Is this a scam? Is this a Scam

r0GuE · May 18, 2003

Sure a company might ship assets oversees, but I'm still not buying the story that there is a guy in Nigeria that wants MY tractor SO bad that he is going to pay freight and duties to haul it half freaking way around the world C'MON PEOPLE!!!
Why would he not buy new and ship THAT around the word??? At least then he would know what it is he is getting for his 3 times the normal value dollar!!
GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZEE /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

RanchMan · May 18, 2003

If you look at the Nigerian scheme they ask for something like 50k, $2500 profit just doesnt seem like a scam. 

Jai -

Your logic also would dictate that nobody gets mugged or killed for $100. Reality is that it happens all the time - not all scams go for tens of thousands.

I'd also suggest you re-read all the posts in this thread. Let's see, we have official U.S. State Department warnings, BBB warnings, personal experience, and a NBC News story on this EXACT SCAM.

How much more evidence do you need??? For the effort involved to pull it off, it is a heck of a ROI.

Internet based fraud is expanding at an alarming rate (i.e. see the thing with the justice dept. just last week where they rounded up a hundred or so net scam artists?) No, man, this is a fraud - through & through - and trust me when I say it is one of the more obvious ones.

Anonymous Poster · May 19, 2003

Your talking about something that happens at the spur of the moment or something of little planning. Personal experience? Hah. People base it off a chain letter with a guy in africa wanting to buy a tractor. Sorry but most people here couldnt even find Nigeria on a map if there life depended on it.

rogue: not only would it cost probably twice as much to get a new John deere in Africa(not including south africa) its just as expensive getting a used one. This is pretty common, people from foreign countries buying American goods because its cheaper but the shipping would be 1k, most likely less. Why do you think so many people in the US buy chinese tractors.

OMG SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY WANTS TO BUY MY TRACTOR.. MUST BE A SCAM!!!11!1

hah. btw sorry for the sloppy writing.. im in a hurry.

GaryG · May 19, 2003

Why is this still going I thought the bank that the check was written on said it was INDEED a fake! A scam foiled....

RanchMan · May 19, 2003

Jai -

 Your talking about something that happens at the spur of the moment... 

No - plans to steal small amounts of money/items don't always happen "spur of the moment." I was in law enforcement for a time, and based on my experience dealing with the criminal element, I can assure you there are many "planned" crimes that net only a small amount of loot. But don't take my word for it....

For example (BTW these are 2001 statistics) the average “take” per burglaries was $1,545. The average value of property stolen due to larceny-theft in the same year was $730. While yes, some criminal acts are ones of opportunity, not all are and as the statistics show, they generally don’t net the criminal much in the way of monetary gains.

 "Your talking about....something of little planning." 

No, this isn't true either. While it is true human nature leads individuals to usually pursue the greatest reward for the least effort, people also regularly do the inverse. Regardless, this scam does not fall in to the "high effort" column. In actuality, for the effort involved it is a VERY low.

Let's outline it:

1) Search Internet adds for items that are for sale (Very easy - doesn't even have to be an "Internet" ad as a lot of newspapers put their classified ads on the net.

2) Send an few emails - starting with a rather standard "form" type making the case for an "over payment" and "cash back" scenario.

3) Print out a fake check using your PC. Something VERY easy to do with today’s hardware & software - pretty much everything you need can be bought down at the local computer store. (If you want to get "fancy" you can even get your own MICR toner for the magnetic stuff on checks - but this isn't required.)

4) Mail the fake check.

5) Set up a bank account so funds can be wired directly to you. (Another very easy thing to accomplish.)

Now, sit back and wait for $1000, $2000, $3250, $750, $101, $3600, etc. all to come streaming in from different suckers who bit on your con. And the only time you have to leave your computer is to drop an envelope in the mail! No, this “activity” is far less “work” than the average “Joe” puts in during a regular work week - and “Joe” does it for a lot less money.

Yes, VERY little effort for a HUGE payoff. BTW - you should review the Department of Justice statistics regarding Internet fraud - it's more common than you seem to believe. (48,000 complaints to law enforcement in '02 and over 263,000 complaints to the Federal Trade Commission in the same year -- forget all those that go unreported.)

Personal experience? Hah. 

per firefighter
The check was sent and we contacted the bank in which it was from and they confirmed scam. - 

Let's see - either you DIDN'T do as I suggested and re-read all the posts or you are claiming that the individual who started this thread is making stuff up. Be careful what you post as you will get “called” on it.

Sorry but most people here couldnt even find Nigeria on a map if there life depended on it. 

Ok, I gave you some slack with regards to firefighter's post due to your age, but you are getting abusive here. Your lack of respect of other TBN’ers intelligence is unfounded and inaccurate. Not only is your statement insulting, but it has no bearing what so ever on the discussion at hand. Even if nobody knew where in Africa Nigeria was located, it wouldn't change the facts as presented. Basically you are presenting a "Red Herring” which only hurts your case.

Before you make another attempt at arguing your point, I’d suggest you 1) review the facts; 2) gather evidence to support your conclusions; and 2) create a argument minus the logical flaws - that is if you want to be taken seriously.