Power Sellers Unite

goodglut · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I have resently started to sell on Craigslist and have found that rigth out of the gate I have been getting messages from people stating that they want to buy my items but have there own carrier company that they will use instead of me shipping. The claim that they will send the money along with the purchase of the items but that I would then call the carrier when ready to schedule pickup and have to pay them. My question is that to me this sounds as a scam of some type and was wondering from all of you if this is the case or is this typical out on Craigslist.

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17231 Location: Texas

Never heard of this before and does sound a bit fishy IMHO. If wishing to use their own carrier, how would you know when to be home to meet this carrier for the package pick up?

I'd get more details if I were you. Good luck!

nolav · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 71

This IS a scam. What they do is send you about 3 counterfeit postal money orders or cashier checks for your amount. They want you to cash all of them and they will tell you where to send the extra cash and you "keep" the cost of your item.

The English and punctuation are terrible and they oinly refer to your item not the name of the item itself.

When in doubt as to the realness of the contact, simply insist on cash only on pickup or a bank wire transfer. They will drop you like a hot potato!

skydragon · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 671

I don't know what you sell but if it is big or heavy enough where it costs a small fortune to ship through the "normal" means it is not uncommon to have a buyer with a freight company account. The only thing is that normally the person with the account pays for it in advance and sets up the pick up arrangements.

nolav · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 71

I quite often sell on Craigslist and decided to follow through on one of these emails.

They wanted my address and phone no., sent it to them and received 3 postal money orders in the mail for the same amount.

Took them to the post office and sure enough they were counterfeit.

I got a phone call asking me if I had cashed them, (he definitely was Nigerian from the heavy accent) and I put my most naive old lady voice on.

Told him that the bank wouldn't cash them because I didn't have that much money in my account and then I took them to the post office, they wouldn't cash them either because they were counterfeit and they took them from me.

CLICK and the phone line was dead! Never heard from them again!

So that is why I know how they operate.

Kayleescollectables · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 163

This is a very common scam. Someone tried this with my listing for fine china. It wasn't even a lot of money.

Craigslist is indexed by Google so you may receive offers from other states. To protect myself I just either add the listing to my website so they can purchase the item the regular way using Google or I will accept a USPS money order if I do not suspect it is a scam. I only ship USPS and do not let buyers change my mind.

PKC Direct

Here is a copy of an email for an air compressor tank I had listed on Craig's list. It was an 80 Gallon tank with a 5 hp electric motor. It weighed over 300 pounds and took 2 people to load. This guy sent the standard Scam letter which falls under the Nigerian 419 scam.
Quote: › docWrite("quote")Hello
I am interested in buying this your item posted at craigslist from you but first and foremost i will like to ask some question about the item and i need sincere responds from you.
My First Question: base on the condition of the (item), i will like to know if this item is still in good condition
2, Do you have recent pics of this item if yes pls send some to my email......secretariat_itemsbuy@yahoo.com
My Third Question base on the Payment and shippment of the items, i will like you to know that i offer my customers cashier check and money order as method of my payment, and i have local shipping company that work for me, They come for the pick up after you get payment from me.
But the payment of the item and the shipping cost is mail out in one form and you be the one to sort the shipping company as you get paid,to be more explicive, what i mean is this, you deduct your payment when you get the cashier check or money order depends on the one you prefer as mode of payment, and send the rest to the shipping company so that they can come for the pick up.
I will like you to get back to me on my email secretariat_itemsbuy@yahoo.com for more info on the item, i will forward the shipping company info to you as we reach final conclusion on the item.
Pls all reply should be direct to Mr Adriano.
Management......
secretariat_itemsbuy@yahoo.com
phone number :206-203-1452
Get back to me Asap.

I list a lot on Craig's list and have good luck selling. The thing I won't do is ship, take checks or credit cards. Everything is for local pickup and cash. Unlike auction sites there is no fees, you don't get charge backs and listings can run for 45 days and be updated if necessary every 48 hours.

Here are a few good web sites on the different versions of the scam.

http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/

http://www.419eater.com/

http://www.tamingthebeast.net/articles5/nigerian-scams-ecommerce.htm

http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx#item-3

Quote below from ic3.gov web site:

Quote: › docWrite("quote")Counterfeit Cashier's Check

The counterfeit cashier's check scheme targets individuals that use Internet classified advertisements to sell merchandise. Typically, an interested party located outside the United States contacts a seller. The seller is told that the buyer has an associate in the United States that owes him money. As such, he will have the associate send the seller a cashier's check for the amount owed to the buyer.

