CROSS-BOARD SCAM WARNING! (She's Back!)

[Mindfield]

Okay. Before I get into the specifics, let me first say that two of these are as yet unconfirmed, but if you read the details, you'll probably come to the same conclusions I have.

First of all, be VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS when dealing with anyone selling anything whose post count is low (under 10 -- usually around 1 or 2). This is pretty much common sense, but sometimes it's easy to forget that when you see a good deal you want to pounce on.

Be ESPECIALLY CAREFUL for lots of Nintendo games and systems being sold by such individuals. You'll find out why below.

DO NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use E-Mail Money Transfers to pay for these items.

Here's why.

I posted about the scam before dealing with "Sara Clarke" so we all know how that went down.

Well, it's happened again. Possibly three more times, and not just to me. I won't name names or give details yet, but suffice it to say for now that it's all been the same sort of crap.

In ALL cases, the seller was new to the board.
In all cases, the seller was selling a bundle of Nintendo merchandise -- games, mostly, sometimes a system in the bundle -- usually priced between 60 and 75.
In all cases, the seller preferred E-Mail Money Transfer. In one case when pressed to deal in person, though the seller agreed, they kept begging off, claiming that they were too busy, and the buyer settled for EMT payment and the items being shipped.
In all cases, the seller used an alleged real name as their alias on the boards (usually only a first name, but in one case, a last as well) The names would be male or female. The names they gave for E-Mail Transfer were all different. (I have not confirmed it yet, but I believe any name and any E-Mail address can be used for EMT since CertaPay, the company that facilitates EMTs between financial institutions, uses this information only for the purpose of notifying the recipients, and for the records of the reciever and sender in their transfer history. I do not believe there is any correlation between the name and E-Mail address entered for the EMT and either your or the sender's real information contained in their bank account information)
In all cases, the seller used a Hotmail account to which the EMT was to be directed.
In all cases, payment was accepted and no merchandise was recieved. In one case the seller did make one final contact claiming the items were shipped, but still nothing was recieved.

So far these scammers have hit The Computer Mechanics and Classic Gaming Collectors of Canada. I have not yet seen them on RFD, Howard Forums or Price Network, but I am posting this to those forums anyway to head off any possibility that they might.

So I would like to recap this, as I cannot stress this enough:

- If dealing with a new member, CHECK REFERENCES. If no references are available, obtain verifyable means of contact -- preferably a telephone number where you can reach them, even a verifiable address, and do not make any transactions until they are reached. Even then be very careful; it's easy to use a buddy's phone and address for this purpose.
- If the seller uses a HotMail or other web-based account, request a real ISP-provided E-Mail address and correspond exclusively through this address. Keep all correspondance.
- DO NOT USE EMT unless you know and trust who you are dealing with. Remember: EMT is FINAL. There is NO recovering your money if the seller decides to screw you. CertaPay does not offer any protection against fraud. If you want some means of payment that's still quick and does offer at least the chance of recovery through investigation, use PayPal. You can now link PayPal with your bank account and use it like an EMT, but you're still protected by Buyer Protection like any PayPal transaction.
- If you are going to deal with such a person anyway, require shipping WITH TRACKING. Xpress Post or Expedited Parcel Post both provide tracking and are not much more than standard parcel post. This won't prevent you from being scammed but it will let you know within 24 hours if you have been when no tracking info shows up.
- Be ESPECIALLY CAREFUL with anyone selling Nintendo stuff. Though they could change their M.O. at any time, Nintendo stuff is popular and sells well, thus is good subject material for such a scam.

I know this is all pretty much common sense but it bears repeating. This seems to be a very bad time to engage in online trading, most particularily for Nintendo fans at the moment, so watch yourself. If it seems like a really good deal, instead of jumping at the opportunity, ask yourself why it's a good deal, then follow the suggestions above.

I just wanted to post this to give everyone a heads up. I'd like to try and make sure no one else gets taken in by this scammer (and yes, I'm now convinced it's one person.) I've written off the 135 I've lost to this butthole, as I'm sure the others who were taken in have done also. Let's make sure the only thing that lines their pockets from now on is lint.

