Just to let you know that I have been contacted by a “potential customer” with the following message:
"Hello I am about to make the payment when i had this little problem with the picking up of the Item, I think you remember what I said in my previous
mail that I’m working presently on the sea,so i tried to secure booking
with my pick up agent,but they asked me to pay first before they can make
the booking,and they only accept Western Union Money Transfer for payments and they don’t accept PayPal or bank transfer.
So I tried to send the money online but it’s not going through and I am on
the sea there is no way I can find a western union agent to make the
transfer to my pick up agent, so i wanted to ask if it will be OK for me to include my pick up agent’s fees together with your payments through
PayPal,So you will help me wire the pick up fee to them via western Union
Money Transfer immediately i pay you.I don’t mean to bother you I’m sure
you understand that I’m presently on the sea and there is nothing i can do
to that.The bottom line is after I have made the payments via PayPal,you
will help me wire my pick up agent fee to them through western union money
transfer, I just wanted to seek your consent before going ahead with the
payments, I will be very happy if my offer is given a favorable
consideration ,Respond as soon as possible so that I can send out you Payment…"
I have looked online and it appears to be part of the following scam:
Hopefully I have not accepted the payment or anything like that, I just wanted to make everyone aware!
This is a common scam unfortunately, it’s best not to respond at all if you can. They normally target your most expensive item. Have you reported them to admin?
It looks like our old friend, the oceanographer, is doing his Christmas shopping again!
This scam has been around on here as long as I have, you would think he’d bought enough by now
On a more serious note, if something sounds wrong or suspicious, always check with admin or on the forum before replying - there will always be someone who has seen it before and can warn you off.
Ive recently had a very similar email from a guy claiming to be at sea but he never spoke about western union instead wanted alot of info about my paypal account which started alarm bells ringing. The rest of your email,the grammer etc is identical to mine. I’ve forwarded the emails on to paypals spoof department to investigate. It seemed so genuine at first as all he was concerned about was the condition of the lamps I make. But then conmen do seem genuine I suppose,thats the point. Anyway just thought i’d share this with you as I thought I was just being paranoid at first but was right to be.
Kind Regards
My dad also had this scam the other week- same story- condition of the item, oceanographer etc.
He reported it obviously, he had only just joined Folksy so perhaps the scammer saw him as an easy target.
I’m new to Folksy and I have just received this same type of email. As someone said earlier, the first email seemed like a genuine enquiry but the second mentioned s/he being an oceanographer…being at sea…agents…etc. which sounded alarm bells and sent me here. So he’s still at it!!
It usually comes in the form of your most expensive item.
They ask the condition of the item
If it’s available
If you take paypal
All questions that are clearly stated on the listing and they are always on the ocean.
They will then go on to want to either send their courier to collect or ask to send you money for you to pay their courier. It’s all a scam to get money from you.
