Beware Craiglist scams from Malaysia
This weekend I decided to put my Canon 5D up for sale, so I naturally placed it on Craiglist. We sell almost everything now on Craigslist, as Ebay isn’t worth the effort. People are much cheaper on EBay and the few items I have tried to sell there didn’t sell. I was in no huge hurry to sell it, so I put it up at a rather high price.
Within a day we receive an e-mail from a woman in Minnesota. She explains that she is very busy but would like to buy the camera. She does not try to negotiate the price down. She also asks if we have a Paypal account to organize payment.
I’m slightly skeptical, but agree to it. I do a search on the individual and find that there is someone by that name who lives in Minnesota – though I could find no reference of her photographic work. Still, Paypal is generally trustworthy – so I agreed. We also offer to include the shipping in the cost.
The next day we receive an e-mail that ‘the person who the camera is for has left town’. The person is now in Malaysia. The woman apologizes for this and offers to pay the full shipping costs to Malyasia, plus the 3% Paypal fee. This immediately sounds fishy, so I do some investigation.
I find out that there are a number of Paypal scams (many of which occur with addresses to Malaysia) where they send you a fake e-mail saying the money was deposited in your Paypal account. You then send them the item and they get it for free – as the money was never deposited.
There were other things fishy about the e-mails as well.
- She (though most likely a ‘he’) went into detail about her business and how busy she is. Most buyers send very short e-mails.
- She never mentions the item by name, calling it “the item”.
- She never negotiated on the price
- The name in Malaysia was not a Malay name but an English one
Curious to have some fun, I said – “sure, send the money”. In the meantime I sold the camera to someone else. Sure enough, the next day I receive a fake e-mail stating that the money is in my account. I forward the mail to Yahoo’s phishing department.
So beware this scam in case you run into it. Craigslist and Paypal are both reputable companies, but like anywhere skepticism and caution are good traits to have.
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Tags: craigslist, fraud, malaysia, paypal, phishing, scam, warning
The Malaysia-Paypal-Craigslist scam is all-pervasive. Be extremely careful and DO NOT get involved in any transaction selling/sending goods to Malaysia.
thanks, I have been back and forth emailing a person from malaysia, and he/shes slick, i asked for id at 2pm est and she responds back that its 3 pm in malaysia and she’ll send the id in the am. (now she must be a very strong individual to stay up all night)
so thanks for posting, i will tag along for fun on this one, now i want to see how far this goes.
Thanks for the information, I was about to complete a deal with a lady in a situation similar to this but with my 12,500$ wedding ring. Beware!
This just happened to us for my wifes’ $3000 ringover on craigslist. The lady said she lived in clarksville, IN and her client wanted it shipped to maylaysia and that she’s busy and has to leave town. Her name is Vennesa Ashley and the person to ship it to is
Morgan Stewart
A-3a-02 Angkasa Condominium,
Taman Connaught,
Cheras,56000
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
I’m glad I read this before we got dupped.
If I wasn’t skeptical before I am now – I have two people saying to send to Malaysia. Names are Jack the other is Sarah. I had a feeling they were frauds or trying to scam me. I told them I wouldn’t send them anything till I see the money in paypal. Real money. One was from Indiana the other from Minnesota. I am glad I happened on this post it made me aware there are people like this and since being scammed 4 years ago different place I won’t be easily decieved.
Thank you, I have been back and forth emailing two people one claiming to be in indiana and the other claiming to be in Minnesota. Both brought up malaysia if I hadn’t followed my gut I would of been dupped by two scammers. Thanks for bring this to my attention.
I also received an email from Vennesa Ashley from Clarksville, In. Stating that they need my paypal account and they will transfer the money for the ring. I’m going to mess with this person and ship them a 25 cent ring. These people should be shot!
Same thing. Just now. Vennesa Ashley from Clarksville Indiana. This is the email she just sent me:
Hi, i am sorry to border you with this issue, i am shipping the Ring to this provided address. An old customer of mine who was supposed to pick this up at my place has just notified me now to have the Ring shipped directly to him at this provided (paypal confirmed) address below however, due to the fact that i have just received an urgent business call and shall be out of town for a couple of days, i will not be available to receive this package and have it sent to the said customer, so i implore you to calculate and get back to me with the shipment cost to Malaysia at the provided address below via USPS Express Mail International (EMI) and as soon as i have your money sent,paypal shall list this address to you on the payment confirmation page that you shall receive from paypal notifying you of the said funds.
Note; this is the new “paypal confirmed “shipping address below;
Morgan Stewart
A-3a-02 Angkasa Condominium,
Taman Connaught,Cheras,
56000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
(+60149294181)
Looking forward to read from you..Thanks
I told her to get a real job.