[scrappy]

To the top

[dealforme]

Stickied for now

[ullyeus]

that sucks, I really only like dealing with people on RFD and only those on RFD who have feedback from OTHER RFD members.

I recently wanted to purchase something for a very good price and got some strange vibes from the seller so backed out. I think im happy I did now though the auction is still up.

[skuntbehavior]

good for you! if i even think that someone is the least bit shady or i just get just a feeling, no matter how good the deal, i walk away. i myself was one of the fortunate few that did not get messed up by Lamdam, Elite Munky, TDuong, etc. etc. on a set of technics turntables. something wasn't right with the said price of 2 new decks.

[Zippity]

Good tips, Mindfield!

As we always say, caveat emptor :)

[skuntbehavior]

Originally posted by Zippity@Nov 20 2003, 07:20 PM
Good tips, Mindfield!

As we always say, caveat emptor :)
EXACTLY!!

and for peeps that don't know what that means and in laymans terms, (also stated in the trading rules, guidelines etc.),

"Buyer beware and happy buying, selling, and trading!"

[Tetsuo]

So this is why nobody is buying my N64 package :S They must think I'm a troll. I never ask for email transfers though

Bump for a resolution

[Mindfield]

Originally posted by Tetsuo@Nov 20 2003, 08:25 PM
So this is why nobody is buying my N64 package :S They must think I'm a troll. I never ask for email transfers though

Bump for a resolution
I don't think most people here would think that -- you've got ample references and you've been here a while besides. But I do admit the climate for Nintendo stuff around Ontario lately has been rather iffy at best; these scams I think have people on the defensive. Sadly it may be affecting legit auctions from well-established members, but thieves have a way of breeching the trust like that. :(

[7-Endless]

Great post!

I think we should add Western Union/Bidpay to the list as well. Western Union also doesn't have a way of recovering funds and no ID or anything is really needed to accept payment so you really don't know who you're sending your Western Union or Bidpay money transfer...

[Mindfield]

Originally posted by 7-Endless@Nov 21 2003, 11:35 AM
Great post!

I think we should add Western Union/Bidpay to the list as well.  Western Union also doesn't have a way of recovering funds and no ID or anything is really needed to accept payment so you really don't know who you're sending your Western Union or Bidpay money transfer...
I've never tried BidPay, so I didn't include it -- however I'll be more cautions around that. I doubt many people would want to deal with Western Union wire transfers though -- they're incredibly expensive (minimum $18 for up to $100 transfer).

Has anyone tried HyperWallet? I've been looking at it for a while but am still unsure as to how good or secure it is.

[Freezer]

Bidpay is only used for Auction payments

[Braindead]

pssst mindfield, get my pm regarding the joystick? come by to pick it up sometime

[gurfunkel]

uhh, just to point out that im new to the board yet i'm not scamming anyone. Not all of us noobs are bad news :)

Rob
Gurfunkel@rogers.com

[ichpen]

Originally posted by Mindfield+Nov 21 2003, 10:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mindfield @ Nov 21 2003, 10:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--7-Endless@Nov 21 2003, 11:35 AM
Great post!

I think we should add Western Union/Bidpay to the list as well.* Western Union also doesn't have a way of recovering funds and no ID or anything is really needed to accept payment so you really don't know who you're sending your Western Union or Bidpay money transfer...
I've never tried BidPay, so I didn't include it -- however I'll be more cautions around that. I doubt many people would want to deal with Western Union wire transfers though -- they're incredibly expensive (minimum $18 for up to $100 transfer).

Has anyone tried HyperWallet? I've been looking at it for a while but am still unsure as to how good or secure it is. [/b][/quote]
I've used hyperwallet a few times and it seems to be good. Much like paypal you can pay in CDN or USD funds. They charge 0.25 cents to send money. Moving money between your Canadian bank and hyperwallet is free.

