Beware of scammers on mnet

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

or anywhere on the web for that matter. I put the 05 up on mnet a couple weeks back and shortly threrafter started the following exchange. Thought you might like a chuckle.



BELOW IS A REPLY TO YOUR CLASSIFIED AD
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Ad Headline: 2005 Supercharged Miata
Posted To: Miata.net Classifieds

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE ITEM YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT
TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE. DO
SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU
FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

dave
dav_hamington@yahoo.com (dav_hamington@yahoo.com)



Hi Dave,

Here are a few pictures of the car. The car has never been raced or pushed
hard. Mostly dyno time testing various changes until we got it good enough
to pass CARB. Most of the miles are from a couple cross country trips.
Tires are like new. Car is stock except for the FFS kit, ToYo T1R tires,
Koyo radiator and the new FFS timing card.

The car is easily worth way more than $14,900. We just don't need it
anymore and wanted to make someone a great buy. If you think that is too
much, make me an honest offer. You are certainly welcome to come and visit
anytime and take it for a ride before you make up your mind.

Tom





HELLO ,
THANKS FOR THE MAIL U SENT TO ME...I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.....I WANT U TO KNOW THAT THE PRICE IS OKAY BY ME AND AS FOR THE SHIPPING THAT'LL NOT BE A PROBLEM ..I HAVE CONTACTED A SHIPPING COMPANY THAT WILL HANDLE THE SHIPPING...SO THAT'LL NOT BE A PROBLEM...
AS FOR THE PAYMENT I'LL BE PAYING WITH A CERTIFIED CHECK WHICH'LL BE CASHED EASILY...I WANT U TO KNOW THAT I'LL BE SENDING YOU A CHECK IN WHICH U'LL DEDUCT UR $14,900 AND SEND THE REMAINING BALANCE TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY THAT 'LL BE COMING FOR THE PICK UP AT UR PLACE...TO SEND IT OUT I'LL NEED UR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE THE CHECK ' LL BE SENT TO AND PROBABLY UR PHONE #....MY NUM IS 206-984-1840...DO SEND THE INFO TO ME ASAP...
HOPING TO HEAR FROM U SOONEST..
REGARDS



David,

I was involved in a scam a couple months ago with a cashiers check. As soon as I get yours, I will take it to my bank and have them confirm it's validity. If they confirm it, all is good. I promise I will do it the same day the check arrives. We can then schedule the transport pickup.

My full name address and phone number is as shown in my signature.

Thanks.

Tom



At this point it is pretty obvious that it is a SCAM. But, he was undaunted by my suggestion that the check must clear first. Hmm. From here on it is play time. J




HELLO TOM...
THANKS FOR THE MAIL....I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT U 'VE SAID..THAT'S NO PROBLEM..OK..U CAN CONFIRM AND GET ALL OF IT THE SAME DAY TOO...OK...I 'LL WAIT AS LONG AS THE CHECK IS GOOD....AND I GET THE CAR...
THE CHECK 'LL BE SENT OUT ASAP...I'LL SURE LET U KNOW WHEN IT'S SENT...OK...
REGARDS


************************************************** ********************

HELLO...
HOW'S THINGS WITH U...FINE I PRESUME...'M SO SO SORRY FOR ALL THE DELAY I MIGHT 'VE CAUSED U IN THIS TRANSACTION...HOWEVER,THE PAYMENT HAS BEEN SENT OUT ALREADY..VIA UPS COURIER SERVICE...HERE IS THE TRACKING #.....J202 531 733 5 ...U 'LL BE GETTING IT TODAY AS IT'S A NEXT DAY DELIVERY...OK.....DO KEEP ME POSTED...
REGARDS



The UPS tracking number was untraceable as to what city it came from.



David,

Thanks for the reply. I'll look for the check today. I can have it checked on Monday and the car could ship Tuesday for sure.

Have you picked a carrier?

Tom



Check showed up for $3100 too much. It was an obvious fake. Anybody want it? J That cinched the scam.

I did check with the bank fraud department to be sure and they confirmed it was as phony as a $3 bill.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

HELLO...
THANX FOR THE UPDATE AND TRUST YOU HAVE SHOWN TOWARDS THIS TRANSACTION I REALY DO APPRECIATE IT.....

HOWEVER,U 'RE TO SEND THE REMAINING BALANCE OF $3,100 TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY FOR THE SHIPMENT AND IF U ARE SENDING THE FUNDS YOU SEND IT CASH VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY 'COS THAT HOW THEY WANT THE PAYMENT SENT TO THEM.

