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A type of moneygram scam carried out by conmen using classified ad websites such as craigslist and gumtree. Classified adverts are a great way to make a purchase. Through this medium advertising, one can sell almost anything from cars to cutlery to shoes, it can also be of use to net a great bargain.
They are a great way to buy new or used products, particularly things that are no longer of use to the seller. It is however, open to abuse from scammers through Moneygram. It happens in a situation where the buyer is unable to meet the seller.
As with most Moneygram scams involves people claiming to be overseas. Usually the scammer is in Nigeria, West Africa or somewhere in Eastern Europe, they may claim to be some where else. An example is where the fraudster posing as a potential buyer shows interest in a product, quite surprising really considering the buyer is unable to view the item for sale residing half way round the world. It is usual for conmen to target high value merchandize such as a $10,000 boat.
The scammer fires off an email to the seller explaining his situation. That he is abroad, has seen the advert, would like to go ahead with the purchase. Since he is not able to come and see the seller personally to view and hand over the cash, proposes a process to complete the transaction. A cheque will be sent for an amount greater then the cost, the excess charge is for shipping by an external company and the seller is requested to send excess funds by moneygram transfer along with the identification details to shipping company.
Steps involve seller agreeing to sell, details such as name and address submitted to fraudster so payment in the form of cheque can be sent, seller receiving the cheque and paying it into his bank account, all part of the moneygram scam.
Long after the money has been wired for shipping costs, cheque bounces leaving the seller out of pocket with the mental anguish of the result and left to explain to the bank how they became in receipt of a fraudulent cheque.
Other types of moneygram scams when using classified advertisement is where the victim makes a purchase online, pays via moneygram only to discover the item was not what they ordered, something of a lower value or in some cases not to receive the item at all.
Having paid by means with little or no tracebility the scammer has long gone. At least with other forms of payments such as credit cards the buyer is left with some form of insurance.
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