The amount of the cashier's check will be thousands of dollars more than the price of the merchandise and the seller is told the excess amount will be used to pay the shipping costs associated with getting the merchandise to his location. The seller is instructed to deposit the check, and as soon as it clears, to wire the excess funds back to the buyer or to another associate identified as a shipping agent. In most instances, the money is sent to locations in West Africa (Nigeria).

Because a cashier's check is used, a bank will typically release the funds immediately, or after a one or two day hold. Falsely believing the check has cleared, the seller wires the money as instructed.

In some cases, the buyer is able to convince the seller that some circumstance has arisen that necessitates the cancellation of the sale, and is successful in conning the victim into sending the remainder of the money. Shortly thereafter, the victim's bank notifies him that the check was fraudulent, and the bank is holding the victim responsible for the full amount of the check.

If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with us.

PKC Direct

You might also notice in the email I received they have a phone number. Don't think that because you have a phone number to call that it is legit. The number is most likely a free phone number from K7. They assign numbers with the 206 area code (Seattle) and you can have them set up for voice mail or fax.
Just another free resource for SCAMMERS.

http://www.k7.net/faq.htm#ten

Q: What is K7 Unified Messaging?
back to questions

K7 Unified Messaging gives you an independent voicemail box that is not attached to any of your actual phone numbers! (This is also a fax mail box). With K7 Unified Messaging, no one can hear your messages but you, since your messages are not tied to any phone.

Q: What can K7 do for me?
back to questions

With K7, you can receive faxes and voice messages without having to be at the office. You can receive both faxes and voice messages the same way you receive your email. Your voice messages and fax messages will be sent as email attachments and can be viewed with the click of a mouse. If you can't access your email remotely, you can receive both faxes and voice messages via the K7 Web site. K7 will also work with free email services such as "Hotmail".

Q: Are there any fees for K7?
back to questions

No. You won't receive a bill from us. K7 does not charge you setup or monthly fees-unlike the local phone company.

Q: How do I sign up?
back to questions

* First you will need to go our web site at www.k7.net to register.
* Enter your email address.
* The K7 attachment will arrive as a".wav" or ".tif" file extension.
* If you are a WebTV user, the K7 attachments will be automatically read by the WebTV's email viewer.
* Unix users receive their faxes as a ".tif" file extension. Unix users can download the UNIX plug-in by going to: www.swiftview.com/plug1.

Q: Will I receive confirmation after signing up?
back to questions

Once you have completed signing up, your K7 number will be issued. We recommend that you print out the page for future reference. A confirmation letter will be sent to your email address containing your K7 number, security code and additional information about the service. If you lose this information just go to the K7 web site, click on "Forgot Password?" and enter the email address you used to set up the account, and we will email your password to you.

Q: What equipment do I need?
back to questions

You need a web enabled computer (which is likely if you are reading this) and to hear voicemail you also need a sound card, speakers and software such as real player or winamp.

Q: Do I still need a stand-alone fax machine?
back to questions

Your PC becomes your gateway to receive faxes. Your faxes can be easily received, viewed and printed. There is no need for a second line to receive fax messages. If you use the same line for your computer modem, your fax and phone, with K7 (and "Call Forward Busy") you will never miss a call or fax. You will need a scanner to fax documents, photos, etc. that have not been created on you PC.

Q: Do I have to download software?
back to questions

Not if you have Windows. Mac and Unix users must download software. Quick Time Pro will open .wav and .tif files. Mac users should check to see if they already have that version. A good resource for downloading such programs is: Download.com

Q: Can I use K7 to send faxes?
back to questions

To send faxes directly from your PC we recommend Faxaway email to fax service. There is no per page charge and the per minute charges start at 10 cents a minute. Please visit www.faxaway.com for more information.

Q: Why did I get a Seattle (206 area code) K7 number when I signed up?
back to questions

All K7 numbers are assigned randomly from an available number list in area code 206. Calls made to your K7 number are long distance for people outside the Seattle area. These calls will incur normal long distance charges from the long distance carrier used by the sender. There are no surcharges or special charges for calls made to your K7 number.

