MTBR Classifieds from Hell

Ah. Is that why I got an email last night from an eBay bidder about a
suspension fork I have for sale? The first line of my listing says
that it's a 1 1/8" fork with a 10" steerer tube, and the email asked
"Is this the fork with the 1 1/8" steerer tube that is 10" long?". I
don't think I want to sell to someone that dumb.
Dave
www.davewilson.cc/Bike

Ride-A-Lot <[email hidden]> wrote let it be
known in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR
classifieds. There has been a huge increase in the number
of scammers. I posted one item and 90% of the replies have
been from scammers. There must be some pretty dumb people
out there, if these guys still exist. You can usually tell
because they ask for the information that's already in the
ad or want to pay with a "check" and will take care of
their own shipping. Here's a few of the great messages
they sent me:

Do you know what the scam is? I doubt if they really want to buy
your stuff with a bad check (scammers want cash, not goods) so
there must be another angle.

Maybe it is the old scam where they 'mistakenly' overpay with a
check to you and want you to send them a money order for the
difference, then you find out their check is no good?

Just curious what they are trying to pull here...

Ride-A-Lot said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR classifieds.
There has been a huge increase in the number of scammers. I posted
one item and 90% of the replies have been from scammers. There must
be some pretty dumb people out there, if these guys still exist. You
can usually tell because they ask for the information that's already
in the ad or want to pay with a "check" and will take care of their
own shipping. {snip}

I don't know -- that African veterinarian dude sounds pretty legit to me!
Why, just yesterday I was contacted by some Nigerian Royalty about an
enormous fortune (some 40 /million/ dollars!!!) that they desire to transfer
into my bank account!!! How lucky can a guy be?!?!?!?

(I also have apparently won a number of foreign lotteries recently, despite
never having entered any.)

Diamond Bill, soon to be of Maui

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote let it be
known in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I don't know -- that African veterinarian dude sounds
pretty legit to me! Why, just yesterday I was contacted by
some Nigerian Royalty about an enormous fortune (some 40
/million/ dollars!!!) that they desire to transfer into my
bank account!!! How lucky can a guy be?!?!?!?

(I also have apparently won a number of foreign lotteries
recently, despite never having entered any.)

Diamond Bill, soon to be of Maui

It sounds like you may need a bit of help claiming all of these
lottery prizes and fortunes. I'd like to offer my financial
services.

For just a small percentage of your 'winnings', I'll co-ordinate
all of the direct deposits into your account and complete any
required paperwork. Of course, I'll need some payment up front
to let me get started building your fortune. If you send me a
cashier's check for perhaps $2,000, I'll be able to get to work
right away!

--

Curt Bousquet

Road & Mtn biking in Southern VT and Western Mass.

My 2004 bike log:
http://www.scanline.com/bikelog/2004.html

Curt Bousquet said:

Ride-A-Lot <[email hidden]> wrote let it be
known in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR
classifieds. There has been a huge increase in the number
of scammers. I posted one item and 90% of the replies have
been from scammers. There must be some pretty dumb people
out there, if these guys still exist. You can usually tell
because they ask for the information that's already in the
ad or want to pay with a "check" and will take care of
their own shipping. Here's a few of the great messages
they sent me:

Do you know what the scam is? I doubt if they really want to buy
your stuff with a bad check (scammers want cash, not goods) so
there must be another angle.

Maybe it is the old scam where they 'mistakenly' overpay with a
check to you and want you to send them a money order for the
difference, then you find out their check is no good?

Just curious what they are trying to pull here...

I think you're right. I've heard of it being used for aircraft,
telescopes, cars, motorcycles... It's so ubiquitous that lots of
scam-the-scammer sites are showing up. Here's my fav:

http://www.419eater.com/html/joe_eboh.htm

The whole site http://www.419eater.com is full of these. You'd think
the scammers would come up with something new.

Shawn

On 1/6/05 10:57 AM, in article [email hidden],

Curt Bousquet said:

Ride-A-Lot <[email hidden]> wrote let it be
known in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR
classifieds. There has been a huge increase in the number
of scammers. I posted one item and 90% of the replies have
been from scammers. There must be some pretty dumb people
out there, if these guys still exist. You can usually tell
because they ask for the information that's already in the
ad or want to pay with a "check" and will take care of
their own shipping. Here's a few of the great messages
they sent me:

Do you know what the scam is? I doubt if they really want to buy
your stuff with a bad check (scammers want cash, not goods) so
there must be another angle.

Maybe it is the old scam where they 'mistakenly' overpay with a
check to you and want you to send them a money order for the
difference, then you find out their check is no good?

Just curious what they are trying to pull here...

There's also a growing ebay scam regarding mountain bikes. Caution. If you
bid and lose out (outbid) you are apt to receive a scam email purporting to
be the seller telling you that the first bid fell through, so send your
payment and the bike is yours. These are scams! Careful. I have contacted
eBay about this, but I still think it occurs.

Shawn wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

I think you're right. I've heard of it being used for aircraft,
telescopes, cars, motorcycles... It's so ubiquitous that lots of
scam-the-scammer sites are showing up. Here's my fav:

http://www.419eater.com/html/joe_eboh.htm

The whole site http://www.419eater.com is full of these. You'd think
the scammers would come up with something new.

Shawn

Oh man, I just wasted a big chunk of time reading that whole thing (and
trying to stifle my giggles). That's beautiful! Love the photos too. Now
I want to set up some "dealings"!

Matt

Curt Bousquet said:

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote let it be
known in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I don't know -- that African veterinarian dude sounds
pretty legit to me! Why, just yesterday I was contacted by
some Nigerian Royalty about an enormous fortune (some 40
/million/ dollars!!!) that they desire to transfer into my
bank account!!! How lucky can a guy be?!?!?!?

(I also have apparently won a number of foreign lotteries
recently, despite never having entered any.)

Diamond Bill, soon to be of Maui

It sounds like you may need a bit of help claiming all of these
lottery prizes and fortunes. I'd like to offer my financial
services.

For just a small percentage of your 'winnings', I'll co-ordinate
all of the direct deposits into your account and complete any
required paperwork. Of course, I'll need some payment up front
to let me get started building your fortune. If you send me a
cashier's check for perhaps $2,000, I'll be able to get to work
right away!

Just how stupid do you think I am? I already wired ample funds to the
prince's widow to get the process started. (Of course, I recognize that
snags can occur, and have earmarked additional money to complete the deal.)

I'll let you all know when I'm filthy rich from this.

Watching the horizon, Bill

Back off, Bill. I've been counting on that money for my retirement fund...!
Mr. Kenya has been emailing me personally for years.

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'll let you all know when I'm filthy rich from this.

Gwood said:

Back off, Bill. I've been counting on that money for my retirement
fund...! Mr. Kenya has been emailing me personally for years.

Kenya?!? Pfffft!!! Nigeria is where the REAL money is.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA <eg>

Ride-A-Lot said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR classifieds.

It says a lot about the culture there. There are a few things I notice
about the scams:

Obvious:
1. Africa
2. Spain
3. I WANT IT NOW NOW NOW!!!

Not-so-obvious:
1. They always talk about their families or ask about yours. I'm guessing
that the nuclear family is still strong in those countries. They're trying
to be polite as possible, but they don't know that we'd rather them ask
about how our jobs are instead of how our families are, because asking about
family is kinda creepy compared to asking about a job if you don't know a
person well.

2. "Greetings from" "From the desk of" "Hello."

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Phil said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Just a word of warning to all those that sell using MTBR classifieds.

It says a lot about the culture there. There are a few things I notice
about the scams:

I bought a bike off MTBR forum...if I'm thinking of the right place. it was some years ago.

I'd probably be much more careful now. but it seems like "let the seller beware" over there right now. of course scams of the other order are also common on the 'net, but if you get references, photos, make phone contact, yadda yadda you're doing yourself a favor and cut down the risk considerably -- I would think.

bri

--

* enjoying the karma *
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