1. ANYTHING related to ANYONE from Nigeria.  Period.

2. Distant seller requests payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

Seller often claims that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is False, YOU are the one sending him money... he is not withdrawing it.  Once you've wired money, it is GONE.

Common problem countries currently include: Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy.  Deal often seems too good to be true.  Distant buyer offers to send you a cashier's check for More than the amount of your bike or part..and then have you wire balance of the funds back...minus your Comission. This is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE. Sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not. Scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check.

3. Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.  Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers. For more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud". If you must do business with a distant seller, insist on a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com.

4. Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods. He says he trusts you with the partial payment and he may say he has already shipped the goods.

5. Nigerian in broken English offers to send you a check..  The check from a "friend" that is for a high amount of cash.  If you cash the check for him, you can wire him a portion of the proceeds and keep the rest for yourself.  Sometimes they ask for a Cashier's or Banker's Draft for the amount you are "returning" to him.  The check he will send you is FAKE.  He hopes you will wire him money or send a bonifide check before your bank discovers his check is bad.  You will be out whatever amount you send him plus your bank's penalties.

6. Nigerian , something like "Robert Thompson from Amsterdam or Noel Goodman from London".. Nice sounding names.. anyway.. the Nigerian wants to buy your motorcycle or parts and offers your price or sometimes more.  Begins by asking for details about your full name, mother's name, bank account number,  social security number, etc.. to enable him to send you a Large check or wire transfer you money.  NEVER give out Bank Details or personal info.  If someone wants your bike or parts, they should have some trusted local inspect your sales item,  send them the check, and when they approve of your sales item provide you with the LOCAL Cashiers Check or CASH.  You take the Cashiers Check to your bank and have them approve of it, cash it, and provide the CASH to you or deposit to your account.  After you receive the CASH,  release the sales item to the buyer's agent.

7. Another Nigerian scam that is more devious takes advantage of the fact that there's a considerable time lag between when you deposit the cashier's check and when the banking industry at large discovers that the check is bogus. Meanwhile, you've already forwarded the cash for shipping to the scammer's partner, and possibly even handed the bike over to the scammer. Your bank is notified that the check was bad about 3 weeks after they credited your account with the bogus funds, and promptly debits your account, which leaves you holding the bag for the "shipping cost", and anything else you may have purchased with money  that you didn't really have. Plus you may no longer have the bike, although it's more typical for the scammers to never actually pick it up. I've heard that con jobs are the leading revenue producer for Nigeria after oil. Makes it very difficult for legitimate Nigerian businessmen to operate, as no one trusts them.  I wonder why ?

1.   Thanks a lot for your mail it is highly appreciated.Yes i am still interested in the Vincent enthusiast since 1971 i would love to see more pictures.like i said earlier i am based in Amsterdam the netherlands(holland).Asregards shipping i have made arrangemnts with a shipping company and they have agreed to come for the pick up as soon as we conclude our own part of the transaction.So you dont need to bother asper the shipping.  As regards payment,this is what i am going to do,i have a client in the us who is owing me $13,110 (usd) i would instruct him to make out a cheque american exprees international money order to you in that amount and as soon as you clears your bank,you can let me have my balance via western union money transfer.The reason why i ma doing this is because if i decide to send payment from over here it might take a long time before it goes through,but a check sent from over there withing the us would clear between 2 and 3days. Although the value of the check is more than the price of the Vincent enthusiast since 1971 but i thing i can trust you with my balance considering the fact that i still have to trust you with the item. Pls if you are interesetd in selling to me,i would appreciate it if you could get baclk to me so that we can proceed. Pls i would need for you to provide me with your name as you would want it to appear on the check and your address and phone number so that i can have my client contact you asap. Thansk in this regard and i would be expecting to hear from you soonest.But i think i can trust you with my balance considering the fact that i still have to trust you with the item. Pls if you are interesetd in selling to me,i would appreciate it if you could get baclk to me so that we can proceed. Pls i would need for you to provide me with your name as you would want it to appear on the check and your address and phone number so that i can have my client contact you asap. Thansk in this regard and i would be expecting to hear from you soonest. john
--------------------
 2.  Hello this is dejave smith so am located in usa and i want to purchase the items below from your store:
1,Vincent Mercury Crest and HRD T-shirts (20pcs)
2,Black Shadow T-shirt (20pcs)
3,Black Shadow Model Kit (20pcs)

So am purcahsing it for one of my client in west africa so i will want you to give the total cost of the goods and shipping cost to lagos nigeria.My mode of payment is through my credit card so as to make the transaction easier and faster.

