" NIGERIA SCAM "

They tried to scam me as well.  Found my posting for my wedding gown on craigslist, tried to “pay” through paypal and sent a fake paypal payment confirmation, asking for a tracking number before they would deposit the money into my account.  I was suspicious of this from the beginning but didn't want to write off the person right away.  IT IS A TOTAL SCAM!!!!  I'm so pissed that I wasted my time with this scumbag.  That is pretty damn low, trying to scam someone out of their wedding gown.  Below is the correspondence (I've removed my personal info) and two fake paypal emails at the bottom.  I've reported this to paypal and craigslist.


Serah,

Thank you for the address.  I have now sent you the request for payment through paypal to the email you provided: serahdunny@ommail.com

As soon as I receive your payment, I will ship the box Express Mail International, delivery time is 8 days.

Thank you

--- On Wed, 6/25/08, serahmog@ommail.com <serahmog@ommail.com> wrote:

    The information you need is as follows

    Name : Chrisantus Mog Ugbor
    Address: #1 amaechi Street
             Achara layout
             Enugu
    Zipcode : 23442
    Country : Nigeria

    Just assist me by hestaning this transaction.I await your
    reply.


    Serah

    >Serah,
    >
    >I appreciate you contacting USPS for rates.  However, I
    do
    >not feel comfortable continuing with this transaction until
    >you send me the address to where you would like the dress
    >shipped.  I also spoke with USPS and they told me that
    some
    >countries have limits on the size and
     weight of packages
    >you can ship.  I have weighed and measured the box, which
    >is quite large, with the gown and accessories so I can find
    >out if this will be possible to ship.  If I do not have
    an
    >address I will not be able to proceed.  I would hate to
    >waste your time and my time by sending an invoice to you,
    >have you send me the money, and then go to ship the package
    >and find out that whatever country this is going to will
    >not allow that size package.  Then I would have to figure
    >out how to get your money back to you.  If your daughter
    is
    >getting married in a month and a half, I don't imagine you
    >have much time to waste.
    >
    >Please send me the shipping address and then I will send
    >you the paypal invoice asap.
    >
    >Thanks,
 
    >--- On Wed, 6/25/08, serahmog@ommail.com
  
    >
    >i contacted USPS and was told that it will cost $230 with
    >insurance to ship to my daughters destination.I will make a
    >payment of $830 which will cover allthe cost.I live in St
    >George Uttah and am currently on a field trip.Kindly send
    >the request so that i will proceed with the payment.
    >
    >Serah
    >
   
    >To: "serahmog@ommail.com" <serahmog@ommail.com>
 
    >
    >>Thank you
     for your interest, your terms sounds good to me.
    >>However, can you please send me the address to where you
    >>would like the dress and accessories shipped?  I would
    >>like to get an idea of how much shipping and insurance
    >>will cost to Africa.  Do you live in Austin, TX?  Where
    >>are you located?
    >>
    >>After I get an address for shipping from you I will send
    >>you the paypal request.
    >>
    >>Thank you,

    >>"serahmog@ommail.com" <serahmog@ommail.com> wrote:
    Thanks
    >>for the prompt reply.I will like to purchase the gown
    >>for my daughter who is wedding in a month and a forthnight
    >>time.You will assist me in shipping it to her.She went to
    >>see her husband and he resides in Africa.The wedding is
    >>taking place there.I promised her a nice and lovely
    >>wedding gown and
     this happened to be what I want.I will
    >>pay you for the shipping and insurance.The only method I
    >>can use for  safe payment is paypal.I will pay you a total
    >>of $800 which will cover even the shipping cost.If you
    >>accept my terms  kindly get back to me with a paypal
    >>request with my  verified paypal account @
    >>serahdunny@ommail.com  reply.
    >>
    >>Serah
   
    >>>I'm sorry, I don't know what a spec is.  But I'm
    willing
    >>>to take $500 for the dress and $600 for
     everything.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>"serahmog@ommail.com"  wrote: **
    >>>CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY **
    >>>Avoid:  wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home **
    >>>Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping **
    >>>More Info:  http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html
    >>>
    >>>I like the spec.What is your firm price.Get back to me
    >>>ASAP.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>Serah_________________________________________________
    >>>S Naidu Online Web Designing, Domain Name Registration,
    >>>Web Hosting, Email Solutions, Ecommerce website
    >>>development, http://www.snaidu.com
------- this message was remailed to you via:
    >>>sale-720555980@craigslist.org
   


Note: forwarded message attached.


