Step1
It doesnt matter what you do... they will find you. You will get emails and messages from them. It doenst matter what you are trying to sell or buy online... they are watching and will try to make you an offer you cant refuse.
How do I know if its a scam or not??? lets look at a couple of excerpts from typical letters I have recieved and it will be fairly clear.
Step2
I was selling a computer on Mercadolivre (ebay for south america) and someone "Bought my computer" and then sent me a letter wanting me to respond so we could finalize the deal "through my secure bank transfer"
The persons name was odd. The persons location was suppose to be somewhere in Texas but he wanted the computer mailed to someone in Nigeria. This perticular scam cost me about $100 in fees for the sale of an item that I still today have not sold. I also missed my "window of opportunity" to sell the computer as a "Top of the line" model that would have recieved a good markup. So my total damages recieved by this scammer is in excess of $1500 dollars... and I didnt even fall for their scam!!!
Immagine if I had of sent the computer off after having recieved a phony bank transaction letter...
I would be out my computer, the Profits and also have my bank account drained by another transaction or two... Wonderful thought isn't it?
Step3
Another Scammer that contacted me did so through a rather odd method and I would like to show you that it is not just ebay or ehow or Mercadolivre... but anything you do is subject to these people.
This is the scary one:
I was selling my house in Southern MS and used an online do it yourself real estate network. Forsalebyowner.com with the listing of Real Estate you dont want to miss a call and you certainly want the potential customer to look at your house...
so all of your information is right there in plane sight...
They may not have your full name (Yet) but they have your Telephone and your address... They can get the full name of the property owner with a little creative research... by using reverse directories...
They Contacted me wanting to buy the house for a relative that is moving into the area and even knew that there were oil fields nearby... because they read something I had written into my advertisement.
Once again... they wanted to Transfer the money to me by a "Secure Bank transfer" I was a bit naive back then... I actually went to my banker and asked how safe that was... "Safer for them than for you" was the reply...
I talked to the banker and he told me about some of the things people have tried... Opening a new account and giving them that info to deposit the money into... Its the same thing. You are responsible for overdrawing your account. You get a big hole that will take years for you to fill... and they run off to Nigeria with a big bag of your Yankee Green backs... what a bargain!!!
One more thing... if they manage to get enough information out of you they can open Credit accounts in your name also... If they manage that then you will need the help of the people at the three addresses above in the "things you will need" box.
Bottom Line... if it sounds to good to be true... it is.
If it sounds like a bunch of hoey... It is.
If you think your gonna get rich quick... you wont.
Step4
Here is one that I just recieved 8/14/2008 I have Changed and deleted the account numbers and contacts from it...
From : Nicholas Adams Abidjan Ivory coast Email + (nickass035@yahoo.fr ) Tel/+666 666 6666 APPEAL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE. Dear, Please Reply With this Email Email + (nickass035@yahoo.fr ) With due respect and with GOD all thing are possible that is why I call for help to please Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your name and contact from ehow.com I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and there commendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can do business with and by the recommendation , I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere clean business 100% risk free assurance. I am Mr Nicholas Adams the only son of late Mr.Zuma Adams My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip .My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before the death of my father on january 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of seven million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars. US($7.5m) left in fixed /suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in Depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as realestate management or hotel management. I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) To provide a bank account in which this money would be transferred into. (2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 22 years old. (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country. Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas. All the necessary arrangement has been made at the bank where my late father deposited this fund and the DIRECTOR of the bank
Step5
DIRECTOR of the bank told me that as soon as an account of my choice is forwarded to their bank that they will transfer this fund to my destination. Please write back to me immediately you received this mail for us to proceed in this transaction which I beleived that you shall call me for good news that you have comfirm my money in an account which you will provide. Furthermore, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within seven (7) days you signify interest to assist me. Thanks and God bless you. Best regards, Nick Amads.
Step6
Here is another example of an internet scam I recieved... Names removed to protect the guilty as usual.. (keep myself from a lawsuit)
Hello Dear, It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish in your country. Though I have not met with you before but I believe,one has to risk confiding,to succeed sometimes in life.There is this huge amount of Eight Million United States Dollars (US$8,000,000.00) which my Late Father deposited in the bank here in Abidjan,Cote d'ivoire before his sudden death. Now I have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside our country for security and political reasons.I want you to help me claim and retrieve this money from the bank and transfer it into your personal account in your country for investment purposes on these areas: (1.) Telecommunication (2.) The Transport Industry (3). Five Star Hotel, but you still come up with the business you know very well that can give us more profit. I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred into. (2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since i am an ORPHAN (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further My education and to secure a resident in your country. If you can be of an assistance to me I will be pleased to offer to you 15% Of the total money.I will like you to reply me through my private mail box (gift.Idiotsbelievelies@yaboo.con) for more details and for us to know ourselves better. I await your soonest response. Sincerely Yours, Miss ImanIdiot Ya-shur-youbetcha.
Step7
So In conclusion... If you get a letter that smells like this... Dont respond to it... just flush it.
Authority 
Comments
dsarokin said
on 7/30/2008 Those attempts at scams are so funny, it's hard to believe anyone falls for them. But every now and then, one shows up in the inbox that is totally convincing. It helps to have your reminders.
DUSTYMILLS said
on 7/13/2008 Just shows that you can never be too careful...wish there was a way to keep these cheats off this site; I recieve a half-dozen offers to share 31 million (!) with me every week! Thanks for the info...
Sprice said
on 7/8/2008 I hate when this happens
luv2blog said
on 7/8/2008 You are right, they are everywhere. I tried selling an AC on Craigslist. They tried to get me to ship the AC to Nigeria and they would deposit the money in Paypal but the money was being held in escrow by Paypal until the AC arrived...and it just went on and on. The first sign it was a scam was that I told them I wasn't shipping the unit, local pick ups only. Then they were willing to pay as much as $400.00 for me to ship it (supposedly to New Jersey). They wanted to pay more to ship than it cost to buy it!! You are right, if it's too good to be true, it's probably a scam.