How do scammers perform these scams?

Click here for a detailed example — with glossy pictures — of how a scammer proposed to sell me a Ford truck.

Hey, can I tell you about my near-miss with a scammer?

Please do! Just drop a comment into any associated posting. I only approve comments that are applicable and understandable. I also require that you include in the comment dialog form your reachable email address. Your email address will remain confidential. Also, include in the comment any email addresses of the scammers, along with names and phone numbers. The search engines will pick up your text within seconds and provide warnings for other potential victims.  Contact me directly at nrs21084@gmail.com.

Scammer listing – 24JAN2012

The email addresses below are being used to conduct scams in the form of fake escrow in support of the sale of non-existent vehicles.

thom.erin1@gmail.com

samanta.palmer31@gmail.com

DOFS19@gmail.com

maya.crav@gmail.com

Lamas7804@gmail.com

brenthussung@msn.com

Jessica.Calhoun@msn.com

Alyssa67@msn.com

DebraRobert80@gmail.com

clurdessmith@gmail.com

Brauer1970@live.com

melissa.142@hotmail or melissa.l42@hotmail

sale215@msn.com

bobby.duncan99@gmail.com

Charles Barnett  charles.barn@verizon.net  charles.bar@msn.com

Vehicle Scammers Are Back After The Holiday Break

Never use Moneygram or Western Union to transfer money to someone you do not know personally.  If the receiving party is using a fake ID, the transaction is not traceable.

Note that criminals emulating Ebay will use fake email addresses such as e-bay-motors@accountant.com .  Ebay representatives will use an email address ending in  ebay.com.

–

The scammers below are currently plying their wares via online classified advertisements:

beverly77t@comcast.net

Melissa.Bivens22@gmail.com

Brandon.Graham79@gmail.com

prachel68@gmail.com

harrejose@gmail.com – a military imposter using the name of Senior Medic Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Harrell

miriamerwc@hotmail.com – horse trailer

nkolgfrb@hotmail.com – horse trailer

jsharon675@gmail.com – JOHN DEERE GATOR XUV 850

maya.crav@gmail.com – Cadillac CTS

Online Scammers Selling Vehicles – 05Jan2012

Never, ever send money via Western Union or Moneygram to someone you do not know personally.

Scammer #1:

“Sgt David Stutheit”   dvstuh@gmail.com wrote:
Hi there,
The Acura it is in perfect condition, there’s not a scratch or any dents on it. Everything from engine to tires is mint condition. I have a clear title with no liens or loans. I’m selling it low as my medical team will deploy back to Afghanistan on January 20th for a 2 year contract and I won’t let it go to waste in my backyard, therefore I need a fast and reliable buyer. If you decide to buy it I will be paying for the shipping charges. The total price is $2,680.00 with no other hidden taxes. Please email me back if you are interested in buying it.

His 2nd email: Right now I’m in a military base of Nevada National Guard. Due to military security reasons I’m restricted from leaving the unit’s facility under any purpose and have strictly limited phone access. I hope you can understand that we will have to stick to email for now. The vehicle is here with me at the base but I’ve already made all the arrangements with DAS to pick it up from the base. DAS will also handle the title transfer for an extra $75.00. I think the car will be in 3-5 days to your address. As I said in my first email will take care of shipping charges. I will send all necessary paperwork (clear title, bill of sale, user’s manual, pink slip etc). Regarding the payment I want to use eBay protection program. You’ll get 5 days to inspect and test drive after delivery. During that 5 days testing period I will not be getting any money. Once you inspect and decide to keep the car, will confirm your decision with eBay and only then they will re-route me the money. In this way we are both protected.

I need to know if you are interested in buying it so I can ask eBay to send you the details on how this works. I have to fill out a form on eBay and I need the name that will go on the title and an address where you want the car delivered. Once I do it, eBay will email you all the details on this transaction and we can get the ball rolling.

---

Scammer #2:

“Denise Carter”    carter.denise201@gmail.com  wrote:
Hi,
I’ve received your email regarding the Toyota Avalon XLS with 102,000 miles on it. The car is still for sale and my asking price is $1,950. It is a 2001 model loaded with everything, VIN# 4T1BF28B31U158265. The car is very well maintained and it has just been completely serviced. The engine runs very good and the automatic transmission shifts perfectly.
I’m an oceanographer and I’m on sea at this moment, so I left the car in Laredo, TX,  at the shipping company, it’s already packed and waiting to be shipped anywhere.
Shipping/delivery is included in this price as I almost closed the deal with another customer but he was unable to take the loan from the bank. I’ve already prepared shipping for him as he was out of state.

Results! AP Report: 6 indicted in Internet-based car-selling scheme

Your continued reporting of fraud and attempted fraud to http://ic3.gov pays off!

Feds: 6 indicted in Internet-based car-selling scheme

(AP) – Dec 30, 1:36 AM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal grand jury indicted six foreign nationals on charges that they defrauded hundreds of customers out of more than $4 million in bogus Internet car sales, federal prosecutors said Thursday

The 24-count indictment returned Wednesday alleges a scheme in which vehicles were offered for sale on legitimate websites that deal in auto trading, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.

