Warning watch out for scammers!!

United States

I have post a thread about selling my sunstar embroidery machine.(just below)

I got a email from a scammer - maria.chamber@yahoo.com

It was such a obvious scam it ****es me off that I even believed an inch.

1. The first e-mail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Seller,
Compliment of the Seasons to you , I am Maria Chamber from London , United-Kingdom. I saw your Embroidery Machine advert while surfing through net and I am willing to buy the Embroidery Machine and I am a serious buyer and I want to buy it on time . I would like you to mail me the following details of the Embroidery Machine below :

1 . Last asking Price of the Embroidery Machine .
2 .The Embroidery Machine present conditions.
3 . Also a picture of the Embroidery Machine if available.

Regards,
Maria
Email: maria.chamber@yahoo.com
-------------------------------------------------------------London my ***

2. The second e-mail
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello
Thanks for your email so i am really intested in buying the machine from you and pls send me more pics of the machine and i have contact my shipping agent for the pick up of the machine in ur place and I will proceed the payment with bank check and it will be issue out to you as soon as posible so let me know if u can send some money to the shipping agent so they can come to check for the condition of the machine and i promise u that i will send the payment to you soonest
can you download a yahoo messenger id so we can chat
hope to hear from you
maria.

-----------------Must be some kind of shipping agent to inspect a embroidery machine.

3. Third e-mail
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello
Thanks for your email so I am really intersted in purchasing your machine and i will need to talk to you on yahoo messenger tonight so i can explain thing to you well and i cant wait to chat with you
you can add me mariawilliams002@yahoo.com cuz i alway be online there so hope to hear from you
maria.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Conversation on yahoo

