Malcolm and another user both received this identical email in mid March, 2005, so it's a scam.
Hello. We are a young married couple from Lithuania. We are living a city
near Baltic sea, Klaipeda. We found great enjoyment in yachting, but it is a
pity that we have no ship. An offer of yours is verry thrilling and we would
be greateful for anny kind of information about possibilities to buy and
transporting in our country. Sorry about knowledge of english. We are waiting for answer.
Yours respectfully Andrius and Ingrida Vaitkai
Cammi sent this one on 2/8/05
Good Day, I am Eric Wright. I saw your advert and do
have a customer
interested in purchasing your Latin outfits with the
picture and the price, i am ok with it and my customer
will issue out the certified cashier check of $6500
out to you once you recived the check i'll want you to
deduct your $3000 and send the excess funds through
western union to the shipping agent that will be
coming for the shippment of the Latin outfts at your
location after you most have recived payment ok, if
this is ok with you i'll want you to get back to me
with your name and contact address as well as your
name,address,city,state,zipcod,country and phone# so
the payment can be deliverd out to you ok, thanks i
wait your urgent reply.
Eric.
One from Robert - sent to me 7/19/10
Hello Robert,
how are you doing today and thanks for the urgent response.i am
making an offer of $10,000 and am willing to pay it because it suite
my taste and its what i can afford.presently am on vacation to Spain
to attend to some important meetings and i will visit some places
before coming back.So in order for me not to delay this business
transaction,i have made an arrangement with my secretary to help make the
payment to you on my behalf via: WIRE TRANSFER.*
Moreover,there is no need for the shipping of the item as i have my
personal shipper who will come down to your location for the inspection
once the payment has been cleared. he will also be the one to sign the relevant
documents.So if you are with this,please kindly fill this details below:
Bank name and address.......
Account holders name........
Account number...............
IBAN.........................
Bank sorting code number......
Thanks very much for your good understanding.
Hope to hear from you in earnest.*
Best Regards,
Mr Suarez.
Robert refused thank goodness! NEVER send your bank details out like this.
One from Australia on 10/6/04
Hello Luckenbach,
User jake2 from The Beachcats sends you this comments/questions about your ads '81Hobie 14 Turbo, TX':
Hello,
I am Mr Monarch from Australia pls i will like to purchase your 81Hobie 14 Turbo
cos i think am really in love with it.Love to see pics
Pls kindly get back to me so we can discuss price and shipping mode.I
will like to know your last offer for the price.
hope to hear from you soonest
Monarch
Also on 10/6/04, I received two "from Belgium", completely identical for two different boats.
Dear Sir,
I am Adams Smith from Belgium, I am interested in the above subject item and
will like to purchase it, if available for pick up.
Therefore, kindly supply the following informtion regarding it:
1. Brief Discription of its present condition with picture(s) if available.
2. Bottom Line Cost of it without shipping cost.
Thanks for your co-operation, while awaiting for your quick response.
Thanks,
Adams
This is from 9/21/04, a little different.
Hello,
I saw your advert and i'm interested in purchasing
your{1981 Hobie 14 Turbo}with the price of{$7,95}.
I will want you to get back to me with the following
info.
1.It's present condition
2.An updated pics{if any}
3.Your last price.
I will make payment with a certified cashier
cheque.Hope to
hear from
you
in earnest.
From Tim on 7/17/04, now they're claiming to be in California
Good Day ,
This is an enquiry for the ( 1985 J27, Hull#45 ) for sale on
www.sailingtexas.com.
I love it so much I want to know more about it; I am however okay with its
detailed features and description but prior to paying you, I'd like to know
if there has been any change to it's advertised conditions and then do let
me know the ff :
- YOUR FINAL ASKING PRICE ?
- AND IF AVAILABLE THE PICTURE(S) OF IT. (for a clearer pic of what I want
to purchase).
My mean of payment is going to be via a Cashier Check.
Looking forward to transacting business with you in good faith and trust,
God bless.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Steve Brown
The Office of The Ext` Operation Co-ordinator,
MARTDRIVE FINANCE LIMITED,
RC No. 5580117.
P.O.Box 35507
Crescent City, CA.
95531. USA.
******2nd E-Mail from "Steve Brown" read as follows:
Dear Tim,
Thank you so much for the swift response and attention to my enquiry, I
appreciate it.And I will even appreciate it more if you'd exhibit some high
level of understanding, sincerity and play your part in making this
transaction a success, as I take a giant step in purchasing the J-27
Sailboat.
