Complaint Review: Staff Sgt.David Mark

We're trying to sell legitimate items on cragslist for CASH only (clearly noted on our ad), but continue to receive the following emails (current scam using the trusted Paypal). The only reason we're posting here is to make this more publicly known and raise awareness for those who DO trust paypal, not to fall for these scams!

Here's an article from, FOX, a legitimate news agency that explains everything: http://www.fox4now.com/news/local/147387915.html

Here are the emails we've received from the scammers (first 3 emails seem legit, but keep reading):

email#1

-----Original Message-----

From: mforres104@sbcglobal.net [mailto:mforres104@sbcglobal.net]

Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 11:22 PM

To: jww8h-3316505256@sale.craigslist.org

Subject: Ovens - $5000

(Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)



** 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


WHAT IS YOUR BEST OFFER?

email#2

-----Original Message-----

From: Lewis [mailto:john12jj@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 3:09 AM

To: jww8h-3316505256@sale.craigslist.org

Subject: Ovens - $5000

(Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)


** 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

what is your firm price ?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note, an AT&T LTE smartphone

email#3

-----Original Message-----

From: taxing@sbcglobal.net [mailto:taxing@sbcglobal.net]

Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 4:41 AM

To: jww8h-3316505256@sale.craigslist.org

Subject: Ovens - $5000

(Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)


** 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

Hello,



I saw your add on craigslist and i will like to know if its still available for purchase.

Get back to me asap

email#4 (here's where the scams come in, and they're coming in with completely different email addresses now to really try and fool us)

From: eric scott

[mailto:ericscott38@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 9:23 AM

To: Info

Subject: Re: Ovens - $5000 (Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)

Hello,

Thanks for your prompt e-mail, it was just exactly what i want and can you assure me that i will not be disappointed buying this from you. I am really interested in purchasing your ad. Am a merchant marine and am offshore right now, I will appreciate if you can email me with more picture of it as i won't be able to see this in person. I want you to answer this question about the item;

1. Are there any other issues with the item not mentioned on Craigslist?

I will be glad if you can tell other interested buyers that the item has been sold. I'm offering  you your asking price, please kindly withdraw the ad from Craigslist. I will be paying via PayPal. I can only pay through pay pal at the moment as i do not have access to my bank account online, but i have it attached to my pay pal account, and this is why i insisted on using PayPal to
pay. If this is acceptable, advice soon and if you don't have an account, you can easily create an account fast and easy at www.paypal.com. I will need you to provide the following information to facilitate the Payment

1.Your PayPal Email Address.

2.Your address for pick up.

I will be responsible for moving, I will have my mover who handle my shipping from anywhere in the world come over for the pickup after i have made the payment.

Thank you for your time. 

email#5

From: david mark

[mailto:dmark9390@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6:00 PM

To: Info

Subject: Ovens - $5000 (Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)

Thanks for your swift response, I'm seriously interested in buying this for my Father as gift, your asking price is quite reasonable and affordable considering others I've seen lately, I'll take it. I would have loved to come check it out my self but at this moment I am in New Rockford, ND in a military base getting ready for Afghanistan. This means that I do a special training program and I am not allowed to get out of the unit or give calls whenever I want, I however squeezed out time to check this posting as all
personal dealings are highly restricted here, i really want this as a surprise gift for my Father so i won't let him know anything about this until it get delivered to him and due to the fact that phone calls making are restricted......i will be paying you with my PayPal account because it's attached to my bank account and its safe and very secure way to make payment.

If my mode of payment is accepted just send me your paypal email address,(Paypal ID) so i can pay in right away. I have a private courier agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been made, so no shipping included. I'll need your name, the pickup address or location and please include your PayPal email address for the payment and send me some recent
pictures if avaailable And if you dont have a paypal account, you can easily go to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy. I await your reply asap.

Staff Sgt.David Mark

128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Utah ArmyNational Guard

email#6

From: Paul Lewis

[mailto:lewis.eng9@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:56 AM

To: Info

Subject: Re: Ovens - $5000 (Burbank, Glendale, N. Hollywood, LA)

Hi There,

Thank you for getting back to me, can you assure me that it's in good condition because I don't want to be disappointed buying this from you. I'm ready to pay your asking price but due to the nature of my work, I'm not in state so i will not able to come for the inspection, sorry for that but I'm able to access email anytime as I'm making use of PDA, i have a pick up agent that will come for the inspection and the pick up, the only quickest payment option is PayPal, I make the payment via PayPal since I'm requesting this transaction to be done via PayPal, i will be responsible for all the PayPal fee/charges on this transaction and if you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy, safe and secured to create. Just log on to www.paypal.com.

I hope we can make the deal as fast as possible? I have a Pick Up Agent that will come for the Inspection and take care of every necessary paper for me. the Pick Up Agent will also handle the pick up after i have send the money to your PayPal account.

I need the address where the agent will meet you and your PayPal email address so i can send the money now.

---------------------------------------------------

As you can see, the final 3 emails sound almost identical with a few words or parts of the "story" changed. PLEASE be cautious when buying/selling online. There are way too many scams out there that sound completely real, but if you read between the lines, you'll know they're fake.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is a scam!

If using Craigslist, only deal with CASH, do NOT accept any other forms of payment, due to all the fraud and scams going on these days.

The part which saddens me the most is that these jerks claim to be Army Reserve, National Guard, etc. most of the time. It's a tactic to gain your trust. DO NOT trust them!