Craigslist Scam?

[Hou-Tex Horn]

So...

I am looking to buy a pop-up trailer and have been watching craigslist for one and came upon one that sounds too good to be true. I'm about 99% sure it's a scam, but I figured I'd seek hornfans help in stringing this guy along. He's wasted a little bit of my time with this, so I'd like to waste a lot of his. I have attached our email conversation so far. What's my next move hornfans? Start reading at the bottom...

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From: Potential Scammer
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 2:32 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

Alright, i`m glad you are still interested. The camper is in excellent condition, absolutely nothing wrong with it, everything works great. The title is in the The Online Outpost possession as well and it is already signed by me and notarized so they will be responsible for the title transfer. Oh...and the title is clear. So like i said before i'll expain how The Online Outpost works because i want all things to be clear from the beginning. They are the best selling service on eBay, you simply drop an item to one of their stores or have them pick it up from your home, you find a buyer and they'll take it from there. When i left in Canada i left 4 items for sale in their custody, they picked them up from my home so don`t ask at what store, or where the item is exactly because i don`t know, all i know is that they are holding them in one of their warehouses, but as long as they are handling the shipping and handling i don`t care where they are.The best thing about this is that shipping is handled by them and the insurance and shipping fees are covered by them, they charge me a commision ofcourse as nothing is free in this world but they like to call it free

. One more thing, the item is located in US not in Canada, so it will be shipped from US.
OK so here`s a short description of how they work: they have the item, you agree to buy it, you send me your full name and shipping address, i`ll send it to them as a confirmation that i accept you as the buyer, they send you an invoice with the transaction details and the payment instructions and you will send the payment to one of their agents. After they receive the payment confirmation, they will start the shipping process. After you receive the item, you have a 10 day money back guarantee to check if everything is in order. If you don`t like it you can return it within these 10 days and receive a full refund, or keep it and notify them so they can transfer the payment to me. If you decide to return it they will ship it back and they will bill me for the shipping cost so you see i have no intention of sending you something that isn't as described.
So if you agree with this terms and decide to proceed, then i will need your full name and shipping address in order to start the transaction. They will contact you by email so if you have other email accouns please let me have them so i can be sure that they contact you and avoid any possible delay.
As soon as i receive this details from you i will forward them to The Online Outpost exactly as you sent them.
Thank you
Potential Scammer

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On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 5:48 PM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:
I don’t mind paying a third party. Is this sitting some place where I can go by and see it? Do you have the title for it?

Let me know…thanks!

________________________________________
From: Potential Scammer
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:44 AM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

Thank you for your email. I still have it for sale but before i answer to your questions i`m afraid i have some "bad" news: i`m selling this because i am moving back home in Canada as i want to start a small business here with my family. I was born here, we lived in US for a while, tried a few things but didn`t worked out and decided to move back in Canada and try a small business here because after all there's no place like home. However, the point is that i am not in US right now and i can`t be there to make the transaction in person but this is not something to worry about because i will sell this with the help of The Online Outpost. They are the largest eBay selling service but it`s possible that you never heard of them if you don`t sell or buy often on the internet. Their website isThe Link if you want to check the service out, you will not find the listing there because only the items sold through ebay are listed on their website, the items sold through other marketplaces are not listed on their website.
When i left in Canada, i left the item along with several other items in the The Online Outpost custody so i can sell them even though i am not there, so if you are OK with this, just drop me an email and i will explain the rest of the transaction details. I just hope you are serious and really interested in this because i want to sell it A.S.A.P.
Thanks

Potential Scammer

 

[MilkmanDan]

Did you miss the AVOIDING SCAMS & FRAUD link at the top of each category?

Or the yellow box on each item listing that says:

In reply to:

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[Hou-Tex Horn]

Thanks for your input

. I know it is scam, I am just trying to have a little fun with it now and thought I would share.

 

[zzzz]

Definitely a scam. Do a search for "Online Outpost " and "scam" and you'll find many similar emails related to different items.

I would suggest to him you would like to use escrow dot com.

When he objects, you could tell him you will open an account at your credit union in his name to deposit the money in. Then request he send you the $10 minimum required to open the account.

