Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - SCAM Buyer - A Real Example (in S.America, but could be anywhere...)

Hi folks, (hope this is appropriately categorized)

I encountered a scam during sale of my (Chilean) motorbike in South America and I wanted to post the details in case it helps anyone else recognize the same:

In summary, the "buyer" expresses willingness to purchase using PayPal, no questions asked about condition nor price. But I would never actually meet the "buyer", only his shipping agent, who would arrive once I had made a Western Union transfer to them, supposedly with the cash the "buyer" has already sent me. Here are the details...

1. I placed an add on the Chilean Mercadolibre.cl site to sell my bike.

2. Through Mercadolibre's system the potential buyer contacted me expressing interest and offering his email address and name:

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Mensaje:
Hello,I saw your advert on Mercadolibre,Get back to me at eric.donald19@hotmail.com,If available for sale.Thanks.
Nombre: Eric
E-mail: eric.donladxx22xa@outlook.com
Teléfono: -97383183
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3. I responded saying the bike was still for sale, upon which I received an email reply with some basic inquiries:

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From: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)
Sent: 21 October 2013 19:32:32
To: me (----------@-----------.com)

Thanks for the response.Am interested in buying. How long have you owned it and when last was it serviced?..What's your asking price for it in us dollars.
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4. I replied answering the above questions. Then I was asked to take my add off the web, because he would like to buy immediately. No questions, no negotiations, too good to be true?

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From: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)
Sent: 23 October 2013 15:44:48
To: me (----------@-----------.com)

Okay Good..I'm quite satisfied with the condition and price,and I need you to understand that i am willing and ready to purchase it right away, end the advert, consider me as your favorite buyer.I will be paying the PayPal charges from my account and i will be paying directly into your PayPal account without any delay, and i hope you have a paypal account. If you have one already, just send me the address to send it to, which is the email address you use for it or you can send me a paypal money request, so once i receive the details i will go ahead with the payment through PayPal and then i will contact my shipping company after you get the payment. I will need your home address for it to be Picked Up by the Shipping Company..
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5. In my reply I send my PayPal handle (after all, what can I lose). I do not give a physical address saying I wil be in a hotel, and inquire how the "buyer" intends to deal with the legal procedure of transferring the deeds (which requires his and my presence normally). In rapid succession, I receive messages stating he has gone through with the PayPal payment including additional 700USD which he requests that I use to pay the agent through Western Union.

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From: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)
Sent: 24 October 2013 03:19:38
To: me (----------@-----------.com)

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and make sure you end the advert immediately.I will be sending the payment shortly and i will email you when am done with it.More so you will be notify by PayPal in your email address after i make the payment,so just make sure you check your email often and often to confirm payment when it is completed
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Then:

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From: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)
Sent: 24 October 2013 03:49:29
To: me (----------@-----------.com)

Hello,Once again,thanks so much for everything...I have just completed the payment for the Item and you should have received a confirmation email from paypal in regards to the payment.As you may have noticed I have made an additional payment on top of all the other charges,The sum of $700 and this needs to be sent to the Mediterranean Shipping Company in charge of the pickup,which can easily be done through Western Union Money Transfer. This is their requested form of payment when it comes to dealing with international exchanges.Upon receiving the payment they will arrange to pick up the (NX4 Falcon) within the next 48 hours.They will probably contact you and choose the date the pick up will be made,Which reminds me if you could also send me your contact number and home address again and i will forward it on to them so they can arrange a convenient pick up time.

The amount that I have just transferred to you is on hold through paypal as they need the Western Union receipt to confirm the pickup company has been paid.. Once they received that then the payment will be cleared into your paypal account. Just to reassure you that he amount has already left my account and simply being held by Paypal until the transaction is completed successfully.

The information you need in order to complete the payment to Western Union Money Transfer is listed below:

Name:Tando Lubuzo
Address:90 Steve Biko road.
State:Arcadia, Pretoria.
Zipcode:0001.
Country: South Africa

Thanks for the understanding and co-operating in the matter.All the other paperwork will be completed by the pick-up agent.Please transfer the money as soon as possible so that we can arrange everything without delay.(dont forget I need the pick-up address and also if you could provide me with your phone number too that will be great).

Nice doing business with you. Look forward to hearing from you soon and completing the transaction.