    
Forwarded Message: PAYMENT CONFIRMATION
PAYMENT CONFIRMATION
Thursday, June 26, 2008 7:25 AM
From:
"Payment@paypal.com" <paypalpost@yahoo.com>
To:
PAYPAL PAYMENT.
=======================================================================================
 
 
Payment Details
Internet Merchant Accounts - MerchantPlus.com
                PayPal logo
Item #
   
 Item Title
   
Quantity
   
Price
   
Subtotal
(12007111765640)
 
   

          1    
 
   
$ 600.00
 
Shipping & Handling via Standard Delivery to 234XX
(includes any seller handling fees)
   
$ 230.00
Shipping Insurance (optional) :
   
--
 
   
 
Total:
   
$830..00
 
=======================================================================================
                                                     BUYER PAYMENT STATUS
 
Printer-Friendly Version
< /TR> Internet Merchant Accounts - MerchantPlus.com
 
Order Status:
     </ TD>
Auction Payments Order Available
   
AVAILABLE
Order Placed
   
26/06/2008
Order Status
   
Approved
PayPal Approved
   
PayPal Confirmed
Billing Information:
     
Status:
   
Processed successfully
Card Type
   
MasterCard
Card Number
   
5***********5648
Exp. Date
   
02/2009
Name on Card
   
Serah Mog Ugbor
Street Address
   
#204 Beverly Hills,
City, State, Zip
   
CA 90212 Tarzana
Country
    United State
Services Purchased:
     
Total Amount posted to card
   
$17,908.00
Auction Payments Fee
   
$8.00
Paypal Total Amount
   
$830.00
Shipped by
   
next day air (8.00am)
Purchased Item Information:
     
Auction site
   
Craigslist
Item ID
   
(12007111765640)
Item description
   
Maggie Sottero Wedding Gown
Seller Information:
     
Name
   

   
 
Email
   

   
 
 
   
 
 
                              PayPal logo
                                       ***ATTENTION***                                                                                                                                             
             ****NOTE****                  BELOW IS THE BUYER SHIPPING INFORMATION :
BUYER SHIPPING INFORMATION:
Chrisantus Mog Ugbo
1Amaechi street,Achara Layout
Enugu
Nigeria
23442
SHIPPING INFORMATION:
 Home  
United States Postal Service
 
Thank you for using PAYPAL® Money  Payments. We look forward to serving your online payment needs better in the future.
Sincerely,
     Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.
 Thank you for using paypal® . We look forward serving your online auction payment needs in the future.
Paypal Payment.
                              
                                             PayPal logo


--- On Thu, 6/26/08, Payment@paypal.com <paypalpost@yahoo.com> wrote:

    From: Payment@paypal.com <paypalpost@yahoo.com>
    Subject: PENDING PAYMENT
    To: joystudiosphoto@yahoo.com
    Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 7:19 AM

    

                                           GET CASH AT
                 
                                         Dollar sign
       
    Paying through PayPal
       
    Dollar sign
    

    =======================================================================================
    *PAYPAL PAYMENT APPROVED*
    =======================================================================================
    PAYPAL MONEY ® PAYMENT APPROVED*
    
    Dear,
    
    Congratulations! The order placed by the buyer of your item to have a ® payment of (Dollas) sent to you as payment for the item (12007111765640) has been successfully processed and has consequently been APPROVED. The financial details of the transaction are stated in the confirmation mail.We will send you a confirmation mail in the next 10 mins:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dear ,
    
         Paypal Authority is using this opportunity to inform you that a transaction of $830.00 USD will be transferred into your paypal account. The transaction was received  from Mrs.Serah Mog Ugbo for the item bought from you, we will like you to provide us with the shipment tracking number for the item and as soon as this is done your money will be transferred into your account in 24/48 hours, and if we do not hear from you your paypal account will be blocked because most sellers on open account with us every day to collect money from buyer after money as been paid to there account the buyer's complain about there item since the craigslist members don’t want to co-operate with the buyer's it is our job to protect the seller's and buyer's from fraud star and if you don’t  provide the tracking number after this receipt of the payment we will block your account for the following reason, you are going against our policy and you will be reported to craigslist company that you are one of the fake seller's on craigslist do this for our safety. This is the payment status below.
     The buyers shipping address has been confirmed by paypal aucthority.

