Internet Con Artists - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 09:02 PM

I just had another experience with an internet con artist. I've had a few now... One involving hockey tickets, one involving a car I had for sale.....
I've never lost any money, but it's irritating as hell.

Today it involved a basement suite for rent. Basically, the price for the basement suite was a little below the norm, which naturally gained my interest. Upon contacting the individual (via email through craigslist) he asked me for my name and address of where I currently live, which i gave him. He then told me he was out of the Country and would send me the keys once I sent him first months rent......

Naturally, that isn't going to happen. So I said no.

My question is, I gave him my cell phone number, name, and address, can he gain anything from that?

secondly, what kind of laws are in place to catch these online criminals that seem to essentially scam people out of money, or get off scott free?

evilcougar · 05-21-2009, 09:08 PM

Maybe i'm a paranoid person who has been working for a credit agency for far to long, but, if i were you, i would make a quick call to Equifax and TransUnion and tell them your wallet was stolen and that you need to put an alert on your credit file.

There are many people out there that can do wonders wtih just a name never mind your address on top of that. I've dealt with tons of fraud cases in the last 9 years and i can tell you first hand from having my purse stolen once that it is the very best thing you can do for yourself to put an alert on your file.
It can be a pain b/c everytime you apply for credit you will have to call in to verify it's you thats applying, but, it's worth it.
Plus you should heavily consider obtaining a copy of your credit report at least once every 6 months.

Theres some major ######'s out there, and if they're trying to get you to send them a months rent BEFORE you even see the place, you just never know what else they're capable of....

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilcougar

Maybe i'm a paranoid person who has been working for a credit agency for far to long, but, if i were you, i would make a quick call to Equifax and TransUnion and tell them your wallet was stolen and that you need to put an alert on your credit file.

There are many people out there that can do wonders wtih just a name never mind your address on top of that. I've dealt with tons of fraud cases in the last 9 years and i can tell you first hand from having my purse stolen once that it is the very best thing you can do for yourself to put an alert on your file.
It can be a pain b/c everytime you apply for credit you will have to call in to verify it's you thats applying, but, it's worth it.
Plus you should heavily consider obtaining a copy of your credit report at least once every 6 months.

Theres some major ######'s out there, and if they're trying to get you to send them a months rent BEFORE you even see the place, you just never know what else they're capable of....

Can't people get your address from a phone book anyways? So I don't really understand the big deal. And i'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand what the difference is. I didn't give any banking information. No home phone, the house I'm in isn't in my name. The Cell phone I have is a business phone and it isn't even in my name.....

RougeUnderoos · 05-21-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilcougar

There are many people out there that can do wonders wtih just a name never mind your address on top of that.

I've got a book sitting next to my desk with the names, addresses and phone numbers of hundreds of thousands of people. It's the phone book.

I understand being cautious with personal information but this sounds like paranoia.

05-21-2009, 09:21 PM

Um, my first thought is to phone the police. They can make sure that if it is fraud, this person can be stopped before he preys on someone stupider (I know it's not a word, but I like it)than you. It'll also be on file if you have any issues with your credit/identity in the future.

evilcougar · 05-21-2009, 09:27 PM

As i said, i've been dealing with fraud cases for the last 9 years.
Yes you can get such things from a phone book, but most people that have the patience to use a phone book woudln't be thinking of fraud.
People who are ######y enough to post a fraudulent post on craigslist like that, won't go to a phone book, they'll wait for someone unsuspecting and far too trusting to give in.

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Um, my first thought is to phone the police. They can make sure that if it is fraud, this person can be stopped before he preys on someone stupider (I know it's not a word, but I like it)than you. It'll also be on file if you have any issues with your credit/identity in the future.

I was talking to the actual owner of the house, the scam artist that had it for rent wasn't even the owner of the house. I notified the owner of the house that his house was being used as part of a scam, showed him the ad on craigslist, and told him he should do something about it. If there are people being taken for money because of this, they will be going to him to look for a refund.....

RougeUnderoos · 05-21-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilcougar

As i said, i've been dealing with fraud cases for the last 9 years.
Yes you can get such things from a phone book, but most people that have the patience to use a phone book woudln't be thinking of fraud.
People who are ######y enough to post a fraudulent post on craigslist like that, won't go to a phone book, they'll wait for someone unsuspecting and far too trusting to give in.

I don't have any expertise in the fraud business, but I know it's easier to pick up the white pages than it is to cook up a Craigslist ad and string someone along until you get their name, address and phone number.

evilcougar · 05-21-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I don't have any expertise in the fraud business, but I know it's easier to pick up the white pages than it is to cook up a Craigslist ad and string someone along until you get their name, address and phone number.

The point is that he's been in contact with a ###### fraudster. Take the advice or don't. I'm just saying, i've experienced this first hand. Do what you want with it.

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 10:00 PM

I agree with both of you, Rouge and Cougar. I don't think anything will come of it, because the information i gave can be found in a phone book. At the same time, I think I will maybe run a credit check in the next week and again in 6 months or so. It's better to be safe than sorry.

RougeUnderoos · 05-21-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilcougar

The point is that he's been in contact with a ###### fraudster. Take the advice or don't. I'm just saying, i've experienced this first hand. Do what you want with it.

Hey fair enough, but my particulars are in the phone book. What can someone do with that information?

evilcougar · 05-21-2009, 10:10 PM

You would be surprised. When my staff take an application from a "new borrower" they must provide a bill that gets mailed to their house every month, a paystub, id, and a few other things. It would shock you the number of times i've seen a fake shaw bill cross my desk.
All i'm sayin is you can't be to careful....

You Need a Thneed · 05-21-2009, 10:18 PM

they do it the other way too, try to scam people who have placed legitimate ads for places they want to rent out. If it seems weird, it probobly is.

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 10:32 PM

Ok, I think I may have conned a con-man, so I used another email address, played along, got his name, address and place to send the money to.... what should I do? I don't think the police would even care.....bigger fish to fry I'm sure.

Phaneuf3 · 05-21-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Ok, I think I may have conned a con-man, so I used another email address, played along, got his name, address and place to send the money to.... what should I do? I don't think the police would even care.....bigger fish to fry I'm sure.

order free stuff to his house. here's a start:
http://www.mormon.org/bookofmormon

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 11:02 PM

His phone number : 2348079133730
email : manultd4life@yahoo.com

emails originally went by the name Ryan Giggs

Receives name..........Josh Collins
Receivers address......block 9 crescent road
city:........................Ikeja
state:......................Lagos
country....................nigeria
zipcode....................23401

Obviously I didn't know he was from Nigeria......

the craigslist ad has been taken down. I have power!!!

Bagor · 05-21-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

emails originally went by the name Ryan Giggs

Soccer player for Man Utd.

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagor

Soccer player for Man Utd.

Thanks, I googled it and seen it all over the place. I don't follow soccer at all so I didn't know prior to yesterday though.

I should also add, after reading on Kijiji and Craigslist, this form of fraud is very common. I guess a lot of people give money trusting they will receive keys from the said landlord.

Swarly · 05-21-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Obviously I didn't know he was from Nigeria......

in the next email ask him if he has untold millions he is trying to get out of the country also. offer some help

CalgaryFan1988 · 05-21-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swarly

in the next email ask him if he has untold millions he is trying to get out of the country also. offer some help

Not this guy, he is an underwater welder who was supposed to be out of the city for a couple months, but got a contract extension for 2 years...... Also doesn't really need the money, just wants someone to look after his place, until I asked for the keys before he got the money. Then suddenly his wife was sick in the hospital and he was drowning in medical bills.....