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How to Spot a Scam

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Jean Philips Scam Artist

Another Scam artist has crept up as of late.

Name: Jean Philips
Tactic: Classic Nigerian Scam. Eludes to the services of non-existent shipping company to "pick up the item"

7/27/08 Cragislist User Wrote:
Thank you guys so much as for the heads up, this just happened to me...I wanted to know where fresnomail.com came from or what it was used for. The persons name is Jean Philips The scam artist is using so far 3 different email addresses with me. I have an item listed on craigslist : jphilip45@fresnomail.com
jphilip0003@yahoo.com
jphilip0003@gmail.com

BEWARE OF THIS PERSON here is what the emails were:email #1Hello is this item still available on sale.... you can get back to me with the pictures of it, if is still available Sent by [CompanyName]

Maile mail #2(sent to me three times by the way lol)Hello i really appreciate your response to my earlier mail.like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check due to the distance as i am located in Florida.I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.1.Your full name2.Your mailing address be it residential or postal address3.Your phone number.**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 check**Have a nice day Bullshit! Seeing as though I work in a bank I am no stranger to the check cashing frauds out there!!!

PLEASE PEOPLE DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!! WATCH OUT FOR THESE LOW LIFES THEY WILL DRAIN YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR!!!WATCH FOR JEAN PHILIPS!!!!

Monday, July 21, 2008

John Mark Scam Artist

Since surfacing lately, John Mark has been relentlessly pursuing people with "his" scam tactics. Many people have written about the new email addresses John Mark has been using since being exposed by us.

7/21/08 Craigslist user wrote:
I was contacted by John Mark; however, he used all these emails:

Jmark48@fresnomail.com
gl1000ster8@gmail.com
gl1000ster12@yahoo.com

A little fishy that he used three different email addresses for only two emails!!!

Running List of Scam Artists

Here is a running list of the most active scam artists on craigslist. Please report any other scam artists that you may be or have been in contact with.

Tyler Skall
Lauretta Coronado
Robert Phillips
Derek Morgan
Anthony Collier
Joe Smith
John Mark
Robert Adam
Murphy James
Clara Eilad
Martins joe
Emma Rolland

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Clara Eiland, Emma Rolland, John Mark

Two new scam artists to the scene.

Names: Clara Eiland, Emma Rolland, John Mark
Email: Clara42@fresnomail.com, emma.12@fresnomail.com, Jmark88@fresnomail.com

7/16/08 Craigslist user wrote:
I got a response from Clara Eiland Clara42@fresnomail.com, Emma Rolland emma.12@fresnomail.com,and john mark Jmark88@fresnomail.com about and item I posted yesterday and they keep flagging my post over and over with no reason, it is so annoying, I don't know what to do, I just trying to sell like everybody and just because I ignored they mails [after reading these blogs, thanks] every time I repost they flag it again.

Reporting Lauretta Coronodo?

It appears "Lauretta Coronodo" is surfacing everywhere theses days. A craigslist user in Boston reports email contact with this person. Many people have asked what can they do beyond simply ignoring the email solicitation. You can report this person to law enforcement by asking them to send their fake check to your local FBI field office. Also ask them to include their contact information and instructions for sending payment. You can remain anonymous while reporting this.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

How do I report a Scam Artist?

Lately I have received many emails from people that want to report a scam artist, but don't know how or where to start. If you have received an unsolicited reply to your ad on Craigslist and are not quite sure if the buyer is legitimate, please search the posts here for differnent types of scams that are currently being implemented.

What can I do once I've been contacted by a Scam Artist.

1) You can block the user by marking their email as spam.

2) Report their name and contact information here.

3) If you are up to it, have the scam artist send their fake/fraudulent check to your local FBI field office. FBI List

Remember under no circumstances should you ever reveal your personal information. This includes using your real name, address, bank account info, or any other private and sensitive information. This also includes sending photocopies or scanned images of your drivers license or passport.

Tyler Skall Scam Artist - Austin, TX

A Craigslist user sent this warning about Tyler Skall.

Name: Tyler Skall
Email: ends in fresnomail (be wary of people with this email)
City: Austin, TX

On 7/14/08 Craigslist user wrote:
I have also gotten two responses from fresnomail. I'm waiting to see if they are legit or not. HOWEVER, on another item I was selling on CL, I got the following set of emails from one Tyler Skall at a gmail account:

1)Item Still For Sale ?