NOTE:YOU WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE WESTERN UNION CHARGES TO GET THE MONEY SENT TO THEM..SO U 'RE TO DEDUCT THESE CHARGES FROM THE $3,100 AND SEND THE REMAINING FUNDS CASH TO THE NAME AND ADDRESS PROVIDE BELOW..OK..PLS MAIL ME BACK WITH ALL THE WESTERN UNION DETAILS WHICH IS AS FOLLOWS.....

SENDERS NAME.....

RECIVERS NAME....

AMOUNT SEND........

(MTCN)CONTROL NUMBER......

PLS MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEND THE MONEY ASAP SO THAT THE SHIPPING COMPANY CAN COME TO YOUR LOCATION THE NEXT DAY FOR THE PICK UP.PLS MAIL ME BACK WITH ALL THE WESTERN UNION DETAILS...SO THAT I CAN GAVE IT TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY...BELOW ARE SOME WESTERN UNION OUTLET WHERE YOU CAN GO SEND OUT THE FUNDS OR YOU CAN GET SOME OUTLETS AROUND YOU TOO..OK

STAR 7 GAS & FOOD MART
411 N ARIZONA BLVD
COOLIDGE, AZ85228

QUIK CASH #898
818 N ARIZONA AVE
COOLIDGE, AZ85228

LEE'S FOODLAND MARKET
308 S MAIN ST
COOLIDGE, AZ85228

THIS IS THE SHIPPER INFORMATION WHERE TO SEND THE FUNDS...

RECEIVER'S NAME..... TERRI BANDA
REEDLEY, CA 93654

PLS MAKE SURE THAT YOU MAIL ME BACK IMMEDIATELY YOU'VE DONE THAT.I 'LL GIVE U A CALL OK...

BEST REGARDS




The teller at the bank said the check was good so I have the Cashiers check made out to David Hammington for $3100.00. All I need to know is where to send it.

When does the car carrier come?



HELLO TOM...
THANKS FOR THE MAIL....WELL..LIKE I TOLD IN THE PREVIOUS MAIL I SENT THAT U 'RE SENDING THE $3,100 CASH TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY VIA WESTERN UNION...NOT TO ME OR IN FORM OF A CASHIER'S CHECK....OK...THAT WAS WHY I SENT U SOME WESTERN UNION OUTLET WHERE U CAN GO SEND OUT THE FUNDS....
BELOW IS THE NAME WHERE TO SEND THE $3,100...OK.....

RECEIVER'S NAME..... TERRI BANDA
253 W LILAC AVE
REEDLEY, CA 93654
IT'S THE NAME THE SHIPPING COMPANY SENT TO ME TO SEND THE FUNDS TO....AS SOON AS THEY GET THE MONEY THEY 'LL GET ALL THE NECESSARY PAPER WORK READY FOR THE PICK UP..OK...I 'LL GIVE U A CALL...
REGARDS





Here is the UPS tracking number for the overnight letter. It may take a couple hours before you can actually track it in the system.

1Z00400F0291143890

It should be there Friday. Please advise when you will be sending the truck. You will love the 05. It is a blast to drive.



HELLO TOM...
I PRESUME...U READ THE MAIL I SENT TO U......WHY DID U SEND OUT THE CASHIER'S CHECK ...WHEN THEY WANT THE PAYMENT SENT TO THEM CASH VIA WESTERN UNION...I TOLD U THIS...I 'D APPRECIATE IT IF U STOP THE PAYMENT OF THE CHECK AND 'VE THE MONEY SENT TO THEM CASH VIA WESTERN UNION....THAT WAS WHY I SENT THOSE OUTLETS WHERE U CAN GO SEND IT OUT FROM AND ALSO I TRIED CALLING U YESTERDAY...BUT I CUDN'T GET TO TALK WIT U...I LEFT MESSAGES TOO...
DO TRY AND STOP THE PAYMENT...OK....AND 'VE THE $3,100 SENT CASH VIA WESTERN UNION...I DID SEND U EMAILS ON THIS 'COS THAT'S HOW THEY WANT THE PAYEMNT SENT TO THEM...
REGARDS


He really wanted that untraceable cash didn’t he? J




I got hold of UPS. If you send me your address, I can have it diverted straight to you. Problem solved. Send me your address ASAP.

Tom




HELLO TOM...
I TRIED CALLING U NOW..BUT NO ONE WAS THERE TO PICK IT UP.....THE PROBLEM IS THAT U 'RE NOT SENDING THE MONEY BACK TO ME...NO..THE MONEY IS MEANT FOR THE SHIPPING NOT TO RETURN THE 3,100 TO ME..WHY NOT U JST SEND THE MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION WHICH IS THE MOST EASIEST AND FAST TOO....ALL U NEED DO IS JST 'VE THE CASH SENT VIA WESTERN UNION TO THE NAME I GAVE U....AND ALL IS SORTED AS EASY AS U CAN IMAGINE....IF THE SHIPPING COMPANY HAD WANTED TO BE PAID WITH CHECK IT'D 'VE BEEN MUCH EASIER...BUT THEY WANT THE PAYMENT SENT TO THEM VIA WESTERN UNION.....PLS DO PICK UR CALLS SO WE CAN TALK..OK..
REGARDS



You are probably calling from a restricted or unavailable number. My phone doesn't let those through anymore. I was getting too many calls from investment brokers and loan companies and other solicitations so I had it turned off to restricted/unavailable numbers.

