Hi,
Mentioning what I have just gone through. I paid the money before I actually realize I have been scammed and fell in trap of some people who uses big names and technology to scam people. I needed a computer as my current one is having some problem and I needed it urgently. So i feel in a quick deal and ended up paying $400 yesterday evening. Just now I realize and serch on internet about it and instantly know that there is no deal here. they have taken my money and gone. Want to inform other people about so they will be aware of such fully planned internet scams. This scam involves an Dell XPS computer, Western Union and a fake shipping company called Express TNT.
I found an ad on craigslist New Jersey " With 1 year warranty!!! Dell XPS M1710 Core Duo Laptop". The ad claimed that it was 1 year old with 14 months left on the Apple Care warranty. The price was $430.
Link to ad: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/sys/737377177.html
I contacted the seller, one Halley Laura. Here is what I herd from her in mail:
Hi there,
Sorry for my late reply but I'm currently in England, Wolverhampton. I was promoted to Sales Administrator and I have to take a 6 months trainning program here in UK, before I'll be back home, in States.
The laptop is still available, in perfect condition, and I will sell it only in US because here the warranty and the DellCare are US registered.
I can't use the laptop here in UK because it works on 110 V. I didn't know about this problem when I moved here and another reason why I am selling the laptop is because I have just received a new laptop as a birthday gift here in UK, so I do not think I will be using my old laptop any more. I don't have use for 2 laptops.
I have attached some pics with the laptop to this e-mail so you can see the condition of the laptop. I bought the laptop 12 months ago and it still has 12 months of Dell transferable warranty remaining (you can extand the warranty for one year on your name).
I hope you are still interested and we can make the deal happen right away.
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
(Later she gave me another link telling above was a wrong link. here is the new one: http://www.wolverhampton-tntdepot.com/details.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 (on my expense).
Let me know what you think.
Best Wishes,
Laura
And this one was followed by another mail, here is the text:
Hello
The processor is Core 2 duo not Centrino, you can find its configuration on dell's web site. Here you have the service tag number of the laptop : 6CZBVB1. My last price is $400.
I am so sorry, I sent you a wrong link. Here is the right link:
http://www.wolverhampton-tntdepot.com/details.html
Please read their procedure and get back to me. If you agree to their terms please send me your name and address and I will start the delivery procedure.
Best Wishes
Laura
If you notice, she gave me the dell laptop service tag number which I checked in the dell site and confirmed what she told me. I thought its a real deal and she is a genuine seller.
Here is the text of the package confirmation e-mail from the fake shipping company, express-tnt.com:
Subject: TNT Package Confirmation - 1 x Dell M1710 XPS Laptop Computer
TNT reduces risks associated with Internet transactions by acting as a licensed, trusted, neutral third party for online transactions. The Seller leaves the merchandise into TNT custody. The merchandise will remain in TNT custody until the Buyer provides the Payment Information to TNT. The Payment must be made through a Money Order Service. After the funds are received by TNT, the merchandise will be sent to the Buyer. Once the Buyer receives the merchandise, the Payment will be released to the Seller only if the Buyer is satisfied with the merchandise. If the Buyer will not be satisfied with the merchandise, TNT will send the merchandise back to the Seller and the Buyer will be refunded by TNT.
Reciver of the package:
My information:&
Sender of the Package:
First Name: Laura
Last Name: Halley
Address: 21 Maplewood Circle
City/State: Wolverhampton
Zip (City Code): S31 3GT
Country: United Kingdom
This package was processed on a TNT OnLine compatible shipping system. For TNT support please contact us: TNT On-Line Customer Service ([email protected])
Additional Details:
Specifications:
Dell m1710 in Black with LED Lights
Intel Core Duo T2700 (2MB Cache, 2.33 Ghz Processors, 667 Mhz FrontSide Bus)
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667 MHz 2 Dimm
100GB ULTRA AT A 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
17 Inch UltraSharp TRUE LIFE WUXGA Display with Black LCD Cover
512MB NVIDIA GEFORCE GO 7900 GTX GRAPHIC CARD
8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD /-RW) with double-layer write capability
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center
Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card and Modem
6 USB ports, 1 1394 Firewire port, integrated media card reader, TV Output, DVI & SVGA outputs
SoundBlaster Advanced Audio
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Module
80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Multimedia USB TV Tuner with Remote Control
Power Requirements: 110W 10%
Battery: Large capacity battery
Supplied Software:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Click to DVD - DVD Creation
DVGate Plus - Digital Video, SonicStage Mastering Studio - Audio Mastering and Remastering
SonicStage - Digital Music
Dell Media - Network File Sharing
Image Converter - PSP Transfer
Microsoft Digital Imaging Starter Edition
Intuit Quicken 2006 New User Edition
InterVideo WinDVD
Microsoft Works 8.5 Small Business Edition
Roxio DigitalMedia SE
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Premiere Standard
Microsoft Office 2003 Basic
Dell Movies Package
Norton Internet Security
Dell Security Center
Dell Update software
Dell Recovery Wizard software
Dell Support Central
Service and Warranty Information: 14 Months of Warranty Remaining (as written on the Warranty Papers)
Supplied Accessories:
Recovery CD's
Software CD's
Manuals
Legal Papers
Warranty Papers
Carrying Case
AC adapter
Memory Card Adapter
Power Cord
Through this email we have the pleasure to inform you that the merchandise has been left in our custody. The shipping fee has been paid by the Seller. The Payment Information (in this case about the Western Union Money Transfer) must be sent to us for verification. The Payment Information that you need to send to us are: MTCN - Money Transfer Control Number, Sender's Name and Sender's Address, Amount Transferred. Please send us the Payment Information at: TNT On-Line Payment Service ([email protected])
TNT Payment Agent - Receiver of the Payment
First Name: David
Last name: Wirvile
Address : 214 Bowery Street
City/State: Wolverhampton
Zip (City Code): S22 1TF
Country: United Kingdom
We have found that providing email and Internet support allows us to give quick, reliable, and consistent answers to questions and concerns. Using email also allows us to document what was communicated in previous emails to you and to avoid duplication of responses. Phone support simply does not serve our members needs as well as email does.
