Classified Ad Scams: Wii Game Console
Another Romanian Scammer
Scams and scammers using these names: Ciprian Paul Bradeanu, globalaircargoltd.com, Romania
"You have to make the payment exactly how we agreed on via Western Union. "
Are you looking to buy a Wii Game Console? Did "Ciprian Paul Bradeanu" claiming to be from Romania contact you? Note that he says:
"You have to make the payment exactly how we agreed on via Western Union. After you will make the payment you have to email a scan copy of the Western Union payment receipt to the delivery company so they can verify it, after that they will send you the package at your door right away.There is a money back guarantee policy and if something happens with the money or with the package you will get a full refund from the delivery company.".
That's a clue to a scam right there!
Here are the clues that this is a scam:
- Payment by Western Union - This is always the number one sign of a scam about to unfold!
- There is at least one existing report about this very scam, on this website.
- The domain of the email addresses ("@representative.com")used by the "delivery company" is associated with many scams. A simple Google search shows this.
- The delivery company is most likely a scam itself. "Global Air Cargo Ltd"'s website is laughable. There is NO contact phone number and the email address is on a different, generic website "representative.com" which we already showed is a base for many scammers.
- The scammers NEVER can meet in person. They may have a $50,000 boat to sell to you or want to buy a $45,000 car from you, but somehow they are always "out of the country" on business, in in the army, whatever. In the real world, anyone buying or selling something for more than a few hundred dollars, wants to see it first. And especially when renting a house or apartment!
An actual email that illustrate this type of CraigsList scam:
Any highlighted passages below are to draw your attention to typical scam clues:
Email 1 - from the victim:
Dear sir/mdm
I am a victim of yahoo auction scam.
Offender:
Email : mario_chen43@yahoo.com
First Name : Ciprian Paul
Last Name : Bradeanu
Street : str. Lipscani nr.12
Country : Romania
City : Craiova
Zip Code : 1100
He asked me to send him money via Western Union so we can complete a deal foe a Wii game console. I sent the money but nothing was delivered to me.
He gave me a tracking number: 1Z5652455559999862 which belongs to the delivery company : www.globalaircargoltd.com
A Christopher John from the delivery company also emailed me to confirm the package being sent on way to me.
I wish they are arrested in order others will not be cheated like me.
Tks
Tom (Sinagpore)
From the scammer
----- Original Message -----
From: Global Air Cargo
To: [victim's email address]
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 3:31 AM
Subject: Delivery Informations
Dear customer,
A package with the tracking number: 1Z5652455559999862 containing 1 (one) Nintendo Wii System & 4 Controllers & 14 Games for mr./ms. Chan Choon Lai will arrive at 16/04/2008 to this shipping adress: Block 53 Telok Blangah Drive #20-76, Sinagpore 100053. The package has been sent by mr. Bradeanu Ciprian Paul via Global Air Cargo, you can check the tracking number, content of the package and arrival time on www.globalaircargoltd..com . By chosing this service you will have to send the money to the sender of the package via Western Union and after that to email us a scan copy of the Western Union payment receipt (including the MTCN and senders name and adress) so we can verify if the payment has been made, just for security policy. After you receive and unpack the package you will have to confirm with your signature that the package contains what you have ordered. The payment is fully refundable, if for any reason you do not accept the package or if it has scratches, hidden defects, or it is not as advertised you will not sign the package receipt papers and we will give you a full refund or you can withdraw your money if you want. We will even pay for the shipping back to senders location if you reject it but the service is secure so we are positive it will not get to this.Our service is 100% secure because once the sender give`s us the package we will verify his content and after that we contact the receiver with a confirmation email and after that we will ask a scan copy of the payment form from the receiver and after we have both verified we will proceed with the delivery wich is very fast. Plus, the sender of the package has been included in the Global Air Cargo purchase protection program that we have (this is the only way we can do business with companies and individuals).Actualy , the sender of the package has 5.000 USD deposited in our purchase protection account so this is the protection plan in wich you are included because you have to receive a package from us. So if anything happens with the money or with the package you will get a full refund from the purchase protection account. This way is safe for the sender and the receive to do business with us. Thanks for understanding.
Christopher John
Sales Administrator
From the scammer:
From: Mario Chen
To: Tom Cruise
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII SYSTEM, 4 CONTROLLERS, 14 GAMES (Yahoo auctions)
Yes , is just like the way you told it , the delivery man will come with the package and he will wait for you to unpack and check the item , if the item is OK you will sign the package receipt papers , if it`s broken or something wrong you will sign the money back guaranteed papers. The warranty is valid in Singapore. Please send the money tomorow so we can finish this deal. Thanks for understanding.
Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
i don't quite understand 1 item - i will unpack the package the delivery company send to my home & checked it is working before i sign the receipt. is this correct? the delivery man will wait for me to test the set? the warranty is it worldwide? do it cover singapore too?
i will send the money tomorrow morning
Tom
From the scammer:
On 4/15/08, Mario Chen <mario_chen43@yahoo.com> wrote:
Please send the money so we can finish this deal. Thanks
On 4/15/08, Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
not yet. will only be able to do so tomorrow
From the scammer:
On 4/15/08, Mario Chen <mario_chen43@yahoo.com> wrote:
Have you made the payment yet? Please make the payment so we can finish this deal. Thanks
Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
hi
i got your email. The delivery co also emailed me.
when do i send the money? now? after item arrived?
