I think I may have a very strange person on my hands.
56 replies, posted
Well, I guess this will be my first full-on scam experience. Possibly.
Basically I opened up my own little computer shop on craigslist this summer, I've been getting good buissness (Referral e-mails too!) anyways. So my most recent customer "Steve" seems to be my kind of cash, he can't fully describe his problem but he knows what has to be done and that I can do it for him. His first e-mail:
[quote=Steve]
Are you capable of repairing computer in bulk, please let me know and
send your resumes....
[/quote]
I respond:
[quote=Me]
Hello Steve,
Sorry, I do not have any resumes considering that I just started this up. I do know my stuff and the internal workings and connections of a computer. I hope this does not smudge any image of credibility.
Anyways, what exactly do you mean by "bulk". Do you have multiple computers that need to be looked at? I'll have a crack at it, reply with some details and I'll see what I can do.
[/quote]
He sends me this then, it starts to get a bit weird:
[quote=Steve]
Thanks for the reply. I have all the necessary software needed for the
service installations. I will instruct my secretary to prepare a
Certified check for you. I need you to send me your name and address.
i have a reliable shipper that will pickup the laptops when your
finished with the service. I m looking forward to hearing from you so
we can get this ball rolling.
After carefully reviewing your resume I believe i can give you a fair
chance to work on my Laptops,,,I have 7 Pentium IV Hp laptops, they
are located in TX.. Below is a list of work needed to be done on each
Pc.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 2
3 Install Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software
5 Adobe Acrobat Reader
6 diagnose Hardware. Hard drive, video card, processor and what not.
Get back to me with your total cost for the service
I await your urgent response.
[/quote]
"Certified Check"?, "Trusted Shipper"? Hmm, well I decide to send him my telephone and mail address. What's the worst he can do? Spam me?
[quote=Me]
Alright, If you have all of the software and the XP OEM multi-install disc ready I think that will just be 30$ worth of labor.
Much appreciated good sir. My address and the rest of my shipping info is:
*Censored*
It should only take a couple of days to get them all fixed up. And also don't worry about checks or anything, I just use my paypal for most of my transactions so just send the money in a paypal donation to this email.
Thanks,
John.
[/quote]
Then this is when it gets a bit weird and starts to smell of nigerian scammer grammar errors:
[quote=Steve]
Thanks for getting back to me with the Information needed to make the
payment. I will update you with the tracking number for the payment as
soon as its been issue and mail out to you Asap. Thanks. Hope you
perform a perfect and great work on my Units.
You will help me to handle the shipping of the laptops to you,I'll
include the shipping fees along with the payment you will get soon.
Best wishes
[/quote]
It's practically like he wrote it in mindfuck. Then I ask him:
[quote=Me]
Sorry just to clear something up, will I be receiving a check or a paypal donation? And are the units coming now or later?
[/quote]
A minute later...
[quote=Steve]
Thanks anytime from now.
[/quote]
???
[quote=Me]
I'm sorry sir but that's an unclear answer, can you elaborate?
[/quote]
No response, there's been no attempt to hack any of my assets online or anything else. I guess he just thought he couldn't get anything else out of me or he's really just slow on the e-mails.
Anything I should be worried about? I know if he does send me this "check" without more background info it's return to sender with that bastard and requesting a subpoena and search warrant.
Update 9/6/10: No response or anything funny has been tried by the scammer, I win!
What a dumbass, you should trick him into thinking "reveiwing" is really spelled "rape".
"You [b][u]will[/u][/b] help me to handle the shipping of the laptops to you"
You better do what he says, he sounds like a dangerous chap.
[QUOTE=Billy mays`;24632543]What a dumbass, you should trick him into thinking "reveiwing" is really spelled "rape".[/QUOTE]
"Actually sir, I will be raping your laptops is that clear?"
Sounds like a spammer. Watch for lots of junk mail within the next few weeks.
If you can tell him what then don't listen to him because
This guy reeks of bullshit, at some point he's going to give your some bullshit reason to send him money. Just block and don't look back.