mariawilliams002: u there
chunjehy: Oh Hello
mariawilliams002: How are U doing today
chunjehy: Fine Thank you
chunjehy: It 's good to finally get to talk
mariawilliams002: Sound great to hear this from you
chunjehy: So do you have anymore questions about the machine??
mariawilliams002: yeah
mariawilliams002: can u send me more pics of the machine
chunjehy: go ahead
chunjehy: sure actually I'll send some more videos
chunjehy: 'cause all the other
chunjehy: pictures are basically the same
chunjehy: with what I already send you
chunjehy: like the angle and stuff like that
mariawilliams002: OK
mariawilliams002: do you have a webcam
chunjehy: not right now but I have it in the office
chunjehy: so maybe tomorrow ^^
mariawilliams002: alright
chunjehy: Here if the video working with the monitor
chunjehy: here is the video
mariawilliams002: OK
mariawilliams002: I am really intersted in the machine and I want u to sell it for me
chunjehy: sure we would love to
chunjehy: So are you interested in all three of them??
mariawilliams002: yea and how much are u willing to sell those machine
chunjehy: 45000 US dollars for each
chunjehy: If you buy all three of them
chunjehy: we include you two extra monitors and all the threads
chunjehy: and some other supplys all we have
chunjehy: This is the picture of all the threads we have
chunjehy: And this is a video
chunjehy: of some of the programs we have
chunjehy: which you use
mariawilliams002: I am a serious buyer and I want to buy it on time
chunjehy: I would like to sell as soon as possible too
chunjehy: So are you going to come and inspect the machine??
mariawilliams002: Yeah I will send a shipping company to come and inspect the machine from you when we finallize our deal
chunjehy: Great is he coming from London??
mariawilliams002: Yeah but I Want you to send some money to the Shipping agent so they can inspect it and I will issue out the Payment for you Immedialty
chunjehy: To the shipping agent??
chunjehy: If you
chunjehy: are willing to
chunjehy: buy all three of them
chunjehy: I am willing to pay half and half
chunjehy: for the shipping agent to come and inspect
mariawilliams002: Yeah I am really intersted in buyin the three machine from you
chunjehy: oh sorry
chunjehy: can you send that back again
mariawilliams002: ?
chunjehy: didn't you just send me picture??
chunjehy: because I just canceled a file
chunjehy: and I thought you just send me a photo
mariawilliams002: I just want to send u a pix of me and there a little problem with my pc now
mariawilliams002: OK
chunjehy: ah...okay
mariawilliams002: yeah
chunjehy: So first can you send me some information of your shipping agent
chunjehy: And we can work out a deal for the payment for your shipping agent to come
chunjehy: and inspect the machine
mariawilliams002: yeah i will send the shipping agent info to you as soon as possible or i will give u there email so u can email them
mariawilliams002: when are u going to make the payment to the shipping agent so they can come and inspect the Machine
chunjehy: If the inspector coming from London or is he here in Mexico
chunjehy: As soon as possible
chunjehy: We can do it immediately but
chunjehy: we would like to be sure about it too
chunjehy: We would like the information and stuff like that of the shipping agent
chunjehy: and cost and everything?
chunjehy: Do you happen to know how much it will cost
mariawilliams002: Can you get the funds to them today so they will come and inspect the Machine
chunjehy: Yes but where??
mariawilliams002: you will need to send the money to them via western union and i think they will give you the cost in 1 hours time
chunjehy: Is it a shipping company in UK??
mariawilliams002: It a private shipping agent and I will inform them to contact you u soon
mariawilliams002: OK
mariawilliams002: Kindly delete the advert from the site you placed it for sale and as he is so much interested in buying it
chunjehy: Sure
chunjehy: Then
chunjehy: after he comes and inspect it
chunjehy: and finds everything okay
chunjehy: then
chunjehy: are we signing the deal with the agent
chunjehy: ??
chunjehy: here??
chunjehy: or does he have to go back and inform
chunjehy: you and the buyer has to come or something??
chunjehy: I am not really familiar with this kind of process
chunjehy: So we would like to be really know all the specific information of the deal
mariawilliams002: the shipping agent will be with you still you comfirm ur full payment for all those machine but i want u to delete the advert from the site you placed it for sale
chunjehy: I'm sorry I just looked up via wester union and it is not shipping agent
chunjehy: It's a place where you transfer money
chunjehy: I am sorry but if we are doing a business I would use a place safe
mariawilliams002: yes that where u will need to send the money to the shipping agent so they will come and inspect the Machine
chunjehy: I'm sorry but I can provide a place to sleep and eat and everything if the
chunjehy: shipping agent comes here but
chunjehy: I can cut out the cost from the machine
chunjehy: well??
chunjehy: This is such a fraud isn't it??
mariawilliams002: ?????????????
chunjehy: I am sorry but it is really suspicious
mariawilliams002: I just want to contact the shipping agent
chunjehy: But Via western union is not shipping agent
mariawilliams002: I want u to send a sum of 3000 dollars to the shipping agrent so they can come and inspect the Machine
chunjehy: You can't just ask me to send money with out any proof
chunjehy: How am I to be sure this is not a fraud
chunjehy: how many times do I have to ask you what is the name of the shipping agent?
chunjehy: and don'\t tell me it is via western union
chunjehy: 'cause it's not
mariawilliams002: I mean it a private shipping company
mariawilliams002: NANSO SHIPPING AGENT !!!
chunjehy: And I'm really sorry but I can't pay it first
chunjehy: If he arrives here
chunjehy: I can pay him here face to face
mariawilliams002: OK
mariawilliams002: I WILL GET BACK TO YOU IN 1 HOURS TIME
chunjehy: okay
mariawilliams002: I NEED TO CONTACCT THE SHIPPING AGENT OK

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can clearly see we are not having conversation. Gave me some lame
excuse about contacting for shipping agent. Never got any answer from her.
Can't believe I was so naive. Well thanks to her I learn something about
Western Union and to beware of douche bags.

I mean what kind of embroidery buyer doesn't even ask anything about the machine
and just asks for pictures. Can't believe I wasted about 2 hours of my precious
life time.