(I replied in the affirmative.)

2)How are you doing? I would like to let you know that I have gone through your posting and ready to buy it. As far as there will not be any repairs on it, I am willing to offer you a sum of $170 for the item so that it could be packed properly, and the payment will be made through (USPS Money Order, delivery of cash) (Standard 2 Days delivery Service including money order tracking number provided by the USPS).. I am purchasing it for my friend's daughter wedding which coming up on the 19th July, 2008.

To proceed with the payment I will need your mailing address, city, zip code, state and likewise phone number. I also have a prepaid account with UPS or DHL which will take care of the shipping charge, so you will not need to pay for shipment. I will be looking forward to hearing you...ASAP

(Who goes on CL to buy a used home theater system as a wedding present, offering almost the full retail price PLUS shipping??? (Note: I was only asking $100, and it doesn't take $70 to pack it properly.) Also, all of the seemingly contradictory statements about the payment style and strange verbiage tipped me off, so I asked where he was located.)

3)Ohio and i will be handling the shipping myself via my account with UPS or DHL so, kindly get back to me with your full name and address so that i can proceed with the payment and you can get the item ship out today .... ok???

(The slightly more aggressive tone of this email and his uncertainty how he wanted it shipped clenched my decision to end the transaction by telling him I only dealt with local buyers.)

Monday, July 14, 2008

Lauretta Coronado Is Back

Lauretta Coronado has resurfaced and is trying to con people out of money.

Name: Lauretta Coronado
Email: laurettacoronado1@gmail.com, godisable2@fresnomail.com

7/13/08 Lauretta Coronado wrote:
Thank for the prompt response to my mail. I will be buying from you so please kindly withdraw the advert from CRAIGSLIST. Please be informed that i will be paying with a certified check from my Bank as i just moved here from Cardiff, CA on a job transfer.I will need the following details to mail the payment later in the day ...
1.Name to be on the payment
2.Home address
3.Cell phone #
I am completely satisfied with the advert and the payment will be delivered within 2-3 working days.** I use a hearing impaired phone #8099665256 and will receive your calls via email **Lauretta

Robert Phillips Scam Artist

Name: Robert Phillips
Email: Honest12@fresnomail.com
Creep Factor: Very High. Scam artist pulls hearing impared card!

Craigslist User wrote:
Glad to have found this site. I posted an ad for two chairs on CL this morning, and got a response from a Robert Phillips, with an email address of Honest12@fresnomail.com. Anyone who feels the need to advertise themselves as 'honest' becomes immediately suspicious, lol! Needless to say, I deleted and blocked ol' Bob. He also had the nerve to tell me he's hard of hearing, and thusly was unable to speak over a telephone connection.

Derek Morgan Scam Artist

Name: Derek Morgan
Email: derekmorgan@fresnomail.com

A Craigslist User sent this:

Thank you for posting this information. I was approached by Derek Morgan@fresnomail.com about the item I am looking to sell on Craigslist. He proposed to complete the transaction in the exact way you outlined in your message. Thanks so much!

Beware of Anthony Collier

Thank you to a Craigslist user who sent this info recently.

Scam Artist: Anthony Collier
Email Address: tonycoll05@gmail.com
Tactic Used: Classic Nigerian Scam including Wire/Bank Fraud

7/13/o8 Craigslist User wrote:
Another scammer who I came across recently when I posted items for sale in SF was tonycoll05@gmail.com or Anthony Collier. Below is the text of his email to me. I sent an email to craigslist (this email from Anthony being the response to my very first posting of something for sale) and never got a response. Don't they have any way of monitoring these?

Text below:
I appreciate your response to my enquiry. Am interested in buying it from you. I would love to come and check it myself but I just got married and am presently on an honeymoon trip to Hawaii with my wife. I would love a surprise change of furniture in our home on our return. Pls do withdraw , the advert from Web as i dont mind adding $50 for you to do that, so i can be rest assured that the item is held for me. I should believe it is in excellent condition as stated.

