Craig's List Scams - Frank Larry, Christopher Cajubam - See this example.

Classified Ad Scams
http://www.craigslist.org/  and  http://london.craigslist.org/

Scams using these names: Frank Larry, Christopher Cajubam, JoAnn Darling

Are you looking to sell a timeshare, a house, or rent a house? Did "Frank Larry" claiming to be from JoAnn Darling contact you? Newspapers, their online classifieds, Craig's list and other online classified advertising websites, from E-Bay to Yahoo Stores have made it much easier to sell and buy articles from exercise equipment, jewelry, to automobiles and even houses. But sometimes the seller has nothing to sell (except a fraud) or the buyer is more interested in passing a bad check than buying your articles!

Note that the names of legitimate businesses are often used.  In this case, there is a real "JoAnn Darling", and the scammer claimed that he worked for them, but of course, they had never heard of him.  Honest companies can be victimized by scammers using their names without their knowledge. Always call the company's phone number from the yellow pages (paper or online version) directly - don't use the number that a potential scammer gives you; to verify that the person is an employee.

Similarly, the names given, in this case, Frank Larry, Christopher Cajubam" may be the names of real people who are unaffiliated with the scam.  They may even be the names of real employees of the companies - the scammers can easily get their names by walking into an office, showroom, or from a company's website. Again, if someone tells you he is "Frank Larry", you want to ask, how can you verify that he is this person? Driver's license is a start, but these can be forged, too.

What are the clues that this is a scam?

1. First, you will notice the syntax and grammar.  Often, is it not pathetically bad, it's just plain strange. It looks like it was written by someone who is not a native English-speaker, and writes very rarely in English. This is very typical of scammers, who largely are in Nigeria and have little formal education and probably none in English.
2. Next, he wants to write a check in excess of the required amount. Why? That makes no sense at all. If he hasn't got a bank account, he could always pay in cash or get a money order.
3. Then, he wants the "excess" from the check sent BACK to him or to other individuals, often in many different locations, and always by Western Union or Money Gram! Alarm bells should be going off by now.  Western Union wires and Moneygrams are not only untraceable, they're irretrievable.  Once the recipient picks them up (which can be done at ANY Western Union office in the world), the money is gone, gone, gone!
4. And then there are the little clues; signs like the strange name change.  First he's "David Rapheal", then he's suddenly Shawn Nickolas, supposedly in England, yet the first name has an American spelling and the last name is spelled more like an Eastern European or Germanic origin.
5. Look at the huge number of misspellings, poor punctuation and made-up words.  Again, this is typical of the scammer filth who live and operate in Nigeria.

An actual email that illustrate this type of CraigsList scam:

We may highlight passages that illustrate typical scam clues:

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Email 1 - from the victim:

I recieved a $2000 check from this guy and went to the bank to check if it was real and it was a stolen check. Here is his e-mails he sent me. I can send you a copy of the check if need be

Email from the scammer:

Thanks for the update, just like i said earlier, please go to western union outlet around you to send the remaining money to the information bellow.

Name :      JoAnn Darling

Address :   4318 Boston Post Rd

                 San Jose CA 92503

I will need the details of the transfer once you have sent fund.

1.The MTCN number that is the 10 digits number on the western union receipt 2.Sender's name and address used in sending the money 3.Actual amount sent.

Please pay off the western union charges from the remaining fund after you must have deducted your money and the $100 that is to cover the cost of your run around.

Frank Larry

Here is the tracking details that shows that the check has been delivered to you since march 12 bellow.

Tracking Detail   | Help  

Your package has been delivered.

   

Tracking Number:  1Z 66W 60F 01 9284 616 7    

Type:  Package    

Status:  Delivered 

  

Delivered On:  03/13/2008 10:24 A.M.   

Location:  FRONT DOOR    

Delivered To:  PORT CHARLOTTE, FL, US   

Shipped/Billed On:  03/12/2008   

Frank Larry

 

Thanks for the trustworthiness on this purchase .....now that you have the check please take that to your Bank and have it cashed. You will deduct the cost of the purchase from that .... you will also have to send the rest of the fund to my mover once you cashed the check so that he can come over for the pick by noon tomorrow. Here is the shipper information to send the money to via western union

Name:      Christopher Cajubam

Address:  1210 E. Shields Ave

                Fresno CA 93704

I will need the details of the transfer once you have sent fund.

1.The MTCN number that is the 10 digits number on the western union receipt 2.Sender's name and address used in sending the money 3.Actual amount sent.

Please pay off the western union charges from the remaining fund after you must have deducted your money and the $100 that is to cover the cost of your run around.

Frank Larry

1210 E. Shields Ave ...

Thanks for the prompt response, i'll like to make an instant purchase right away, i will send a draft via my bank to cover the cost as am satisfied with the item. I will need the details of whom & where to mail the draft. It will be delivered by the United Parcel Service within 2 days. Please note 'ups' do not deliver to P.O.Box addresses.The require detail needed are : Name to be on check, Address to deliver the draft and your phone number should in case i might have someone call you on my behave because i am deaf. Kindly delete the posting as am totally committed to buying from you to save me cost.

Frank Larry