Where did she even get educated to scam.
I bet I can work up a scam better than her or him.
Asking me to send money without any varification or proof of anykind.
Oh I'm sorry she was going to send me her picture. :rolleyes:

Asked her about shippping agent and it takes her like what 30minutes
to say Nanso shipping agent. Probably have been looking it up in google
for all that time. Lamest scammer of all my life.

I justed wanted to inform you all embroidery dealers
what just happened to me the past 3 days.

There are 18 Comments

jr_sanford's picture

Oh YEAH, anytime someone replies with, "Dear Seller" where "Seller" is in the subject somewhere. They ALWAYS say they'll send you a "Cashier's Check" and want you to immediately cash it so you can send a portion of it somewhere to "Cover the shipping".

If you EVER get ANY kind of check, first and formost, take it to your bank and have them run a tracer on it. I guarantee that it will be a fake check 100% of the time.

SELLER BEWARE!!!

J.R.

Cast aside your limitations;
And you shall be boundless!

Hey,
I just wanted to tell you that you are not that naive.... I was exchanging emails with the same person for the last 2 days... I think she(or he) finally gave up when I said that I would have to get everything checked out at my financial institution.... and what the heck does "i want to buy it on time" mean? Like we would let our machines go and just expect her to pay us over time???? Oh well, Just didnt want you to beat yourself up too much, I was in the same boat... Tammy

benami313's picture

Has anyone noticed that the same pictures of the same machines appear both here and on Ebay? I have noticed it time and time again. Someone is taking pics from here and claiming to sell them on Ebay. Locations will be different. Same pictures. Check out this ebay listing 190193202211 and compare with the new listing of the guy who says he and his machine are in London!Be vigilant!

similar situation in craigslist..How come all the scammers starts with United Kingdom..
Anything Good to be true in Craigslist are starts with United Kingdom seller and and will ask you pay some weird method..Becarful...
and thanks for the tip.

The same person contacted me as well and as soon as she or he talked about sending me a check for more than my asking price and wanted me to give it to the shipper that was going to pick it up the machine the extra money from the check I told that person to not contact me again and that what they were asking me to do was illegal and I wanted no part of it. I contacted my local police and they told me that these people get you to cash a stolen check, come and pick up your machine and then the bank 4-5 days later figures out that the check was stolen and the money is took out of your account and you are out the money and your equipment. If your going to sell a machine you want your buyer to either do a wire transfer to your account or set up a escrow account with a bank and have the money put in that account. NEVER take a check or money order from your buyer. You must protect yourself!

I had emailed someone on Craiglist about a Pr-600 about two months ago and he sent some email scam about how he was in Canada at his parents ranch but his machine was local. Sounded fishy so I just never replied. Well I emailed someone else the other day on Craigslist and he copied the same exact email. I emailed back boy you sure have been at your parents Ranch a long time. Where do they come up with stuff???????????????

coeehenry wrote:
I had emailed someone on Craiglist about a Pr-600 about two months ago and he sent some email scam about how he was in Canada at his parents ranch but his machine was local. Sounded fishy so I just never replied. Well I emailed someone else the other day on Craigslist and he copied the same exact email. I emailed back boy you sure have been at your parents Ranch a long time. Where do they come up with stuff???????????????

I contacted the same individual, the ad was on the Dallas Craigslist. When I contact him, same story, he was in Canada but said he could complete the transaction thru Ebay's iSold. Said the machine was in Dallas, but would not tell me the exact location. That ended any more correspondence.

I just got this one today in response to an add on craigslist

Re: COMMERCIAL BABYLOCK EMP6 EMBROIDERY MACHINE

Thank you for your email. I still have it for sale but before i answer to any of your questions i have to let you know that i am in Canada right now visiting my parents ranch. That`s not a problem because i can still handle the transaction. When i left in Canada, i left the item along with several other items in the iSOLD It custody because i wanted to sell them on eBay when i return, but something came up back home and i decided to sell this one before i get back but not on ebay because i need to sell it faster. So if you are still interested let me know because i can make the transaction immediately. So if you are really serious and still interested, let me know and i will explain all the details of the transaction...

