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1950's Fender Laptop Guitar
The scam started when we posted the
above
Fender Laptop Guitar for sale on Craig's List.
We were asking $500 for the guitar and
within a hour a buyer had replied. They were
from out of state and would be sending a money
order. Then a couple days later received an Email
explaining that they had mistakenly sent a money
order for $1,900 and if we would cash the money order
and return the extra $1,400 cash. This set the bells to
ringing
and we knew this was a complete scam. The money
orders were fake and after returning the excess cash to the
con artist, the money orders, which take 30 days to clear
through a bank, would bounce leaving the victim to
cover the cost and possible criminal
charges for passing bad checks.
Fake Money Order.
They were mailed in a plain white envelope without a return
address. They look convincingly real and it can be very tempting to deposit into your bank account.
They sent two money orders for $950
each.
We were requested to cash them and return the
excess funds through Western Union. Below are copies
of the Emails they had sent representing themselves
as buyers of the guitar and how the scam
progressed:
1950's Fender Champion Lap Steel
Guitar - $500 (Bend, OR)
From: Bobby Harris <bobbyharris_bh006@att.net>
To: sale-dgcz3-2573417180@craigslist.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 12:02 PM
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY
DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow,
shipping
** More Info:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html
Do you still have it for sale, and what's
the condition???
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.....
From: Bobby Harris <bobbyharris_bh001@att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 11:32 AM
Hello Eugene
Thanks for the prompt response and i will
love to make
an instant purchase, and also pls do withdraw the advert
from Craigslist, i don't mind adding extra 20$ if you to
take the advert down from Craigslist so that i can be
rest
assured that am in hand of the item. I will also like you
to
know that i will be paying via Money Order, and it will
be
over night payment due to the distance. You don't need
to
bother your self with the shipment ok,i will take care of
that.
So i will need you to provide me with the following
information
to facilitate the mailing of the Money Order.
1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential address
3;Your City
4;Your State
5:Your Zip code
6:Your phone number.
**Once again ,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 Money Order
Have a nice day....
PAYMENT ON THE WAY.......
Thursday, September 1, 2011 11:36 AM
From: Bobby Harris
<bobbyharris_bh001@att.net>
Hello Eugene
How are you doing today? there was a
little problem
which i guess we can handle it with understanding. I
called my representative to confirm about your payment
which i instruct him to issue out for you, i try to
confirm
from him if he has already sent the Money Order to you.
I detect that, there was a misinterpretation while
issuing
the Money Order and it has already been sent, It was a
terrible mistake according to the instruction i gave
him,
he was suppose to have send you a Money Order of
($500,00)But instead, he sent (1,900 dollars). he
claimed
that he thought! i said he should send you a Money Order
of (1,900 dollars), i guess he didn't get me right. But
that
should not disturb this transaction.What will happen is
that,
once you get the Money Order cashed from your bank,
Deduct your item money which is $500,00 and $20 dollars
for your running around for cashing the Money Order and
the 20 for taking down the advert, you will then send
the
excess fund to my mom through western union, then the
balance will be used by the shipper for the pick up. My
shipper
will come for the pick up on a specified day that will be
convenient
for both of you, you will receive the payment on Monday or
Tuesday
morning and i will let you have the tracking so you can
track and
know when is going to deliver ok and mail me back
immediately,
to let me know how you feel about this i will be looking
forward
to read from you soon.
Thanks.
I NEED YOUR URGENT
RESPOND.......
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 10:33 PM
From: "Bobby Harris"
<bobbyharris_bh001@att.net>
Hey Eugene How are today .. Hope you are
having a nice
day, i am so sorry for the delay about the payment i was
told that the fedex are having problems right now so
they
forward it to the postal service and i was told you going
to
receive it by friday so please i want you to be a little
patient
with me for that i just want to keep you update to know
the
actual time you going to receive it and i hope you are
still
keeping the item for me ....
I will be looking forward to read from
you soon
Anthony.
PAYMENT WILL DELIVER TO YOU
TODAY......
Friday, September 9, 2011 4:39 PM
From: "Bobby Harris"
<bobbyharris_bh001@att.net>
Hey Eugene how are you doing today? well
just want you
to know that you going to receive the payment today and
pls as soon as you get it just let me know and then you
can
go on and get it cash then from there you going to
deduct
your money from there then you will wire the rest fund
to
my mom through western union okay.... Here is my mom
western union info that you will wire the rest money to
down
here....
Cynthia Martin
574 N Mclean Blvd
Elgin IL 60123
Get back to me with the
SENDER NAME:
MTCN CONTROL NUMBER (10 DIGIT):
AMOUNT SENT:
Also take western union charges from the
money you are
sending to my mom okay and pls i want you to do this as
soon as possible so that my mover will be able to do the
pick up as asap...
Thanks and God bless.
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