BEWARE OF FRAUD GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU AVOID SCAMMERS

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Deal with people you can meet in person, locally – By far, this is the best way to avoid any scam.
• Never wire money via WesternUnion, MoneyGram or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
• Fake cashier's checks and money orders are common scams. Banks will cash them and hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
• Never give out financial information (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
• Avoid dealings involving shipping and escrow services and know that only a scammer will guarantee your transaction.

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?

• FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• SD Office of the Attorney General
  1302 E Hwy 14 Suite 1
  Pierre, SD 57501-8501
  Phone (Routine Business): (605) 773-3215
• If you think an ad on KELOLAND Classifieds might be a scam, please email classifieds@keloland.com and please include the URL or Web address of the ad.

Recognizing Scams

Most scams involve one or more of the following:

• Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
• Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
• Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before completing transaction

Examples of Scams

Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check:

• You receive an email offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment.
• Cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
• Value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service
• Banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
• Scam often involves a third-party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc.)

Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

• Scam "bait" items include apartments, laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything.
• Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
• Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere.
• Apartment listing may be local, but landlord/owner is "traveling" or "relocating" and needs you to wire money to them abroad.
• Deal often seems too good to be true, price is too low, rent is below market, etc.

Distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:

• This is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE.
• Sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not.
• Scammer often asks for your name, address, etc. for printing on the fake check.
• Deal often seems too good to be true.

Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service:

• Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers.
• For more info, do a Google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud."

Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods:

• He says he trusts you with the partial payment.
• He may say he has already shipped the goods.
• Deal often sounds too good to be true.

Foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds:

• Foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly.
• You are typically offered a percentage of payments received.
• This kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email.

Actual Email Received from a scammer

This email was received by one of our KELOLAND Classifieds users that was selling a desk.

Hello 
Am using this opportunity to purchased item from you by answer my question below: 
Q 1: How long you have been owned the item you are willing to sell for me? 
Q 2: Hope the item still available for sale with good condition state? 
Q 3: What is the final asking price you are willing to sell the item for me? 
Q 4: Let me have attach of the picture of the item you want to sell for me? 
Q 5: Do you able to accept cashier check or Personal check as a mode of the payment? 
Q6: Can we trust you on this transaction? 
Q 7: Can you send me your full contact information to mail out the payment for you. Hope to hear from you soon with good answer to my question.Email me directly on .... (email address removed) 
Regards 

The Seller responded telling this scammer that they would accept cash only, asked where they were located and even said they would not sell to them.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...I'm okay with price and the condition of the item,I will like to see more pics of the item and i will want you to consider it sold to me because am ready to issue out a Certified Check without delay,I will also want you to know that you don't have to bother your self about shipment because i have a private shipping company that will be coming available over for the pick up of the item,so you don't have to bother yourself about the shipment,All you have to do is to get back to me with the name and address include your contact phone number in order to issue out the payment to you.Stay Bless. 
Regards

The Seller gave out an address and asked when the item would be picked up.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks so much for the prompt response....I'm okay with the final asking price. 
All what i need from you is to trust you with the money! 
The payment that will be coming to you will be enough to handle the transaction.Money for the item,also $30.00 for taking your time and your effort to wire the rest of the funds via Western Union to the shipper information that will be enclosed with the payment..Response to the question bellow: 
1.Can i trust you with the money? 
2 Will you be available when the shipper will be coming over for the pick up of the item? 
3.Can you wire the rest of the funds to the shipper the same day you received and cashed the check? 
Regards

The Seller replied that they would not send any money to a shipper and was only accept cash.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...I want you to understand that the shipping fees will enclose with the payment which you don't have to bother your self about th shipment of the item,All you have do once you the Certified Check is to go ahead and have it cash and deduct sale price and also deduct $30 for reserving the item for me and wire the rest of the fund via Western Union Money Transfer to the shipping company information that will be give to you.Hope you understood me and get back to me in timely manner.I so much count on you. 
Regards

The Seller replied that they would not wire any money to a shipper, and asked again where they were located.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...i want you to know that the payment has been sent out to you and it going to delivered to you this which i believe you will receive it and i will want you to know that the payment enclose shipping fees,So all you have to do once you have the Certified Check is to go ahead and deduct your sale price and also deduct sum of $30 for consider the item sold to me and look for WALMAT around you they will have Western Union there so that you can wire the fund to the shipping company information that will be coming over for the pickup of the item.Hope to read from you soon. 
Regards

The Seller asks why their questions aren't being answered and suspects a scam.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...I was located at (address removed),And i have told you that the shipping company will not take check that is why the check was include the shipping fees which after you receive the payment you are to deduct your sale price and also deduct $30 for for any inconvienent and wire the rest of the fund to the shipping compnay information that will be coming available over for the pickup of the item.Hope you understood me and get back to me in timely manner...I so much count on you. 
Regards 

The Seller again asks for more information about the payment, shipping company, and their location.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...The shipping company information will come along with the payment which i also provide you as soon as you receive the payment,And i will also provide the tracking number of the payment asap. 
No I was located in (address removed),So bear with me the payment will get to you this week which i will provide the tracking number of the payment asap.I so much count on you. 
Regards

The Seller again asks for upfront information.

The Scammer replied.

My address in (address removed),Hope this help you now and get back to me in timely manner.. 
Regards

At this time the Seller contacts KELOLAND TV and is informed this is a very common scam. The Seller recieved an envelope from the Scammer with a cashier's check made out for $1500 for an item they were selling for $50. Under advisement from KELOLAND TV, the Seller told the Scammer that the item was no longer for sale.

The Scammer replied.

Thanks for the prompt response...I really appreciate your concern towards the transaction,Am not happy to that the Desk has been sold,But i want you to know that check will delivered to you you today,Once you have the payment you are to go ahead and deduct sum of $50 for yourself and any inconveient and wire the rest of the via Western Union Money Transfer to the shipping company information because i have a pending item that the shipping company will do schedule for me

These checks look REAL, but they are FAKE. DO NOT CASH THEM! If you get any email that looks similar to this, just delete it, never respond.

Here is another good site for tips to protect yourself against fraud. http://www.fraud.org/internet/inttip/inttip.htm