Luiz,
Thank you for your advice.

During the time when both we and the bank thought it had been a wire transfer of funds, we asked the bank if they could just send it back or refuse it whatever. They said they could not do that. And that is kind of ridiculous, because how can you be forced to accept money you do not want? What you said makes a lot more sense. We will remember that, if something similar ever happens in the future.

Mary,

The person in the bank who said that they could not return the funds is either very new to the field, lying or referring to something else.

The "reversibility" is exactly what the scammers are using for this kind of scams. A check is deposited, credited and later reversed.

What the bank can not do is make the book entry/operation disappear. They must reverse it with a new book entry and, if it is the case, another operation such as a return wire transfer, for example.

Take care,
Luiz

PS: In case anyone is wondering why I feel confident to write about this issue, it's because I worked as head of treasury and financial markets for a huge Dutch banks in a country where frauds and scams are a major concern.

I just got my first reply on my classified ad. Guess the scamers are still going strong. Sounds like they are real hot to buy my boat, and want all the info that's already in the ad. Thanks for having a scam section on this board. Maybe it's better to go through a broker these days?
FYI:


Good Day
i am interested in buying your 2005 Nacra500 )and i want to tell me
the condition of it also I will like to know if you would accept a certified cashier check for the payment,i also need to know the price, and your full name and address including your phone number is also needed in which payment will be sent to .i have a shipping company who takes cares of my shippment .So don't bother about the shippment.I will also like to know if is still in good condition .urgent response is needed for procedure of payment .
regard

Yep, that's definitely a scam.

Just got three myself for the Taipan, but I have my Spam Killer trained to weed them out.
Rick

So far I've had about 10 scam replies in the last 2 weeks for my ad. They're pretty easy to spot -- if you're looking for them.

Hell I got one and my boat is not even for sale, obviously a scam. Wonder how they even knew I had a boat.

It's amazing that these scammers are even offering $7500, payment by cashier's checks and using freight shipment companies for shipment to purchase our race videos (that sell for $39.95.) This suggests that they're either not reading the ads, or that they don't read english well enough to understand them.

Bad grammar and spelling and messages that don't seem to specifically match what you're you're selling are red flags, but even innocent sounding messages may be scams. Use your instincts, and if you have ANY doubt whatsoever, do not reply to the message, and NEVER give out your bank information.

Robert & Jeanine Feldman

Just attach a nasty vb script to the reply email. Feel like you're doing something for the greater good.

I'm pasting my latest one here,
the nerve of them.
Hello, I guess you think I was born yesterday.

[censored] OFF
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Wood
To: Todd Bouton
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 1:14 PM
Subject: Get Back Asap


Hello,
Thanks for the mail.I will pay that sum of money into your account because i belive that there are several SCAMS through checks and other method of payment.I will want to send the funds directly to your account.SO i will want you to get back to me with your bank account information as follows

Your full Name
Your full address
City,State,Zip code
Country
Account Name
Account Number
Bank Routine Code
Bank Name
Bank Address
City,State,ZIpcode
Country

When all these are provided for me,i will send the money into your account directly.
I will be expecting your prompt response
Regards

Todd Bouton wrote:
Well, my price is 3,750. For going to the UK.
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Wood
To: Todd Bouton
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2005 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: Nacra 6.0 NA


Hello,
Thanks very much.I am an american but in The United Kingdom on a business trip,and i will need the Nacra 6.0 NA over here in the UK.SO i will want you to get back to me with the bottom price of the Nacra 6.0 NA,so that we can arrange for the payment and shipping

Regards

Todd Bouton wrote:
Where do you live? For what you're getting, the asking price is already pretty low. I might some down a little more.

It's in great condition, especially for a 10 year old boat.

Everything is sound including the standing rigging, etc.
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Wood
To: ToddSails@houston.rr.com
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 11:15 AM
Subject: Nacra 6.0 NA


Greetings,
I'm interested in buying the Nacra 6.0 NA , which i saw iny our
advert and iw ill want you to get back to me with the bottom price
and its pressent condition for my appraisal.Your prompt response will
be highly granted
Regards

I was listening to the "Clark Howard" show yesterday and he warned about the scams. Part of his warning was "don't engage in any e-mail discussions with them because some have gotten so sophisticated that they can embed worms in your computer to capture your keystrokes and get a lot of your personal information". I don't know if he is correct but I wouldn't chance it.

Howard

But sureely eveyone has got proper virus protection and firewalls these days !!!!

And they are so sophisticated that they cannot write an e-mail that passes muster !!

If you want to get back at them, there ARE ways.

Just depends on how much effort you want to put into it :P

So... you'll just leave us hanging?

CD

Yes,

because its not wise to fess up to technically illegal activities on a public message board :P

From: "Nadia Arafat"
To:
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 06:29:10 -0800
Subject:Good day


From Nadia Arafat
202, Kamel El Shennawi
street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt.

Attention dear,

In The Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful Aselamu Aleikum.

Forgive my indignation to contact you through this medium without prior notice. I am Mrs Nadia Arafat, the wife of late Fathi Arafat brother to Yasser Arafat) who just died on Wednesday 1st December, 2004. In military hosptal cairo egypt.

It did not take more than 48hours after his demise when I was contacted by his security firm in Asia as his next of kin. Before his death, he entrusted many documents to me and told me to let things be since he knew that he would die considering his cancer ailment. One of those documents bore certificate of deposit from the said security firm that
contacted me in London.

Hence I`m requested to correspond with them in the shortest possible time to avoid the demurrages that will accrue following the death of my husband as nobody except me can attend to such transaction. Thus I`m contacting you so that you can help me to retrieve this clasified deposit from the security firm and for safe keeping pending when it will be
convienient for me to travel out of Egypt. All eyes are on me now and as such I will not like to attract any attention now either by monetary transactions or by international travel.

As a result, I request you to reply to me as soon as ossible so that we shall know the way forward and how to streamline issues and procedures towards the successful retrieval of this clasified deposit which bear the sum of US$ 25.5 Million, I`m quite convinced that this classified deposit is enough for any investment of ones choice in a life`s
time.

Endeavour to keep this mail very secret even if you are not keen to cooperate with me as I beseeched you.

Please send your reply to my private e-mail address
nadia_ar2005@voila.fr

Regards

Mrs Nadia

------------------
I guess whoever sent this actually thinks someone will be stupid enough to reply. Unbelievable.

Luiz

Which part is unbelievable? That they think that people will respond or that people respond? (and they do).

We have some cats for sale on the www.catamaran.ie site. One of the owners called me today and told me that he might sell his 3000 euro Dart 18 to a Scottish guy who was owed 4500 eoro by an English client of his etc........
There are still people who have not heard the word

I am just shocked that those things happen.

Here is a funny one from yesterday.
I have my 38' Diesel RV for sale and the guy wanted to know if it could be shipped UPS. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Apparently his template didn't relate to size.
Rick