Beware of Trade Me Paypal scammers from Ghana

[Laava]

After chasing your probably awesome bikes, he/she has decided she/he would rather have a Gn250... Good choice obviously but since the email has the same format, its been easy to find links online, not to mention trademes email of warning. I wish it was possible to get some detective work in this. If I were a detective or police officer or who ever does study into this, i would...

Continue emailing and do as this comfort asks, wait for the pick up guy come and collect the bike and discuss with that person who the bike is going to.
The person collection most likely wouldnt know but would know where the bike is going.
Then contact authorities of where the bike is going and discuss a fake transfer to the person with a bike from the country its meant to be going. Then, being a set up and all...
the authorities arrest who ever is scamming, would be to nice keep the money though of course.

just a dream

You appear to have missed the point somewhat. The bike is never collected. Ever.

[mossy1200]

there never is a pick up guy, they dont want the bike they want your money

If they took my money and didn't collect my wife idd be so gutted.

[samewan]

I just got this message about 15 mins ago looked it up and behold this was the first thing on google

[Bazlord]

Listed my FZR1000 on trademe yesterday, and lo and behold at 8:13am today I too received the "comfortdias@gmail.com" text, from 538. Pretty annoying. Mostly because it's the most interest I've had so far :-(

Anyway, reported to 7726 so all that's left to do is sit and wait for the GCSB to trace it, and officially deny that it's coming from Gerry Brownlee's office...

[nudemetalz]

Well if you need to transport your bike from China to Mexico, I have a "really good" contact I received at my work email. "From: overseas01@operlatin.com [mailtoverseas01@operlatin.com]
Sent: Monday, 3 November 2014 5:00 p.m.
Cc: 1352582972
Subject: best rate to need cargo.USD1600/3200/3200-20GP/40GP/40HQ to mexico from china

Dear friend,

Good day to you!

I'm smith from china forwarder company, I have major in Middle and South American service.

Now,I have a good rate to mexico from china,if you are interesting and have some need,please look at it.

Follow is my best ocean rate to you reference:
O/F:

POL:XIAMEN/NINGBO/SHENZHEN POD:Manzanillo/Lazaro cardenas (mexico) Ocean rate:USD1600/3200/3200-20GP/40GP/40HQ Valid :14th November Transit time:18-21 days Free day at the POD:21 days

Thanks for your time to ready this e-mail,If you are interesting in this rate and want To learn more about this,please contact me at any time.

---

Overseas Sales Director
Smith
OperLatin Forwarding Co .,Ltd
Address: Room 901, Jihu Meili City 2 tower, Honghu No. 1 Street, Wenjing North Road Luohu District Shenzhen, China.
Phone: 0086-755-33314172
Fax: 0086-755-33310222
EMAILverseas01@operlatin.com
HTTP:www.operlatin.com
SKYPE:January19910124
Mobile phone+86)18825170801 "

[pkplex]

Heh, this same 'Comfort Dias' is trying this shit with me just now.

I got a text from 538, asking 'i want to know if your motorbike on trademe is still available. Kindly email me on: comfortdias@gmail.com as this is urgent.

Sounded a bit suspect right there, especially with the weird 3 digit number. So I emailed our good friend 'Comfort', to which I got a reply a few minutes later:

Thanks for responding, this is Comfort Dias. I believe my son sent you a text message to email me for the sale. i’m interested in buying this from you now off trademe for my son who is overseas(dubai). i want you to get back to me with its current condition,more pictures and your final price as i am looking for a decent bargain. I am at sea at the moment,i am an Marine biologist ( i work on tasman sea off the coast of australia ) and due to the nature of my work, phone calls is restricted. my son checked your advert and sent you a text to contact me (his mother ) via my email address .
Arrangements will be made to have this picked up from you after we have paid and all necessary registration/paperwork will be handled as well before pick up.


Riiiiight. Your son is in dubai, you are in the middle of the ocean, and I am owner of flying pig airways.

[Yoda]

I just got the exact same txt and email. Rang alarm bells so googled 'Comfort Dias'. Hey presto ended up here.

[Granny]

I just got the exact same txt and email. Rang alarm bells so googled 'Comfort Dias'. Hey presto ended up here.

Just got the exact same txt also. I've deleted it

[Waihou Thumper]

I feel left out. I have two bikes listed, one sold the other day and the other is still on auction. No contact from these guys at all?

[Akzle]

I feel left out. I have two bikes listed, one sold the other day and the other is still on auction. No contact from these guys at all?

you can wire the money to my paypal account, i'll come pick up the bike next week

[PrincessBandit]

I feel left out. I have two bikes listed, one sold the other day and the other is still on auction. No contact from these guys at all?

I feel left out too! Oh, but wait, it's my car I'm selling not my bike. (On the odd occasion I've had the opportunity to bait one of these people I do it from my work email )

[MPC]

I have this email as well. How can I scam them Back????

[mossy1200]

Don't be so mean to Cumfritter Dias. He has been searching for a good bike for a long time and people are not taking him seriously.

[Akzle]

I have this email as well. How can I scam them Back????

419 baiter

[Duncan74]

Bit of a dredge, but I got the same email (almost word perfect) as above three times in my continued failure to sell my scooter.

First time they dragged it out a bit and it wasn't obvious it was a scam. Today they were a bit more direct (twice) and opened with the above email.

So on one hand then this is a warning in case others hadn't seen this scam. But I was very impressed that I got an email from trademe who had somehow spotted that I was likely to get these scam emails and gave a warning. I was genuinely impressed.