 

[Dead Horse]

Online Outpost Canada

 

[Hou-Tex Horn]

updates...

From: Scammer
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 6:11 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

Thank you, I will forward your information to The Online Outpost right now and they will contact you with the payment instructions (did I mention moneygram is the easiset wasy to pay?) and your invoice so please let me know if they contact you in the next 24 hours so i will know that everything is in order. Again, please don`t forget to inform me if you receive the invoice because there are some things you should know before you make the payment.

Thank you

David
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On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 8:47 PM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:

(note: he gave me canadian address in another email not included here)

Question - I don’t have a moneygram store near me, but coincidentally I have a cousin who lives in Cobourg, Canada just to the Northeast of you…Can I send him the money and have him pay you? I called him just a little while ago and he said he wouldn’t mind helping.
Let me know…thanks!
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From: Scammer
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:09 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

Unfortunately that`s not possible because you have to pay the online outpost agent, otherwise the transaction is not protected in any way. However you can make a search on the moneygram website without including your zipcode. See if you find anything.

Thanks

David
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From: Scammer
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:09 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

A quick tip:
when you go to MoneyGram to send the payment, what ever you do, don`t tell them that you are sending the money to buy something because the taxes will be twice than normal. They might ask you what is the payment for, so tell them that you are sending the money to a friend or anything you can think of because if they know that you are buying something the moneygram fees will be double, i am telling you this from my own experience and i thought you might wanna know. Thank you

David

On 3/30/09, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:
Hi David-

Still no luck finding a moneygram store. Are you sure my cousin can't pay you? Did I mention he is a pig farmer? Maybe he could bring you a pound of Canadian bacon with the payment?
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-----Original Message-----
From: Scammer
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:30 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

I am sorry but that is not possible but you can have somebody else send the payment for you from US. Thank you

David
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On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 9:56 PM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:

Good news David, I think I found a money gram store, however my truck has a flat so I may have to take the bus. I'm going to try and make it there this afternoon, but maybe tomorrow because I heard it might rain today.

I've got another question about the trailer. Do the wheels have ball bearings? I hear it's all ball bearings nowadays. Supposedly you are supposed to prepare the Fetzer valves with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. Is that true? Also, does the trailer require any antifreeze? I prefer Prestone, but some people like Quaker State.

________________________________________
From: Scammer
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:33 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

It already has antifreeze and i think it is Quesrter State, and the wheels have ball bearings. Don`t forget about the tip i gave you regarding moneygram. Thank you

David

 

[MilkmanDan]

You sure showed him what happens to people who waste your time.

 

[OrangeBlooded]

awesome. keep it going as long as you can. i did something similar to a scammer that was trying to sell a stolen bike.

 

[gardere_owns_OU]

hello classics!
well done!

when i'm in the mood and get a call about my auto insurance i always start up a conversation. they'll ask me the year and i'll say i thought you already knew that. i'll say an 05 and then go on and on... and ask him/her if that is ok i don't have a car i have a bicycle. CLICK!

 

[Hou-Tex Horn]

On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 1:04 AM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:

Hi David-

The sun was out today, but I still had a flat, so I took the bus to get to the nearest moneygram store, but got distracted when I saw a new starbucks. I’ve never been there before, so I thought I’d try one of those fancy coffees. But when I went in I got confused when I was looking at the sizes. I asked for a large black coffee and the lady behind the counter asked if I meant “Vente”, I said, no I mean large. She told me vente was a large. I told her no, my cousin from canada took Italian in high school and told me vente means twenty. I told her large is large and in fact tall is large and grande is Spanish for large (I know because I’m 1/3 mexican). Vente is the only one that doesn't mean large. It's also the only one that's italian. I congratulated her on being stupid in three languages. I was so furious I went home thirsty. When I got home, I realized I never made it to the moneygram store. I’ll try again tomorrow…but I will not go to starbucks again.

I’ve got another question for you. My friend, Mater works as a mechanic in the Dinoco car shop near where I live. I was telling him that I was going to buy a new trailer and he asked me if I knew if it had electric brakes or not? Does it? His friend Harry Hogge said that if the tires are matched perfect and staggered special then you don’t need electric brakes. I wasn’t sure.