Q: How do I make changes to My Account?
back to questions

You can make changes to your account information by going to My Account. From your account you can view your faxes, listen to voicemail, update your email address, change your password, choose your method of delivery (whether it's via email, the web, or both) and select from the two types of .wav files that change the size and quality of the voice messages you receive. The GSM .wav files are the default file formats you will receive upon sign up and are the smaller, lower quality voice messages than the PCM .wav file (larger and higher quality sound file) that you may also choose upon sign up. You may also change your preference when you login to "My K7". To access your account you will need to enter your K7 number and security code.

Q: How do I check my messages?
back to questions

You can check for messages two different ways!

* On the Web: Your messages can be checked on the Web. Log into your own private mailbox at www.k7.net. Your messages are stored here and no one else has access. It's also a great way to get messages when you're traveling, since you save on all those long-distance calls.
* In your email: Another way to get your faxes and voicemail is to have it sent to your email account. Voice messages are in ".wav" format and faxes in".tif" so no special software is needed to hear or view them. Each message includes the date and time of the call. In the FROM line of your email is the phone number of the caller (provided their ID is not turned off). You will hear the exact message that was left - in the voice of the person who called.

Q: Can I have my home, office phone and fax machine automatically answered by K7?
back to questions

Yes, you can have all your phone calls and faxes answered by K7. To do this just call your local phone company and order "Call Forward Busy" and "Call Forward No-answer". "Call Forward Busy" will forward calls directly to K7 when your line is busy, and "Call Forward No Answer" will forward a call after a specified number of rings. Another alternative available from your local phone company is "Call Forward Variable". When you know you aren't available, this feature allows you to forward all your calls to K7 on the first ring.

Q: Does my PC need to be "on" to receive faxes by email?
back to questions

Unlike fax modems, which require your PC to be "on", K7 messages are received at your ISP and are downloaded when you receive your email.

Q: How do I personalize my outgoing message?
back to questions

Personalize your greeting by calling your K7 number and pressing "*". You will be prompted for your security code and then presented with menu options to change your personal greeting or your security code: Press "1" to change your greeting and press "2" to change your security code. Please note that if you have no greeting you may press "*" during the confirmation message to be prompted for your security code.

Q: How long does it take to receive a fax?
back to questions

Once K7 receives a fax or voice message, it is immediately sent to your email address and/or saved at K7 for access via a web page, depending on how your K7 account is set up.

Q: How many messages can I have? How long can I keep the old ones?
back to questions

Your K7 mailbox can hold up to 20 messages at one time. (This includes both voice and fax). That's the total of both new messages and any old messages you have saved. All messages are deleted after 7 days. This is one of the advantages of receiving your messages by email. The only limits are those set by your email provider.

Q: What is the maximum message length?
back to questions

Your callers may leave a message up to five full minutes in length. You can receive multiple pages in a single fax transmission, but the file cannot exceed 2 megs.

Q: How can K7 Unified Messaging be Free?
back to questions

The service is paid for by advertisers. Their banners on our Web site. There is no charge for registering, no per page charges, no monthly subscription fees, no catches or gimmicks.

Q: Where is K7 Unified Messaging available?
back to questions

by using the Web or email options, messages can be checked from practically anywhere. Callers leave you a message by calling a local Seattle phone number. Our parent company, ITL offers 800 service from the U.S., Canada and parts of the Caribbean. For more information go to www.itltd.net.

Q: What about long distance calls?
back to questions

With the competitive telecommunications market, most long distance carriers charge the same for calling anywhere in the U.S. Competitive long distance rates of five to ten cents per minute means a typical fax will cost around seven cents to send anywhere in the U.S. Rates are based on the senders long distance carrier. K7's parent company, ITL (International Telcom), offers Kallcents a long distance service with a rate of 9.9 cents per minute and no monthly charges or minimums. For additional information, go to www.kallcents.com. Alternatively, you can get a Toll Free 800 number pointed at your K7 Account. Go to Kall8 for details.

Q: I'm having difficulty opening or viewing the .tif fax files. What should I do?
back to questions

If you are having difficulty opening your .tif fax files online, right click them and select save to disk on the pop up menu. After you have the .tif file saved to disk try opening it with your image viewer. If you need an image viewer for Windows PCs try Tucows for several different .tif viewers.

Q: Can I have a toll free number for my K7 Unified Messaging Service?
back to questions

Yes, you can. Visit Kall8 for details on getting your own toll free 800 number service.