Thanks

Brian

I will not bore you with the deatails but ANYTIME they want to send you MORE than you ask for your product and want you to forward the remainder to someone else DO NOT do it! This happened to a neighbor and it is money laundering for drug dealers!

YEP GOT 2 YESTERDAY FROM THE PERSON...SAID NOPE WONT DO cashiers check or mo so haven't heard from since man the nerve of some people BEWARE!!!!!!!! keep this on top so as to warn everybody!!!

We've received the same emails about the purchase of some of our screenprinting equipment and emb machines we are trying to sell. We are a legitimate company that find deals on screen and emb equipment and we resale them to serious buyers only. We list on a number of different websites. The screen names may differ depending on which partner list but our business location is always the same. The scammers makes it a challenge for those of us who are really trying to sell quality products at reasonable prices. There should be some kind of way to filter out the "useless" and let remain those of us that "useful" to digitsmith. I wonder what could be done?

I have a machine listed for sale on CL too, since you can list for free, and I received a couple emails very similar to the "maria emails" listed here.

Just another one to look out for: I also receive emails every week from a foreigner wishing to purchase many thousands of t-shirts from me, and the matter is very urgent, and will I accept a wire transfer for them? Yeah right! I ignore them all :)

I wonder why they focus on the embroiderers and screen printers so much?

I have these same emails. The way you can tell if there real is the way they word things. Like: I would like to pay on time. And I am a serious buyer. Common sense, if they weren't a serious buyer then they would not be email you. From now on when I get emails like that I email back a BIG F U

Hi
I got same email from same person ("Maria Chamber" )
they think thye are so smart.... please beaware

Hello ,
Its nice to hear back from you that the machines is still available for sale.I have to contact the shipping company agency that will be responsible for the pick of the machines at your destination to get ready because i will be sending the payment for the machines by ( Check or Money Orders ) and i am sure that you will have the payment next week and i want you to provide your information so the payment can be issue out to you .I will need the information below to get the payment send to you.

Full Name..
Address..
City..
Zip Code:
Country:
Phone(Home,Mobile,Office):..
I will be very happy if you can get the information send to me so that i can make the payment out to you and I also want you to notice this,there will be an extra amount added to the Payment ,that fund will be send to the shipping company agency for the pick of the machines at your destination.I hope you understand me clearly and i want you to do this transaction with me based on trust.
I will be looking forward to have the information from you
Regards,
Maria.

Accepting only offcial check. make exact amount of check to Unique Design and do not add shipping. since you have a shipping agency pay them directly and give me the company name and contact person to set up a pick up date. I also need your information to confirm shipping addres.
Company name
your full name
address
phone

Hello ,
Thanks for your response to my mail.I will send a shipping company to come for the pick-up of the machines from you when we finallize our deal. I have a client who is ready to issue the cheque and send it to you immediately.I just called him and give him my own price and add my profit and he has agreed to pay because i'm an agent in this sale.The cheque will be issued and send to you immediate and i shall get back to you immediately i confirmed it has been sent.

Any excess amount more that your asking price in the cheque should be send to the Shipping Company who will come for the pick up of the machines at your place after payment have been confirm .Kindly delete the advert from the site you placed it for sale and as he is so much interested in buying it.I hope you are clear with my mail.Hope to hearing from you soonest.

Regards.

MARIA.

Hi
Our deal is already done. you are willing to buy this machine for 9900.00 this is the deal. if you want to buy this machine you must send official check exact amount of the price. We don't accept your client payment. that's is the deal between you and your client so your client must pay you. If you want to close the deal then hurry up because I can't hold the machine for you.