EXPECTING YOUR MAIL SOONEST.
DEJAVEN SMITH.
---------------------
3.  To commence this transaction, we require you to immediately indicate your interest by a return e-mail and enclose your private contact telephone number, FAX number, full name and address, and your designated bank coordinates to enable us to transfer your money.  This transaction must be kept stricly confidential because of its nature.  I look forwards to receiving your prompt response.  Regards, Mr. Frank Egu.
------------------------
4. Hello Rocket,

Thanks for the response and information about the car .i intend to pay with a cashiers check through my client in US that is owing me $12,000,I will instruct my client  to send the check to you,when the check has been cashed ,you deduct the cost of the car and send what ever balance to me.i have already made shipping arrangements,when the check has been cashed,i will inform my shipper  to contact you for the pick up of the car ,if you are willing to assist with this transaction,get back to me and the check will be sent to the address immediately

iholdmyside2003@yahoo.com
pakoto@hknetmail.com
pakoto@tiscali.co.uk
mikefisher@yahoo.com
abubarkarbello@go.com
dejaven4real@outblaze.net

Jim

Hi,
I saw you are intrested in a Aprilia : RS 250. I have a Aprilia : RS 250 brand new in an unopened box with 1 year full
international warranty. I want to sell it because I have a small business and I hope in the future to have an on-line store.I have a
web page in construction and as soon as possible I want to finish it. This way I make money on ebay untill I have my own
store.I have a good ratting and I sold many products in the past.

The price is 1700$.I think it is the right price for the two of us.  I live in Madrid, Spain. Thank you in advance for your understanding. For other questions please email me.

Best Regards!
xxxxx
-------------------- ..
Hi,

my eBay user is vlgardnerr@aol.com (FB 293+) and i send you this offert because I think that you might be interested. I`m selling this 2001 Honda RC51 for only 3,500USD . I have to sell this urgent because I need the money for personal bussines. If you are interested please reply me in my e-mail and I will send you the specs of the HONDA and some exclusive pictures. Also tell me your location because I am located in US. Thanks and I will be waiting for your reply.
--------------------
Hi,

I`m located in ND and I have to tell you that I will pay the shipping and the insurance for the bike ... will take 2 days for the delivery through Ups and the bike will arrive to your residence in perfect condition ...
Warranty: Existing
2001 Honda, RVT1000R1 RC51
Red, 6,345 miles.
License:711195
VIN:JH2SC45321M101228
Clear title
Perfect condition
don`t have anykind of damage
 

I will be in Portugal at the end of this week ao let me know if you are interested ... I will prefer to receoive the money there so I think will be no problem for you .. as you can see I have a good feedback on eBay so don`t worry about anything ...  I`ve attached you the specs and some pics so let me know if you are interested. The price is 3,500USD. Thanks and I will be waiting for your reply. Tom
 

God Bless,
xxxxxxx
 

(Are people really stupid enough to send these idiots money?)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, they are.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommy,

Just reply back. "Hey Buddy, I really want you to get the money quickly - why dont' you give me your account information so that I can have the money transferred?"

Then send his account information to one of those guys in Nigeria who need US accounts so badly. You'd be doing him a favor - he'll get a cool couple of million for doing nothing.
Emilio (Sloduck)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i've got one more: a guy from Portugal?? Actually sent me a Business check from the U.S. for my MV Agusta. This check was Legit from a corporate payrol. The check went to the bank and it cleared. I am not a banker so I may have some of the terminology wrong but cleared to me meens all good. But thats not true. It cleared the sending parties account but not mine. Out of state checks can take 10-15 working days to "fully clear" whatever that means. Buyer wanted the bike dropped off in Miami so he could have work done to it before shipping. It was all going a little to smoothly for my likes so I slowed it down. I went to the dealership I've bought bikes from. They know a little bit more about banking than I do. They worked with the bank to make sure there would be no way of losing the money. Well as you figured because I am posting this. It was fraud. We found out about 15 days later. I'll give a plug because it's deserved "Extreme motorsports in N.Y. really saved my ass"(cash). Just another warning. The bank told me that a check can clear, the money enter your account and then whoever issued the check can revoke it for I beleive up to 3 days and they will pull the money from your account. The bank won't lose the money you will, they seem to take no responsability. Now when I buy a bike from ebay I will only do it if the seller will bring it to a dealer and ship to another dealer. Be careful.
Craig Cook
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More fraud.... I have my 996 for sale and received some mails about my add on cycletrader. They said they were a business representing a buyer and offered me $100 under asking so I said okay. After going back and forth a little bit over e-mail, I received this response:

Happy to tell you that we have concluded with our
> client and he has instructed to carry on with the
> transaction,he said that I should inform you that
> payment will get to you in a cashier check of $14,595
> which is a refund payment of a cancelled order
earlier
> made by my client.
> Due to company policy this check has to be made out
in
> this amount to you ,because company policy only
allows
> a refund payment on one cashier check,so you are
> required to deduct cost of your (car) $9,300 when
> payment gets to you and refund balance to my
> customer via western union money transfer or money
> gram transfer for him to be able to offset shipping
> charges.
> After payment has reached you and balance sent back
to
> him,our agent will come for the pick up and drive to
a
> prepaid shipper to be shipped to my customer,while
> title papers and other necessary documents will be
> sent by you via fedex courier to my customer.
> Thanks and God Bless
> Mangement.