I kind of like it. Security wise it's probably on par with email money transfer i.e. they won't mediate or settle claims.

Unlike paypal you cannot attach credit cards to hyperwallet which is good and bad news for some.

[hostonlinux]

Should I be afraid of the ppl who using TD EMT as well ?

[ichpen]

Originally posted by hostonlinux@Dec 2 2003, 06:44 PM
Should I be afraid of the ppl who using TD EMT as well ?
EMT is nice, cheap and easy. However it is final once the transfer is cashed in by the recipient.

[Mindfield]

WARNING: (s)he is back -- with the same type of nick and same MO. Worse, (s)he registered once again on cgcc.ca as "sclarke279" -- the very same place (s)he hit a few years back. This person has not, however, been posting sale threads, but instead is PMing members with offers of items that are on their want lists. The MO has changed a bit in this regard and as well the person is offering heatware under "clarkse" -- which is painfully obvious as a bogus nick because the person that owns "clarkse" on Heatware is from San Antonio, TX, and this person claims to be from Toronto.

This person's attempts at legitemizing their reference is paper-thin and falls apart at the slightest glimpse, but it bears repeating that if you haven't read the above thread, please do -- there are much better scammers out there than this one, but none of them should get away with crap like this.

Pass the word around; this idiot shouldn't sucker a single person in again.

[Lil Big Mec]

Both named Sarah...can't be a coincidence (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197610) :rolleyes:

[Mindfield]

Both named Sarah...can't be a coincidence (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197610) :rolleyes:

I didn't see that thread -- but you're right, too many similarities to be coincidental. So I see the idiot's struck here, too. :mad:

A mod here should pull this person's IP, and I'll get Omnedon to pull it off CGCC and compare the two, see if they match up. (It may still be meaningless but if they turn out to be radically different -- i.e. registered to different ISPs altogether -- then at least we know they're spoofing)

[felix]

bump ..

I think it's safe to say this applies to all scammers, and not just Nintendo sellers. Just that you noticed this one in particular because you deal mainly with collecting vintage video games I see.

[dvdrsi]

excellent post, everyone should be aware of these rats. I hate scammers, they should have their arms cut off.

[Sun-Tzu]

Hi,

I'm new to this Forum and wish to both sell and buy products. This will only be my second post. So what you are saying is that no one will buy from me unless I threadcrap?

Also, how is one to get good ratings if they do not sell?

I guess that I will have to deal locally until I have sold enough gear then?

I hate scammers!

[Mindfield]

Hi,

I'm new to this Forum and wish to both sell and buy products. This will only be my second post. So what you are saying is that no one will buy from me unless I threadcrap?

Also, how is one to get good ratings if they do not sell?

I guess that I will have to deal locally until I have sold enough gear then?

I hate scammers!

You're perfectly safe selling, but you may have a tougher time of it than someone who has established themselves as a reputable seller. Some suggestions:

- Create a Heatware (http://www.heatware.com) account and request that any successful transaction come with an exchange of heatwhere if the buyer has also subscribed. (If they haven't, suggest they do. Heatware has the rare and pleasant distinction of being free to join and completely spam-free with no requirement to sign up for irritating "newsletters" or such ilk) Like eBay feedback this is mutually beneficial to your reputation. Also like eBay feedback, it's not completely reliable (as anyone can make the claim that someone else's feedback is their own as long as no one checks into it too closely) -- but it's better than nothing at all. Plus, you can build up a rep buying or selling.

- Allow local pickup. This engenders confidence that you're really who you are and any potential buyer can drop by and take a look for themselves. You may also offer local delivery if you are so inclined, but this is entirely up to you.

- Offer a phone number if requested. Preferably a land line, as those are not so easily discarded.

- Give a real E-Mail address (as opposed to a disposable web-based address like Hotmail). Don't do this in public mind you, unless you display it in such a way that spam trawlers won't pick it up (i.e. spell out punctuation like dashes or dots in italics so people know what you mean without you actually having to post a valid, clickable address).

