My Daughter and her husband recently lost some money using Craigslist and what was supposed to be Google Wallet. I feel this needs to be put out there, in the hope it may keep someone else from becoming a victim.
Below is a copy of a letter he sent to a radio station, to get the word out.
BUYER BEWARE!
I know this is long, but it's worth it for the listeners. I just got hosed for $2,400 on Craigslist on a fraudulent posting. I figured maybe I could get this to you and it could help the listeners from having the same thing happen to them.
My wife had found what seemed to be a too good to be true deal on a 23 foot camper. Well, turns out it was too good to be true. This person posed as a divorced lady that had gotten the camper in a divorce settlement and had no use for it. She claimed to be going through "Google Wallet" which is a legitimate company that's kind of like "PayPal". It was a Houston Craigslist ad but she had claimed she moved to Ohio for a new job after the divorce. My information was given to the supposed Google Wallet and I was sent what looked like a very legitimate e-mail from them with logos and all, explaining the payment process, insurance on the purchase and all kinds of customer service numbers.
The problem here is I've never used Craigslist and wasn't familiar with Google Wallet.
There was supposedly a dedicated agent that was going to handle the transaction... yea they handled it alright... right into their pocket. I was supposed to send the money to the agent using Moneygram. I did so and got the confirmation number like the e-mail explained and called the Google Wallet people back to give them the confirmation number. I was sent an e-mail... looking fully legitimate, yet again saying my shipping date. I stay home all day... AND IT NEVER SHOWS UP!!! I call the customer service number back to find out what's going on and the same guy that has answered the phone every time tells me that there was a hold on the shipment because I didn't pay for my side of the shipping insurance. $1,420 that was going to be fully refundable.
This was where I got sideways with the guy and told him the original e-mail said the seller has paid for the insurance and nowhere did it say anything about the buyer purchasing insurance... it ain't happening. Everything started seeming fishy now.
I looked up the Google Wallet customer service number... it was different from the one I had been calling. I got them on the phone, gave them the posting/purchase/confirmation numbers, and that's when they proceeded to tell me the numbers were no good in their system and they don't use Moneygram. I had been a victim of fraud.
I contacted all legitimate companies involved and local law enforcement to report it and here I stand, minus 2,400 bucks.
Below is a copy of a letter he sent to a radio station, to get the word out.
BUYER BEWARE!
I know this is long, but it's worth it for the listeners. I just got hosed for $2,400 on Craigslist on a fraudulent posting. I figured maybe I could get this to you and it could help the listeners from having the same thing happen to them.
My wife had found what seemed to be a too good to be true deal on a 23 foot camper. Well, turns out it was too good to be true. This person posed as a divorced lady that had gotten the camper in a divorce settlement and had no use for it. She claimed to be going through "Google Wallet" which is a legitimate company that's kind of like "PayPal". It was a Houston Craigslist ad but she had claimed she moved to Ohio for a new job after the divorce. My information was given to the supposed Google Wallet and I was sent what looked like a very legitimate e-mail from them with logos and all, explaining the payment process, insurance on the purchase and all kinds of customer service numbers.
The problem here is I've never used Craigslist and wasn't familiar with Google Wallet.
There was supposedly a dedicated agent that was going to handle the transaction... yea they handled it alright... right into their pocket. I was supposed to send the money to the agent using Moneygram. I did so and got the confirmation number like the e-mail explained and called the Google Wallet people back to give them the confirmation number. I was sent an e-mail... looking fully legitimate, yet again saying my shipping date. I stay home all day... AND IT NEVER SHOWS UP!!! I call the customer service number back to find out what's going on and the same guy that has answered the phone every time tells me that there was a hold on the shipment because I didn't pay for my side of the shipping insurance. $1,420 that was going to be fully refundable.
This was where I got sideways with the guy and told him the original e-mail said the seller has paid for the insurance and nowhere did it say anything about the buyer purchasing insurance... it ain't happening. Everything started seeming fishy now.
I looked up the Google Wallet customer service number... it was different from the one I had been calling. I got them on the phone, gave them the posting/purchase/confirmation numbers, and that's when they proceeded to tell me the numbers were no good in their system and they don't use Moneygram. I had been a victim of fraud.
I contacted all legitimate companies involved and local law enforcement to report it and here I stand, minus 2,400 bucks.
37 comments:
Oh no... I hope he gets his money back. So far we have had no trouble with anyone on Craigslist. We only deal with local people and cash only.
Oh no! We've run into scammers on a couple of sites. We didn't lose any money but they sure wasted our time!
It's EVERYWHERE, and you were probably talking to a Pakistani. I've had my fair share of them and although they speak "TAGALOG", it is nearly perfect english.
My daughter had her purse stolen from where she works: A Nationally Accredited hospital.
They had her keys, her car, of all credit cards, and knew where she lived.
By the time she called the police (they had her handy cell phone) and made it home, her entire house had been emptied out and $3,000 spent from her checking account and credit cards.
Ladies, do NOT carry your entire life's information in your purse.
I am sorry for this..we stay clear of most on line buying and are well warned on fraud here, I do not think there is a week that doesn't go by that one or more fraud stories hit the News or one of the Current Event programs..some loose thousands of euros or dollars (we get the reports of Western scams too) fingers crossed he sees all or some of that money back.
Oh what a nightmare! The scammers are so sophisticated. With all the effort they put into cheating people it would have been easier for them to just have gotten a job!
That really sucks Ms A, sorry to hear about that, it's crazy the lengths these horrible people will resort to nowadays!
I'm so sorry this happened Ms. A, thank you for sharing the information and I hope they can find those scumbuckets!
oh, no!
i am sorry for this...i hope he gets his money back. fingers crossed.
