From the RBR classifieds FAQ links (feel free to add more info).
Overseas Scam:
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning.shtml
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning2.shtml
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning3.shtml
Here is a thread on a typical fake bike shop scam:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=18918
More information on Scams and Scammers:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm
Overseas Scam:
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning.shtml
The Western Union Scam:**Fraud Alert!!** {overseas (Africa or Europe, usually) funds transfers/overpayment}
To our Mtbr and RoadbikeREVIEW Classifieds Community,
We have been receiving more and more complaints of people who are trying to scam sellers on our site. This scam (in various forms) has a common theme of transferring funds involving a party from a foreign country, usually somewhere in Africa or Europe. The US Secret Service has an article on their site, going into greater detail on this scam.
We have taken a steps to minimize this, but unfortunately this is a case of the few spoiling things for the many. We want to alert you to this scam and warn you NOT to take part in it. Always be as careful and as sure about online deals as you can. Find out as much info about the potential buyers that you can. Like the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is."
The potential buyer says they will OVERPAY for the bike or frame, and they want you to send them back the difference. The problem is, they will send you a Money Order or Cashiers Check that is forged. This is a high quality forgery, and your bank will not inform you right away that it is fake. It can take your bank 5 to 7 days or even longer, to find out that the Money Order or Cashiers Check is forged.
Below are excerpts from emails that have been forwarded to us, outlining the scammers pitch. Please be cautious, and feel free to warn other in our Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum.
Link to Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Link to US Secret Service site/article: Advance Fee Fraud
Examples of Fraud:
* DEAR SIR
I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST.
THANKS,
JAMES *******................
* ===================
GOOD DAY,
THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL,I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THIS BYCYCLE,BUT THERE IS SOME THING I WILL LIKE YOU TO KNOW FIRST. MY CLIENT IS OWEING ME $7,000. AND I HAVE MAIL MY CLIENT ABOUT THIS BICYCLE AND HE TOLD ME THAT WE SHOULD BOTH AGREE AFTER OUR AGREEMENT THAT HE WILL SEND YOU THE CHEQUE OF $7000 SO I WILL WANT YOU TO HELP ME SEND THE REMAING BALANCES OF THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNOIN MONEY TRANSFER, AND FOR THE BICYCLE AFTER OUR AGREEMENT I WILL SEND MY SHIPPING AGENT TO YOUR HOUSE TO PICK UP THE BICYCLE. IF THIS IS OK WITH YOU PLS REPLY WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I WILL FORWARD TO MY CLIENT. I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
REGARDS.
DAVID
* DEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USDEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST. THANKS,
PAUL ABRAHAM...............................
* DEAR SIR,
I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USDEAR SIR, I AM A BUSINESS MAN AND I AM IN CONJUCTION IN SELLING USED BIKES TO CUSTOMERS IN WEST AFRICA, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO IS READY TO PURCHASE YOUR BIKE.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PAYING YOU WITH U.S.A CASHIER CHECK SO GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR LAST NEGOTIATABLE PRICE FOR THE BIKE. HOPE TO SEE YOUR REPLY SOONEST.
THANKS,
JAMES CLINTON...............................
Be informed, beware, and be smart.
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning2.shtml
Fake Escrow Service Scam:We have been receiving more and more complaints of another scam going around. This scam involves a seller who accepts Western Union or Money Gram payment only.
Or, they can pose as a buyer who will overpay and wants YOU to send him the difference using Western Union or Money Gram, overseas (often involving a "shipping agent"). This is similar to the other scam alert we have posted.
If they are the seller, they will not accept Credit Cards, although they seem to have a large number of bikes for sale in varying sizes.
The seller usually has multiple ads for bikes approx 50-60% lower than retail for brand new bikes. They have a phone number which does not match the address they have listed in the ad. Often times the phone number is outside of the US, and they require that buyers pay by Western Union, to a location also outside of the US.
Be alert and do NOT to take part in this. Always be as careful and as sure about online deals as you can. Find out as much info about the potential buyers that you can. Like the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." These scammers often times do not even have any bikes, and may take pictures from other ads that are placed online. They are unable to answer basic questions about the bikes.
Please be cautious, and feel free to warn other in our Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum should you happen to find any more of these scams.
Link to Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56
You may even see these scams on other online auction and classifieds sites, do NOT fall for these scams. You may note on these sites, that the scammers have very little, to no transaction history. But there have also been cases where these scammers steal other sellers ID's and seller ratings. No matter where you find these scams, just stay away.
Be informed, beware, and be smart.
http://www.mtbr.com/market/warning3.shtml
Another is the fake bike shop / fake bike liquidation sale Poorly photoshopped fake bike shop, usually selling Trek Madones, Colnagos and various Litespeeds (scammers seem particullarly fixated on Litespeeds). Uses highjacked Ebay accounts or spam posts to forums and sometimes even classified ads.Yet another scam going around. This scam involves sellers (you) being contacted by a buyer (scammer) and asked to make a deal. The scammer asks that they will only use an escow service in order to be secure in the transaction. People sign up online for the escrow service and with in a day they are contacted and assured that the other party has also been verified. The escow service is "www.securebuyonline.com" (or one very similar) IT'S FAKE!
People send their product or money to the escorw service and that's all she wrote.
Scammers also place ads, too, using the same method, with the buyer/seller roles reversed.
Here is a link to a site with more in-depth info on the Escrow Service Scam, and a long list of suspected bogus escrow sites:
http://www.escrowfraud.com/services.html
Be alert and do NOT to take part in this. Always be as careful and as sure about online deals as you can. Find out as much info about the potential buyers that you can. Like the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is."
Please be cautious, and feel free to warn other in our Good Trader/Bad Trader Forum should you happen to find any more of these scams.
Be informed, beware, and be smart.
Here is a thread on a typical fake bike shop scam:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=18918
More information on Scams and Scammers:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm