Crooks are getting more creative...BEWARE!

[joeinbcs]

I have an ad looking for a perfect two lock wire hubcap for my '78 Seville.
I received this unsolicited email:


Hello Buddy

I'm emailing in respect to your advert. Please let me know if you are still looking for  1978 Seville Wire Wheel Cover , Email and I'll get back to you.

Warm Regards
Martin A. Greathouse
1702 Chesterfield St,
Garden City, KS 67846

The same day, I received a text message from a friend who sells used Cadillac parts recommending that I contact Greathouse.
So, this morning, as I was about to send the money, I called John, who does not know this guy, and did not send me a text.
I don't know how he was able to hijack a number like this, but I'm glad I checked before sending the money.
Then I did a search here, and there's a guy of a different name but the same MO.

So...if you receive an unsolicited offer, and if they don't take the common means of payment....I would give it the old "hairy eyeball"...

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Guys,
There's a number of BIG red flags in that email! If you can't figure them out, I'll be glad to discuss them off line.
Bob

[quadfins]

Yes, this "seller" is suspect, and buyer beware is appropriate. Others on this forum have been contacted, as well.

Jim

[chrisntam]

Guys,
There's a number of BIG red flags in that email! If you can't figure them out, I'll be glad to discuss them off line.
Bob

Oh Bob,

Just tell us.

I'll start.

No phone number?
Lack of proper grammer?
The fact that people that these people should meet the business end of a chipper / shredder?

Am I close to what you're thinking?

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Chris,
Well... OK!
Hi BUDDY,
In RESPECT to your ADVERT.
WARM REGARDS,
NICE sounding ANGLO name.
Now... put him in the shredder.
Don't ask me what I propose to do with taggers!! Bring plenty lube!!
LOL, Bob

[nolacaddy1960]

I have an ad looking for a perfect two lock wire hubcap for my '78 Seville.
I received this unsolicited email:


Hello Buddy

I'm emailing in respect to your advert. Please let me know if you are still looking for  1978 Seville Wire Wheel Cover , Email and I'll get back to you.

Warm Regards
Martin A. Greathouse
1702 Chesterfield St,
Garden City, KS 67846

The same day, I received a text message from a friend who sells used Cadillac parts recommending that I contact Greathouse.
So, this morning, as I was about to send the money, I called John, who does not know this guy, and did not send me a text.
I don't know how he was able to hijack a number like this, but I'm glad I checked before sending the money.
Then I did a search here, and there's a guy of a different name but the same MO.

So...if you receive an unsolicited offer, and if they don't take the common means of payment....I would give it the old "hairy eyeball"...

If the Syntax is off, or if they use the complete add title in the email it was likely a bot.

  Note the extra spacing in the email's sentence about the item you have.  It's spaced abnormally, this is because this is a generated email.   

[35-709]

"If the Syntax is off, or if they use the complete add title in the email it was likely a bot."

Bot?

From Wikipedia ---
An Internet bot, also known as web robot, WWW robot or simply bot, is a software application that runs automated tasks (scripts) over the Internet.[1] Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone. The largest use of bots is in web spidering (web crawler), in which an automated script fetches, analyzes and files information from web servers at many times the speed of a human. More than half of all web traffic is made up of bots.[2]

[boseephuss]

I received almost exactly the same note:

Hello Buddy

I'm emailing in respect to your advert. Please let me know if you are still looking for  1972 Eldorado Door Pull Strap Decorative End Caps, Email and I'll get back to you.

Warm Regards
Martin A. Greathouse
1702 Chesterfield St,
Garden City, KS 67846

For what it is worth, I contacted the Martin Greathouse in Garden City.  He said that is indeed his address, but that he is not the person who contacted me.  I went ahead and recommend he report the identity theft to Google.

[V63]

I'm missing something?

What is the point of useing someone else's name and address? Obviously they can't be sent a check? Nor money orders? Wire transfers are out.

I don't have much experience with western union but I find it hard to believe a valid ID isn't required?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I got caught out by using Western Union back in 2001, and will never use that means again.

I agreed to buy the part, sent the money, and never got the part.   And couldn't claim the money back.

Bruce.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

I had the same guy write to me answering a want ad.  I asked a couple of questions that anyone knowing Cadillac's and the part would know but the answer was wrong.  Just be creative with questions and they will get tripped up.  I didn't do it but even a creative fake question should work also.

[David Greenburg]

Post an ad for replacement blades for an original Cadillac wire stretcher, or maybe a power seat switch for a '36 Fleetwood 60S and see if he responds.

[V63]

In a perfect world we should have a depository of 'scam' emails visible to anyone that desires to confirm if their suspect email matches. Not unlike those posting in this thread with a commonality of scam emails received.

[boseephuss]

The last one, "Gary Benefield," said his wife worked at MoneyGram, that he had issues with PayPal and had sworn them off, and that he would further reduce the price to accommodate the transfer cost.  They do indeed require an ID, so not sure how that happened.

I submitted a fraud claim via my bank, the FBI Cyber Crimes division, and MoneyGram.  The second one I received confirmed that they are looking to this forum specifically.

I would suggest not putting an actual email in your want ad and simply requesting initial contact come through the forum.

I'm missing something?

What is the point of useing someone else's name and address? Obviously they can't be sent a check? Nor money orders? Wire transfers are out.

I don't have much experience with western union but I find it hard to believe a valid ID isn't required?

[Steve Passmore]

People forge ID's all the time.  They can fool immigration into a country so Western Union staff would be a breeze.

[gary griffin]

I just received a similar email but it is "With Warm regards" from Micheal D. Pearce in Augusta Ks zip 67010, so it must be a different guy. I guess I will send him $275 and see what happens.        (Satire of course)