Scammers Using Text Messaging (SMS)

Scammers will also try to respond to your classified by text messaging your phone. If you find any of the following in a text message, there is no need to reply.

  1. The text message will not have a reply number. So you cannot call them back.
  2. Or message will not have a local phone number. Example 013, 237, 001
  3. Message will ask you to send pics to a free email account, like yahoo.com or hotmail.com.
  4. Message will be vague. "I like your item."
  5. Message will be an exact copy. "I want your 1971 Mustang convertible, Pewter Metallic Silver."
  6. If you send an email in response, they will respond with the typical scammer pitch. See examples below.

Sample Scammer Text Message

dave_isaac042@yahoo.com We are interested in your vehicle. Get back with the bottomline price for it via dave_isaac042@yahoo.com

Sample Scammer Email Reply

Hello,
Thanks for your response more pics will be appreciated,we are out of town and can not come to view it but we trust that everything we saw on your ad is true.

I have just spoken to my husband in regards your payment and he has agreed to pay $4,800. Am happy to tell you that my husband has instructed me to carry on with the transaction, he said that I should inform you that payment will get to you in a cashiers check of $9,000 which is a payment of a cancelled order of a car earlier made by him.

The order was cancelled because, when the pick-up agent went for the pick up of the car, it was discovered that the car had been involved in an accident and this wasn't mentioned during the course of the transaction.

This check {$9,000} will be made out to you due to the refund of the cancelled order will be on one check, so you are required to deduct cost of your vehicle $4900 when payment gets to you and refund the balance of $4100 to our pick-up agent/shipper via western union money transfer or money gram transfer for him to be able to offset some customized work on the vehicle and shipping charges While title papers and other necessary documents will be sent by you via courier to us.

Please confirm this and provide name, address and phone number for check payment to be delivered to you via courier services.
Mary

See more examples of scammer emails.

Learn more about safe online selling.

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