The six defendants — from Germany, Russia, Romania and Latvia — are accused of collecting payments from hundreds of would-be buyers nationwide, siphoning millions of dollars to Europe and never delivering a vehicle, the indictment said.

Authorities identified the alleged leaders of the scam as Corneliu Stefan Weikum, 37, a Romanian national, and Yulia Meshina-Heffron, 23, a native of Yekaterinberg, Russia. Both are in federal custody in Nevada on charges related to bulk cash smuggling.

Weikum monitored the fraudulent bank accounts to determine if funds had been deposited, the indictment said. The money was then withdrawn — primarily in cash — and delivered to Weikum and Mishina. The two then allegedly wired the money from the United States to other countries, mailed the funds in concealed packages to Berlin, or concealed the funds in personal carry-on luggage while traveling to Germany, according to the indictment.

At least 110 bank accounts were opened to fraudulently receive the funds, according to the indictment. From September 4, 2007 until October 5, 2010, victims deposited at least $4 million into the accounts.

“This case demonstrates our ability to track down even the most sophisticated fraud artist who attempted to hide behind false identities and the perceived anonymity of the Internet,” said U.S. Atty. André Birotte Jr.

The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and money laundering.

If convicted, each could face sentences totaling hundreds of years in federal prison.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

FBI — Sixteen Persons Charged in International Internet Fraud Scheme

Your diligence in reporting fraud and attempted fraud aids law enforcement efforts to apprehend the criminals.  Here’s a success story from Las Vegas, Nevada:

FBI — Sixteen Persons Charged in International Internet Fraud Scheme.

Tip o’ the hat to Netscammers.

A Scammer Attempts To Sell Me a Honda CRV

The email below is the third in an exchange with scammer, franks0007@yahoo.com.  I post it here for the search engines. Everything you read in his email is false.

From: Frank Nelson <franks0007@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 22, 2011
Subject: Re: 2003 Honda CR-V
To: me

Hello,
Ebay will supervise our transaction and will insure that everything is 100% safe. They will shortly contact you with all the necessary information (invoice, payment, purchase protection, inspection period, etc.). Please let me know after they will contact you to confirm we have a deal. Please check your spam / junk folder too, because their email will contain an attachment and could get there.
If the car is not as described, you have the unequivocal right to refuse the car (return postage on my expense) and you are entitled to a full and complete refund of the car’s purchase price.

Again I want to point out that because I am going to Afghanistan this sale is my top priority and I am looking after a fast transaction, with no delays. That is why I decided to lower the price, to avoid wasting time with negotiations and find a buyer as soon as possible. This is a QUICK SALE, who pays for it – gets it, no questions asked, my terms are clear and if you have the money you can have your car!

Thanks

Vehicles Commonly Used In Scams

Recent research of franks0007@yahoo.com – a known scammer – revealed a website with “Frank”s” photo albums. Here are the make and models which “Frank” has used, or will use to conduct his scams:

1999 Acura TL                       2004 Gmc Yukon         2008 Honda Accord        2003  Honda CRV
2007 Honda Civic-EX         2006 Honda Civic         2007 Honda Odyssey
2007 Nissan Altima             1999 Toyota Camry       2002 GMC Yukon

Scammer! – 2005 Toyota Avalon 4DR SDN XLS

lisacontin@gmail.com

“Lisa” is asking $3000 for “her” vehicle. Click here for the entire content of her ad — a single image.

a portion of "Lisa's" advertisement

Never send money via Western Union or Moneygram to someone you do not know personally. These criminals use false identification to pick up the money, thereby evading any attempts to track the money trail.

Vehicle Scammers Advertising Online – 19Dec2011

franks0007@yahoo.com – 2003 Honda CRV – $23xx

Any ads directing you to AutomotiveDepotLlc.us such as this one are likely fraudulent. The domain is hosted in Malaysia.

sammy1141@yahoo.com – 2007 Honda Civic – $27xx
DgrButler38@Gmail.com – 2004 Nissan Maxima – $28xx [Link to his ad image]

allenbaker47@gmail.com – 2006 Nissan Maxima – $2650

Today’s List of Scammers – 16Dec2011

automno@gmail.com – 2002 Toyota RAV4 – $1580

rav.03@hotmail.com – 2003 Toyota RAV4 – $3000

jameswilliams72@msn.com  – 2004 Toyota RAV4 – $26xx

alyssa4440@gmail.com – 2004 Toyota RAV4 – $2600

sherry3231@gmail – 2004 Toyota RAV4 – $2500

marta54@att.net – 2004 RAV4 – $2500

sammy1141@yahoo.com – 1999 Toyota Camry – $17xx

lil1_one@blumail.org – 2004 Airstream Travel Trailer – $27xx

sandra1griffith@gmail.com – 2004 Toyota Tacoma – $2400

ronaldb135@yahoo.com – 2007 Honda Civic – $2700

barbettok@gmail.com – 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe – $3600

anitaaleong@yahoo.com – 2006 Toyota Corolla – $28xx