I'm actually impressed at how good scammers are these days.

[arsalanmustafa1989]

So I tried selling an ipod touch on kijiji and right away i got two duplicate emails from two different people from nigeria. I automatically assumed a scam but figured i'd play along. Gotta give it to them, they had me for about 30 seconds.

Things that gave it away.
1. they are from nigeria
2. They offered me more money then I asked for
3. The following email used my user name rather than my real name

This maybe common knowledge but i figured i'd share. Sorry for the bad formatting firefox was acting weird. anyone know whats up with that?


EMAIL # 1



Item #151693688 - Notification of an Instant Payment Received from Adrew Given (lykul8@yahoo.com)?
From: damykul@gmail.com on behalf of service@paypal.com (verify_crew@post.com)
Medium riskYou may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: August 29, 2009 11:21:24 AM
To: arsalanmustafa1989
PayPal


Dear Arsalanmustafa1989,

You have an Instant Payment of $390.00 USD from Andrew Given
(lykul8@yahoo.com)
Payment Details

Purchased From: Arsalanmustafa1989
Transaction IDá: 6K4017304UT100291

ItemáNumber Item Title Quantity Price Subtotal
151693688 iTouch 8GB 2nd Gen 1 $390.00
USD
$390.00
USD

Shipping & Handling viaáCanada PostáPriority Mailá"" to 23401 :á
(includes any seller handling fees)
$0.00 USD
Shipping Insurance (not offered): ----
Total: $390.00
USD

Delivery Information
Address: Ayo Richard
12, Omoduni Street,
Lawanson Surulere,
Lagos 23401,
Nigeria..
Address Status: Confirmedá


Important Note:áThis PayPal« payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been "APPROVED" but will not be credited to your account until the shipment reference/tracking number is sent to us for verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller.

Below are the necessary information requested before your account will be credited.

You are required to forward the shipment tracking/reference number to our verification teamáverify_crew@post.comáand our customerácare unit will attend to you. This measure is for security purposes to ensure safety of both the buyer and the seller,áas soon as we received the shipment tracking number yourámoney will be credited to youráPayPaláAccount.
áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá **PLEASE NOTE**


You will receive a "CONFIRMATION EMAIL"á fromáPayPal« Teamáinforming you that theáFund has been credited

Thank you for using PayPal!
he PayPal Team
Copyright ® 1999-2009 PayPal. All rights reserved. PayPal (US) Limited is authorised and regulated by theáFinancial Services Authorityáin theáUnited Stateáas anáelectronic moneyáinstitution. PayPal FSA Register Number: 226056.

PayPal Email ID PP258


EMAIL # 2



Dear Arsalanmustafa1989,

This is PayPal confirmation letter regarding your pending fund. We confirm that your fund is safe with us and will be released into your PayPal account upon providing us the Tracking Number/Reference Number.

We introduce this new policy on our payment system for Kijiji/Ebay transaction to protect both seller's and the buyer's due to the fact that some seller's will receive payment without making shipment to the buyer while some buyer's will receive item without making payment to the seller.

If you are not one of the dubious Kijiji/Ebay seller, we advise you to ship out the item to the buyer and provide us the Tracking Number/Reference Number for immediate release of your pending fund.

This is also part of our PayPal Anti Fraud Rule for safe transaction on Kijiji/Ebay and PayPal.

Note : Forward the Tracking Number to us and "NOT" to the Buyer.


Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

[fakishan]

hehe I can imagine a couple of people falling for it.

[CrazyCanuck90]

Not too bad, but when anyone sees Nigeria that should be more than enough of a warning:P.

[Ottomaddox]

Oh these scams are common on Kijiji.
There are so many warnings about dealing local/pay cash everywhere there, and yet people _stilll_ ignore common sense and get scammed.
I usually refer to it as the 'stupid tax'.

[jp06]

the 2nd email has bad grammar and sounds unprofessional. That's a giveaway there

[45ED]

I'm guessing, with the first e-mail, they found a copy of a legit message and used that as a template.

[Tha_Doggg]

Oh these scams are common on Kijiji.
There are so many warnings about dealing local/pay cash everywhere there, and yet people _stilll_ ignore common sense and get scammed.
I usually refer to it as the 'stupid tax'.

That would be the lottery :D