I will be making the payment via a Certified Check, which my secretary will mail across to you. I'll be picking the item from you with the aid of my mover. My Mover will be coming to pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Pls I will need both your full name and physical address along with your phone number to issue out the payment.I await your response.Thank You,Tony.How is your day going? I want you to understand that the transaction is on as my secretary as mailed the check payment already and you will recieve it very soon.

There was a slight error which i believe we can handle with care and honesty. Instead of the actual amount, $1045 for the item, she made out the check for $4045. She claimed that was what i requested but she didn't get that straight. Am sure this happened because am not around as am still on my honeymoon, I think I might fire her when I get back to have made such a silly mistake, but am still thinking because she has been a very good employee.Once you have the check delivered to you via UPS, do have it cashed at your bank and deduct the money for my item plus $50 for taking the ad down. The excess funds should please be sent to my mover via Western Union whose information I would supply you as soon as you notify me that you have recieved payment via email , this funds will be used in offsetting the cost of the shipment he as undertaken for me recently and also will be used to come for the pickup of my item at your location.

**Please email at once to let me know that I can trust you to have the excess funds expedited to my mover upon the receipt of delivery of payment**I hope to read back from you very urgently.Do have a nice day as I count on your honesty and trustworthiness.
My Warmest Regards,
Tony.

BY THE WAY - his secretary never could have sent the check as I had never provided my last name or address.Any suggestions for thwarting this criminals in the future?

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Beware of Joe Smith

Criagslist user "Kate" wants everyone to be aware of a scammer named Joe Smith.

Name: Joe Smith

Email address: joe0081@yahoo.com, joe00811@yahoo.com

Tactic Used: Classic Nigerian Wire Fraud

7/7/08 "Kate" wrote:
I was selling something on craigslist and I got this e-mail yesterday.
"Hello,This is joe smith, Am emailing
you concerning your items you place for
sales.I just want to know if its still
avaliable.REGARDS,joe"
The name of the person was JOE SMITH (capitalization theirs). I replied and said that it was, not thinking much of their spelling (heck, there are plenty of people I see from the states that have worse). A few hours later, I got this response.
"Hello,I am glad to read from you. Am okay with the price and condition .I really need to get this right away. i am ready to pay on time. No need of shipping it. i will like my shipper to schedule a pick up immediately you get the payment confirmed. I would have love to come for it or see it but i must let you know i am okay with it. i just want this as replacement.I will offer you extra $100 to remove the ad from the posted site www.craigslist.com to be sure you are selling this to me ok. I will be able to make payment in form of US Certified Cashiers Check that is payable in any American banks in us dollars . I will like you to let me have information of whom i should issue the payment to.Such As :
*Full Name, Address and Working Phone no.*
So that ups can make delivery of the payment on time. I will also issue an excess fund with the payment so that when you get the payment, you will have to deduct your exact amount and wire out the excess to my shipper so that he can be able to make the pick up. I hope i can trust you with my money..When its time for the pick up, You will have to let me know the exact time and day my shipper can make the pick up of this item ..Your early response will be highly appreciated.Regards,joe."
The name was now showing up as joe smith (spelling is once again theirs). So I thought it was a little odd that the name had somehow changed on their e-mail accounts. Looking closer, their e-mail addresses were different!
The first one was joe0081@yahoo.comThe second was joe00811@yahoo.com
Obviously something they thought no one would notice, but I definitely thought it was sketchy, even knowing very little of the Nigeria scams. So if anyone receives e-mails from either of these addresses, THEY ARE SCAMS!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Scams Twarted Due to This Site

I want to thank everyone who as taken the time to submit their scam experiences on Craigslist. I have received so many emails from people who were about to get scammed, but luckily found this site and reversed course. This would not have been possible without you! Proof again that our message is growing and you are making a positive impact in the lives of people you will never meet. Thank you again for looking out for your fellow man and woman!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Beware of Emails from Fresnomail.com

A Craigslist user sent this piece of intel. It appears that scam artists prefer to use fresnomail.com. If you receive an offer from anyone with fresnomail.com at the end of their email be very cautious.

7/1/2008
I just got a response from Lauretta Coronado that is word-for-word the message sent to by Robert Adams. Her email address is fresnomail.com too, I did a quick google search and it seems like a lot of spammers use fresnomail.com. Thanks for setting up this site.