- Post photos. Offer additional shots on request if need be, so people know you've got what you say you've got and can take pics of it at whatever angle/configuration the user chooses. Never use stock photos or someone else's pics off eBay or somesuch. Those are definite no-nos; no pictures are better than trying to pass off someone else's as your own. Even if you state that the pics aren't yours -- better to offer a link to a page featuring an image of what you're selling if you can't take pics of it yourself.

- Get involved in some auxiliary chat around the board. If the stimulating conversation isn't reason enough, then at least a higher post count will establish you as an active, involved member.

- If you are already active on other boards and have built any sort of rep there, point people to relevant threads there, especially if they contain comlpimentary responses to products purchased from you.

- Be completely open and honest about everything you sell. If there are any problems with the item(s), show them in pictures and/or describe them to the best of your ability. If nothing else, it will show you are honest of intention and not the sort who will try and cover up undesirable features -- a trait too many eBay sellers have.

Most of this is pretty well common sense, but making a point to observe them tends to stand out among sellers who may not have quite the same presence of mind when selling things, and in any event will paint a more positive picture of you to prospective buyers when you may have no other way to prove your credibility. It only takes a small handful of positive transactions to get a decent reputation built -- and more importantly to put considerable distance between you and the scammers.

[felix]

^ Good post. There should be a sticky on safe trading tips.

[Sun-Tzu]

Thanks for all the great tips Mindfield.

I have already registered with Heatwave and I am awaiting the email from them to finalize.

I have a great deal of Computers, Computer parts, peripherals, and PC games that I have collected over the years and would like to give them new homes.

Belonging to a few other Computer Forums, I understand the need to gain credibility.

Hopefully my selling experience here at RedFlagDeals.com will be a good one. I know that my recent purchase was.

[Mindfield]

Thanks for all the great tips Mindfield.

I have already registered with Heatwave and I am awaiting the email from them to finalize.

I have a great deal of Computers, Computer parts, peripherals, and PC games that I have collected over the years and would like to give them new homes.

Belonging to a few other Computer Forums, I understand the need to gain credibility.

Hopefully my selling experience here at RedFlagDeals.com will be a good one. I know that my recent purchase was.

Having bought something from someone here is already worknig to your advantage -- you have at the very least one person who's sent (or delivered) you something, so at least one person has had a successful transaction from you and if asked (and so inclined) can vouch for you on that point. That's already separated you from the scammers, being that you are now a known quantity in some small capacity, and that in turn will give people a lot more confidence that you're for real. Once you make the first complete sale and the buyer's happy with what they bought, everything else is cake. Just keep doing more of the same. :)

[ejay2k3]

i hate thieves :mad: got ripped off once, when buying a camera, and box was shrink wrapped and all, with price tag and all, damn looked brand new, when i paid for it...went home, opened box, found it was only newspaper inside, NEVER deal with thieves!!! Oh yeah, when they say u cant open the box, know that its a trick!

[ragz]

It's crap like this that makes it more difficult for everyone here, be it the forum regulars or a newbie like myself. Having just sent out my first ever EMT for my first ever purchase on RFD I'm feeling very nervous after reading this...

[htboi]

bump this to the top!

[NODES]

I thought Trolls go into hibernation till summer time ?

[Sharp]

I remember seeing this one thing on tv, it was a company who holds the money for you, for about 10 days or so, and until you are satisfied with the product, then the money goes through to the person. That would work good here... Unless the person says the product is bad, and keeps the product. :|

[squall458]

I remember seeing this one thing on tv, it was a company who holds the money for you, for about 10 days or so, and until you are satisfied with the product, then the money goes through to the person. That would work good here... Unless the person says the product is bad, and keeps the product. :|
like an escrow company? some of those are phoney too

[nolookingca]

I remember seeing this one thing on tv, it was a company who holds the money for you, for about 10 days or so, and until you are satisfied with the product, then the money goes through to the person. That would work good here... Unless the person says the product is bad, and keeps the product. :|

"Seller beware"?