Anatomy of a Scam

More often than not, the folks who respond to igearlist ads are great people who are sincerely interested in buying your gear. Every so often, a scammer replies to an ad. What should you look for when you get a response to your ad?

- A strange email from someone who either states that they are from a foreign country, or just seems like it.
- Urgent request to send a money order to you (sometimes with a request that you "send back the difference")
- Person requests your name and address, etc. for a money order
- Person claims to be acting on behalf of a client
- In general, mentions of money orders should be a huge red flag!

Here is a great example of a fraudulent ad response (and, this is real - I got this today):

Hello,
How are you doing? I am interested in your item available for sale on igearlist.
Please kindly get back to me with the Current Condition,Pics,Asking
Price and if still available for sale....?
Also get back to me if you have the relevant documentation for it..?
I have just contacted my customer who wants the item and he his is
okay with it . My client willing to offer you for the item, so do get
back to me with this following information's below..?
NAME : to be written on the Money Order
ADDRESS :
CITY :
STATE :
ZIP-CODE :
COUNTRY :
LAST PRICE
PHONE NUMBER( Land and Mobile) :
Once i get those details from you, i wont hasten to pass it down to
my client to issue and send you the cheque, and once the payment has
been sent to you through UPS COURIER SERVICE on a second delivery, i
would hesitate to let you know. But,note that shipment cost will be
included on the cheque.. So consider that the item was sold to my
client..
Take Care.
Mary

Sorry, Mary...we are on to you!!

- igearlist