The exact same thing happen to me over a diamond ring and the exact same address as above- she/ he definitely had me almost hooked- sad that a person like that makes it so difficult to really sell and buy online- any suggestions on how to be a better judge of buyers and sellers??
OK well I have never sold anything or shipped anything EVER. However my husband has and when I put my old engagement ring up on the internet that cost almost $10,000.00 we got a response within a couple of hours from Vennesa Ashley.. I am sitting here about in tears after reading all of your stories and comments and I feel like a complete idiot. I called and tracked the package down the night that we sent it out and realized that it was a scam. We live in Tennesse so when we heard that it had only made it to Kentucky and we got ahold of the shipping company they said it was no problem and they were going to personally ship it back to us at our address that we gave them to do so. We waited 2 days to get the package and on the second day when it did not come we called the shipping company again and the package had made it to Malaysia. We had even sent Vennesa a message and told her that we had stopped shipment on the ring and knew that all of this was a scam.. I was so relieved to hear that it was coming back to us those 2 days before and now I am still devasted that nobody will help me do anything to get this resolved, I never got any money of course and I do not know what my options are form here.. this happened to me about 3 weeks ago and I am not sure if any of you had spoken to the guy from Malaysia but I kept saying that something was very strange with all of it going on and I was not going to send the package without someone calling us first,and then about 30 minutes later we received a call from the same number listed about and it was supposably Morgan Freeman. Can someone please tell me what I can do to get my ring back or money and how to contact these people who are doing this???
Gee, Venessa must love diamonds rings cuz she was about to do the same thing to me. Boy am I glad that I googled her name and that all of you wrote about her. Thank you so much for making me aware of this stupid scammer. Still trying to think about how to get revenge!
I too got a response for a ring I posted immediately. My boyfriend suggest I google her name, because she seemed so eager to get the transaction done via paypal immediately. I am really glad I did!
Thank you everyone for saving me the misery!
I heard from Vennesa Ashley today. I had posted a listing on Craigslist. Here is the correspondence:
Good to have your reply. I am Vennesa Ashley, from Clarksville, IN. and would have loved to come and inspect this Ring at your place in person but I am a very busy Woman and have a wholesale business that I manage presently. Pls just make sure this Ring is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because I have a paypal account that I use for my business and easily send money out without delay to my customers since it’s good for business payments. Get back to me with your paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent on time. What is the color/clarity of this ring and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Vennesa Ashley
601 Dartmouth Dr #1
Clarksville, IN
47129
Ok and kindly send money request to this my email address or simply confirm to me the name that you have on your paypal email address for reference purpose because, I already have a customer who might be interested in this ring and I will have your money sent as soon as I conclude all transactions with him. As soon as all negotiation is completed with the said customer, I will get back to you on the actual shipping address and as an added security measure, paypal will also list the correct shipping address to you on the payment confirmation page that you will receive from paypal notifying you of the said funds and instructing you, as soon as I have your money sent. do you still have the original receipt for this ring?
regards
This is to formally notify you that I will have to complete this transaction earlier than scheduled. Having concluded all transactions with my customer, I am shipping the Ring to this provided address. An old customer of mine who is interested in this has just notified me now to have the Ring shipped directly to him at this provided (paypal confirmed) address below. However, due to the fact that I received an urgent business call this afternoon and will be out of town for a couple of days, I will not be available to receive this package and have it sent to the said customer. So I implore you to kindly calculate and get back to me with the shipment cost to Malaysia at the provided address below via UPS Express Mail International and get back to me with the grand total and as soon as I have your money sent, paypal will list this address to you on the payment confirmation page that you will receive from paypal notifying you of the said funds.
Regards
Note; this is the new “paypal confirmed “shipping address below;
Morgan Stewart
A-3a-02 Angkasa Condominium,
Taman Connaught,Cheras,
56000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
(+60172054958)
Looks like the same scam others have mentioned.
I wish i had of saw this 3 weeks ago as i was scammed out of $517 through paypal from a malaysian buyer
I was also just contacted today by Vennesa Ashley concerning a diamond bracelet I posted for sale on Craigslist. I thought it was fishy. I could not find her listed in Indiana so I googled her name and state and these posts all popped up. Thanks to everyone for posting this information. This is just disgusting.
there are so many scams running on the internete so watch out;**
BEWARE SCAM!!!!! I’m glad I checked up on this before I went through selling the ring to this woman! See below.
I heard from Vennesa Ashley from Clarksville, IN today regarding a ring I have for sale on craigslist. This is her response.