Contact us with any questions 24/7: TNT On-Line Customer Service
IMPORTANT! The package has been verified by TNT. The package is now in the TNT carrier custody. We will be able to deliver the package after the Payment is verified and collected. Please allow us up to 24 hours to verify the Payment Information.
Intellectual and other property rights to the information contained in this site are held by TNT Holding B.V. with all rights reserved 2007
Notice the mispellings, poor grammar, and crazy formatting. In addition, customer service is only offered by e-mail. This is not standard practice among reputable shipping companies.
Wait, there's more email to this scam, I got it after some time:
Subject: TNT Transaction Details - Payment Instructions
Please quote this Number
if you have an enquiry.
*369654821US*
Tracking Number: 369654821
Important TNT Payment Instructions/Shipment Details
Please read the Instructions carefully.
Click here to track your package: Track (http://www.wolverhampton-tntdepot.com/tracking.html)
Dear TNT Customer,
We have your package in our custody.
Description of goods: 1 x Dell XPS M1710 Laptop Computer
Sender of package (Seller ): Laura Halley
Receiver of package (Buyer ): (My Name)
Delivery Address:
Address: (MY ADDRESS)
Delivery Type: TNT Express 2nd Day Delivery - After the Payment is received and verified by TNT
Amount to be paid by the Buyer: US $400.00
Payment Instructions - Receiver of the Payment -David Wirvile
The payment must be made through Western Union Money Transfer to the Name of the TNT Agent who is in charge with this transaction - David Wirvile 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 using Western 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 Union Agent Location and make a Money Transfer to the Name of the TNT Agent who is responsible with this transaction - David Wirvile.
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: David
Last Name: Wirvile
Address: 214 Bowery Street
City: Wolverhampton
Zip (City Code): S22 1TF
Country: United Kingdom
After you complete the payment you need to send the Payment Information for verification to our Payment Department at their e-mail address: TNT On-Line Payment Service
The Payment Information that you need to send to us for verification are:
- MTCN - Money Transfer Control Number (the MTCN is the 10-digit number located on your Western Union Confirmation Receipt)
- Sender's Name and Sender's Address - (the name Name and Address of the Sender of the Western Union Money Transfer)
- Amount Transferred - (the amount transferred)
Please read our TNT Payment Privacy Policy to learn our payment release and payment refund conditions.
1.The Payment will be sent to the Seller by TNT only after you receive the package, check the merchandise and if you are completely satisfied with it. Only then you will instruct us to release the Payment to the Seller.
2.TNT acts as a third party holding at the same time the merchandise and the Payment.
3. After the merchandise is received by the Buyer, the Buyer will have up to 21 days depending on the nature of the merchandise to review the merchandise.
For transaction No. 369654821 the inspection time is 5 (five) business days.
a) If the Buyer decides to keep the merchandise the Buyer will instruct TNT to release the funds to the Seller.
b) If for any reason the Buyer does not want to keep the merchandise, the Buyer will ask TNT for a refund.
The refund procedure is very simple, the Buyer will receive the money from TNT through Bank to Bank Wire Transfer, or by Check or by Western Union Money Transfer.
The refund method is at the Buyer's choice.
Thank you for using TNT
Nicole Card - TNT Customer Department
Wolverhampton Depot
214 Bowery Street
Wolverhampton
S22 1TF
Customer Department
General Manager: Robert Kay
Email: TNT On-Line Customer Service
Intellectual and other property rights to the information contained in this site are held by TNT Holding B.V. with all rights reserved 2007
this is what the mail communication. I acted fast and deposited the money with in an hour after receiving the payment instruction without even suspecting anything here. Thanks to the omnipresenet Western Union location which did the transfer too fast.
I did notice on craigslist and they keep on warning for not to use the Western Union and other method of money transfer. However, these guys made a impression that everyone looked genuine. The lady, her mails, the sites (the sites really works and shows you what you want to see) and finally the dell service tag number, which was also a real one.
I didnt do any research on google, if I would have serched in google I might have seen some cases and would have been saved. But thats not the case, I had a busy day at office and also I needed a laptop asap, so just kept going and Lost my money to those frud people.
I am not expecting my money back, they have already run away too far with it but I want to warn other people so that they wont fell in such traps
Thanks complaint!
Sanjay
New Jersey
U.S.A.
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