This is also to let you know that all expenses and handling to my home in
Crescent City CA ; shall be taken care of by me.
Also want you to know that if l didn't know about the J-27 Sailboat l
wouldn't have contacted you in the first place requiring about her. Also
want you know that l am currentlly working on acquiring a phone for this
transaction and immediately when l am through with that l shall not hesiate
to give it out to you so you could get to call me.
And the Cashier's Check shall (upon my requests and instructions to the
remitter) be issued and made payable to you in your name as soon as
possible.
Hence I require the following payment informations so as to forward them for
immediate payment remittance :
-NAME AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON THE CHECK ?
-CONTACT ADDRESS OF THE RECIPIENT ?
-CONTACT PHONE NUMBER ? (so I could call you if need be).
note all informations given shall be kept confidential and only be used for
this transaction.
Looking forward to doing business with you in good faith and trust, God
bless.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Steve Brown
From Bill on 4/10/04
Dear sir/ma,
My name is Michael Dada, i'm here in New York representing my country on a short seminar. i was surfing the internet today and i saw your item {1977 Compac 16} listed for sale, i want to inform you that i am interested in this item and will like to have it if still available. I will offer you US$2250 . I still have few days to stay if my offer is acceptable to you then i can try to make necessary arrangement for the payment before i leave for Australia.
pls respond with more pics if available.
Thanks.
Dada.
Paul sent me this one 8/25/03, another version, the certified check is bogus.
From: Bruce
Date: 2003/08/24 Sun AM 02:32:55 EDT
To: Paul
Subject: More Info on Your Watercraft.
Hello Paul,
I'm interested in buying your Watercraft ($1,850) for one of my clients located in Africa and I have an agent that use to ship the car that I buy from US, so don't bother yourself about the shipping and the titles, my agent will take care of that. I want this craft delivered to my client as soon as possible, so I'll call my client in US to send a certified cashier's check to you because I know it takes about three days for it to be cleared in US bank. I want you to send your best price of the craft along with your full name and address where you can receive the check. I'll want you to do the servicing and polishing of the craft before it will be ready for pick up. More so,if there's any fault, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Waiting for your immediate response.
Best regards,
Bruce.
Another SCAM
Robert Cole saying he's a boat dealer and wants to buy your boat. Why would a boat dealer want your fax number? Why ask for your name and address when he already has your name? I hear he's sending this email to everyone with a boat for sale, wonder if he'll send one to me next time I have one for sale? Here's a copy of the email which Shorty was kind enough to send me.
DEAR SHORTY,
I AM A DEALER WHO SAW YOUR ADVERT ON THE WEB.I WISH TO MAKE FURTHER
ENQURIRIES AS REGARDS YOUR BOAT.I HOPE THAT THE BOAT IS STILL IN GOOD
CONDITION.
THEREFORE IF THE BOAT IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE,KINDLY SEND ME THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION
1. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
2. YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER.
3. THE LAST PRICE FOR THE BOAT
I WILL MAKE PAYMENT FOR THE BOAT WITH CASHIER CHECK.I AM READY TO MAKE THE
PURCHASE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.SO CONTACT ME URGENTLY IF THE BOAT IS STILL
AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
REGARDS,
ROBERT COLE.
Here's the usual Africa scam:
Hi, I'm in Africa and I really really REALLY want to buy your sailboat!
Yes, mateys, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. When you place an ad on the internet to sell a boat, you will probably get several emails from Africa or some other far place offering to buy your boat. Don't be fooled into losing your money!
Here is one way it can go, be warned, there are many other ways! Many thanks to Thomas who saved this and sent it to me. It starts with an email Thomas receives from James, who wants to buy the Laser (he claims).
Hi thomas,
I am interested in purchasing your Advertised
"2003 Laser",and your price $3900 is okay by
me.Please acknowledge the offer and let me know if you ship
to cotonou Benin Republic in Africa and if I can pay
with a cheque drawn in an America bank. If this is okay
with you do get back to me immediately for me to
arrange the payment.We have our office located in
West Africa.
Awaiting your timely response.
Thanks and GOD bless,
james.
Hello Mr James
Thank you for your quick response. I would ship the
boat + dolly to Cotonou, if you wish, but naturally that would require
advance payment.
