Sep 24, 2007 10:14 am US/Pacific
CBS 2 EXCLUSIVE: Online Sellers Beware!
by David Goldstein
These days, it's easier than ever for consumers to sell things online. Unfortunately, it's also just as easy for consumers to become targets for check fraud. Investigative reporter David Goldstein has the story. "I just put my wedding dress on recycler.com."
"You were advertising a Mercedes right?"
"Yes."
"They said they want your dog. Can't wait."
These people are like thousands going online selling their unwanted items in a virtual garage sale, but finding real life scammers at the other end.
"I thought I'd make some other bride very happy."
Lynette Tholkes wanted to sell her wedding dress, but is now out $1,600 after receiving an e-mail from a man, who said it was perfect for his bride-to-be -- even ending it saying, "God bless."
"They tug at the heartstrings because they know we're suckers and we're going to fall for it."
Mike Baig was selling his old car and lost $2,000 after getting a cashiers check in the mail.
"I took the check to Bank of America and they said it looked fine to me."
"Someone must have a lot of puppies."
And Mike Lewin was selling a puppy, but this retired LAPD detective was smart enough to smell a rat.
"I got quite a few responses. Unfortunately about 90 percent were not legit from scam artists."
Here's the way the scam works. The e-mailers offer you more than what you're asking -- sometimes several thousand more in a cashiers check. They tell you to deposit it then wire the excess money by Western Union to their shipper, who is supposed to pick up the item. You deposit the check, wire your hard earned money and then weeks later hear from your bank and find out the cashiers check was bogus.
"I just felt like I've been scammed big time."
No one ever comes to pick up the items and the consumers are out the money.
So we went online to see how it works, putting a puppy up for sale for $600. Using the name "Susan," it didn't take long to get email offers. They offered to send more money -- several thousand more -- claiming we were trustworthy. Many ended with "God bless."
"Hello Susan. This is Alex. How are you?"
One even called on the phone, all sent thousands of dollars in authentic looking checks from Bank of America, Big 5 Sporting Goods -- even postal money orders. All were counterfeit. The scam was the same.
"I want to make sure you have the money sent to my shipper tomorrow and get back to me with the Western Union information."
"Thanks so much and God bless."
Wayne Williams with the secret service is all too familiar with these scams. He says they're produced by Nigerians overseas, who are bilking people out of millions.
"The Web site purchase scams are really hitting us hard."
...Hitting them hard and those online looking to sell.
"Lesson learned... The hard way."
