The Spammer Scammer - Offers Too Good To Be True
Modern websites that allow interaction with surfers are plentiful on the internet these days. From forum based information portals like this one, through full-blown community sites, blogs and special interest forums and bulletin boards, and even the social networking sites too. Each has one identical problem; The Spammer Scammer!
What Is A Spammer Scammer
In the context of website interactions, a spammer scammer is someone that posts a message that offers some form of commercial product or service. The posting being made may be disguised to fit the theme of the website itself, but generally they simply do not fit.
Are They Robotic Scripts
Some are robots, but these are generally being used to spread filth such as pornography, dangerous goods such as pills and potions, or things like OEM software. That type of robotic spam is relatively easy to stop. The spammer scammer is a slightly different low-life scum-bag, and one that is difficult to spot, until they post their rubbish. They will sign up to a site, go through any vetting process such as email confirmation, and wait to be authorized. Once they are in, they are free to post.
What Do Spammer Scammers Spread
By far the most prolific spammer scammer is the small electronics type who offer cut price mobile phones, game consoles, laptops and the like. Here is a (cut-down) and typical example of a spammer scammer post:-
Note that many top brand names will be used in their spam list like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, E-ten, Nextel, Apple and many others.
What Is The Point To It
The point is quite simple, they want you to send payment for their goods. The goods however simply do not exist, they are a figment of the scammers over active imagination. This fraud can also go by another name which puts this type of scammer into a more correct context; The Non-delivery Scam. In other words, paying for something you never actually get.
I Can Always Get My Money Back
No, not a chance. The typical payment mechanism for this type of fraud is a cash transfer system like Western Union, MoneyGram or similar. Sometimes you may be asked to provide payment via PayPal, but that is quite a rarity for this scam.
Some of these scammers also have bank accounts that they use to funnel their illicit funds into. A more connected scammer may offer you banking details to pay your money into, which would probably belong to another victim. In this case your bank may be able to claw back the cash, if you are very lucky.
When you send money via a cash transfer system and it gets picked up by the receiver it is gone for good. Do not say that because you paid by credit card that you are covered, you are NOT! In this instance you paid for services with the cash transfer company, who delivered what you asked for; the transfer of money from them to the scammer. Your credit card company will tell you to take a hike and the cash transfer company will not be able to refund anything. Why should they.
The Seller Offers Security By Asking For Incomplete Payment Details
Of course they do, but it is still a fraudulent act. Here is how this one goes:-
You agree to buy goods and the seller wants a payment via cash transfer a-la Western Union. He says that you only need to send the transaction number (MTCN) but not the recipients name, which he may even encourage you to make up. The seller states that thay cannot pick up the money because they only have the MTCN, but not the recipients name.
Next, they state that once you get a tracking confirmation for your goods, you change the recipients name and then the seller can collect the money. Then your goods can be tracked to your delivery address.
Sounds plausible doesn't it? THINK AGAIN!
This ploy is a trick right out of the Nigerian Book Of Scams Volume 1. In this sceanrio the seller will have a cooperating cashier at the cash transfer office where they live. All that is needed is the MTCN and the cashier can simply tell the seller the rest of the details, like the recipients name, to take the money. The cashier gets a cut, and the money is gone.
Nice isn't it!
Summary
There are many people on the internet looking to suppliment their income by buying and reselling goods, typically electronics. There are also a large number who simply *must have* the latest phone, but cannot afford the normal retail price. It is these types of buyer that are food for this type of scam, both caught out by naïvety, greed and a lack of common sense.
Quite simply, any offer of vastly cut-price electronics which appears on a forum or bulletin board similar to the one above, or even sent to your email address or social networking message box, you can guarantee 100% that it is a scam. The fraud is designed with only one purpose; To take your money which you willingly hand over without thinking.
Welcome to the world.
Be careful out there!
Modern websites that allow interaction with surfers are plentiful on the internet these days. From forum based information portals like this one, through full-blown community sites, blogs and special interest forums and bulletin boards, and even the social networking sites too. Each has one identical problem; The Spammer Scammer!
What Is A Spammer Scammer
In the context of website interactions, a spammer scammer is someone that posts a message that offers some form of commercial product or service. The posting being made may be disguised to fit the theme of the website itself, but generally they simply do not fit.
Are They Robotic Scripts
Some are robots, but these are generally being used to spread filth such as pornography, dangerous goods such as pills and potions, or things like OEM software. That type of robotic spam is relatively easy to stop. The spammer scammer is a slightly different low-life scum-bag, and one that is difficult to spot, until they post their rubbish. They will sign up to a site, go through any vetting process such as email confirmation, and wait to be authorized. Once they are in, they are free to post.
