New Scam on forums

Dr House · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:47

It has come to our attention that a scammer is targeting internet forums that have classified areas. Please read this carefully and DO NOT become a victim of such criminals.
Basically, the scammer is watching the classified sections and waiting for someone to make an offer on an item, which is then refused by the seller. The scammer then registers with a user name almost identical to that of the seller and simply adds a full stop, underscore, or similar.
A PM is then sent to the prospective buyer suggesting a change of heart, accepting the offer, asking for payment and sending bank details. The forum concerned has handed over all this information to the police and hopefully this individual will be stopped, BUT that doesn’t mean someone else won’t try the same thing. The scammer in this case used all manner of free internet hotspots so it’s easy to see how it can be done.

tibbsey · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:48

Except...

No PMs, unless you mean Trust... in which case EVERYBODY PANIC!

kylew · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:49

tibbsey said:
Except...

No PMs.

Trust messages are essentially the same thing.

The MM requirements here make that scam harder to pull off though, so I'd imagine is less of an issue.

Dr House · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:49

tibbsey said:
Except...

No PMs.

Yes I know not here but some other forums have been targeted. Quite clever really

londonbairn · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:50

Plus you need 250 posts

ThundyCat · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:50

This was happening over on Avforums. The ended up disabling private messaging for new users.

Martini1991 · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:50

kylew said:
Trust messages are essentially the same thing.

The MM requirements here make that scam harder to pull off though, so I'd imagine is less of an issue.

Makes it impossible.
They can't register a new account and use MM.

EDIT : There was something on this forums a while back, where a guy was doing similar, (When an offer was refused by a seller, he trust messaged saying he had x item, at y amount). He tried it with me on a 5870.

Tom0 · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:52

I AM NOT A SHOP.

BringTheRain · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:53

tibbsey said:
Except...

No PMs, unless you mean Trust... in which case EVERYBODY PANIC!

Lol half a Stella everywhere lol.

I think ocuk will be ok due to 250 posts. And in that time. Someone would say. Hey look at this guys user name. It's so cooll BringTheRain1

ThundyCat · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:54

Martini1991 said:
Makes it impossible.
They can't register a new account and use MM.

EDIT : There was something on this forums a while back, where a guy was doing similar, (When an offer was refused by a seller, he trust messaged saying he had x item, at y amount). He tried it with me on a 5870.

indeed we did.

sanaxe1 · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:56

And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids

Totality · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:58

What could someone do with a bank account number? It's not as if it's a credit card number so they couldn't order online? Unless they try to set up direct debits to buy stuff I suppose.

kylew · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:59

sanaxe1 said:
And i would ofgot away with it if if wasn't for those meddling kids!

BAN!!!

Martini1991 · 11 Jul 2011 at 22:01

Totality said:
What could someone do with a bank account number? It's not as if it's a credit card number so they couldn't order online? Unless they try to set up direct debits to buy stuff I suppose.

He mimics the seller, not buyer.

C.R.A.Z.Y · 11 Jul 2011 at 22:03

Totality said:
What could someone do with a bank account number? It's not as if it's a credit card number so they couldn't order online? Unless they try to set up direct debits to buy stuff I suppose.

I don't think you understand :confused:

The scammer sends the buyer HIS bank details (obviously setup with fake ID/details) so that the buyer can send him money for sweet FA!