Possible scam
July 25th, 2018, 01:49 PM
#1
Randy C.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 3,245
Possible scam
I am advertising a Corvette carburetor in an NCRS magazine (Driveline) and their on-line site. I got a response to my ad that sounds like a scammer to me but I'll put it out here to see what others have to say. The response came from a "John Jakoba", email john.jjonline001@gmail.com. He signs his name "Mr John" in his emails and it appears from the stilted English in his emails that English is not his native tongue.
Mr. John wanted pictures (there were already pictures in the ad), which I emailed to him. His response was that he "...really loves it...ready to purchase...state the price (that is also in the ad)...will mail a certified check to me...he will personally arrange for the pick-up after my bank confirms payment to me (nice touch, no shipping charges!)...take the ad off the site...".
In addition to asking for things that were already in the ad, he makes no mention at all of how he is going to use this carburetor. Most people (not all, but most) in the NCRS are Corvette enthusiasts and they like to talk about their Corvettes (as we do our Oldsmobiles!). This guy not only says nothing, he doesn't even indicate he is a collector car fan or what his intentions are for using this carburetor. That sounds weird to me. As well, I've read of situations where a seller gets a "certified check" and deposits it and the bank tells him it's good, only to find out a month later the "certified check" is counterfeit and no good at all.
Does anyone here know "Mr John" and can vouch for him? If so, I'll move forward. But, from what I see, this is someone on a mission to scam me out of $450!
Randy C.
Mr. John wanted pictures (there were already pictures in the ad), which I emailed to him. His response was that he "...really loves it...ready to purchase...state the price (that is also in the ad)...will mail a certified check to me...he will personally arrange for the pick-up after my bank confirms payment to me (nice touch, no shipping charges!)...take the ad off the site...".
In addition to asking for things that were already in the ad, he makes no mention at all of how he is going to use this carburetor. Most people (not all, but most) in the NCRS are Corvette enthusiasts and they like to talk about their Corvettes (as we do our Oldsmobiles!). This guy not only says nothing, he doesn't even indicate he is a collector car fan or what his intentions are for using this carburetor. That sounds weird to me. As well, I've read of situations where a seller gets a "certified check" and deposits it and the bank tells him it's good, only to find out a month later the "certified check" is counterfeit and no good at all.
Does anyone here know "Mr John" and can vouch for him? If so, I'll move forward. But, from what I see, this is someone on a mission to scam me out of $450!
Randy C.
July 25th, 2018, 02:15 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 2,972
OR, he will 'mistakenly' send you a check for way over the amount of the sale, then request that you send him back the 'difference'. Some butthole tried that on my wife (artist), we contacted the FBI.
July 25th, 2018, 02:32 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 336
Absolutely a scam.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
July 25th, 2018, 04:15 PM
#6
Olds Fever
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New York (Upstate)
Posts: 4,442
Sounds a little sketchy... I would dig for more info as previously suggested...
Recently I advertised a Cadillac Chassis Manual on Craig's List... Simple response to the ad was "Will you post to Staten Island"??? I responded yes and set the deal in motion... Perspective buyer responded "money" was in the mail and I should receive payment with 7/10 days... Red Flag went up as the mail delivery between Albany and Staten Island is 2, 3 days at the most... I decided it may be a scam and just waited... Payment was received on the 10th day from "Australia"... US cash money in an envelope... Shipped the manual to Staten Island and all was good... I have since had a second transaction with the same individual without a problem... No real indication he was from another country or any mention of his interest in Cadillacs... Won't say I will have the same luck next time...
Recently I advertised a Cadillac Chassis Manual on Craig's List... Simple response to the ad was "Will you post to Staten Island"??? I responded yes and set the deal in motion... Perspective buyer responded "money" was in the mail and I should receive payment with 7/10 days... Red Flag went up as the mail delivery between Albany and Staten Island is 2, 3 days at the most... I decided it may be a scam and just waited... Payment was received on the 10th day from "Australia"... US cash money in an envelope... Shipped the manual to Staten Island and all was good... I have since had a second transaction with the same individual without a problem... No real indication he was from another country or any mention of his interest in Cadillacs... Won't say I will have the same luck next time...
