Avoiding Scams & Fraud
You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:
- Deal locally with folks that you can meet in person - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on Ayuh.
- Never wire funds via Western Union or Moneygram, or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
- Fake cashier's checks and money orders are common. Banks will cash them and hold YOU responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
- Ayuh is not involved in any transaction and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification".
- Never give out financial information (bank account number, social security number, eBay or PayPal info, etc.)
- Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services.
- Only a scammer will guarantee your transaction.
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on Ayuh may be part of a scam, please email the details to . Be sure to include Ad ID# in your message.
Recognizing scams
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
- Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country.
- Western Union, MoneyGram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee".
- Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction.
Examples of Scams
1. Someone claims that Ayuh will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that Ayuh will handle or provide protection for a payment
- These claims are fraudulent, as ayuh.org does not have any role in any transaction.
- The scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from ayuh.org, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!
2. A distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check.
- You receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
- A cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
- The value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.
- Banks will often cash these fake checks and will hold you respobsible when the check fails to clear.
- The scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)
3. Someone requests a wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
- Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is false, once you've wired money, it is gone.
- Scam "bait" items include laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything.
- common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere.
- The deal often seems too good to be true
4. A distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
- This is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is fake
- sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not.
The scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check.
- The deal often sounds too good to be true.
5. A distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.
- Most online escrow sites are fraudulent, operated by scammers.
- For more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud".
6. A distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods.
- They say that they trust you with the partial payment.
- They may say that they have already shipped the goods.
- The deal often sounds too good to be true.
7. A foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds
- A foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly.
- You are typically offered a percentage of payments received.
- This kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email.
Actual Scam Emails Received by Ayuh Sellers & Scam Ads
1st email:
Hello,
I am interested in purchasing your 1998 Pontiac Sunfire convertible.Please confirm asking price if its still available.
Regards,
Joe
2nd email:
Hello,
Thanks for your immediate response.Asking price of $3500 is okay.Presently
I am off the shores of Angola with my family where I work as a Drilling
Engineer on the coastal explorations with Exxon Mobil Oilfields.So I will
need to ask a colleague from my home town in Texas to send you a
Cashier's Check.Please send me your address,full name and telephone number
so that I can instruct my colleague to send you the Check.Since that is
the only means of payment I can offer now due to my present location.Do
not bother about the shipping to Angola I have a shipping agent who will
come over to the USA to ship some of my items from my home in Texas so he
would also come over to your house for pick up of the car.Please reply
asap.
Regards,
Joe
(08/07/07) From: awwalandy4@yahoo.com
I\'m agent interested in immediate purchase of your truck
After several consideration over the advert placed on the website,my client has really shown interest in it and would really want to issue the payment in form of Certified cheque.Will you be accepting a Certified cheque? The Certified cheque that will be drawn by my client would include the cost for shipping this truck
to my client the shipping company Funds will include on the same Certified cheque.We shall solely be responsible for the shippment of the truck
Please contact me asap via email for futher questions as regards this transaction if you really show willingness in selling this truckasap.Thank You and I\'m expecting your urgent response today?? kindly get to me with your full information name and address so that the cheque will be issued out to you as soon as possible .You ought to get back with your
FULL NAME , MAILING ADDRESS ALSO YOU CONTACT PHONE NUMBER .
So the payment will be issued out to you without delay and note that the payment will be delivered through courier .Hope to hear from you ontime and looking forward in doing this transaction with you now and in the nearest future with you again ...............so you ought to get back to me through my email address awwalandy4@yahoo.com and also kindly tell me the final asking price for the truck
(08/07/07) From: princesshabiba_islam@yahoo.com
Hello Seller ,
I have immediate purchase of your item directly to my store in west africa which i will hand over the shipment through my shipper in africa which i hope you accept CASHIER CHECK as mode of your payment.
{1} If so then i will like to know the condition of the this particular item right away.
{2}I want to let you know that you will receive a CHECK of $4,000 so i want you to deduct your total cost and send the remaining CASH to my shipper so that they will come over for the pick up immediately.
{3} I will like you to forward your full name and your address with your mobile number to send out to my FINANCIAL MANAGER to issue out your payment imemdiately.
Regards.
princesshabiba_islam@yahoo.com
(08/07/07) From: sandra4love_neloson@yahoo.com
Hello Seller ,
>p>
I have immediate purchase of your item directly to my store in west africa which i will hand over the shipment through my shipper in africa which i hope you accept CASHIER CHECK as mode of your payment.
{1} If so then i will like to know the condition of the this particular item right away.
{2}I want to let you know that you will receive a CHECK of $4,000 so i want you to deduct your total cost and send the remaining CASH to my shipper so that they will come over for the pick up immediately.
{3} I will like you to forward your full name and your address with your mobile number to send out to my FINANCIAL MANAGER to issue out your payment imemdiately.
Regards.
sandra4love_neloson@yahoo.com
(08/15/07) From: dinosexy_buy02@yahoo.com
My gretings to you and your family ,
I am the purchaser of your item which you place an advertisement that you need a buyer to purchase it so i like to let you know that i am ready to purchase out of the state to my store over there in africa .
So i like to know if the itm is still in a perfect condition and if you accept CASHIER CHECK as mode of your payment.
If so then i will like to let you know that i will handel the shipment by my SHIPPER over there in texas so i will like you to deduct the total cost of your item immediately you cash my check and send the remaining money to my shipper through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER ,so that they can come for the pick up to my store immmediately.
