Scammer email message samples

Here is a recent one, 2021.
Thanks for your reply,Concerning my inquiry,Am quite comfortable with the condition of the item since i won't be making any repairs on it. I'm making an offer of $600 and I will add $50 to it for keeping it for me, Please provide your full Name, Address your Phone number for payment.I am paying by Check. It will take few days for payment to get to you. As per pick-up, I will make arrange for the pick-up after payment has been received by you.I hope it is in good condition,kindly get back to me with your name,phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent.I will let you know how i intend to pick it up.I would have loved to come check it out but i am presently away on a business trip,so you can send me pics of the item so that i can know it is in good condition. I would appreciate it if you take the posting off the site today and consider it sold to me.As for the pick-up,it would be handled after you receive your payment. Thanks. God Bless You.

Here's one from summer 2018 (the writer doesn't even know what name they are using!):

From: Kim Zate <kimzates@gmail.com>

Thanks for the response, Actually I am sorry that I could no longer come to view it because I had a change in my work schedule and will be very busy . Just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item .I am ready to make instant purchase. My mode of payment would be in Certified Bank Check via mail 1/3days delivery.I'll arrange for a local pick up as soon as you get the check cashed and have your money in hand , and i promise everything will go smoothly.Kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell number and Agreed price to sell : so i can make out payment overnight to you and i will let you know when its mailed out.Thanks and i hope we handle this in good faith while waiting to hear from you. i will add an additional $100 so that you can hold it for me till the check reach you.
Thanks ,Kim Zarates

Here is a Oct. 2015 letter ... better grammer, spelling. But notice the use of the word "agent" ... should raise a red flag.

Hello,

Am interested in your description of item removed to protect seller. I want to know if it's still available? Do get back to me with details and least price with any available picture. As for the payment do you accept a Check? I have a reliable Agent who will come for the pick up after payment,

This are examples of the scam letters which have been circulating. Note the style of the writing.
Dear Sir,
I am writing you in finding out more about your ADVERT and the asking
price if there is a discount and if still available for sale.and why
do you want to sold it?i will want you to give me some details about
Originally i became very interested in it. Kindly get back, and I hope
to hear from you soon

How are you doing, i got your Advert let me know if is still available? If yes please tell me the last asking price and present condition of the item and send me the lovely picture so that we can talk about payment issued next..

Notice the poor spelling and grammar and the blanks left to fill in the description
... most of the scams have been similar to this.
Take this test to see if you're at risk.
More info here ... http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt014.shtm

The first letter comes usually with blanks filled in with your information. The second letter comes after you have responded to the first letter. Do NOT send these people any personal information.

Two recent letters with a fishy twist, one using Paypal, the other using Western Union:

1. Good to hear back from you, i work with New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) and we are presently offshore in New Zealand Taranaki Basin on kupe project, i am at sea right now so i wont be able to check the loom am buying this for my sister as a surprise gift so am willing to offer you the amount you requested, i insisted on PayPal because i don't have access to my bank account online and i don't have internet banking too, but i can pay from my PayPal account as i have my bank a/c attached to it, all i will need is your PayPal email address to make the payment, and if you don't have a PayPal account yet, i will suggest you set one up at www.paypal.com it will not take you more than 3 mins to do that, i will be expecting your PayPal email so that i will make payment, i have a pick-up agent that will come for the pick-up they will also determine and secure the shipment once payment has been sorted, i will also need your full name and phone number.

Seller responded to message and then received this email:
I was just about to make the payment when i had a little problem with my pick-up agent, as i explained to you earlier that i am currently out to sea, i tried to book a pick-up with my pick up agent but they asked me to pay first before they can make the booking, they only accept western union money transfer for their payment's and i tried to send the money online but i could not, I'll like to know if i can be able to entrust the pick up agent fee in your possession so that i will include their fee in the payment that i am going to make, my pick up agent charged is $1,250 plus Insurance and some other document for the pick-up, so after you have received the payment you will help me send the $1,250 to my pick up agent through western union money transfer, this i would have done myself and not bother you but for the fact that i am currently on sea, i just wanted to seek your consent before going ahead with the payment, i will appreciate it if you mail me back, and i will made the payments shortly......awaiting your response.

2. Hello *********,

I was just about to make the payments when i had this little problem with the picking up of the Loom, I am currently on sea and i am buying the Loom for my Mum as i explained earlier on and i tried to book pick up with my pick up agent, but they asked me to pay first before they can make the booking, and they only accept western union money transfer for payments and they don't accept pay pal or bank transfer and I tried to send the money online but i could not and I am on sea and there is no way i can find a western union agent to make the transfer to my pick up agent, so i wanted to ask if it was okay for me to include my pick up agent's fees in the payments I am about to send through pay pal,my pick up agent charged $450 plus insurance and all of that,please can i include their money in the payments I want to send then after i have made the payments you will help me forward the $450 to my pick up agent through western union money transfer,this I would have done myself and not bother you but the for the fact that I am currently on sea, so after I have made the payments you will help me send $450 to my pick up agent through western union money transfer,I just wanted to seek your consent before going ahead with the payments,I will more than appreciate if you mail me back, and I will be making the payments shortly.

PS:the shipping company's Head quarters is in England and any pick up fees to be paid is sent to their head quarters by the payee, so the money for pick up will be sent to their head quarters in England through western union money transfer(this can be done from any post office) or you can do it online at www.westernunion.com

Thanks,
Greg.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Thanks for the information you forwarded after an exhaustive discussion with my friend as regards your payment ,he said that Payment will get to you in a US bank certified check of $5,000 , He explained to me that there will be a little delay of about three to four days because this is a refund payment expected from a company ,it has to go through their usual official documentations and approvals before the refund is issued out to him.

Please you have to bear with us,financial matters like this has to go through the right process, though he confirmed that your payment will get to you as soon as possible.I advice that you remove your ad from the internet to avoid further complications, since your payment has already been confirmed.

After you have received the check you will deduct the cost of your Loom ($1,200) and keep the remaining funds for my client's Shipping agent who will be coming for the pre-shipment inspection and subsequent Shipment for offsetting shipping fees and other expenses,while title papers and other necessary documents will be sent by you via courier serivce to my client,I will keep you posted on all the necessary arrangements.

Furnish me with the following details for the payment to be send over to you ;

1.Full name
2.Full Address
3.Telephone Number

Please confirm this mail and get back to me via email as soon as possible with the necessary informations required from you for onward delivery of the payment to you as soon as possible.Nice doing business with you.