Online Fraudster

Hi everyone...

Today im not going to talk about food, but something useful to most online shoppers

It just happen to me recently, but lucky i notice it early.
Recently while trying to sell some goods online. i came across some PayPal Fraudster

Here's is a list event of what happen... a few pictures of the emails, and attachment that i receive... "slightly edited" (for everyone's preview safety, everything here is Prnt Screens pic and text formatted, ;) the text in red is my opinion, The text in blue is modified for safety reasons
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@@In the 1st email,

(The 1st thing i notice in the email really made me curious, the buyer name is very "English", but the email address is very "Chinese")

In the email,
The interested buyer emailed me, telling me that he goes sailing a lot and is out of town most of the time. He is interested in the item i classified in one of the online ads, saying he don't really mind about the conditions of the goods, as it looks excellent from the pictures i provide in the ad, on top of that, he says that he is willing to pay a few $ extra for the item,

At the end of the emails, he ask for my mobile contacts and my PayPal account number, cause he is willing to pay through PayPal with his credit card. leaving no other contacts or personal details to me.

@@I reply, with only my PayPal emails. and my mobile phone number

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@@The next morning,

The guy call me up (with a Private Number) quite early, at that time, i am half asleep. He told me that he is out overseas, and already made the credit card transfer to my PayPal Account through his Agent. but he need my help, asking me to check my emails.

So i did, i received 2 emails, 1st one from "HIM" and another from his "PayPal/Agent"
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@@ 1. The 1st email from "HIM" wrote...

Subject:Payment Sent !! Kindly help me out‏

Hi Peter(that's me),

I have sent the payment, you can check your e-mail for confirmation of payment, i have a problem here, i just got an email from my agent that he won't come and pick up the item unless i pay him the agent commission fee first, and their is no how i can do that cos i am out of the town for sailing and i can't access WXXXXXn UXXXn" ("WXXXXXn UXXXn" sound a bit like a Bank or some money transfer Company/Croporations??) , i have decided to add the amount which is $450 while i paid through paypal, (<<>only, so TOTAL = $870) So please i will like you to help me wire the amount of $450 to my agent via western union so he can be able to come and pick up the item any time from now and also paypal said they won't release the funds until they get the WXXXXXn UXXXn information from you (Which means i don't get any $$$ until i 1st wired the $450 to his "agent"/WXXXXXn UXXXn) due to the fact that i emailed them about the excess payment i made.i will be looking forward to hear from you so i that can forward the shipping agent Head quarter address in other to send the commission fee($450)..

Cheers!!
BXXXX(The Buyer/Fraudster)
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@@ 2. The email from his "Agent/Paypal/WXXXXXn UXXXn/?????" (i'm not sure which who!!??)

Subject: Notification of an Instant Payment Received from BXXXX DXXX (The Buyer/Fraudster)

From: XXXXXXYYY@gmail.com on behalf of service@paypal.com.au (AAABBBCCC@accountant.com) (An Account Agent for paypal using a casual @gmail e-address)

(It's a bit blur and small , cause I PrintScreen and edited it in picture format on purpose)

(anyone of you buying online through paypal before is familar to the top part, as it looks almost exactly the same as a normal PayPal transactions.)
(And the Email Continue with)

Please note:
We wish to inform you that BXXXX DXXXX has made his intentions known to PayPal that he will like $450.00 AUD to be sent to the recipient's address above via WXXXXXn UXXXn Money Transfer.

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This payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been " APPROVED" but will not be credited into your account until the MTCN # is sent to us for verification, so as to secure both the buyer and the seller. Below are the relevant information required before your account will be credited: (here, it means i have to wired the extra $450 to WXXXXXn UXXXn, to get the MTCN# to comfirm the transaction)

All you have to do is to reply directly to this mail with the MTCN #,Secret questions and answers used when sending the money. (so im giving him the answer/password to withdraw the transaction from WXXXXXn UXXXn, ) Once it has been verified and the details above sent to us, you will receive a "CONFIRMATION E-mail" from Pay Pal® Service informing you that your account has been credited with $880.00 AUD. (i will recieve another comformation e-mail from the fraud/fake-PayPal!!!??)

Please, understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect both the Buyer and the Seller.We apologize for the inconvenience that has caused you. (Ya right! trying to sound as its for real)

Because of the inconvenience this causes we are giving you the next two incoming transfers for free! You will pay no fees for your next two incoming transfers*.

Thank you for using PayPal! (WOW, and some free GOODIES/OFFERS???)

* - If fees would normally apply, you will not pay anything for the next two incoming transfers you receive.

PayPal Security

(end of 2nd emails)
(SAME as the 1st emails. nothing about who am i sending the money to, or detail or bank account or buyers details)
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So here it is....

For 1st timer, or people who don't use paypal much, this might look like any other typical paypal trasanction, but it's not. (only the 1st part) From what i know, Paypal do not do any "Middle Man/waiting" Transaction. PayPal only deals money/credit transfer between buyer n seller.

I double check and scan the (fake)Paypal emails with anti phishing(anti false identity)software. here is the one i use http://www.iconix.com/index.php Iconix is recomended by paypal, it can help u to spot registered/certified company e-mails.

i also forward the mail to paypal security. Both reply with false identity and not certifed!!

I check my paypal account for any transcation, but there is none. Cause All of payPal transaction can be track online even if it is under "waiting" or "pending", cause some transaction/e-cheque takes a few working days to process.

Im lucky as im a frequent paypal user. Always double check the transaction even when you are sure. Never wired to some other party/agent until you recieve the actual payment from the buyer. Check with your bank money transfer comepany for more security. Hope everyone learn from it.... ;)

P.C