I must say, though, that I believe that shipping
expenses and possibly taxes
would be so high, that it really wasn't worth it for
you. Shipping overseas
is not included in the $3900, and I have not looked
into the issue of taxes
ect. since I do not know the Benin policy of
imported goods from USA, so I
couldn't give you a total price on the deal. In
fact, the reason that I am
selling the boat is that I am moving to Europe
myself. I am buying a new
Laser over there because I didn't want to pay for
shipping my current Laser,
so I am sure that you also could find a better deal
closer to yourself?
There are big Laser fleets in the southern parts of
Europe, and it would be
easy to find a fine used boat similar to mine, and a
lot closer.
I know that Benin does not currently have a Laser
class organization, but
there is one in your neighbor country Nigeria, and
in other african
countries too. If you check
https://www.laserinternational.org/icint.htm you
possibly would be able to find leads to a better way
to get a new boat?
All The Best
Thomas Beckett
Hi Thomas ,
Thanks for your mail.I have spoken with my customer
and he has instructed me to inform you that payment
will get to you in a refund cashier check with excess
amount above the cost of your 2003 Laser,and is a
refund payment of a cancelled order earlier made by
my customer. Due to the company that owes him, this
check has to be made out in this amount $8,000 owed
to him in full to you ,because company policy only
allows a refund payment on one cashier check,so you
will be required to deduct cost of your 2003 Laser
which is $3900 when check payment gets to you,then
you will refund the excess balance of $4,100 to my
customer via western union money transfer for him to
be able to upset shipping charges down here and from
there and pay up the agent coming to pick up the 2003
Laser.
After payment has reached you and excess balance
sent back to him,the agent [Mr Wittenmyer Jack] will
come and pick up the shipping particulars of the 2003
Laser with other necessary documents thats goes with
the 2003 Laser and drop to a prepaid shipper to be
shipped to my customer,and he will take care of
title papers andother necessary documets making sure
they get to him, via fedex courier.
Confirm this and provide name and address and phone
number for check payment package to be sent and
delivered to you via fedex courier.I'll be awaiting
your timely response in regards this urgent mail.
Thanks,and GOD bless,
James.
Hello Mr. James
I'm afraid that this matter becomes a little too complicated for me.
Perhaps
it would be better if you could find an agent to pick up the boat here in
New Orleans and arrange the shipping, docs, ect. He could also clear the
check ect. and then pay me cash. In this way I would not have to get
involved in the shipping, complicated check refunds ect. which I do not
wish, since I do not know anything about it.
Also, I want to keep the boat until I go back to Europe in april. It seems
that you are in a hurry, and so this may not be the best match?
Awaiting your response.
Thomas
We are eagerly waiting for the response from Mr. James!
See what's wrong with this? You get a check for $8000, then "you will refund the excess balance of $4,100 to my
customer via western union money transfer"
Those "western union money transfers", you have to pay for them with cash. Then the $8000 check bounces. MAYBE you get to keep your boat.
Here's a one I got 3/14/03
Hello,
i am an scottish woman,i have companies that deals in used boats and ferries,i also have some companies in west africa, well i have a client who is interested in your boat,well i will persomally like you to give me the condition of the boat and the last offering price for the boat.
My client is says that he will only pay you in a cashiers cheque and if that is okay by you then get back to me with the last offering price and condition of the boat,Thanks.
Regards,
Mrs Jehn Joy...........
3/14/03
Hi Jehn,
You are Scottish? Did I spell that right? I had a Sailing Class student of Scotish descent, although he is a Texan now he retained some of the Scotish qualities that are so famous. I am a Texan also, but am from German and Swedish descent.
The boat is in very good condition except for a small soft spot on the deck, which of course has no effect on performance. The two sails are quite good and require no repair and are fine quality for racing.
I met some Laser racers at the yacht club yesterday and showed them my boat, they were quite impressed and recommended that I raise the price to at least $1700 as boat in this condition are going for over $2000 around here right now, what with the racing season approaching. If fact George offered me $1700 on the spot but I told him you had asked first so as an honorable person I must give you the chance to buy it first.
If you are interested please respond to my regular email address, davidluc@grayce.net.
David
Eagerly awaiting response from Jehn, David is!