Tom
From the scammer:
----- Original Message -----
From: Mario Chen
To: Tom Cruise
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 3:29 AM
Subject: Re: BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII SYSTEM, 4 CONTROLLERS, 14 GAMES (Yahoo auctions)
I`ve send your package and you will receive`it at your door in 4 days. But after you will check the tracking number you have to make the payment exactly how we speak in our last emails.
Here is your tracking number : 1Z5652455559999862
Please check`it on www.globalaircargoltd.com and you will see i`ve keept my word and send the package, i`ve payd for the shipping charges and all.
Here is my payment address :
First Name : Ciprian Paul
Last Name : Bradeanu
Street : str. Lipscani nr.12
Country : Romania
City : Craiova
Zip Code : 1100
You have to make the payment exactly how we agreed on via Western Union. After you will make the payment you have to email a scan copy of the Western Union payment receipt to the delivery company so they can verify it, after that they will send you the package at your door right away.There is a money back guarantee policy and if something happens with the money or with the package you will get a full refund from the delivery company.
P.S. Please email me back and confirm me you`ve received this email from me and as we agreed on in our first emails after you will receive the tracking number and check`it you have to make the payment.
Thanks for understanding and have a nice day.
Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
hi
my full name is Tom Cruise.
Shipping address is hhhhhhhhhhh Singapore 100053.
Tom
From the scammer:
On 4/10/08, Mario Chen <mario_chen43@yahoo.com> wrote:
I want to tell you that almost every bank has a Western Union office and you can send the money from there after you receive and verify the tracking number from me. You will also receive email confirmation from the delivery company and instructions too. You will go and send the money via Western Union, scan the receipt and email it to the delivery company , they will check it to see if it`s valid and after that they will send you the package at your adress. After you receive the package and verify the content you will sign a paper receipt in wich you will confirm that the package contains the item that you`ve ordered, only after that i can pick up the money that you`ve sent to me.
If by any reason you don`t sign the paper receipt (content of the package not advertised) you can withdraw your money or you will get a full refund (depends on the situation) from the delivery company. This way is safe for both of us, please mail me your shipping adress along with your full name so i can send the package.
Thanks a lot for understanding and have a nice day.
Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
how to pay?
From the scammer:
----- Original Message -----
From: Mario Chen
To: Tom Cruise
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII SYSTEM, 4 CONTROLLERS, 14 GAMES (Yahoo auctions)
The item is new and original , it was a gift and now i`m selling because i need cash , it is an US modder version with the price of 400 SGD. I`m from Europe but i will pay the shipping fees and send the item first. Please tell me your answer. Thanks
Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
HI
This is genuine set right? US or Jap version?
Can I see the item? Self collect & pay cash on the spot?
Tom
From the scammer:
From: Mario Chen
To: Tom Cruise
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII SYSTEM, 4 CONTROLLERS, 14 GAMES (Yahoo auctions)
I see you are interested on my item. The item as you saw is
brand new in original box and under 1 year full international warranty.
The price that I want for my item is 400 SGD and this price
includes all the charges (shipping fees) and all. The item will be
sent exactly at your adress. So if you are interested to purchase it from me
please email me and tell me soo we can start this deal.
I offer a safe way to transact wich includes money back guaranteed policy.
P.S. If you want to buy more than 1 set i will make discounts.
Thanks a lot for understanding and have a nice day.
On 4/8/08, Tom Cruise <[victim's email address]> wrote:
Hi
Is the set modified?
$400 can close deal?
Rgds
Tom
The advertisement:
BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII SYSTEM, 4 CONTROLLERS, 14 GAMES
Seller Info Seller (rating): mario_chen43 (unrated) Send IM Yahoo! Auctions Member since October 1, 2007
Auction Info Current Bid: 400.00 SGD Quick Bid Starting Price: 400.00 SGD High Bidder: none # of Bids: 0 (Bid History) Bid Increment:
5.00 SGD
Time Left: 15h 11m 22s (Countdown Ticker) Opened: Apr 9 07:06 AM Closes:
Apr 19 07:06 AM
Available Qty: 1
Location: Los Angeles, CA
ID #: 52276814
Item information:
Brand New NINTENDO WII Still in the box + WiiPlay + 4 controllers!!! SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE!!!!
copy of Original Receipt upon request
MY AUCTION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
1 Wii Console
1 Wii Console Stand
 2 Wii Remotes
2 Nunchuks
1 Sensor Bar
1 Wii AC Adapter1 Wii AV Cable
Game Included - Wii Sports!! 5 games in 1...Play fun games like
Golf, Baseball, Tennis, Boxing & Bowling
- Wii Play
Brand New Nintendo Wii & Wii SPorts (5 games) & Wii Play (9 games) ALL HOT ITEMS!!! SOLD OUT!
Brand New and Factory Sealed
WiiPlay
(include 9 games!!!!!)
Games include:
Shooting range
Find Mii
Table Tennis
Pose Mii
Laser Hockey
Billiards
Fishing
Charge
Tanks
Included Games
These 14 games are included. All games have single-player and multi-player support.
Wii Sports disc: Tennis Baseball Bowling Golf Boxing
Wii Play disc: Shooting Range Find Mii Table Tennis Pose Mii Laser Hockey Billiards Fishing Charge! Tanks!
For more informations please contact me at: mario_chen43@yahoo.com
And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive. We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!
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