July 25th, 2018, 05:23 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: eastern MA
Posts: 3,287
Id bet my life it is a scam, Post and ad on craigslist for anything with value over a couple hundred bucks and the emails and texts will roll in with offers to buy with cashiers checks or $ transfers.........Dont do it.
Its not a possible scam it is a scam.
Its not a possible scam it is a scam.
July 25th, 2018, 08:49 PM
#11
CH3NO2 LEARN IT BURN IT
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Land of Taxes
Posts: 4,844
Randy, never heard of him. Ive been an NCRS member for many years. I just did a search on NCRS.org and low and behold the only thing that popped up was your post...lol. So ya its a slimeball scammer! Gary nailed it. His phone number is an IP and likely a phish waiting for you to click the link them bam. Not everyone has access to Driveline and NCRS dot org. So the slimeball has hacked something.
mad:
Move on. A real vette guy will show up.
mad:Move on. A real vette guy will show up.
July 26th, 2018, 07:59 AM
#12
Randy C.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 3,245
Thanks all! I'm not even going to respond and see if he ever comes back. I doubt that he will.
I've sold lots of things on craigslist and thru NCRS and classicoldsmobile but this is the first time I've ever been hit by a scammer. I'm glad others have brought up in the past how these scammers work as it made me wary from the beginning of this guy.
I'll wait for a real Corvette guy to show up! Thanks again to all!
Randy C.
I've sold lots of things on craigslist and thru NCRS and classicoldsmobile but this is the first time I've ever been hit by a scammer. I'm glad others have brought up in the past how these scammers work as it made me wary from the beginning of this guy.
I'll wait for a real Corvette guy to show up! Thanks again to all!
Randy C.
July 26th, 2018, 08:29 AM
#13
Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,553
Absolutely a scam.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
July 26th, 2018, 11:13 AM
#17
Jeff
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Grand Blanc, MI
Posts: 1,027
The whole bit about, "I'll arrange for my shipper to come pick up" is always a red flag. I typically give it one more shot, just to be sure, and respond with, "Hey, this sounds like a scam, I'd really prefer to meet up and make the cash transaction in person. I will absolutely not be providing any info to accept a wire transfer."
There's always the the remote possibility, but I have not yet had any of these types of responses to my ads actually pan out. I've sold over $30k worth of stuff via Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, including motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles, boats, furniture, and various other miscellaneous items. I've dealt with this scam in various forms a couple dozen times.
No harm in coming here and asking.
There's always the the remote possibility, but I have not yet had any of these types of responses to my ads actually pan out. I've sold over $30k worth of stuff via Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, including motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles, boats, furniture, and various other miscellaneous items. I've dealt with this scam in various forms a couple dozen times.
No harm in coming here and asking.
July 26th, 2018, 12:18 PM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Red Oak, Texas
Posts: 2,961
Same here. I put a car for sale ($1500) on Auto Trader. Ad said "NO TEXTING" . What do I get but a text message from a number area code that relates to New Jersey. The person says he is in Arizona and wants to buy the car for his dad. I replied it would cost more to ship the car to either place than the car is worth. He ignores this and wants my Pay Pal information so he can pay for the car and have it picked up. I said I don't do Pay Pal, cash in hand when the car is picked up. Never heard any more.
August 15th, 2018, 07:35 PM
#19
Kyle
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 105
Absolutely a scam.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
Try this: email Mr John and get him to tell you where he is located, no matter where he is, even if it's across the country, tell him you will be in that area the day after tomorrow and can exchange the item for cash. Look up a local Police station close to Mr John and give him that address as the meeting place. He'll refuse to meet guaranteed.
Iv'e done this a few times and their reactions to the emails always make me laugh.
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