What Do Spammer Scammers Spread
By far the most prolific spammer scammer is the small electronics type who offer cut price mobile phones, game consoles, laptops and the like. Here is a (cut-down) and typical example of a spammer scammer post:-
Quote:
|
Subject: for sale Nokia n95 $300usd WE ARE THE SELLER OF VARIOUS TYPES OF MOBILE PHONES, IPODS, POCKET PC, PSP, LAPTOPS,VIDEO GAMES, GPS NAVIGATOR AND MANY MORE WITH COMPLETE ACCESSORIES, WELL PACKED AND SEALED IN ORIGINAL COMPANY BOX,ALL OUR PRODUCTS comes with Complete accessories(Well packed and sealed in original company box)Unlocked / sim free. Brand new (original manufacturer) box - no copies All phones have english language as default language. All material (software, manual) - car chargers - home chargers - usb data cables - holsters/belt clips - wireless headsets(bluetooth) - leather and non-leather carrying cases - batteries.if you are interested, forward your questions and enquires to us via email with your order and shipping details. we give 2 years international warranty for every product sold out to our costumers, our product are company class 1 tested and approved by global standard organization of wireless industries, Brand new merchandise with complete accessories, extra charger and battery.serious buyers should. Contact Person: Mr. Scammer Spammer. +447012345678 spammerscammer@freewebmail.tld nokia Nokia n95 $300usd Nokia n93 $230usd Nokia n92 $200usd Nokia n91 $190usd Nokia n90 $150usd Nokia n72 $150usd Nokia n73 $160usd Nokia n80 $165usd Nokia e73 $165usd Nokia n70 $160usd Nokia 3250 $170usd Nokia 7200 $195usd Nokia 9300 $220usd Nokia 7250i $175usd Nokia 8800 $220usd Nokia 9210i communicator $160usd Nokia 9500 communicator $170usd Nokia 9300 communicator..$200usd Nokia n-gage $160usd Nokia n-gage qd. $150usd Samsungs: Samsung Q1 $400 Samsung SGH-e910 $200usd Samsung SCH-i730 $130usd -= List chopped, they go on a bit! =- and many more............... ANY MORE OF WHAT YOU WANT WE STILL HAVE IT IN STOCK,YOU MIGHT ALSO EMAIL ON spammerscammer@freewebmail.tld or spammerscammer@anotherfreewebmail.tld |
What Is The Point To It
The point is quite simple, they want you to send payment for their goods. The goods however simply do not exist, they are a figment of the scammers over active imagination. This fraud can also go by another name which puts this type of scammer into a more correct context; The Non-delivery Scam. In other words, paying for something you never actually get.
I Can Always Get My Money Back
No, not a chance. The typical payment mechanism for this type of fraud is a cash transfer system like Western Union, MoneyGram or similar. Sometimes you may be asked to provide payment via PayPal, but that is quite a rarity for this scam.
Some of these scammers also have bank accounts that they use to funnel their illicit funds into. A more connected scammer may offer you banking details to pay your money into, which would probably belong to another victim. In this case your bank may be able to claw back the cash, if you are very lucky.
When you send money via a cash transfer system and it gets picked up by the receiver it is gone for good. Do not say that because you paid by credit card that you are covered, you are NOT! In this instance you paid for services with the cash transfer company, who delivered what you asked for; the transfer of money from them to the scammer. Your credit card company will tell you to take a hike and the cash transfer company will not be able to refund anything. Why should they.
The Seller Offers Security By Asking For Incomplete Payment Details
Of course they do, but it is still a fraudulent act. Here is how this one goes:-
You agree to buy goods and the seller wants a payment via cash transfer a-la Western Union. He says that you only need to send the transaction number (MTCN) but not the recipients name, which he may even encourage you to make up. The seller states that thay cannot pick up the money because they only have the MTCN, but not the recipients name.
Next, they state that once you get a tracking confirmation for your goods, you change the recipients name and then the seller can collect the money. Then your goods can be tracked to your delivery address.
Sounds plausible doesn't it? THINK AGAIN!
This ploy is a trick right out of the Nigerian Book Of Scams Volume 1. In this sceanrio the seller will have a cooperating cashier at the cash transfer office where they live. All that is needed is the MTCN and the cashier can simply tell the seller the rest of the details, like the recipients name, to take the money. The cashier gets a cut, and the money is gone.
Nice isn't it!
Summary
There are many people on the internet looking to suppliment their income by buying and reselling goods, typically electronics. There are also a large number who simply *must have* the latest phone, but cannot afford the normal retail price. It is these types of buyer that are food for this type of scam, both caught out by naïvety, greed and a lack of common sense.
Quite simply, any offer of vastly cut-price electronics which appears on a forum or bulletin board similar to the one above, or even sent to your email address or social networking message box, you can guarantee 100% that it is a scam. The fraud is designed with only one purpose; To take your money which you willingly hand over without thinking.
Welcome to the world.
Be careful out there!