I Found what I thought was a great deal on Craigs List
Used Laptop: Top of the Line, Apple 14'' iBook Laptop - $375
responded to the ad and recieved this:
Hello
I still have the laptop. The laptop was made to be used in USA, and it comes with warranty. I have attached some pics with the laptop to this e-mail. I am now in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Since I can't meet you and make the exchange, I would like to use a service that will help us with that:
www.tnt.com/tnt.express.wolverhampton.depot/third_party_service.html
TNT is a worldwide delivery company (like Fedex, DHL or UPS). You can see from their procedure that you will be able to check the laptop before I receive the payment. If you are in a hurry, I will use 2 day delivery (on my expense).
Let me know what you think.
Best, Susan
along with a bunch of pictures of the laptop
TNT is a legitimate Company and the link that she sent me looked exactly like the real deal.
I agreed to the deal, "TNT" sent me instructions to make payment.
"Through this email we have the pleasure to inform you that the merchandise has been left in our custody. The shipping fee has been paid by the Seller. The Payment Information (in this case about the Western Union Money Transfer) must be sent to us for verification. The Payment Information that you need to send to us are: MTCN - Money Transfer Control Number, Sender's Name and Sender's Address, Amount Transferred. Please send us the Payment Information at: TNT On-Line Payment Department"
I paid for the Item via western union and sent them the transfer control number.
I then recieved a payment verification form from "TNT" that stated:
Dear TNT Customer,
We have received your payment information about the Western Union Money Transfer:
- Money Transfer Control Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX
- Sender's Name: XXXXX XXXXX
- Sender's Address: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Mesa, AZ, 85205, USA
- Amount Transferred: USD $375.00
We will begin the delivery of your package to your shipping address after your payment is received. Please allow us up to 12 hours for the payment confirmation. TNT services include the delivery of your package to your Delivery Address.
Delivery Address:
Address: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
City / State: XXXXXXXXXX,XX
Zip(City Code): XXXXX
Country: USA
Delivery Type: TNT Express 2 Days Delivery
A Delivery Alert with an ETA ( estimate time of arrival ) for your package will be sent to your e-mail for your convenience when we begin the delivery of your package.
TNT
Thank you for using TNT
John Scales - TNT Payment Department
Wolverhampton Depot
214 Bowery Street
Wolverhampton
S22 1TF
Customer Department
General Manager: Robert Kay
Email: TNT On-Line Customer Service
Three days later I started to suspect things were not quite legit and started checking my conformation number which did not show any update and when I put my number in the real TNT tracking system it turned up as a bad number.
I got scammed but good. I must admit these guys did a bang up job keeping me wrapped around there finger and in the dark until it was too late.
Please don't let this happen to you or someone you know.
Kevin
mesa, Arizona
U.S.A.