It's our Community, lets keep an eye on it. Watch out for scammers!
Submitted by: Laurie Smith
Phone:
Email Address: laurie(at)virginiaequestrian.com
Date Added: 6/9/2011
One of the BEST things about Virginia Equestrian is that we, as a community, self-police our site. But please be aware that there are people out there who do not have the best intentions in mind, and will try to take advantage of you. If you come across something that looks fishy, or are contacted by someone that seems "odd", please let us know.
A good rule of thumb...if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you have a horse for sale on the site, and someone contacts you about a saddle (or "the item"), it is probably a scammer. IF THEY OFFER YOU MORE MONEY THAN THE ITEM IS WORTH, or have a "shipping agent" handling the deal, it's probably a scam. If they want to pay with a money order (again, especially if it's more money than what you are selling the item for), it's probably a scam. If they mention a "private shipping company" it's probably a scam.
Below you will find a few examples of emails that have been received by our users (and us as well) that are definitely folks trying to scam you.
A suggestion that we give is, when placing your classified ad on VE, click "no" to include your email address in the listing. Instead, include it in the body of the ad, but be sure .... info(at)virginiaequestrian(dot)com.
As always, we're here to help. If you receive an inquiry that doesn't seem quite on the level, you are more than welcome to contact us to ask for assistance! Please email us at info(at)virginiaequestrian(dot)com with any concerns you may have.
A WORD ABOUT CASHIER'S CHECKS (DO NOT ACCEPT THEM!):
There are typically 2 versions of it, in both cases, the cashier's checks look legitimate and the bank will deposit them, taking up to a week for the bank to find them fake, giving the scammer the window they need to pull off the scam.
1. They create a fake account, actually do want what they are purchasing, provide a fake check, receive what they wanted, and delete the account. The check is found to be fake, and the seller has been scammed.
2. They create a fake account, do not want what they are purchasing at all. They provide a fake check for well over the amount of what the asking price was, for example if the asking price is $500, they send a fake check for $1500. The seller deposits the fake check, and it deposits (initially). The scammer contacts the seller with a line about how they accidentally wrote 1500 instead of 500, and so as not to go to the hassle of cancelling the check, etc., for the seller to keep the correct amount and mail/wire (or some form of funds transfer) back to the scammer the difference, in this case 1000. The scammer gets the 1000, closes the account, and the initial check from the scammer is found to be fake, and the seller is scammed.
EXAMPLES OF SCAM EMAILS:
Do you have the horse available for sale if yes get back to me asap...let me know if the horse is available to purchase..
Cindy
________________________________________________________
Hello,
Thanks for the email...i am interested in the item and i am willing to send out Payment for it asap...don't worry about Shipment, i have a private shipping company that will come for the pick up as soon as payment has been made...i am going to mail out payment inform of a money order so i want you to email me your full mailing address and the name that you want on the payment...
Regards
Kevin
____________________________________________________________
Hello,
Thanks,i am still interested and Okay with the price .This is how i will
want us to seal the transaction because i do not want any delay at all.So
all i am going to do is to issue you a Certified Check/money order of 2000 � which will
be for both the shipping and your own money 500 � .So all i will want
you to do is when you receive the payment,deduct your own money and
send the remaining shipping funds Via western union to my
International Shipping Agent ,once he receives the balance, he will
come over to your location for pick up, now the
money wired to the shipper is his fees for his services,
transportation to your location and back to me, also for all charges
that may arise along this transaction cos i will want it to be
delivered to me safe and sound without problems,i shall send you my
shipper address as soon as i contact him.
So if this terms are okay by you i will need your contact address and
phone number so that i can forward to my associate who will be
issuing you the payment.
I look forward to your reply.
Thanks.
Note that the shipping funds will be wired to my international agent that
will come for the pickup,he will be the one to arrange the shipping,to
where i am living.Now that we have an agreement I will
like you to remove the advert you placed on the website so that you
will receive no more offers.The payment will be sent to you via fedex. I
will give you a call as soon as possible. Information required
to send payment will be required in this format:
NAME ...........
FULL ADDRESS.........
CITY.............
STATE.........
COUNTRY.....
ZIP CODE.........
Phone number........
Thank you and have a nice weekend ahead.
____________________________________________________________
Good day
I'm Interested in buying your advertised (Horse) Well,I have seen the advert and I think I'll like to contact the seller before I can proceed.So i want you to email me some recent pic's of it and also i want you to get back to me with the actual price for it So as for me to proceed with this transaction.I will be paying you with a Certified Check that is drawn From United State Bank.
I need your quick respond
Mr John Smith
____________________________________________________________
john lema wrote:
Hello
Thank you very much for your swift response and for telling me the (Horse) is still available. I am satisfied with the conditions as you have stated in the ad. I would have love to call you, but i am presently attending a conference in New Zealand. At the conference we are restricted to phone calls and are only allowed to make use of the internet. I have a schedule already. I need to attend an important seminar so i wont be able to come to check it at your place. Since i am okay with the condition and price which is($5000)i will be sending you a certified check that will cover the amount of the (Horse) and the moving funds. You are to take your money for the item from the check as soon as you get it cashed/cleared at your bank and have the rest sent to the mover via western union money transfer. For your inconvenience, i will add $100 with the payment to be your running around fee. I'm always a busy person and i will not like to miss this item. The information of the mover will be sent to you after the check is received and the mover will be at your location for the pick up with a signed note explaining that he will be assuming responsibility for the (Horse) on my behalf. Kindly get back to me with the following information for issuing of the payment:
NAME:
ADDRESS :
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE NUMBER:
Hope to read from you soon Regard.
SAME RESPONSE SENT TO ANOTHER USER BUT THIS TIME FOR A SADDLE:
Hello
Thank you very much for your swift response and for telling me the (Saddle) is still available. I am satisfied with the conditions as you have stated in the ad. I would have love to call you, but i am presently attending a conference in New Zealand. At the conference we are restricted to phone calls and are only allowed to make use of the internet. I have a schedule already. I need to attend an important seminar so i wont be able to come to check it at your place. Since i am okay with the condition and price which is($800)i will be sending you a certified check that will cover the amount of the (Saddle) and the moving funds. You are to take your money for the item from the check as soon as you get it cashed/cleared at your bank and have the rest sent to the mover via western union money transfer. For your inconvenience, i will add $100 with the payment to be your running around fee. I'm always a busy person and i will not like to miss this item. The information of the mover will be sent to you after the check is received and the mover will be at your location for the pick up with a signed note explaining that he will be assuming responsibility for the (Saddle) on my behalf. Kindly get back to me with the following information for issuing of the payment:
NAME:
ADDRESS :
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE NUMBER:
Hope to read from you soon Regard.
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