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Texting Scams

3.9K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  CowboyRam  
#1 ·
Just wondering, has anybody else been receiving text messages from out of state buyers?

I advertise on Craig's List and a couple of other sites. I list my number in those ads. For at least the last month, I receive a text message from somebody out of state (can tell because caller ID shows their area code) at least once a week inquiring about buying hay.

Just today I received a text from somebody in Chicago (I'm in Texas) wanting to buy hay.

It's always the same.:.i want to buy some hay, my mover will pick it up, need your name and address to mail the check.

I know it's some type of identity theft scam. Sometimes
I play along. When they ask what name to put on the check and where to mail it to, I reply by saying:

Make the check out to:

Donald Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington DC

One time, after sending who to make the check out to, the little scammer sent me a reply saying that the checks in the mail. He didn't even know who the President is.
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Yeah, I get that all the time.

Typically, they happen to be 'out of the country on business' but they will have their accountant make out the check and mail it. The way the scam works is that the cashiers check that they send has to be honored by the bank and paid out, but it actually takes that check a week or two to fully clear through the banks (that's when they find out it's a bogus check). By then the mover has been paid with the 'extra' that the buyer has sent you and you are left being responsible for the amount of the check (along with whatever penalties, etc. arise from it).

One time when I asked them to call me so we could talk voice-to-voice, they said they were in a DoD controlled facility and couldn't make any calls. I did hear back from them after I asked how they were allowed to text but not make phone calls.

I've gotten really good and filtering the bogus inquiries about hay from the real ones. Typical clues are grammar mistakes, they are out of the country or they ask the same question that you've already answered (sometime multiple times).
 
#3 ·
Whenever they say the mover or shipper will pick up the hay I know it's fake. When has a real hay buyer said a shipper or mover is going to pick up hay?
 
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#10 ·
Here is the latest one I have got:

Him

Hi,
My name is James, I'd like more information about your Hay listing, Could you please get back to me with the types of hay you have left, price per ton or bale and the numbers of quantities you have left, Let me know if you have Straw available too.

Regards,
James

Hay Inquiry !

Me

Good Morning,

Small squares are 1st cutting grass/clover $3.50/bale and 1st cutting mixed grass $3.00
Round bales are mixed grass 1st cutting 4x4 $35 and 4x5 $43

Have 3200 bales of the small squares.

Please contact me with any more question.

Him

How are you doing today? I appreciate your immediate response back to me, I am glad to let you know that I'm purchasing the requested quantity below: **( 300 Round bales of mixed grass 1st cutting 4x4 )**
It will be shipped to my Location at ( Wakefield, Kansas ) though I am currently out of the States and wouldn't be back till the end of December, but that would not stop our transaction.
So let's proceed with the Payment, I 'm going to request for a Certified Cashier's check from my Bank for the requested quantity and have my Banker mail it to your address via The United States Postal Service. My Shippers will load and pick up when Payment clears your Bank, I Would need the following details to process the Cashier's Check to be sent out to you the next business day
__________________
* Name To Be On Cashier's Check:
*Home or P.O Box Address : ( to Send Payment )
*Cell Phone Number :
*Total Amount For The Quantity Requested :
__________________

Email me back the above details when you can, and you can also text me on my Cell Number: <a>(785) 615-0641</a>, I might not be able to make a voice call on this number because I'm a stammerer and I always feel bad anytime I talk on phone, but I can always reply back your email and text message anytime you get in touch. Have a great Day.

Regards,
James

Me, pretty obvious it's a scam now

Good Morning,

Well that is not an issue. When the truck is in my driveway and has cash I will be glad to load the round bales on.

By the way I don't have 300 in inventory so not sure where you got that number. If your scamming you need to do a better job.

Me a week later

No interest in the hay???????????????
 
#14 ·
For those of you that are on Facebook. Facebook has opened up messenger up so that you don't have to have an Facebook account to use messenger. No wonders I have been getting all of these messages from young single women. I had one that contacted me and a little bit after talking with her I decided that she was fake; I called her out on it and she got offended. These scammer will use any means to get your money. If they spent half as much time doing go as the do scamming this world would be a lot better place to live.