3/15/03
HELLO DAVID,
THANKS FOR THE MAIL YOU SENT TO ME AND I STILL WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE CONTACTED MY CLIENT IN THE STATES AND HE SAYS THAT THE COST OF THE BOAT IS OKAY BY HIM,WELL LIKE I TOLD YOU IN MY FIRST EMAIL I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT MY CLIENT IS OWING ME $8,200 AND HE HAS ISSUED YOU A CERTIFIED CASHIERS CHEQUE OF $9,900,SO I WILL YOU TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE BANK AND CASH THE MONEY THEN SEND THE DIFFERENCE TO MY PERSONAL ASST IN WEST AFRICA,THAT MEANS I WILL LIKE YOU TO SEND ME THE $8,200 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM,WELL DO MAKE ME UNDERSTAAND IF THESE IS OKAY BY YOU.AND IF IT IS DO SEND ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION LIKE THESE...
FULL NAME....
FULL ADRESS....
CITY.....
STATES.....
COUNTRY.....
ZICODE.....
CELL PHONE NUMBER IF ANY....
WITH THESE INFORMATION THE PAYMENT WILL BE SENT TO YOU.
REGARDS,
MRS JEHN JOY......
3/15/03
Hi Mrs Joy,
You have a client here in the states? Great! Shipping costs are really too high to ship overseas. I'm in Texas, is your client close by? The boat has a trailer so perhaps I can deliver it for you.
Sorry to hear he owes you $8,200, Western Union is fine by me, I'd accept a United States Postal Money Order also.
David
4/2/03, no reply from Mrs Jehn Joy. Did I say something wrong?
Here's a funny one, he writes to an owner of a Capri 14.2, but further on in the email he refers to it as a slightly different boat!
Goodday,
I am interested in your 14.2' Catalina Capri and i'm okay with the $900. Inrespect of payment i have a client in the U.S who is owing me $3,000.All i need to do to make payment easier and faster is to instruct him to procure a cashiers check and mail it to you on the address and name you want on the cheque and you know it takes 24hrs for a cashiers
cheque to clear in the U.S.But i would want to know if i can trust you to send my balance to me via money gram transfer after you must have received the cheque to enable me prepay the shipping company here so that they can instruct their office in the U.S to come and pick the 25' CR La Paz from your location.pls
mail me asap to enable me arrange payment.
Furnish me with your name and address, so i will
forward it to my client for payment.
Thanks,
Genots.
Mk replies
Um... I don't think so.
Number one: The boat to be "picked up" is a Capri 14.2 and not a 25' CR La
Paz. Did you not read the cut and paste instructions in your "Do it Yourself
Scam on Boat Sellers"?
I have sent a copy of your email to your email provider Outblaze to let
them know what one of their customers is using their service for. Also I sent
them a link to here: https://sailingtexas.com/chumor4.html, a web site for
boat sellers warning of just this same scam...Ironic huh? I will also send a
copy of this email to this web site, I think they will get a kick out of
posting it.
Have a good day, and better luck on you next "Boat Purchase",
Mk
I've been getting less of these emails lately, maybe because I post them here? I hope so. I'm looking forward to putting my next sailboat up for sale to see how many I can get. If you get some and can collect a humorous scam on the scammer, send them to me and I'll post them here!
I recently received one of the other scams, "I have 20 million dollars and I'll give you lots if you help me get it out of this african bank....". Noticing it had a Netzero email account I went to Netzero and found a "report problems link" so I reported it. Here's the response I got from Netzero along with the original email:
Hello David Luckenbach,
Thank you for contacting NetZero Customer Care. We appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention.
We've investigated this case and taken action against the NetZero account implicated in the message you reported, as per our policies.
For the latest version of our policies, please see https://www.netzero.com/legal/terms.html
Please know that NetZero has a zero spam tolerance policy and that our Service Agreement expressly prohibits NetZero users from transmitting commercial solicitations, or from receiving replies to such solicitations. We respond to all reports of abuse, investigating and terminating accounts that have violated the NetZero Service Agreement.
If you receive similar messages in the future, please pass them along to the Security and Abuse team at spamdesk@support.netzero.com, and we'll resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
Thank you for helping us combat spam. Should you require further assistance, please do write back.
Sincerely,
Aliyah Niles
Security & Abuse Dept.