Hope all turns out well for you family! I am leary of ALL things on the internet anymore because of the scammers. When I had my last yard sale I put it on craig's list because I was told it was the best way to get the information out there. For months I got an email from a guy who wanted to buy my patio set even though I kept telling him that it sold. He kept saying he was going to wire me money and his daughter would be here with a truck to pick it up. I finally got to the point, I just didn't answer his emails anymore. And no, no money exchanged hands. Well at least it didn't exchange my hands ;o)
Watch out for buyers and sellers. I sold some wheels and tires on Craigslist. I had scammers try to send me money orders and have a 3rd party pick them up plus give me$50 extra dollars for my troubles. Yea right.
misanthropy: n. dislike or distrust of mankind????
Didnt do anything to help your condition did it?
Hope your money finds it's way home but I wouldnt count on the authorities to help.
Oh this is terrible!
I hope they can get this cleared up. It's shameful really what people will do to other people. Makes me sick.
absolutely terrible! they certainly worked hard to make it all appear legit! i hate that your son was taken for $2400!
Sorry your daughter and her husband were victims of fraud online. That is a lot of money to lose to learn the lesson. I buy on craigslist, have bought and sold items on craigslist for years, but would never buy only online. I buy what I can go in person to view and pay for in person and take with me. I hope this experience brings your daughter and her husband closer together in their decisions as they continue to learn the safe ways to purchase online. There are so many people in the world spending time and energy to take what is not theirs. Why can't they be part of society and work like the rest of us.
Oh, no! This is terrible! I hope they will be able to find a way to get their money back!
There are scams everywhere, and it's great for you to put this out so we are now warned about this one. I often wonder about the people who think this stuff up.
That's awful. Thanks for the heads up!
I'm sorry to hear about the scam that your daughter and her husband got caught up in. Thanks for the information and the copy of his letter.
That completely SUCKS!!!! I've heard of Google Wallet. I don't like it for my own reasons. I don't like that anyone can see the information I keep stored there if I used it, like CC info, bank account, etc. I do use PayPal and have been for at least 10 years... never really had a problem And when there was a problem, they would solve it pretty quickly. With Paypal you have to use a password to pay. I can see being scammed through Paypal the same way you just were with Google Wallet.
For big ticket items like cars and houses for rent and maybe trailers like yours, maybe COD is the best way to go. Cash on delivery. You SEE the product when it arrives, then you pay. That is quickly becoming obsolete, but there is hope.
Google, however, is going down the black rabbit hole. They've been making too many changes lately that they're losing the public's interest. Thank you for sharing the story!
Wow what a nightmare. I hope he gets the money back. I think it's so easy now to be conned out of money online.
I'm so sorry Cora. I am familiar with Google Wallet but have never used it.
Had something similar happen today. You'll see it tomorrow.
Again, I am so sorry. I hope they at least catch the bastards and some monies are returned!
Thanks for sharing. I'll make sure to stay local with cash. I hope they get resolution out of this.
Scams abound don't they!! I've gotten a few things on Craigslist but I always go with my husband and pay cash and it's never for more than $100 or $150 tops.. buyer beware is right. Poor people!!
Holy Cow… That is terrible. I have friends who have purchased from Craigs List with no problem, but we haven't ever gotten involved with that…
So sorry that your daughter and hubby got snickered.. That's a lot of money to lose… Scary how those crooks make things like this seem so legit….
Glad your son-in-law is putting the word out about what happened to him. What a shame…. So Sorry! Tell him it needs to go on Facebook… That is a great way to get the word out.
That's why we are so careful not to do much ordering like that --especially when the product looks like it's too good to be true… Yipes!
Hugs,
Betsy
I'm sure your kids know now not to give money BEFORE seeing the product…. I think most things like this are done locally --and COD….
Hugs,
Betsy
oh no, i am so sorry! i've never bought anything or sold anything either on ebay or craigslist. maybe i heard too many stories like this one to really trust them, but yeah, i've never used either one and don't really plan on it in the future. hope your SIL is able to get his money back!
I think it is so awful that people like that use so much time and effort to scam others. If they would only use that time to get a real job.......
Thanks for the alert.
Judy
Oh my! This is really bad. My father the banker from 1st National of St. Paul, filled my head with lots of old sayings which I've taken to heart. Including the one that begins "if its too good to be true...." I only accept cash for anything I sell (I don't buy) and only meet people in the parking lot of the local Dairy Queen. So far so good...:)
Thanks for sharing, Ms. A -- I hope they get their money back somehow.
I'm so sorry to hear this! How frustrating for them! I have come across this type of scam while looking at houses to rent in NC.
Craigslist is almost pure slime. There are no safeguards whatsoever. Craig is as criminal as his users. It costs nothing to implement some settings/screening measures, but he continues to fail to do so. Sorry for this nightmare. That's horrible.
xoRobyn
WOW! That is horrible! I hope that he can get his money back somehow.
awww i am sorry to see this---i am so afraid to even pay for stuff online--i hope something good comes of this--thank you for sharing it
So sorry to hear this...people can be so mean!
Blessings,
Cindy
Just horrible -- I have never used Craigslist for this very reason. I do hope they catch these thieves. Thanks for the tip.
Oh that's just awful! I hope the police can catch these creeps but I know it's difficult. I never trust craigslist. My son in law got ripped off last year on a boat. The guy started the engine and it started up just fine. He didn't mention the broken part that prevented it from actually pushing the boat thru water. My SIL couldn't afford to fix/replace it. I felt so bad for him.
Just about went through this same scam TODAY. except it was a bobcat skid loader in Wisconsin and she divorced and moved to California for a job... Did a quick internet search and found your post. Thank you. -walking away.
That REALLY sucks! These folks are so smart. I hope they get caught do a long long time jail.
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