By the way, do you like gladiator movies?

________________________________________
From: Scammer
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:44 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

Hello, yes it does have electric brakes and i am sorry about the starbucks thing, i understand those things happen.

I like all kinds of old movies with everything with ancient battles including gladiators

Thanks

David

 

[GHoward]

In reply to:

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[OrangeBlooded]

ha, nice cars and days of thunder references. hilarity on the starbux too. keep it going

 

[gardere_owns_OU]

role models reference in there too with the vente/large.

btw, vente means 20, as in 20 ounces. *******!

hahaha... loved the movie.

 

[Bevo's Buddy]

You should include a reference for this in your next response.
The Link

 

[BattleshipTexas]

Ask him if you can pay in gold bullion, as you really don't like the federal reserve. Then ask what exchange rate he plans to give you for your bullion. Say in case you can't agree on a gold exchange rate, go ahead and give you exchange rates for platinum, silver, beryllium, and mendelevium as well.

 

[l00p]

Tell him that you are real old school and find that there is more value in chocolate than gold standard. Ask if you can send him some Cadbury's or whatever candy bar they like in Nigeria.

 

[Hou-Tex Horn]

I thought this would have tipped him off for sure...
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On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 5:30 PM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:

Hi David-

I have some bad news…I got an email from my cousin (in Canada) this morning about his mom (my Aunt Maggie). She is this really amazing boxer, but last week she got badly injured in a fight and became paralyzed. You can probably imagine how upset I was when I found out. Last night, her manager asked the doctor to remove the breathing tube so that she could die, which was probably best considering the situation. Anyway, the funeral is on Saturday in Cobourg and I will be flying there to attend. The problem I have is the ticket costs $400 and I don’t have any extra money right now, because I was going to use all my savings for the trailer. With that said, is there anyway you could lower the price to $2700? I really want to buy it, it’s just a hard time for me right now.

Let me know…thanks!

________________________________________
From: Scammer
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 7:09 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

If i went this far i guess i can drop the price at $2700. I will also notify the online outpost but you can go ahead and send the payment because they will have everything on file and they will know how much to expect.

Thank you

David

PS: I am sorry to hear that and i hope everything will be OK with you.

 

[Hou-Tex Horn]

I think I'll try one of the above suggestions next. We'll see what happens.

 

[zzzz]

You know, he really was sympathetic to your plight. And since your Aunt Maggie left you that unexpected windfall, I think you should pay him the full price for the camper -- and $500 extra if he will leave a memorial to her in Ganaraska Forest, where she loved to train by cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Of course, you'll need photographic evidence of the cross with her name (give first and middle initials and common last name).

 

[HornBud]

Surely you can get a Louie Anderson reference in there somewhere. Nothing says credibility like Louie ******* Anderson!

 

[l00p]

Ask him for a Tewk. Tell him that your bank requires a photo of the person that you are sending money to as well as photos of the vehicle. You, in good faith, are including a picture of you for his reference. Send a photo of either Mr. T or that one of Ponch from CHIPS saying, "You're a Homo".

Or you can go the route of saying you sent it, did he get it? You saved money by dealing with the nice agent who was on his way to lunch who took care of it in his office elsewhere. He gave you a receipt for tracking from Canada.

How mad will this scammer get if he thinks you fell for another scammer.

 

[Hou-Tex Horn]

I think he may be on to us....How should I end this?
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On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 12:07 PM, Hou-Tex Horn wrote:

Hi David-

I went to my bank today to get the cash to send via moneygram and the bank told me that they require a picture of the person I am sending the money to as well photos of the trailer. I am in good faith including a picture of myself (from a football game I attended in the fall).

Can you provide a picture to me?

________________________________________
From: Scammer
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:43 PM
To: Hou-Tex Horn
Subject: Re: '04 FLEETWOOD REDWOOD POP UP CAMPER LOTS OF EXTRAS - $3100 (houston)

are you for real? No bank is asking pictures of the receiver so if you are in the mood for games, i am not. If you are interested and SERIOUS about this transaction, you know what you have to do. Thank you

David