NetZero Customer Care
https://www.netzero.com/support
This is the header information I sent Netzero, you get it by right clicking on the email listing and then clicking on details
Received: from webmail10.nyc.untd.com [64.136.20.100] by mail.grayce.net
(SMTPD32-7.13) id A12AB9A0036; Fri, 09 May 2003 20:08:58 -0500
Received: from cookie.untd.com by cookie.untd.com for
"sDbptMGvrditGSkenWMMDSkhSCq1fQjmTPFd
NvOvWmc3fqbYwTYlaQ/7XIYzTzt5"; Fri,
09 May 2003 21:07:53 EDT
Received: (from jimkanayo60@netzero.com)
by webmail10.nyc.untd.com (jqueuemail) id HXSGTHJZ; Fri, 09 May 2003
21:07:53 EDT
Received: from [193.220.26.20] by webmail10.nyc.untd.com with HTTP:
Sat, 10 May 2003 01:06:54 GMT
X-Originating-IP: [193.220.26.20]
X-Original-From: jimkanayo60@netzero.com
Date: Sat, 10 May 2003 01:06:54 GMT
To: jimkanayo60@netzero.com
Subject: URGENT FROM JIM
X-Mailer: WebMail Version 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
From: jimkanayo60@netzero.com
Message-Id:
20030509.210753.2543.487361@webmail10.nyc.untd.com
X-Declude-Sender: jimkanayo60@netzero.com [64.136.20.100]
X-Declude-Spoolname: D512a0b9a0036c608.SMD
X-Note: This E-mail was scanned by Declude JunkMail (www.declude.com) for
spam.
X-RCPT-TO: davidluc@grayce.net
Status: U
X-UIDL: 318286328
----- Original Message -----
From: jimkanayo60@netzero.com
To: jimkanayo60@netzero.com
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 6:06 PM
Subject: URGENT FROM JIM
DEAR FRIEND,
MAY I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO OPEN THIS BUSINESS DISCUSSION BY A FORMAL
LETTER OF THIS SORT. IT IS PERTINENT THAT BUSINESS OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD
HAVE COMMENCED PROPERLY WITH A FORMAL MEETING OF YOU AND US TO ENABLE US
KNOW OURSELVES, HAVE A FORE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS, DISCUSS
AND ACQUAINT OURSELVES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF PARTIES
CONCERNED, AND APPROPRIATE SHARES ACCORDINGLY.
HOWEVER, FOR TIME FACTOR, CONFIDENTIALITY AND PERSONALITY OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED HERE IN NIGERIA, WE CHOSE THIS APPROACH FOR THE REMITTANCE OF
TWENTY MILLION, U.S DOLLARS (US$20 MILLION), PLEASE BEAR WITH US FOR MAKING
THE INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH E-MAIL.
IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT
BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN
NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS. I HAVE BEEN
ASSIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER FOR THE TRANSFER
OF US$20,000,000.00 (TWENTY MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ONLY).
THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBRATE OVER INVOICING OF CONTRACTS AWARDED
BY MY CORPORATION IN 1996. WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE
THEN, AWAITING AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED AMOUNT OF MONEY
CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR SAFE KEEPING PENDING OUR
ARRIVAL FOR SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT.
NOW, THE NEW CIVILIAN PRESIDENT HAS ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAID IMMEDIATELY. ON THE
STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOUR
COMPANY AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS: -
60%WILL BE FOR US (I AND MY COLLEAGUES), 35% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING
THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING 5% WILL BE MAPPED OUT FOR
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TRANSACTION. NOTE
THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION
AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH-FREE
TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN THE SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY
CORPORATION (NNPC) WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES
TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS INVOLVED ON BOTH PARTIES.
WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14
WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO THIS PROPOSAL.PLEASE REACH
ME THROUGH MY E-MAIL SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS. THIS
INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE
CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER THROUGH MY
CONFIDENTIAL E-MAIL
jim_kanayo70@mail.com
BEST REGARD,
MR JIM KANAYO
jim_kanayo70@mail.com
TEL: 234 80 231 31 809
Note that jim's "confidential" email address is different than the one he used to send the scam/spam. I guess I should report him to mail.com too!
Many email providers do not allow spam/scams and will take action against these people. To fight back against these scammers report them! Include the entire header information when you forward the scam email. Right click on the email "from" line, then select details, the cut and paste the header info.
Another.com, report to abuse@uk.another.com
Netzero, report to abuse@netzero.com
You can forward suspicious emails to the US Treasury at Hotline@oig.treas.gov
Page 1: Internet scams
Page 2: Sell your Sailboat to Africa!
Page 3: American based scams
Page 4: Boat for sale scam
Page 5: Room for Rent scam
Page 6: Motorhome for sale scam
Page 7: I've lost my wallet and need your loan!
Page 8: Give me your PIN number, I already have your credit card number.
Page 9: How to accept payment for your boat without getting scammed
Page 10 Counterfeit checks
Sailboat Humor
Starboard and Port
Sailing Definitions
Grandpa's Funny Pages
