victim. I only wonder how many other bicyclists fell for the scam and sent their hard earned money to this crook?

And in ending, I will include the final email I sent to Mr.Valente:

Fred, i recieved two emails from the Online Outpost
today regarding your "Bike" you have for sale.

I would gladly send you the $1500, if indeed the bike
actually existed. Im skeptical this "online outpost"
place really exists.

I had a funny feeling about this the entire time, but
I wanted to trust you. But now, Its apparent this is
a scam.

You will not be getting any money from me. And I can
only hope you did not successfully scam anybody else
out of their hard earned money.

I hope you rot in hell.
Thanks for wasting my time,
-Brian

 

[Timon]

should have just kept going with it...leading him on like you're going to go through with it. get his hopes up.

tell him you're only comfortable sending him a check in the mail. then when you get his address, send a box of dog poop or something equally immature.

 

[TheSubaruJunkie]

should have just kept going with it...leading him on like you're going to go through with it. get his hopes up.

tell him you're only comfortable sending him a check in the mail. then when you get his address, send a box of dog poop or something equally immature.

Scammers have no feelings. They have no hopes to get up. It would only be a further waste of my time. I have his address in one of the invoices from the online outpost, but i doubt its his real address, and i'd hate to send a bag of dog crap to some unsuspecting person.

 

[ScottW]

Did you notify Craigs list of the add being a scam?

 

[VTSession]

should have just kept going with it...leading him on like you're going to go through with it. get his hopes up.

tell him you're only comfortable sending him a check in the mail. then when you get his address, send a box of dog poop or something equally immature.

I saw a thing on TV about this, "scam baiting," people who want these a$$holes to suffer lead them on and run them in circles pretending to play along with the scam. When ever you come accross a scam it would be fun to do this.

 

[Natalie Portman]

Your next e-mail should read like this:

Hi Fred

I've changed my mind, instead, I've contacted the CIA, FBI, NWA and BYOB for good measure to B!tch Slap you back to Nigeria or somewhere there abouts considering that you are most likely reading this in some Opium Den of an Internet Cafe. In the mean time, I've also signed you up for a 12 week summer English course at your local Y so please take advantage of this offer and hone your mad scammer skillz. I'll be waiting...

Yours Truly,
Brian

* * *

As for you ALMOST getting swindled, well, why didn't his poor grammar and lack of tense strike you as being off? Hmmm... none the less, thanks for the warning. I hate being scammed, especially when it's right in front of my face!

 

[TheSubaruJunkie]

Natalie...

The poor gramar was obviously a huge tip off. However, usually most scammers do not:
a) Address you by your first name
b) Mention the item up for sale

Usually its "Dear sir" and "interested in the product you have up for sale" or something along those lines.

Given his last name, the broken english was somewhat expected. But indeed, it was one of the things that kept me on guard. The Money Gram was the nail that sealed the coffin.

 

[Jwiffle]

I just looked at the online outpost website. It appears that it may be legitimate, though, of course, people are finding ways to pretend to be using it. In this case, there are two give-aways that it is a scam. First, the online outpost website mentions only selling on eBay, so it doesn't even appear they use Craigslist. MoneyGram is the other give-a-way. According to the online outpost website, the buyer pays directly to online outpost, NOT the seller. Online outpost then pays the seller. So it appears that the scammer may have been using an old trick--using the name of a legitimate business (it appears legitimate, anyway, as I have no actual familiarity withy the company). Report the ad and seller to craigslist and drop a line to online outpost--they may want to go after the guy.

 

[Call_me_Al]

Do a google search for "linda wallace macbook scam". this was a scam on craigslist that I also almost fell for. unrelated to bikes, but similar idea. I caught on by the second or third email, though, and started playing with "Linda's" mind. It was fun. In the end, I told her I was on the run from the FBI, maybe she could join me?? Also, I told her I was on my way to Nigeria to hide from the FBI, could I pick up the computer while I was there??

 

[homeslice]

Thanks Subaru for the heads up.

 

[TheSubaruJunkie]

Do a google search for "linda wallace macbook scam". this was a scam on craigslist that I also almost fell for. unrelated to bikes, but similar idea. I caught on by the second or third email, though, and started playing with "Linda's" mind. It was fun. In the end, I told her I was on the run from the FBI, maybe she could join me?? Also, I told her I was on my way to Nigeria to hide from the FBI, could I pick up the computer while I was there??

When I searched google, I found that thread and the simularities in the replies were what confirmed it for me.

Since this, i have done more searching and have found other scams using the Online Outpost with near identical replies for things like Motorcycles, horse saddles, and car trailers.

Sucks cause I REALLY wanted that bike

 

[Berkley]

You have his email? Sign him up for some free porn newsletters...

 

[TheSubaruJunkie]

GREAT IDEA!!!

Maybe he could use some free viagra too?

 

[AggieXCRacer]

When I searched google, I found that thread and the simularities in the replies were what confirmed it for me.

Since this, i have done more searching and have found other scams using the Online Outpost with near identical replies for things like Motorcycles, horse saddles, and car trailers.

Sucks cause I REALLY wanted that bike

Dude, odds are there never was a bike. If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[kabayan]

Not being at home is the tip off that should've set off your spidey sense.
I've asked them to send me a picture of themselves holding up the day's newspaper from wherever they say they're at.

 

[Appendage]

A kid ripped me off for $15k on Craigslist

Slightly OT...it was a car, not a bike. I bought a car from a guy who had it listed on Craigslist. I ran the carfax and it came up clean. I met the guy at a convenient location. I verified the VIN in 3 different locations on the car. He signed over the pink slip to me, I handed him the $15k. When I went to register the car 5 days later, I was informed that it is stolen property. The car has been returned to its rightful owner and I'm out $15k. CHP is investigating the case but even if they find the guy I'm sure the money is long gone.

 

[Vulcan]

Slightly OT...it was a car, not a bike. I bought a car from a guy who had it listed on Craigslist. I ran the carfax and it came up clean. I met the guy at a convenient location. I verified the VIN in 3 different locations on the car. He signed over the pink slip to me, I handed him the $15k. When I went to register the car 5 days later, I was informed that it is stolen property. The car has been returned to its rightful owner and I'm out $15k. CHP is investigating the case but even if they find the guy I'm sure the money is long gone.

Man, that really really sucks.

 

[Appendage]

Hey Vulcan, you ride an IH?

Man, that really really sucks.

Hey Vulcan, you ride an IH? Me too! Bought a Mk3 from a guy here on MTBR...fortunately, no rip-off. Good thing, too, because all after the car incident it'll be a while before I'm in a position to buying any new toys.

 

[Deme Moore]

Ummmm.... dude his posts were full of minor grammar errors. As in non English speaking Nigerian. Easy to spot... adding plurals like "bike in perfect working conditionS" and excessively proper use of language elsewhere.

This is why I don't buy stuff used. All it takes is getting hosed on one transaction to undo all the savings elsewhere. Pay a little extra up front and call it a day.

 

[_I_]

I've always wondered if I could just lure some scammer like this, call the police department local to the Western Union and have them pick the con artist up when they receive the $1 wire transfer I send to them if they can't produce the merchandise.