Thanks,
Kind regards
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6. In my junk mail I receive an apparent PayPal receipt from SERVICE@INTL.PAYPAL.COM titled "Receipt of Payment from Eric Donald (Transaction ID #4WR6072127779652U)". Strange, because PayPal notices go straight into my inbox as they're marked safe. Logging into my PayPal account shows no activity. Checking carefully in the header, the email has really been sent ON BEHALF of this PayPal address. A number the lines of text are clickable links but I don't touch them fearing they may contain phishing code.

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From: alex.james001@gmail.com on behalf of service@intl.paypal.com (customerhelp.service@secureroot.com)
Sent: 24 October 2013 03:44:44
To: ederken@hotmail.com
I trust customerhelp.service@secureroot.com. Always show content.

Powered by [PayPal logo image here]

You've received an instant payment

Dear PayPal User (----------@-----------.com),

This e-Mail confirms that you have received an Instant payment of $5,500.00 USD from Eric Donald via PayPal MERCHANDISE Payment Service.

Reversals : This method of payment can not be reversed.

Status : Pending - Transport Company Awaiting Payment.

View the details of this pending transaction below

Summary of this transaction
Sent From Eric Donald eric.donald19@hotmail.com
Sent to ----------@-----------.com
Transaction ID 4WR6072127779652U
Merchandise Amount $4,800.00 USD
Transport Charges $700.00 USD
Total Amount $5,500.00 USD
Merchandise Title NX4 Falcon - Purchased

Transport Company: " Mediterranean Shipping Company "

Courier Details: Name:Tando Lubuzo
Address:90 Steve Biko road.
State:Arcadia, Pretoria.
Zipcode:0001.
Country: South Africa

Address Status: Confirmed

NOTE: This is to confirm to you that the mentioned amount has been successfully transferred by the Sender and been deducted from his Account which is ready to be credited into your account and this Payment has been subjected to be a Payment for a MERCHANDISE purchased from you, we reserve the right to make sure this transaction is 100% Safe and Secured also to verify the legitimacy level on this transaction.

The above sum includes the transport charges and taxes as we and the Transport Company quoted for the buyer (as per PayPal MERCHANDISE PAYMENT POLICY). You will receive a Message from the PayPal Customer Verification Department Shortly informing you on how to send the Transport Fares and Taxes to the transport company with the above Courier details as soon as possible.
You may contact PayPal customer service by Clicking Here or reply directly to this email by using the
reply button in your e-Mail Box and Quote the Above Transaction ID for quick recognition of this transaction.

Copyright © 2013 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved.

PayPal Email ID PP307
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7. I reply that I lack faith in PayPal and prefer not to get involved with Western Union, but I suggest an alternative (thanks markharf for the sound advice):
a. When I arrive in Santiago, Chile I will confirm my address to you.
b. Please wire or PayPal all the money to your shipping agent.
c. Your shipping agent will deliver the money to me, cash USD, and he and I can proceed with the necessary paperwork to transfer deeds on the same day.
d. Upon receipt of cash and completion of paperwork, I will hand over the bike, keys and documents to your agent.

His reply is quite sweet:

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From: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)
Sent: 25 October 2013 09:05:02
To: me (----------@-----------.com)

Thanks so much for the mail..I really understand you so much about this,Well i would like you to know that the funds is already pending into your account right now and PayPal is only waiting to get the western union information from you for verification,And once they have confirmed it,All your money will get updated into your account in the next couple of 30Mins,and all your money will 100% get into your account..

You do not have to be scared about this Ok,Just go to the western union office and send the money to my agent,I am granting you that you will get all your money into your account once you have sent the money to my agent pick up receiver and send the western union info for verification.Check your mail and i am sure you will see the confirmation in your mail box ok.

Moreover,you do not know if you risk today will become your happiness tomorrow.

Thanks so much and God Bless.
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8. So since I don't have any money from him, I guess his next move is to pressure me into paying the 700USD using Western Union from my own account. That's the end of the line for this scam, but for my own amusement I continue the conversation as follows... never know, I may get lucky.

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From: me (----------@-----------.com)
Sent: 25 October 2013 12:22:18
To: Eric Donald (eric.donald19@hotmail.com)

Hi Eric,

I see the email that I received a payment from you, but I don't see the cash in my PayPal account - maybe because it is on hold. And I do not have 700USD cash in my bank to send to Western Union. Can you pay me the 700USD prepayment in PayPal directly to use for Western Union?

Regards,
Ken
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Well I hope this is useful to someone. Or at least you enjoy the read ;)