A few months ago, we posted information about the Craigslist/eBay Car Scam. It has since generated a lot of comments and it ranks pretty well in Google.

We received a call the other day from someone who was almost a victim of the scam. The reason he called us was because the scammer’s e-mail asking him to send $2900 through MoneyGram listed the scammer’s “name” and OUR ADDRESS!

He called and asked for the name the scammer provided. After letting him know there was nobody at our store by that name, we talked and I learned that he was trying to verify the legitimacy of the e-mail and Googled our address. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to make a phone call before sending the cash. (By the way, he said he also saw our post on Google!)

Using our address!?! That’s too personal for me. Here are a few things I did and you should do too if you’re solicited for this type of scam.

First, I forwarded the e-mail to eBay’s Trust and Safety department at spoof@ebay.com. This group follows up on these problems and works to shut them down.

I then called the FTC at (877) 382-4357. They opened a case as well. You can also reach the FTC on the web.

Incidentally, I also called MoneyGram to let them know that someone was using our address and a fake name to receive payment. MoneyGram couldn’t have cared less. I guess that’s what you get from a facilitator of the problem.

It’s too bad that the scammers have to put all that creative energy to something so destructive to our society. Just imagine what they could do if they put all that brain power to work on something productive.

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