Q: How do I utilize K7 from outside the USA?
back to questions

The K7 service center is located in Seattle, Washington. All K7 numbers are assigned in this area. When calling from outside the U.S., the caller would dial the same way as if making a normal call to the United States. In most cases, international callers would dial the international access code followed by the U.S. county code (1) and then the K7 number. For the exact method of dialing, it is recommended that you contact your local telephone company. Since the K7 number is a U.S. number , the caller will incur normal international long distance charges.

Q: I am getting my faxes as voicemails. What causes this?
back to questions

Faxes should be sent during the initial greeting. If the sender waits until after the beep the K7 system will think they are sending a voicemail. You will have to educate the people sending faxes to you. We suggest changing your greeting to something like this, "You have reached the Unified Message box of John Doe. If you wish to send a fax, send it now. To leave a message, please speak at the beep."

Q: Why can't I open the attachments K7 sends to me?
back to questions

For Mac users download Stuffit Expander for Macintosh Version: 4.5. Note: If you have downloaded and installed software onto your Macintosh before, you may already have Stuffit Expander. Please read the information on the manufacturer’s web site (Aladdin Systems, Inc.) carefully before downloading and installing. If you need an image viewer for Windows PCs try Tucows for several different .tif viewers.

Q: Why do I get voicemails or faxes for other people?
back to questions

As with all phone numbers, people do misdial. We recommend you customize your greeting with your name to ensure callers know who they have reached.

Q: Why do I get blank voicemails?
back to questions

If your caller waits until after the beep to hang up but does not speak, an empty message will be generated. Make the greeting longer so callers will have plenty of time to hang up before they get to the beep.

Q: Can I increase the sound quality of my voice messages?
back to questions

Yes. When you login to "My K7", you can choose between the GSM and PCM .wav file formats, changing the sound quality and file size of your voice messages. The GSM .wav file is the default, lower quality, smaller file size voice message .wav file you receive upon sign up. You also have the choice of the PCM .wav file which is the higher quality, larger file size voice message .wav file. You can choose the format you wish to receive upon sign up as well as changing your preference in "My K7" login.

Q: What if I have questions after signing up?
back to questions

Our web site has a complete support section, along with detailed FAQs. You can contact our Subscriber Service team at k7cs@itltd.net.

Q: Can K7 provide digital copies that can be forwarded via email?
back to questions

K7 eliminates copy degradation when re-sending faxes through the fax machine's scanner. The ability to forward email attachments maintains the original quality of the fax document. If you would like to use your PC to forward the fax to a fax machine, you can do so utilizing any faxing program such as WinFax or a PC to Fax service such as Faxaway. Please visit www.faxaway.com for more information.

Q: Is there an activity log to track faxes and messages received?
back to questions

The K7 web site www.k7.net provides users with a copy of all messages in chronological order for monitoring fax and voice receptions. The information includes the Date, Time, File Size, and the Sender's caller ID (i.e. the Fax/Voice Telephone Number). If there is something wrong with your email service or if you lose or delete a message, you can go to My K7 and view/hear the most recent 20 messages for up to 7 days. A similar tracking service for sent faxes is available to Faxaway subscribers. K7 eliminates copy degradation when re-sending faxes through the fax machine's scanner. The ability to forward email attachments maintains the original quality of the fax document.

Q: Is my voice/fax mail account private?
back to questions

Absolutely. Your K7 voice/fax mail account is completely private. Only you know the security code that allows access to your messages.

Q: Will my account ever be cancelled?
back to questions

K7 desires to provide numbers to customers that will use our service. If a K7 number is inactive for 30+ days (use is determined as a call or fax message to that number), we may terminate the account for non-use. If your account ever does become terminated, you can register online for a new account. An account can also be terminated immediately, if use of the service is in opposition to the Laws governing transmission of documents, or use for illegal purposes of any kind.

angelsolutions

NBC's Dateline also had a series on these guys...."To Catch A Con Man"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17697615/

sylvia

Junie · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 22

The one I like is sob story and they will pay a lot extra with phony paypal page to ship to Africa, I delete them all.

The Freight Shipper · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 11

Sounds like a scam unless they schedule and pay for the shipment. I set up shipments like this all the time, but all is paid for by consignee.

http://www.freightcenter.com
sjackman@freightcenter.com