[SCCC] ALMOST Clever New Scam on Ham Radio Gear 4 Sale

[Dennis Vernacchia]

* ( Note to List Moderators )*
*
The radio in question has been used to work DX and Contests
so hopefully this is on subject !



Most of you, I am sure are aware, of the many scams that go on when you
place items
for sale on the internet.

Well this one was clever and a first time reception for me.

I have a ICOM 706 I recently listed on QTH.com and received what looked like
a valid inquiry
from a ham who supposedly is a member of the Aberdeen Amateur Radio Club in
Scotland
I looked up callsign in QRZ.com and that's what GS3BSQ callsign traced back
to !

Here is first mail I received*

*Dear Dennis Vernacchia N6KI,

You have received a response to your ad, titled "ICOM IC-706 Mark II with
accessories",
that you have running on the QTH.COM Free Ham Radio Classified Ads.

The response is from:

Name: robert rey
Callsign: GS3BSQ
E-mail: robertrey55 at yahoo.com
*


*So I wrote the guy back and said I would NOT ship any gear overseas and
suggest he find a U.S. ham who he knows
I could handle transaction thru and let his friend worry about shipping rig
overseas and dealing with customs.
I also mentioned I would only accept PayPal or U.S. Postal Money Order
( Yes, I know USPS Money Orders can be forged and how to deal with that
issue )

So here came his reply back*

*From    Rey Robert <robertrey55 at yahoo.com>
to    Dennis Vernacchia <n6ki73 at gmail.com>
date    Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 3:48 AM
subject    Payment for ICOM IC-706 Mark II with ...
mailed-by    yahoo.com

hide details 3:48 AM (4 hours ago)


Reply

    Follow up message

    Hello Dennis Vernacchia,
    Thanks for your mail i want you to know that the price $495 is okay with
me. In respect of payment i have a client in the U.S who owes me $3000. All
i need to do to make payment easier and faster is to instruct him to issue a
cashier check and mail it to you on the address and name you want on the
check and you know it takes 24hrs for a cashiers check to clear in the U.S.
    But i would want to know if i can trust you to send my balance to me via
western union or money gram after the money must have cleared in your bank
to enable me prepay the shipping company here so that they can instruct
their office in the U.S to come for the pick-up from your location.. Please
mail me asap to enable me arrange payment. Furnish me with your name and
address, so i will forward it to my client for payment.

    With respect,
    R.Rey.*
*
OK...so I knew right away it's some Bozo in Nigeria etc** pulling the old, I
send you a bogus cashiers check routine where you cash the check,
send his buddy your rig and gear and by the time the check bounces, a few
weeks later, he has your REAL cash and rig
and bank has debited your account !!!!



Anyway...I thought it was very clever that this guy knew to use a real
ham radio entity to run his ruse !

I have to give him a Gold Star for his effort !

I'd like to play with him and at minimum get the bogus check in my hand
just to frame on the wall, but I think I will use the time to chase some DX
Spots or Contest  !!

Caveat Emptor on selling your ham gear and whatever on the net  !

BTW, EHAM logs and reports his I.P. but I bet that is bogus and been
anomized !

73, Dennis N6KI*