ScamVictimsUnited.com

This thread is a result of a craigslist ad for a John Deere tractor at the unbelievable price of $4500. As it turns out this is another craigslist SCAM using Money Bookers. These are strikingly similar to the scams offering eBay as a broker via craigslist.

What can be done to purge craigslist of these scammers. I think simply charging something for an ad, or perhaps forcing people to have a legitimate login name with some proof of identity associated with the listings would HELP.

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On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM, <larson2005@comcast.net> wrote:

Hi again,

First of all I want to inform you that the tractor is in shipping Co. possession crated in a truck along with all documents and attachments waiting for a destination. I will ship the tractor from here on my expense through DAS (Dependable Auto Shippers).

Here is how our deal works:

First of all I need the following details from you:

- Complete Name
- Shipping Address

After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to Money Bookers and they will contact you and will explain you how to make a refundable payment. You will have 15 day s from the time you receive the tractor to insp ect it and decide if you keep it or not. If you decide to keep the tractor, Money Bookers will release me the funds. If the tractor is not in same condition as I said you will ship it back on my expense and Money Bookers will send you a full refund. If you want to move forward, please send me the necessary info so we can proceed.

My best wishes,
Kelly Larson

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to larson2005
show details 9:20 AM (3 hours ago) Reply


Taylor is less than an hour drive. I will inspect it prior to purchase and bring a trailer to transport.

Give me directions. I can look at it almost any afternoon, what works for you.

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Hello,

First of all I want to tell you that the tractor is still available. The price of $4,500 includes all the shipping and insurance costs. The tractor looks and works like new and comes with all the original documents and attachments. I am going through a divorce with my husband and as a women I don't need this tractor. I am located in Taylor, PA and the tractor will be shipped from here. The payment will be handled securely through Money Bookers. They will handle the financial part of this transaction, I will only take care of the shipping.
Tractor Specs:
Make: John Deere Fuel: Diesel
Model: 4710 Engine Cylinders: 4
Model Year: 2004 Engine HP: 48
Hours: 340 Transmission: Hydrostatic
Drive: 4WD Condition: Used
Serial Number: LV4710H370368
Pictures:


I hope that you understand my situation. E-mail me back if you are interested so we can move forward !
My best wishes,
Kelly Larson

Yes, charging to place an ad would get rid of a lot of the scam ads out there, but that goes against the whole idea of why Craigslist was started. And a login name would not really help. Anyone could make up a fake name. Unless you needed to PAY for the account, but then we are back to the fact that Craigslist was created so that there would be a free place for people to go.

Thanks so much for posting this.

My husband was in the process of setting up this purchase. We didn't have a good feeling about it, so I googled her her name and location and came across your site.

I don't know why we were going to proceed with it because we both knew this price for this tractor was too good to be true.

I don't know what the answer is to purge people like this from Craigslist. Charging a fee might deter them some, but I'm betting it would continue.

A good idea in theory, but the problem is scammers use stolen credit cards to pay for membership on dating sites and will more likely than not use stolen credit cards on any site that charges a fee. IMHO the best defense is to google anyone or thing you want to know more about. If the information is on any anti-scam site it will come up. Remember knowledge is power. Thanks to this site and others like it the word is getting out about scams.

I agree . . . Google is your friend in fighting scams!

Google is what saved us a lot of trouble.

Here is what I just received and looks as if they already changed the owners name:


Good morning,

I am the owner of the 2004 John Deere 4710 4x4 Tractor Hyrdo slightly used . The tractor
is in excellent condition with only 340 hours on it. Quick hitch and planter in photos are
include in price. The price for the tractor is $4,400.00 US with shipping and handling
included in price. I am located in Baileyville, KS and the tractor will be shipped from
here through Dependable Auto Shippers and it will take around 3-4 working days. The
transaction will be done through eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection Program for our own
protection and you have 15 days to inspect the tractor upon arrival with no obligation to
buy. Please let me know if you have any more questions about the tractor and I will answer
with pleasure.I am looking forward to close this deal with you.


Model Year: 2004
Hours: 340
Drive: 4WD
Cylinders: 4
Fuel: Diesel
Engine HP: 48
Transmission: Hydrostatic
Serial Number: LV4710H370368

Many thanks,
Alan Wustrow

Please use the link below to see more pictures with the tractor:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45120396@N08/

I inquired about a john deer tractor ad on Craiglist. I received a email in return to the ad. I decided to check it out and do a google search.It seemed tyo good to be true also I found it odd that the Ad was placed many times showing located in diff. states and the pictures were all the same. I am grateful that I found this post and site! Here is the email I received. This is the email address that the ad said to reply to. alan38w@hotmail.com.