Regards.
dinosexy_buy02@yahoo.com
(08/15/07) From: ERICSTORE001@yahoo.com
Hello
Am Mr ERIC JAMES, my agent just informed me of the urgent need of this item,
After severalconsideration over the advert placed on the website and the only way i can make the payment is (western union money transfer online payment) if you agree with me i will like you to get back to me with you transfer full infomation to make the transfer and i will like to say that the item is need for my soon in united kingdom for her birthday i need 2 of this items and as soon as you receieve the confirmation mail from the bank mail you are going to ship the item and after you have ship out the item with 24hours you will receieve your money in your account.if you intersting to sell it to me mail me to this mail (ERICSTORE001@yahoo.com) i will be waiting for your respond soonest....
thanks
(08/20/07) From: kristiano_fun@yahoo.com
hello seller
i saw your advert placed on net that you want to sell your Trucks ,do you still have this car for sale ? i am highly interested in buying it and i will be making the payment rightaway ok let m know the final asking price and the working condition ok get back to me asap
(08/26/07) From: looking_sexy02@yahoo.com
Hello
My Company will like to buy 1 units of your item and our mode of payment is through check or money order,pls let us know if you are ok
with our mode of payment and also the total amo untnof the item which we
orderedfor and letus ve your contact Address,full Name and Phone Number the price of the item so we can send the payment fast.
(looking_sexy02@yahoo.com)
Thanks
ONE SCAM AD RECENTLY DELETED (08/26/07):
RESPONSE TO OUR INQUIRY EMAIL:
Hello
Good day to you. The puppy sofie is still very much available but she belongs to one Dr John in west africa. He only asked me to help him look for a good and christian home in the State for his baby because the weather over there in Africa is not too okay for the puppy. So I will like you to contact him regarding sofie and he will give you every info about her and also send you her pictures. Here is his contact details below.
Name: Dr John E. N
Email Address: drjohn_en2@yahoo.com
Phone Number: +2348026062193
Make sure you contact him immediately because I will also send him an email to let him know that you will be contacting him.
Regards
Nicky
RESPONSE FROM "DR JOHN":
BLESS YOU STAN,
FIRST I MUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY CUTE, LOVELY AND ADORABLE PUPPY SOFIE, I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU WERE BEING DIRECTED BY MR NICKY RODERS TO CONTACT ME ABOUT SOFIE. THE REASON WHY I WANT SOFIE TO RETURN BACK TO A GOOD HOME IN THE STATE IS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER OVER HERE IN AFRICA WHICH IS TOO HARSH FOR HER AND WHAT I REALLY WANT FOR SOFIE IS A GOOD AND CARING HOME WHICH YOU MUST ASSURE ME THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE HER WITH IF EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE HER BECAUSE SOFIE IS THE KIND OF PUPPY THAT DESERVES A BETTER HOME.
SOFIE IS AKC REGISTERED, UP TO DATE ON SHOTS AND VACCINATIONS, POTTY TRAINED, VET CHECKED, WEIGHS 3.1LBS BUT WILL WEIGH 4.2 TO 4.5LBS WHEN FULLY GROWN AND COMES WITH 1YR HEALTH GUARANTEE. SOFIE IS ALSO VERY SOCIAL AND SHE LOVES PLAYING WITH LITTLE CHILDREN AND CAN ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER PETS AS WELL. YOU WILL REALLY LOVE HER COMPANY BECAUSE SHE IS WISE, INTELLIGENT AND FUN TO BE WITH. SHE IS ALSO THE KIND OF PUPPY THAT EVERY GOOD HOME WILL LIKE TO HAVE.
ATTACHED BELOW ARE HER LOVELY PICTURES. I WILL BE EXPECTING YOUR REPLY TO KNOW HOW SOON YOU WILL LIKE TO HAVE HER INTO YOUR HOME AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE ADOPTION AND SHIPPING COST WHICH IS VERY MUCH AFFORDABLE. ALSO SEND ME YOUR FULL NAME, SHIPPING ADDRESS, DIRECT CELL NUMBER AND THE NEAREST AIRPORT CLOSE TO YOU. HOPING TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU SOON AND YOU CAN ALSO REACH ME THROUGH MY DIRECT CELL NUMBER WHICH IS +234-802-606-2193.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
DR JOHN
(08/26/07) From: charlottechoco@gmail.com
Hello,
How are you doing today,i hope everything is okay with you?I was
browsing through ayuh to check out some stuffs i need to buy and i
came across the ad for your item and would like to buy it because i really
like it.
I wish i could come down to you to look at it but unfortunately i am
still in Los angeles but will be moving there soon but i can do the whole
transaction from here.
Please kindly get back to me immediately if the item is still good
conditions for use and also if you can accept a cashier's check for payment
as that the is the only way i can have payment to you.The cashier's check
will be delivered to you via mail just fews days after it has been mailed
from here by me.
If you are ready to sell the item to me and okay with a cashier's
check,kindly get back with the informations below so i will use it to make
payment to you immediately i get them from you,
1)Full Name
2)Full Address
3)Phone Number
I want you to know that i am okay with the price of the item and i am
not going any less for it.But would be glad if you can do some reduction but
i am okay with the price
I would be so glad if you can sell the item to me as i would really
love to buy it as soon as possible and i want everything done fast because i
am moving out of LA soon and i am expecting a new baby.
Please don't bother yourself about the pick up,i know a forwarding
courier in your state,they will handle the pick up immediately you inform me
that you got your cashier's check and that you have cashed it,then i will
contact them to come for the pick up of the item at your location at your
own best time
I will be waiting for your quick response tomorrow latest.
Stay Blessed and Best Regards.
Reply to: cesc_ashmore_100@yahoo.com
Please email us if you receive any emails or see any ads posted that appear to be scams.
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