Good to have your reply. I am Vennesa Ashley, from Clarksville, IN. and would have loved to come and inspect this Ring at your place in person but I am a very busy Woman and have a wholesale business that I manage presently. Pls just make sure this Ring is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because I have a paypal account that I use for my business and easily send money out without delay to my customers since it’s good for business payments. Get back to me with your paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent on time. What is the color/clarity of this ring and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Vennesa Ashley
Thank you Everyone for your posts! I appreciate it!
I am so glad I referenced this persons info and found all the potential scams she or he has been trying to conduct. I only wish I did not spend so much time responding to this fraudulent individual. She approached me with my Great Grandmothers engagement ring I have for sale on craigslist. Thank You to everyone!!!
You can file a complaint with the FBI internet fruad Deptartment @ their website http://www.ic3.gov/contact/default.aspx
I have just filed mine and hopefully these bad people will be stopped and arrested.
I just got an email from Vannesa Ashley at the same address in Clarksville. Thank you to all of you who have the balz to post this. I am so glad this is here, I will stop all contact with this person immediately.
Wow, I’m glad I looked this up. I already had a buyer lined up for my ring but forgot to delete my posting and ended up receiving the exact e-mail posted above from “Vanessa”. When I sent an e-mail back saying the ring was gone the person still asked for my paypal info.
On 7/18/10 12:04 PM, “vennesa ashley” wrote:
Good to have your reply. I am Vennesa Ashley, from Clarksville, IN. and would have loved to come and inspect this Watch at your place in person but I am a very busy Woman and have a wholesale business that I manage presently. Pls just make sure this Watch is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because I have a paypal account that I use for my business and easily send money out without delay to my customers since it’s good for business payments. Get back to me with your paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent on time and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Vennesa Ashley
601 Dartmouth Dr#1
Clarksville,IN
47129
FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD…You saved me thanks.
Here’s mine from Vennesa regarding $1800 diamond ring, looks just like Missy’s. No transaction has taken place, THANK YOU for posting these everyone.
I’m new to PayPal, I thought it was reputable. How is money being deposited by the buyer but the seller doesn’t get it?
Good to have your reply. I am Vennesa Ashley, from Clarksville, IN. and would have loved to come and inspect this Ring at your place in person but I am a very busy Woman and have a wholesale business that I manage presently. Pls just make sure this Ring is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because I have a paypal account that I use for my business and easily send money out without delay to my customers since it’s good for business payments. Get back to me with your paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent on time. What is the color/clarity of this ring and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Vennesa Ashley
601 Dartmouth Dr #1
Clarksville, IN
47129
well, they got me too. I had my wedding ring for sale and now its gone, no money and no ring. Contact the BBT and also the FBI they have a website and it is simple to fill out the form. If more people do this maybe these people will get caught.
Vennesa Ashley is trying to scam me with out of 2200 for my diamond ring I am selling on cragslist. You would think the person is smart enough to change their name.
I to have had this 5 differnt people wanting me to send a motor bike to maylasia. One called it a car LMAO pretty obvious.
I believe I have just been contacted by the same person except she claims to be from Chicago Illinois. Here resonse email is as follows:
Good to have your reply. I am Vennesa Ashley, from Chicago, IL. and would have loved to come and inspect this Ring’s in person,but I am a very busy Woman. Pls just make sure this Ring’s is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because it is the safiest means of making payment online,i can easily send your money without any delay. Get back to me with your paypal email address and the name on it in order for me to have your money sent on time and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Vennesa Ashley
1325 West Wilson Avenue #1106,
Chicago, Illinois, 60640,
USA.
Does this sound familiar? Same name, Same reply, Different place is all.
Just wanted to make sure people are aware of this change since I haven’t seen anyone post about Chicago yet.
i receive this email
From: “Service-PayPal. Com”
Subject: ***Martin Kilm Sent You An Auction Payment***(3KL641507K083101L)***Transaction Code ID Confirmed….
Date: Sun Feb 13 20:03:44 2011
You’ve got new funds!
Save Your Payment Information with PayPal
Save your payment information in a PayPal account, and you can make easy, quick, and secure online payments all across the Web……… To sign up, just click the link below:
Save My Info
In Trimise, folositi La pentru a sorta mesajele dupa destinatar.
• Stirile Kappa — Bucharest Hotel Occupancy Rate Seen 10% Higher In 2011
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Descarca | Primite: msg 2/18 | |
From: “Service-PayPal. Com” [ Inregistreaza adresa ]
To:
Subject: ***Martin Kilm Sent You An Auction Payment***(3KL681507K583101L)***Transaction Code ID Confirmed….
Date: Sun Feb 13 20:03:44 2011
PayPal
From Bing
You’ve got new funds!