Good morning,

I am the owner of the 2004 John Deere 4710 tractor. The tractor is in excellent condition with only 340 hours on it. The tractor comes with all attachments shown in pictures. The price for the tractor is $4,400 US with shipping and handling included in price. I am located in Baileyville, KS and the tractor will be shipped from here through Dependable Auto Shippers and it will take around 3-4 working days. The transaction will be done through eBay for our own protection and you have 15 days to inspect the tractor upon arrival with no obligation to buy. Please let me know if you have any more questions about the tractor and I will answer with pleasure. I am looking forward to close this deal with you.

Drive: 4WD
Cylinders: 4
Fuel: Diesel
Engine HP: 48
Transmission: Hydrostatic
Serial Number: LV4710H370368

Many thanks,
Alan Wustrow

Please use the link below to see more pictures with the tractor:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45730739@N08/

Yep . . . that is a dead giveaway of a scam. They do it with the apartment rental scams too. Since they do not really have anything for sale, they just find a picture and use it with their letter in a copy/paste form. With Craigslist, they can add it to as many locations at they want.

Wouldn't it be nice, since Craigslist says in it's warning "only deal with people locally" that it could block people who post things in multiple locations, since that would be a dead giveaway that they are a scammer.

Glad you found the site and did not get scammed. You can help to spread the word about these scams to others by joining us on social networking sites or sharing this site with your friends. You never know who YOU might save by passing the info on!

Still evolving... this was posted in Texas. The e-mail reply was from briannorely@hotmail.com

The email read....

Hello,

This 2008 JOHN DEERE - DIESEL 3320 4X4 COMPACT TRACTOR With Loader with only 156 hours!
Options: 300CX Quick Detach Loader 61" Quick Detach Bucket 72 inch mower deck
60 inch box blade Features: 12/12 Power Reverser Transmission 3 Range Transmission 540 Rear PTO Catagory "1" Three Point Hitch Differential
Lock Power Steering 32 Hp 3 Cylinder Yanmar Diesel Engine
This unit is a hydrostatic drive (ehydro) and is operated by right foot forward/reverse pedals
Outside tire width is 54 inches. Bucket is 61 inches wide. Mower is operated with hydraulic lift and is powered by a midpoint PTO
Everything on this tractor work perfect!
I bought this tractor when I was serving in Fort Belvoir, U.S. Army base near Bethesda, MD.
Price was reduced to $3,000.00 (URGENT SALE) as I need to sell it in 2 weeks because I will leave with other troops in Iraq .
In order to sell my tractor, the financial part will be handled by Yahoo Sopping Services. This service was made only for US ARMY member!
That means that you will have 48 hours available for any inspection of it. In this way both of us will be 100% covered during the steps of this transaction.
If you're really interested in buying my tractor, make sure that you really have the cash available!
I will open a transaction with Yahoo and they will contact and will explain you the steps of this transaction.
At the moment I'm stationed at Hancock Field AGS an US Military AFB in Syracuse, NY. making final preparations before deploying to Iraq with the U.S. Convoy
The tractor is already at our Military Logistic Department form Fort Belvoir, U.S. Army base near Bethesda, MD, crated and ready to go. The Logistic Department will deliver it to your home.
Since the tractor is in a military base, and you can't go there to take it, only the Logistics Department can deliver it, because it's in their custody.
Shipping may take anywhere between 1-2 business days depending on the destination.. All documents you need for ownership, loog book , manuals and bill of sale will be provided along with the tractor.
For the payment I would like to use Yahoo as a third party. They will keep your money into a protection account until you get the tractor and will release it to me after inspection period is over and you agree to keep it. So, this is not a blind transaction, you can see the tractor fore committing to buy and to eliminate any concerns you will have 2 days to inspect it. If you decide not to keep it Yahoo will refund your all money, no questions asked, and shipping back will be my concern. I think this is more than fair for both of us.
I'll start the official procedure, and Yahoo will contact you about this. If you are interested in buying it just mail me back with:
- Your Full Name - Required by Yahoo (You'll receive important guidelines + instructions from them.)
- Your Shipping Address - Required by the Logistics Department (They will contact you by email with delivery/pickup instructions 1 day ahead so you can communicate what time schedule work best for your to receive the tractor)
Again I want to point out that because I am going to Iraq this sale is my top priority and I am looking after a fast transaction, with no delays. That is why I decided to lower the price, to avoid wasting time with negotiations and find a buyer as soon as possible.
I wish prefert to talck all the transaction details by the phone but right now I`m in a military base, getting ready for Iraq and for this reason I will not have access to the phone for the next 2 weeks!
FREE SHIPPING TO USA AND CANADA!
Thanks, hope to do business with you soon!
Army nurse Corporal : BRIAN SHANE

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Keep craigslist free and find these crooks.