Victims of Craigslist Scams Beware...

I was minutes away from being scammed by someone on craigslist. I wanted to explain my situation in hopes that it can help someone else from falling into the same trap. My problem is that I first think that most people are inherently good, but I am surely mistaken.


I listed a piece of furniture on craigslist for $400.00...an old dining room hutch that is in great condition. I got a response a few days later stating that some guy 'richard beks' (im assuming is a fake name) wanted to buy it at the listed price and that he would send me a check, wait for me to cash it and arrange a date for his movers to come pick up the piece. He stated he was going to throw in a few extra dollars so that I could pay the movers (i assumed about $50-$100) A few days later, a fedex package arrived with a check for $2540.00 from a company listed as 'On-Demand Publishing' out of a Wells Fargo bank account from the West Coast. The signature said 'Richard Beks' After calling Wells Fargo to make sure the account was valid and that the funds were available, the bank could only tell me that the account was in an open status. I was going to try to cash the check at a wells fargo bank only to find out those banks exist only on the west coast (i live on east coast), so this was impossible. I was a bit suspicious because I didnt want to get involved in anything that wasnt my business or concern and didnt feel right cashing all of that money. So, I called my bank and my local police department to make sure I wouldn't get into trouble for cashing a check that far exceeded my listed price. I also went onto craigslist and asked for advice from anyone that has ever heard of anything like this before. A day later I got a response from all three sources telling me that this was a HUGE SCAM and that people are falling for it everyday.

This is what happens when you deposit or cash this man's check. Deposit check, withdrawal excess money to pay the fake movers, movers come by to pick up your sale item, you give them the money, they leave, and 2-3 weeks later the bank tells you that the check has bounced or is an invalid check and not only are you out the full amount of the check, you are also left with NO sale item. If I had gone through with cashing/depositing that check of his, i wouldve lost all of that cash and my dining room hutch would be gone.

I am hoping that we the people can start a list of craigslist scammers to help others stay away from these crappy people and their crappy scams. Since then, I have been contacted by two other men with similar guarantees of purchasing my item, paying for it in check and then screwing me weeks later.

Please help me build a list to warn other honest sellers...

Here begins my list:

FIRST KNOWN SCAMMER:
Richard Beks
refurbishedip@aol.com
Wells Fargo Bank check from this company:
On-Demand Publishing

This was his first, middle and last email to me:
Hello, Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and my form of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS next day delivery. I'll be responsible for the pick-up and the pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable pick up company to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours. I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible,but if you have the pics,might want to have a good look. Please do get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment. Regards.Rich.

Hello, Good to read from you with details, I presume we seal this a deal? I'll contact my secretary so that payment will be issued out to you,please i want you to consider the item sold and keep off other interested buyers that would make inquiry about it cos am ready for it's purchase.As i've let you know that pick up and mover's money will be included in your payment, so upon cash of check, you'll make the pick up money payable to the movers and the movers would arrange appropriate time for pick up at your location cos i've other properties to be moved.I believe this is based on trust.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.Regards!

Hey, I told you initially that the movers fee will be included in the payment, the overpayment is meant to cover the cost of shipment for the item alongside my other properties including tax and insurance plus the movers fee. You have to understand that i've tried all possible means to make sure payment reaches you in a timely manner as i have some other properties ready to be moved alongside your item... Will really appreciate your effort by acting accordingly as agreed, upon the cash of the check, deduct your money for the item and make the rest funds available to the movers coordinator so they can arrange for the pick up of my other properties. Your effort will really be appreciated. Sorry for any inconveniences and thanks for your understanding.Regards.


SECOND KNOWN SCAMMER:
Jim Berger
jim.berger20008@gmail.com
This was his beginning scam email to me:
Hello... I really appreciate your response to my mail.I want you to consider it sold, pls do withdraw the advert from craigslist to avoid disturbance.I want you to know that i will be paying via bank certified check .I will need you to provide me with the following. information to facilitate the mailing of the check . 1.....Full name to write on the check 2.....Full Physical address to post the check 3.....Home & Cell Phone to contact you **I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check** Thanks


THIRD KNOWN SCAMMER:
Daniel
jdickens@carolinamoldandradon.com

His initial email:
Hello, I'm Daniel Nelson. i need a professional Householder/JUNK REMOVER/HOUSEHOLD MOVER/DIRT REMOVER/CLEAN UP SERVICE/JUNK REMOVER HAULING/CLEAN UPAND LANDSCAPPING/FURNITURE MOVING/ERRAND. and also i need the kind of things you move, to handle my Home within the state. i have been away from home over 2 months, am in { England, UK} for some special project and am almost done with it, so i need the required services above to be done, so if you are one of the list of professionlisted above , please mail me now, to take proper care and clean the environment before i arrive back home .Its 3 rooms apartment, 1 SittingRoom, 1Bathroom/Toilet and 2 Kitchen. This is all that you have to clean and tidy up the rest places and move the dirts and also help me move my loads to my cousinsplace which i shall provide to you the address soon.Arrange everywhere and mob the Floor and use your Equipment for that. I need this service fast, because i have to arrive to the state by next week or in 12 days and i want thiscleaning/moving/removal beforethen, I will forward the Pictures of the House to you in the next mail. I need your assistance and am Trusting youfor this,cos its not that easy to entrust someone i have not seen in person, but i believe we all know each other one day and this will favour you well, cos am a very easy going person and well understanding. Money is not a bareer My Boss want to pay me off for the Project that i attend in UK., so he's paying me with U.SCashier Check/Money Orders, which can't be cashed in UK. If the payment(Check/Money Orders) is sent to you,so i want you the required amount for your Advance service charges,then send the restfund or sum to my Travelling Agent, cos its for my Flight Ticket Fees to the states As soon as possible, then keep theremaining balance for me till i arrive tothe states. If your Location is far from my House,i will pay for your Transport Down there for theCleaning and other proper house cleanimg to be neat. Note: money is not a bareer to me. i want you to know this before giving me you rinformation
1. Can you be doing this for me weekly.2. How much will you charge me weekly.3. Tell me the amount you want to charge weeklyforgetabout thedistance, i will include that in my nextmail.4. I would like to pay you 1 month you 1 month upfront5. How much will it be for a month.
If you are interseted doing this for me, i need the followingDetails(information) Below:
FULL NAME :FULL ADDRESS :TELEPHONE:CELL PHONE:
I need this information to issue the check, because i have to do everything fast and also my Boss is travelling for Business purpose, so he needs thisinformation so he can issue the check and send it toyou ASAP,immediately he sends the check, i will forward the Courrier Tracking Number to you and itwill Deliver Unfailingly within 3 business days.i want you to do a perfect work in my House. As soonas the information required from you is sentto me and the payment will be issued and get to your contact address Asap coz it takes 3-4 business days to get delivered Looking forward to hear from as soon as possible Thanks.
Daniel




These people are awful scam artists who have duped many out of their hard earned money. I spoke to the local police department and he advised me to bring in the check and file a police report. He also advised me on what to say to this man to cancel our agreement.

I hope this helps even one person...you can't seem to trust anyone and that is quite sad.