Craigslist scam baiting, part 4

Well, here we go again.  It’s just so much fun baiting these stupid criminals!  And apparently, all you internetizens also are quite amused by my scammer correspondences because there are now over 300 comments on the other scam posts here, here, here, and here.

This time up, a new Craigslist scammer posted their ad to sell a Macbook Pro.  $999 bucks for a sweet system, obviously too good to be true.  I contacted the seller with more questions.  Here’s the answer I got back:

From: Debra Hoeck
Subject: Re: NEW !!! APPLE MACBOOK PRO 17″ NOTEBOOK LAPTOP 2.93GHZ 1TB HD 8G – $999 (colo springs )
Date: March 19, 2011 4:19:17 PM MDT
To: Rob Lund

Hello and sorry for delay,

Thank you for your interest in purchasing one of the Apple Macbook PRO 17″ Notebook Laptop for $999 that I have for sale. The laptop is brand new and it comes with Apple Care 2 year extended Warranty Feb 2012. I will be sending you the pertinent paper work along with the laptop via FedEx 2Day freight. I am not willing to start the shipping until I you make the payment. For protection I will close the transaction only through Google Checkout. You will be able to check the laptop before I receive the payment if you buy it.

My husban had a bussines in this domain but unfortunately he passed away 3 months ago. (Oh, so sad!) I moved back where I was born in Provo,UT and now it will be shipped from here. Only 5 laptops left so please let me know how many you are interested to buy and email me your name and shipping address.

Thank you,

Debra Hoeck

All laptops come with the following configuration:

Processor 065-8136 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 065-8141 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM 2X4GB
Hard Drive 065-1069 1000 GB 1TB Hard Drive
Optical Drive 065-8145 SuperDrive 8X
Display 065-8646 DISPLAY-HI RES, GL,Widescreen
Apple Care 2 Year Extended Warranty Feb 2012
Apple Box + Magsafe Wall Charger & Extension Cord & Manuals Are Included

Pre Installed: I LIFE 2011: IMOVIE 2011, IPHOTO ‘2011, GARAGE BAND 2011′, IWEB 2011′, IDVD 2011, MICROSOFT OFFICE 2011: WORD 2011′, EXCEL 2011′, POWERPOINT 2011′, ENTOURAGE 2011’, IWORK 2009″, APERTURE 3 PHOTO EDITING SUITE

FINAL CUT PRO 7 COMPLETE!, ROXIO TOAST TITANIUM 10,ADOBE PHOTO SHOP CS5 +

Photos: http://s1135.photobucket.com/albums/m639/debrahoeckk/

Hmmm, I thought. Sounds fishy to me, although the whole Google Checkout angle is a new one. I googled her name and found her same name and email listed here as a scammer.  Ok, so it’s not legit, but at least I can play some, right?  Here’s my reply:

From:     Rob Lund
Subject:     Re: NEW !!!  APPLE MACBOOK PRO 17″ NOTEBOOK LAPTOP 2.93GHZ 1TB HD 8G – $999 (colo springs )
Date:     March 19, 2011 8:45:28 PM MDT
To:     Debra Hoeck <debrahoeck2@verizon.net>

Sounds good, Debra.  Sorry about your dead husband. (I couldn’t resist the gallows humor!)

I tell you what.  Let’s make it $750/ea and I’ll buy 2 from you.  Sound fair?

Here is hers:

From: Debra Hoeck
Subject: Re: NEW !!! APPLE MACBOOK PRO 17″ NOTEBOOK LAPTOP 2.93GHZ 1TB HD 8G – $999 (colo springs )
Date: March 19, 2011 4:19:17 PM MDT

I want to let you know that only 2 laptops left at this moment. I am not begging you to buy my laptop for this price so please don’t disturb me anymore if you are not decided to buy it! I have my personal reasons to sell them for this price.The laptops are brand new with warranty so you don’t have to worry! Just let me know your name and address if you want to buy.Also I forgot to tell you that you have 2 days return policy.

Debra

Well, someone’s all uppity!  So I start wasting his/her time a bit.  My grand plan this time around is to exploit the whole Utah angle.  I’ve got this obsession with Mormons, especially of the fundamentalist stripe.  We’re talking polygamists here, people.  So I did some research and it turns out that back in 1800 something-or-other, there was a Quorum of Twelve 1 member by my last name.  Can you imagine that?!  The cruel irony here is that it took a moronic internet scammer to bring this bit of juicy family history to my attention.

Anyway, the dude’s name was Anthon Lund. He will be my uncle for the purposes of this scam bait.  Here’s dear old uncle Anthon’s picture:

Anthon H. Lund
Anthon H. Lund, esteemed apostle of the Quorum of Twelve, circa 1889

So here is my leading reply:

From:     Rob Lund
Subject:     Re: NEW !!!  APPLE MACBOOK PRO 17″ NOTEBOOK LAPTOP 2.93GHZ 1TB HD 8G – $999 (colo springs )
Date:     March 20, 2011 9:08:10 AM MDT
To:     Debra Hoeck <debrahoeck2@verizon.net>

My uncle lives in Provo.  He is a Mormon elder.  I’m certain he could come pick up the laptop(s) for me.  That way, you don’t need to ship anything.  Much easier for everybody.

Are you home today?  I’ll relay your address to my uncle Anthon so that he can come over to pay you and pick up my laptop.

I’m very excited!  Please contact me back immediately.

So far, I haven’t gotten the scammer to reply.  Pity, I was really looking forward to this one.  But I’ll keep trying.  When and if he replies, I’ll be sure to update you all!

Footnotes

  1. In Mormon church politics, the “Quorum” is a ruling body of church members.  See Wiki for the answers to all priestly your questions.

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1 Comment

  1. For all of you that are getting fake checks from Gionne Graetz, just hold on to them. Once you have filed a complaint on craigslist fraud section, the checks serve as good evidence, in the event that they are ever called upon.

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