 Even Cashier's Checks are not gauranteed cash. They can take up to 4 weeks to clear the other person's bank. You become liable to pay that amount back to the bank if it does not clear - the bank assumes no responsibility.

Adverts placed in (ANY) magazine are being subjected to email scams.

• To read the latest dumb scam emails submitted by our dear users, (Click Here)

These scams normally involve poor written English by foreign 'buyers'. They offer MORE then you are asking - and sometimes try to send you a cheque for thousands more then the cost - and then ask you to deduct your payment and post the remainder on. They also try to get you to SHIP the goods out to them.

Needless to say, the original cheque will bounce (and this can take up to 2 weeks or more to bounce) and you will lose your money AND your scooter.

PLEASE use caution when replying to any email from overseas (or in UK!) - any offer that is too good to be true IS. Any offer that doesn't make sense, or seems 'strange' - ignore it. Any offer that has badly written English, or any buyer you cannot talk to by telephone - be very cautious of!!

UPDATE: Scammers are now often saying they are from Holland, however the scam is the same. Try asking them a technical question, or something you'd expect a motorcycle rider to know! They ignore the questions and continue to babble about sending you thouands by cheque and you posting on the remainder to them, whilst their non-existant agent will come pick up your .......

SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL:

From: daniel cool [mailto:daniel_cool@marchmail.com]
Sent: 20 September 2004 09:57
To: *****
Subject: Rough px125 Disc*2002 MY model

My name is DANIEL COOL,
IT is my honorable pleasure to let you know that am highly interested
in buying your(Rough px125 Disc*2002 MY model),which i will like to know the
price ,so if you are
willing to sell it to me,let me know the present condition of the
stuff .i will like you to know that i have a business partner who is
owing me and agreed to make payment back to me in form of a certified
check,so if you are willing to sell it to me,mail meback asap, if the
items is still available for sale,and also like to know this
information from you as to forward it to my business partner to issue
out the check to
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR ADDRESS:
YOUR STATE:
YOUR ZIP CODE
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:
i will be canting to read from you and will be well please if you
back responds back soonest
ASAP.thanks.
BEST REGARDS
DANIEL COOL

More scam email examples

Thanks to Martin, Angelo, Adam and others - the following two scam emails - which you'll see are VERY similar to above - seem to be the current favorite for our clueless scammers.

STD SCAM STYLE #1

"My name is FORTUNE SCOT,
IT is my honorable pleasure to let you know that am  highly interestedin buying your (PX125- 1984 Malossi 166 kit - Cheap.), which the last price is £400,so if you are willing to sell it to me,let me know the present condition .i will like you to know that i have a business partner who is owing me and agreed to make payment back to me in form of a certified check,so if you are willing to sell it to me,mail me back asap, if the items is still available for sale,and also like to know this information from you as to forward it to mybusiness partner to issue out the check to
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR ADDRESS:
YOUR STATE:
YOUR ZIP CODE
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:
i will be canting to read from you and will be well please if you
back responds back soonest
ASAP.thanks.
BEST REGARDS"

STD SCAM STYLE #2

"Dear seller,
I am interested in your ADVERT. I have gone through the specifications and the present condition before i contacted you.
I am COMMISSION BASED SALES AGENT . I have numerous clients who are propective buyers.
However, inspection may not take place before payment, therefore,i require you to send me PICS. Kindly give me your asking price/best offer.

Payment will be made in form of CERTIFIED CHEQUE OF BANKERS DRAFT .
For payment purposes, kindly provide the following details;

NAME ........................................................................................
MAILING ADDRESS....................................................................
TEL NUMBER..............................................................................

As regards shipment, you don't have to worry yourself because i have a shipper who is readily on ground for pick up and shipments. Hoping to hear from you soonest if its still available for sale.
Kind regards
KAREN " *
 

* Best of luck to Martin - who is trying to woo the voluptuous KAREN into a date!!! No luck so far though.
(We at OBM suspect KAREN is a large hairy bloke from Nigeria called 'Bob' - but don't tell Martin that) - editor

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

The email scams will vary in name, country of origin and format, but many will be poorly worded and include the shipping / western union payment methods. Check with your bank, check with Wetesrn union, and use extreme caution.

You have been warned. Do not LOSE your machine to greed or ignorance.