Inquiry A new scam: scammer hijacking ad replies - John Richard

[DLenaRuth999s]

Ad: 2022 CB Female Dumerils Boa, posted April 8, 2024 by Santa Cruz, name on account Brian Troy. $400 for snake, $350 for a T10.
Sent inquiry 8/17/24 as an ad reply.

I’m contacted through my email by a John Richard who offers the snake for $350 shipped, and sends me the original picture from the ad.
I question the different name, and am told this is his work mail. Syntax is off, dates on the emails are off by a day. That is, my emails sent today (Sunday 8/18 are date stamped as Monday 8/19).

This seems like a new scam, where the scammer trolls for people responding to an ad and hijacks the communication.

I’ve got screen shots of the original posting and the emails if someone wants them.

 

[Socratic Monologue]

Thanks for the heads up.

Can I offer a suggestion for anyone reading this who wants to avoid it? Good -- it is this: do not ask about availability in the ad. Instead, PM the seller. If no one knows that you're trying to open a communication line, no one can hijack it.

 

[XSeed]

Ad: 2022 CB Female Dumerils Boa, posted April 8, 2024 by Santa Cruz, name on account Brian Troy. $400 for snake, $350 for a T10.
Sent inquiry 8/17/24 as an ad reply.

I’m contacted through my email by a John Richard who offers the snake for $350 shipped, and sends me the original picture from the ad.
I question the different name, and am told this is his work mail. Syntax is off, dates on the emails are off by a day. That is, my emails sent today (Sunday 8/18 are date stamped as Monday 8/19).

This seems like a new scam, where the scammer trolls for people responding to an ad and hijacks the communication.

I’ve got screen shots of the original posting and the emails if someone wants them.

I had a similar situation. A person contacted me about two turtles I was interested in. Told me he will send pics via email. I email him, get pics from him. Showed me photos of the turtles, asked me to pay 300$ plus shipping, I said no and he asks how much Id take for it. I said 165$, he goes onto agree and says okay. Then he gives me an email to his paypal which is an entirely different email. I thought its fair as I like to use different emails for potential spammers. I sent him the money, he,said he'd send it out in the morning. Morning comes, says hes late to work. Says hell do it the next day. Next day he shows signs of slight ghosting. Says he will send on the weekend for weekend delivery. I tell him no, id rather cancel and retry at a later date. He keeps avoiding the question and says hell ship out next week since i didnt feel comfortable. Doesnt reply. I file a dispute. Instantly next day I get an email from a random "lady" claiming thats her paypal account and how i need to get on whatsapp, give her my number so that me and him hash it out because he took the money and all.

Says thats the company email for the company paypal account. Tells me to cancel claim. Says i wont win easily. Goes on,and drags it on for 21 days. Meanwhile on paypal someone speaks in spanish saying im scamming him. He doesnt know I too speak spanish, so I reply in spanish and ask him to provide evidence of shipping. etc etc.

He's banned from here now thank to an admin but it was an ordeal.

Learn from my mistake and either do stuff locally or research a seller or buyer out.

 

[bcr229]

I had a similar situation. A person contacted me about two turtles I was interested in. Told me he will send pics via email. I email him, get pics from him. Showed me photos of the turtles, asked me to pay 300$ plus shipping, I said no and he asks how much Id take for it. I said 165$, he goes onto agree and says okay. Then he gives me an email to his paypal which is an entirely different email. I thought its fair as I like to use different emails for potential spammers. I sent him the money, he,said he'd send it out in the morning. Morning comes, says hes late to work. Says hell do it the next day. Next day he shows signs of slight ghosting. Says he will send on the weekend for weekend delivery. I tell him no, id rather cancel and retry at a later date. He keeps avoiding the question and says hell ship out next week since i didnt feel comfortable. Doesnt reply. I file a dispute. Instantly next day I get an email from a random "lady" claiming thats her paypal account and how i need to get on whatsapp, give her my number so that me and him hash it out because he took the money and all.

Says thats the company email for the company paypal account. Tells me to cancel claim. Says i wont win easily. Goes on,and drags it on for 21 days. Meanwhile on paypal someone speaks in spanish saying im scamming him. He doesnt know I too speak spanish, so I reply in spanish and ask him to provide evidence of shipping. etc etc.

He's banned from here now thank to an admin but it was an ordeal.

Learn from my mistake and either do stuff locally or research a seller or buyer out.

You were smart to use PP G&S instead of a payment method that does not provide buyer protection. Also you can back up your PP G&S payment with a credit card, so that if PP doesn't rule in your favor your MC/Visa/AmEx probably will.

Any request for contact on Whatsapp = immediate red flag for a scam.

 

[XSeed]

You were smart to use PP G&S instead of a payment method that does not provide buyer protection. Also you can back up your PP G&S payment with a credit card, so that if PP doesn't rule in your favor your MC/Visa/AmEx probably will.

Any request for contact on Whatsapp = immediate red flag for a scam.

Honestly it was all a red flag but he showed pics and knew names so I took a semi risk. Hate scammers. Its why I don't want to ship. Only local sales. Im in NJ and would rather meet up in a state I can purchase or sell/rehome 1-2 turtkes