Carousell Alert: Nigerian (?) Buyer Tries to Scam Seller (Me)

Thursday 12:30a.m.

So boring the scam. Don't try to scam me with your African scam, Ok?

A scam must be smooth like the Osaka Bags fraudster, such that it's natural & smooth & nobody must suspect a thing. A scam that raises doubts right at the beginning is a failure.

Stupid Nigerian African. Don't even know how to scam.

Sian. No business for my items. The only 2 messages I get are from this boring scammer.

It's also not the first time I received such a message. Previously when I listed items on Gumtree, a weirdo also messaged with the same MO.  At that time, I didn't think it was a scam, but it was just too gibberish to bother with (it didn't make sense).

This time on Carousell, is the first time I receive such a message. User id: vipper21.  It's quite common that some buyers have no feedback score because they just joined to buy something, so no score is not a problem.

But look at the message:

 

1) All deals are done on Carousell. But this person wants to move it outside.
2) "seldom sign in here"?  Is a very poor excuse for not doing the transaction on Carousell. After all, he is here on Carousell asking about the items. So why seldom sign in here? Doesn't make sense.

When the target "victim" starts questioning like that, the scam fails. The Nigerian scammer is a failure. 

Giving him the beginning benefit of the doubt, I moved to my e-mail & explained details & meet up assuming he is in Singapore. However, he replied as Fred Jackson (fredjackson2004@gmail.com), which is strange.

His e-mail:

Hello i am Mr Fred Jackson from United State Of America,how are you
today and how are your families ? hope all is good ? well i am
interested in buying the item for my daughter in THAILAND, because it
my child that need it  and i hope she would like it , so kindly get to
me with the total cost of the item including the shipping cost to her
address below with post office, i pay through either Paypal or Bank
transfer ok reply soon.


First Name-Morin
Last Name-Jackson
Address: 397 Moo 5 Prachasamosorn Road,
Zip Code-40000
State-Muang
City-Khon Kaen
Country-Thailand

Thanks and have a blessed day

1)  Look at the creepy start. It's like a cold mail, first time. Not a continuation from Carousell. And what's with the "Fred Jackson"?

2) A real US person won't spell out the entire US of A.  That's just soo... boring. And missed out an "s" for "States". Which US person misses out the "s"? I had to look at the sender's name again. Fred Jackson is an American name but he sure does not sound American.

3) Why is the daughter in Thailand, an asian country instead of in the USA?

4)  "because it my child that need it"? The poor English & phrasing don't sound like USA.

5) Getting the total cost for shipping to another country is very troublesome.  I used to do it & it's really troublesome.  In the end, the item becomes so super expensive, it's ridiculous, even if I am not the one paying for it. Plus, having to pack it for shipping overseas. Time-consuming.  Not worth the time or money paid to me.

6)  Problem with payment options with overseas people. Plus, Paypal problem. That's why I stopped sending anything overseas.  From the scammer's options, it leaves only bank transfer since my Paypal is closed.

Bank transfer. Now this is a problem because Telegraphic transfer is Very Expensive for the person paying. There's the actual amount, plus 2 sides of bank fees.

7) No full stop. And I don't like the "ok reply soon".  Rude.

I checked the address & didn't find it on Google map or results. Then I googled "Fred Jackson USA scam". Found it right in the first result.  419 scam. Second result '"Scam Alert Singapore" mentions cases with the same MO.

Ahh! I'm having a headache from lack of sleep & bad eyesight.  Goodnight.

I wanted to check the scammer's location (whether he's in Singapore) by clicking on his Carousell profile but his account has been deleted.  Guess someone reported him.

Then again, if he is using a random mobile number, then his profile will just state whatever he chooses to enter.

(Update: Thurs 3 March). Here's another one. I posted a few items on Gumtree SG & this guy contacted me through Gumtree for all the items with similar & identical messages.

As one of the earlier messages seemed normal, I gave it the benefit of the doubt & replied to the e-mail address. (Only later, I received identical messages to my other items & knew it was that same MO again.).

Here is the reply 2 days later:  

Tim Anthony <tmmxxx008000@gmail.com>

I replied to the Gumtree message because I tested it first. Gumtree messages always send with "signed by Gumtree.co.za", which is South African.  I ignored all the messages based on this.

Yesterday, I tested it.

Even when I sent message to myself on Gumtree, it is still "signed by Gumtree.co.za". So, I gave this Tim Anthony the benefit of the doubt & replied to his e-mail address.

However, note that the scammer's initial contact is always the same.  On Carousell & now on Gumtree.  It's always:  he don't log in to the account, don't check here... just to direct you to go to e-mail (out of the Carousell or Gumtree system).

(Update 30 Mar Wed):  I received another 2 different "styles" recently for my Gumtree SG listings.  One of them I deleted. Another one is here (scammer sent identical message to 2 items, not knowing that the 2 items are listed by me):

The thing is, I included my e-mail in my listings, so there is no reason for a buyer to ask for my e-mail to "discuss".

What this scammer is doing is simply clicking on any item & just sending this message without even looking at the content of the listing. That's why scammer doesn't know that these items are listed by the same seller. Scammer doesn't care because he/she is crazy.

Frankly, getting messages from this stupid scammer is boring. I feel like scolding him. I am waiting for real sales & real money. But this clown keeps spamming with lousy bait like this.

What "Oh! i guess you still post it for sale"?  A real buyer will straightaway ask to get the item & even give me his mobile number.

In fact, a buyer recently was upset about communication using this "e-mail". He wanted to use the phone. I thought he was either a scammer or an iphone addict. In the end, he left. Good riddance. I am not so desperate to sell to a psycho who sounded aggressive when I didn't give him my number.

Update: Mon 25 July 2016:  Here's another on Carousell. The same thing. Getting people out of Carousell to go to e-mail. It's very silly.  Nobody ever asks for e-mail anymore. It's too outdated. Why the heck will people want to go out of Carousell chat to go to e-mail?  And why can't the person ask whatever he wants on the chat just as he is doing so now?

I just delete the message. Makes no sense. His new ID:  bara__bara