I would do the WU for you but I have the $3100 of my money tied up already in the cashiers check. The bank won't let me have access to your $18,000 until it clears and they say that can take up to 10 days. The bank told me they will cancel it as soon as they get it back. Just send me Terri's number and I will call her and tell her to send it back when she gets it. No problem. I can also discuss with her about the pickup of the car. As soon as I get the check back, I will take it to the bank and have it all fixed. However, to save time, I could have it re-directed to you and you could have it tomorrow some time and cash it at your bank. That would surely be the fastest way to resolve the problem. Then you could WU the funds to the carrier. I would have called Terri already but couldn't find her number.

Pleas advise ASAP so I can have it re-directed to you before it gets on a delivery truck tomorrow. Then it is real hard to get back.

Tom

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

My phone has no problem with unavailable or restricted. I simply sent him to voice mail.




David,

I have been thinking about this and have decided it isn't worth the hassle. I will have UPS return the envelope to me and cut you a cashiers check for the $18,000 and send it to you and call this whole deal off. I should have the check back tomorrow and cut a new one for the full $18,000 to you.

Tom



HELLO...
I REALLY DON'T GET IT.....IF U HAD FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND THE BALANCE TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY IT'D BE LIKE THIS...HOWEVER,SINCE U 'VE DECIDED TO MAKE OUT A CHECK OF $18,000...I 'LL FORWARD THE NAME THAT'LL BE ON THE CHECK AND ADDRESS WHERE U 'LL SEND IT TO..OK..
REGARDS



$18,000 got his attention in a hurry. Now all he needs to do is get a fake ID.



Well, UPS returned the $3100 check today and cancelled the shipment to Terri. I will get the $18,000 check cut for you on Monday. I assume that it should be made out to Galleria International, Inc and sent to Gerry Owen? I may run over to the bank this afternoon yet and cut the check so I will have it ready to send.



Easy to get back as it was never sent. J Those were the phony names on the original check and the original senders name.




HELLO TOM..
THANKS FOR THE MAIL....WELL..THE CHECK 'S NOT GOING TO BE MADE OUT TO GALLERY INT'L..AND NOT GOING TO BE SENT TO GERRY OWEN .LIKE I TOLD U IN THE PREVIOUS MAIL I SENT THAT I 'LL BE SENDING U A NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE U CAN 'VE THE CHECK SENT..OK...
REGARDS..





HELLO TOM...
SORRY U 'VE NOT HEARD FROM ME FOR SOMETIME NOW...IT WAS DUE TO SOME CONSTRAINT.....HOWEVER,HERE'S THE NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE U 'LL SEND THE CHECK TO..OK...MAKE OUT THE CHECK TO THE NAME BELOW...AND 'VE IT SENT TO THAT ADDRESS...

JOHN CAMEZIND

917 S. TOWER
CENTRALIA, WA98531



I 'LL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM U..OK...
REGARDS

************************************************** ****

J Only constraint was to try and come up with a name to use to be able to cash the check.



The check is in the mail. UPS 1Z5w1v480200194898



I made up a short note and put it in a UPS envelope and carefully cut the bottom of the envelope so that a check “could have” fallen out. J



HELLO TOM...
'M MAILING TO TELL U THAT THE PERSON GOT THE UPS PACKAGE BUT THERE WAS NO CHECK IN IT...PLS LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON...WHY DID U SEND A JST A NOTE AND NO CHECK WITH IT..PLS DO LET ME KNOW WAT'S GOING ON..
REGARDS





David,

There was a check in there when it left here. We know it just didn't evaporate out of the envelope. How much do you trust Mr. Camezind? It will take a couple days but I will check with the bank and see if it clears in the next few days. I would guess I would know by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.

Tom



David,

I checked with my bank (Bank of America) this afternoon and they confirmed that the check was cashed at the Bank of America on Pearl Street in CentraliaWashington. It was cashed by a Mr. John Camezind at 4:35 PM Friday. It did not disappear from the envelope.

Tom



You Bastard. My bank called today to tell me that your check bounced. Now I am out the $18,000 that I sent you.

I have turned it all over to the Bank fraud department and the FBI. I hope they catch you before you get to spend my money.