I don't understand how he can scam you if he's allegedly sending you laptops and money.
Also, just sent him this:
[quote=Me]
Excuse me sir, I suspect your deal is lacking legitimacy. I do not want to be solicited by any company that you may be associated with understand? My craigslist ad clearly states such, and if you do decide to solicitate my phone number or address I will be able to trace it back to you.
If you do not respond to this email with more details I will cut off the deal, if I receive referral junk mail or phone calls I will ask where they got the number or address from and have you pursued by the US justice system and court of law.
[/quote]
You have been backtraced, consequences will never be the same.
Sounds legit.
[QUOTE=L'ordinateur;24632655]If you can tell him what then don't listen to him because[/QUOTE]
What the fuck did you just say?
[URL]http://www.ehow.com/how_2297457_avoid-scams-craigslist.html[/URL]
[quote][B]DO NOT WORK WITH PEOPLE SENDING YOU CERTIFIED CHECKS[/B][/quote]Can't stress that enough.
[QUOTE=Billy mays`;24632686]What the fuck did you just say?[/QUOTE]
Oh shit, lol sorry.
Had a brain fart, didn't notice what I was doing.
[QUOTE=M2k3;24632724][URL]http://www.ehow.com/how_2297457_avoid-scams-craigslist.html[/URL]
Can't stress that enough.[/QUOTE]
Yeah that was what put me off at first too, still. If I can sue this guy :downs:
[QUOTE=GodKing;24632666]I don't understand how he can scam you if he's allegedly sending you laptops and money.[/QUOTE]
"After sending in all those laptops, he will become over worked, while I sit back and do nothing! Muahahahah, I'll make millions off his work!"
[img]http://vukajlija.com/attached_images/0012/8315/greedy-jewish-person-cartoon_1__midi.jpg?1254253663[/img]
[QUOTE=L'ordinateur;24632725]Oh shit, lol sorry.
Had a brain fart, didn't notice what I was doing.[/QUOTE]
Your avatar is not very fitting.
Anyway, I say you dump this guy n the off-chance he is a scammer.
[QUOTE=GodKing;24632666]I don't understand how he can scam you if he's allegedly sending you laptops and money.[/QUOTE]
I think he never did.
Yeah, it's a scam, unless you actually get laptops and paypal money.
[QUOTE=jjsullivan;24632673]Also, just sent him this:
You have been backtraced, consequences will never be the same.[/QUOTE]
i doubt you can do shit but its a nice scare tactic
And now i'll need your steam ID and password.
[QUOTE=<VET>Jasper;24632881]i doubt you can do shit but its a nice scare tactic[/QUOTE]
Yeah it's pretty hard to get a line on a junkmail printer in india.
[QUOTE=Cysero;24632890]And now i'll need your steam ID and password.[/QUOTE]
Username: No
Password: No
And also I have made an XPS backup of the conversation in case he does try something funny
I'd run if I were you :ohdear:
[QUOTE=w0lfeh;24633043]I'd run if I were you :ohdear:[/QUOTE]
Look if he does send me something I know to throw it in the farthest direction.
Sorry, what? If I'm reading this right you have a small business that you have publicized through Craigslist, right? Why on earth would he need to send you certified checks?
From his emails, he sounds like a scammer. You can always wait to see if he sends out the computers
Convert his laptop to communism
[QUOTE=Blimpey;24633099]Sorry, what? If I'm reading this right you have a small business that you have publicized through Craigslist, right? Why on earth would he need to send you [b]certified checks?[/b]
From his emails, he sounds like a scammer. You can always wait to see if he sends out the computers[/QUOTE]
Once again it's always a tip-off. As of now I have no faith in this guy and if I get a foreign package it's time for the baseball mit.
[editline]11:01PM[/editline]
Also I think I may call the post office tuesday, tell them to check any packages coming in.
I'm trying to brainstorm what he could be doing or trying to do. I'll get back to you if i figure it out.
Install Linux if you get the laptops
[editline]03:52AM[/editline]
Say it's a secret version of Windows
convert him to communism
Just block him and be done with it.
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