We’re selling our Ford Focus on Gumtree and got an SMS which we replied to as requested.
NOTE: Didn’t check the phone number the SMS came from. It was +16786617688. Obviously not an Australian phone number which for anyone reading this, is the first hint that they are about to get a scammer trying them.
SMS Message from +16786617688:
Is the car still available for sale and whats your final price email me robertwarner1965@gmail.com my battery is flat so we can talk better – Sent from iPhone4
So sent the reply via email
On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 1:27 PM, name_removed <mailto:address_removed> wrote:
Hi Robert, just organising some pics for you
Recieved
From: Robert Warner [mailto:robertwarner1965@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, 15 March 2012 3:58 PM To: Name_Removed Subject: Re: ford focus
May i know your asking price please?
Sent
On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 1:33 PM, name_removed <mailto:address_removed> wrote:
As advertised at $7000Â , if you wish to negotiate would like it to be done in person
and recieved
From: Robert Warner [mailto:robertwarner1965@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 15 March 2012 4:14 PM
To: name_removed
Subject:Re: ford focus
Thank you for the message, i will take it for that amount since i am interested in the purchase for my daughter who just moved to Malaysia where this is needed and due to my inability to walk i will be making use of a shipping company to have this picked up from you and have it delivered to her. Further arrangements will be made with you in regards to the pick up once i have paid you.
I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available) too since i won’t be be able to see this in person, what’s the Paypal email to send funds to in order for me to pay you.
Anyway:
If your wondering, no we stopped responding to Robert at this point as it became very obvious very quickly that it’s a scam. But did want to post it on-line so when someone google’s Roberts email or any part, hopefully they will see Robert does this a lot. Well I say Robert, we all know he’s not using his real name.
Detail summary of the scammer:
- Phone: 1-678-661-7688
- Email: robertwarner1965@gmail.com
- Name: Robert Warner (which I’m sure is not his/her real name)
The phone number comes up at http://cidlookup.com/lookup/6786617688/ with the following:
- CIDLookup for 678-661-7688
- Current Telephone Company: Bandwidth.com Wireless – Syniverse
- Original Telephone Company: Charter Fiberlink “Georgia Llc“ Ga
- Original Telephone Company Type: Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)
- Estimated City: Bogart
- Estimated Region: Georgia
- Estimated Postal Code: 30622
- Equipment Location Code: ATHNGAIJCM1
Another scammer email – mi.richie540@gmail.com from the same number.
We recieved a few messages from the same phone number just with different email addresses, but same text.
For those interested in learning what sort of thing happens next (ie you send him the paypal email) one of a few things happen, but the most common can be read about at http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1845478 or http://www.christianbiggins.com/2010/04/very-poor-scam-attempt.html.