TNT UK DEPOT, WOLVERHAMPTON DEPOT, SUSAN WALSH, ANTHONY CRAMPTON CRAIGSLIST SCAM, TOO-GOOD-TO-BE TRUE COMPUTER PRICE, TNT DEPOT BOGUS ADDRESS Wolverhampton Internet

Found an ad on Craigslist for an Apple 14" iBook G4 computer for $340. Deal sounded too good to be true, my first tip-off. Emailed to say I was interested. Got letter back:

"Subject: Re: 14 inches mac ibook laptop - G4 - custom made - mint condition - $340

You emailed me about my G4 ibook from craigslist. I've replied to your email but I don't know if you have received my email. My outlook express is acting crazy, I am so sorry about this. Anyway, here I go again. Below is the email I sent you. My email address is Sus_Walsh@hotmail.com

Hello
I still have the laptop. The laptop is a US model, 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 (shipping is on me).

Let me know what you think.
Best,
Susan"

I sent her back a email stating:
"Oops, just noticed you're in the UK. Wow. Two-day delivery works.OK, let's do it. You do promise that this is on the level, right?!?"

Her response:
"Yes - there is nothing wrong with the laptop. It is in perfect working and cosmetic condition. Did you read TNT's procedure on their website? It is explained there how their service works. Let me know after you read their procedure so I can be certain that we are on the same page:

http://shiptnt.co.uk/tnt.express.wolverhampton.depot.overseas.transactions/details.html

Best
Susan"

I then told her I would accept the purchase and emailed my address and phone numbers back. Then I received a series of emails from this shipping company TNT stating the product was received and checked to be in good working order, etc. The email went on to state:

"The payment must be made throughWestern UnionMoney Transfer to the Name of the TNT Agent who is in charge with this transaction - Anthony Crampton using the Money in Minutes Service from Western Union.

Important Note: The Payment must be made at one of Western Union's Agent Locations, in person by the Buyer. The payment must not be made usingWestern Union's Send Money Online Service due to the high Credit Card fraud risk. We will not confirm any payments made online.

You must go to a Western UnionAgent Location and make a Money Transfer to the Name of the TNT Agent who is responsible with this transaction - Anthony Crampton.

In order to complete the Money Transfer using the Money in Minutes Service you will need the Payment Details of our TNT Agent:
Please make your Money Transfer payable to:

First Name: Anthony
Last Name: Crampton
Address: 214 Bowery Street
City: Wolverhampton
Zip(City Code): S22 1TF
Country: United Kingdom"

I did a bunch of internet scouring to make sure TNT sounded on the level. Their main web site and the link looked perfect to me. But then I navigated to the TNT site myself without using a link, and I could not track the package left with the company in the U.K.

I was all ready to head off to my local Western Union office to wire money when I decided something just struck me as being odd about this. I did another search through Yahoo! and found a link to a Ripoff Report that was almost identical to what I was experiencing. Different computer, same scam!!

I am still waiting to hear back from TNT, but there is no office on their web site in Wolverhampton, U.K. But there must be someone at the address where the money is supposed to be sent. They need to be caught.

Blobbobob
Erdenheim, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.