    =======================================================================================
                                                    PayPal logo
    ==================================================================================
                                             
                                              
                              **********SHIPMENT VERIFICATION***********
    We can have the shipment confirmed/verified in any of the following ways:
    1. Contact PAYPAL stating the® Order Number and the TRACKING NUMBER of the shipment to our email paypalbank@mail2consultant.com
                                                 *********PLEASE NOTE*********
    Due to the fact that Paypal processes thousands of orders daily, paypal RECOMMENDS contacting the Customer Service Representative that has been assigned to this particular Order directly. This ensures speedy verification of shipment as well as prompt dispatch the paypal. Send shippment tracking details to paypalbank@mail2consultant.com
     you can give the buyer of your auction item the TRACKING NUMBER of the shipment and once he/she verifies the shipment, he/she will also notify us immediately.
    Please do not let your buyer gain access to this Payment Approval Notication.
    =======================================================================================
                                                    ***CUSTOMER SUPPORT***
    If you have any questions, Please feel free to contact the Customer Support Representative that has been assigned to this particular Order at:paypalbank@mail2consultant.com
     Thank you for using paypal verified® paypal  Payments. We look forward to serving your online paypal payment needs better in the future.

    paypal Team,
    
     Thank you for using paypal® . We look forward serving your online auction payment needs in the future.
    Sincerely
    Paypal Payment.
                                  
                                                 PayPal logo

I had my video game system and games posted on ebay for auction. A guy sends me an e-mail saying he will buy it. He told me if I could end the auction and I he would pay me through paypal. So, I closed the auction and gave him my paypal e-mail. He said he was living in Australia and the game is for his son in Nigeria. Here is the e-mail:

Hi Seller,
    Am glad to get back to you in regards to the payment for the eBay item, this is to inform you that i had made the payment via paypal and your money has been deducted from my account, which i believe you will be contacted shortly. Moreover,i included the shipping cost of the item to the payment. As soon as you received the payment confirmation i want you to get the item shipped and make sure the item is shipped via USPS International Express Mail . My son's address is:

Name: Ojo Emmanuel
Address:# 19 Anfani Layout Challenge,
State:Oyo state
City:Ibadan
Country:Nigeria
Zip code:23402
Phone #:+2348039268187

Thats the shipping address and i want you to get back to me as soon as you ship out the item and thanks for the concept of the business..

I checked my paypal account the day after and the funds weren't there and I sent him an e-mail stating just that. He e-mailed me and told me:

Payment has been made for the item which you had gotten the confirmation, but due to the fraudulent activities that is all over the globe paypal are now protecting their customer's. For security purpose they they want to verify the shipment tracking number in other them to credit your account and to make sure we both have good transaction on eBay as your money has already been deducted from my account,so i want you to get the item shipped right away to the address on the paypal payment confirmation and get back to paypal with the shipment tracking number as soon as you ship out the item so that they can credit your account, get back to me as soon as you ship out the item.

He was demanding that I ship the item and give him the tracking number so that paypal will "credit my account". I am glad I did my homework and never went to the post office to get it shipped. I sent him an e-mail about this website and he never responded.

I got an email from a"Boris Smith" who wanted to buy a laptop i had advertised on Craig's List. He wanted to pay through paypal  but I know about the scams they do with your paypal information. I actually knew this guy was scamming me but i like to play along and collect all the counterfeit money orders, money grams, and cashier's checks they send. I find it really interesting. I got this OFFICIAL looking email from PAYKO(which is an online money order store)saying that he had purchased the money order from them and that I should send the laptop to him now(before i recieve the money order), and if i dont send it now, they will cancel the money order and I will get no money. This OFFICIAL looking email with Payko letterhead and everything is full of Broken English,  at least they should work a little harder on their grammar. It's hard to believe that anyone would fall for this, since it is done so poorly, but apparently people do and these NIGERIANS and making a fortune do this. They have buildings set up in Nigeria that look like our Call Centers and they employ these people to do this for a living, it's unbelievable! They get paid an hourly wage to rip people off! I do believe this is a Multi-Million dollar business, and there is no where near enough being done to stop this.

I just recently recieved a counterfeit UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL POSTAL MONEY ORDER from one guy for $920 who was supposed to be buying a laptop from me. I've been playing with him for the last couple of weeks now telling him that I have his money and I decided to keep it and I'm not sending him the computer. Now he thinks I've ripped him off...lol...it hillarious! He's pissed! He keeps sending email saying "You stole my money"  "I want my money back or I will call the Authorities!" I keep telling him to call the Authorities, I dont care, you cant' prove anything!! It's a lot of fun to turn it around on them. Today he sent me an email saying that He has all my information and he knows where I live! I took that as a threat. I'll soon have to turn all this stuff over to the police before it stops being a game and this guy gets on the first plane to my town. Oh well, I say "Bring It!!"  I'd love to meet him face to face.

Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that you also have to be careful of Money Orders, all those other methods of payment!