Tom



Well, if that doesn’t convince him to hunt down his accomplice and beat the crap out of him, I don’t know what will. JJ

[99mx5]

HAHAHAA!!!! I would have strung him along for more time and make him wait LOL
NICE JOB!

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I figured he had to know that his check would've had to have bounced already. His greed sure did play. When he went from getting $3100 to possibly getting $18,000 you could feel the greed. ;)

[mx3jmcb]

hahaha, just great!:elf:

[snakebit]

:rofl: Tom, you:devil2:!

[jrmotorsports55]

That is awesome. Great job!

[socal pat]

Newman and Redford would be proud. The playa gets played.

[Bo0osted]

Lol... u gave me some great ideas for next time. Too bad you couldn't get a hold of his identity and bust him.

What's always surprised me is how those scammers always use caps and have HORRIBLE spelling and grammar. If I was a scammer, I'd at least try to make it look more legitimate. They must be really that stupid.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I was going to mention that. Both times I was hit, they had this in common.

1) All caps.
2) Full price offer.
3) Bad grammer.

I tried to get my bank's fraud department and the FBI involved. Both times I was told "no harm, no foul". I would actually have to lose the money before they would do anything.

[99mx5]

HAHAHA! I just had the same thing happen to me about my kit for sale. I told him I have Nigerian funds coming in that can be used to pay his shipper.

[gludlow]

Tom, that was brilliantly played. Remind me never to play poker with you for real cash :devil:

It's sad that the FBI won't investigate this. Should be an easy bust, and could PREVENT future crime! Imagine that.

[CooperD]

Nicely done Tom!

If you haven't seen it allready - 419eater.com (http://419eater.com/)is a great site for those inclined to follow in Tom's footsteps.

[Steve in VC]

I bought a limited slip differential from a guy on the M.net classifieds. Initial correspondence was good, so I paid with PayPal. A week goes by, no differential, and he isn't answering my emails. So I contested it with PayPal - suddenly I get a call, and and emails wanting me to release the hold (you can't reinstate once released).

I told him had he sent a tracking number, or answered an email, he would have avoided this.

The differential arrives (and has worked wonderfully), and I let the payment go through.

The point is legitimate sales need more hand holding due to the scammers.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Tom,

I recently had someone register on the site using the same phone number on your last posting of your mnet scam. http://www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=993

I've tried to make contact to no avail. No last name provided, and a bogus Washington (Seattle) street address.

Great job on your go-around!

Did a little digging and found this. http://www.myspace.com/sonnyj35 Camezind is actually Camendzine with an "n". One can easily cash a check with a misspelled name. Don't know that his info is viable, but he sure looks like our "boy". The IP address he registered from is 196.1.177.61 Look it up and you get this: Hostname: 196.1.177.61
ISP: Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd
Organization: Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd
Proxy: None detected
Type: Dial-up


He gave you a Centralia, WA address, which is next to Chehalis. "People Finder" notes that there are 5 John Camendzine's in the US. 3 of those are in WA, and all 44 years old. (Same as myspace page) Raymond, Federal Way, and Centralia. All within 80 miles of Centralia, and all have unpublished phone numbers. Also, a John Camenzine is registered on Classmates.com that graduated from Willapa Valley High School in Raymond, WA in 1983. That would make him 44 years old.

There IS, however a JUDY Camenzind at this address.
917 S Tower Ave

Centralia, WA 98531-2421 Age 51 and phone number of (360) 807-4656 http://www.whitepages.com/search/FindPerson?firstname_begins_with=1&firstname=Judy&name=Camenzind&where=Washington

Same address Johnny gave you.

Gee, I dunno. The email address he gave was good becuase it doesn't bounce. Should I boot him off and say, "Say "hi" to Judy for me"? Maybe if I let him stay on and track what he does, somebody could actually do something?

MAN, I'd love to se this guy get caught...

Next, there's Terri Banda...
http://www.classmates.com/directory/public/memberprofile/list.htm?regId=7445939433
Shows a 2010 Graduation date. Not that 2010 has gotten here yet, but the photo looks like a 40 year old woman with maybe a little "pride". You'll find her on the Reedley, CA High School Alumni site as having graduated in 1987. She also shows up Grant Middle School roster until 1983. (+ 4 = 1987) As for her address, 253 W Lilac (Lylac) Ave is a new home http://www.realtor.com/property-detail/253-W-Lilac-Ave_Reedley_CA_93654_8b1acf06 She must be making a lot of money off this operation. Google maps shows it as a vacant lot, but the street view shows many of the empty lots to the north are now new houses, so the photos are older than 2006.

So, even though he hides his routing though Nigeria, he gave you loads of info to hang himself. I think I'll just disable his account...

Jeff Bradshaw

www.elderlyiron.com