Save Your Payment Information with PayPal
Save your payment information in a PayPal account, and you can make easy, quick, and secure online payments all across the Web……… To sign up, just click the link below:
Save My Info
Dear Valuable Customer
(
bussines.marketing@personal.ro
)
This email confirms that Martin Kilm
has sent you
$1,900.00USD using PayPal. This credit card transaction will appear on
Martin Kilm
http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Payments/Paypal.htm
Payment Details
Payment Details
Transaction ID: ……………………………
Description: (Goods).
Total:
$1,900.00USD
PayPal ID:
bussines.marketing@personal.ro
`
Business Information
Business:
Paypal:
Martinskilm1@yahoo.com
Confirmed Shipping Information
SHIPPING INFO:
Name: Fisher Mike.
Address: 30 Taman Orkid Jalan 2, Cheras.
Zipcode: 43200
Country: Malaysia
Many thanks … I just had this experience. I requested the buyer call me … I was given a number and called him (Malaysian number). He was extemely cagey and said he was at work – use email. I was wondering what the scam was – fake email – nice one. I will report this FWIW. If it sounds too good to be true…
I am so glad I googled this “Patrick Todd” that goes by the email Xavier Mayo. I was just about to send my Mac iBook to him and he was all about sending me 100 dollars to ship out the computer to Malaysia. He was all about getting this done quickly on PayPal and wanted me to send the computer out right now. I told him I wanted to cancle because the computer was broken now and he still wanted to buy it for 100 dollars and pay the 100 shipping! he did not go down in price or even speak of it. Which i found fishy. I also asked where I would be shipping the product too and he wouldn’t give me the information just told me that I would be able to see it once I gave him my PayPal e-mail. When I saw Malaysia I started to doubt. Here is his information so you don’t get caught up in this too!
Buyer’s Comment:
Ship Method: USPS EXPRESS MAIL INTERNATIONAL
The buyer is a Craigslist & PayPal
Verified Buyer
Ship to:
Name: Patrick Todd
Address: 8/9 Jalan Tun Razak
City: Kuala Lumpur
State: Kuala Lumpur
Zipcode:47100
Country: Malaysia
Just happened to me today. Lookout for
Bryant Beasley
C-5-07 Angkasa Condominium,
Taman Connaught,Cheras,
56000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
(+60172054958)
I will pay for shipping, include the shipping cost to paypal invoice,
I prefer USPS Express Mail International
Looking forward to read from you..Thanks
Mary
Goes by Maryweeks80@gmail.com
Seems very easy and wanting whatever you are selling. Don’t get caught up in this. thankfully i googled everything they sent to me.
I am so glad I found this. I too posted a 3500.00 ring on craigslist and within hours I got a response, same as yours. I had a feeling it was a scam, but not totally 100%…now I know! Thanks for posting this!
I was also scammed and found out after the package left the states. So I filed a report with the FBI and sent the PDF to the Malaysian Royal Police, Malaysian customs and the Malaysian post office. Then I e-mailed “Jolene Kerr” and told her that I had done that and that whoever went to get the package should be prepared to be arrested. I got an indignant e-mail back from her asking if she looked like a thief and i replied saying yes.
The package was unclaimed and returned to me in less than 1 week.
As a courtesy to the Malaysian authorities, I found a translator on the web and translated my request to all of them. Can’t be too polite!
This just happened to me too!! Vannesa Ashley contacted me about my ring on Craigslist, saying that she was buying it for a client in Malaysia. I got nervous and told her that I was sorry, but someone offered me more money in cash… she wrote back saying that she would pay even more excluding shipping costs. She wanted to pay me with paypal. I emailed her back asking where I would need to ship it to… she hasn’t written back yet but I am soooooo glad that I googled her name. I pray that other people don’t get scammed by these people.
Re: (Reduced Again)♥Beautiful 1.5 Carat total weight set in 14k – $1250 (Johnosn City)
FROM: christina straub
TO: Joshua
Saturday, December 17, 2011 2:26 PM
Message body
Good to have your reply. I am Christina Straub, from Clarksville, IN. and would have loved to come and inspect this Ring at your place by myself but I am a very busy Woman with 3 kids. Pls just make sure this Ring is in condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and i will be sending your money asap. Do you have a paypal account? because i have a paypal account that i use for my business and easily send money out without delay to my customers since it’s good for business payments. Get back to me with your paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent on time or you can send me a paypal money request to my this email address.What is the color/clarity of this ring and is this your final asking price?.
regards
Christina
601 Dartmouth Dr #1
Clarksville, IN
47129
HAHAHAHAHA
They wanted me to send a watch today, be careful they try to convince and make you believe are honest people. Watch price 1,700. I am glad found this too.
Their info:
Morgan Stewart
C-6-10 Angkasa
Malaysia
Phone 0172054958