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DefensivSquirrel
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Name: Ryan
Birthday: 1/11/1982
Gender: Male
Interests: Friends and doing stuff with them. Gotta mention cars too.
Expertise: Stuff. Y'know, stuff. Stop asking.
Occupation: Customer service/support
Industry: Entertainment
Message: message me
AIM:  DefensivSquirrel
Member Since:
6/22/2004
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| This is a really good album. You should check it out sometime.
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| My adventure began when I recieved the following email in response to an advertisement I placed on the Facebook Marketplace to sell a 1997 Chrysler Sebring:
Morgan Voss to Ryan Ferris:
contact me via this email address williams_vos009@yahoo.com if this car is still available for sale.
The name on the profile is Morgan Voss ( http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040420169&hiq=morgan%2Cvoss ), but they used the name Williams Voss in subsequent emails.
Ryan Ferris to Morgan Voss:
Hi Morgan,
The Sebring is still available, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thanks!
Ryan
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Ryan
Thanks for your urgent reply, I am very happy that the car is still available for sale.
I will like to know your asking price. Meanwhile i will like your to highlight me on the following
How many owners?
Is the engine in perfect condition?
Insurance certificate if any?
When did you buy the car ?
The car and the ownership is on whose name
I will like to see the interior of the car?
What is the oirginal colour of the vehicle?
Finally at what price are you going to sell this vehicle ?
Therefore if that is acceptable by you i can arrange my Agent to come see the car for the inspection and pick up as soon as you provide me with the information required from you,
I wait to hear from you as soon as possible
Regards
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
I'll answer your questions as best as I can:
> I am the third owner. The first was a private owner, after whom it was owned by a rental company for a brief period.
> I have to confess, the engine is not in perfect condition; it does, however, run smoothly and reliably. The biggest thing you'll notice is a rattle in the compressor when the defroster is running- which Lochmandy Motors in Elkhart tells me is harmless... annoying, but harmless. The engine runs a pretty consistent 25 miles per gallon.
> I apologize, I'm unfamiliar with insurance certificates. I assume you mean the Title History, which is clean according to the Carfax report I got prior to purchase, and there have been no accidents during my ownership.
> I purchased the Sebring in October of 2004 from Mullet's Auto Sales in Middlebury, IN.
> The Sebring's title is under my name.
> Interior photos shouldn't be a problem. I'll put them in the Facebook ad as soon as possible. I can tell you it has a tan leather interior with black trim; there is some wear on the driver's seat, though I've used seat covers throughout my ownership of the Sebring.
> Indy Red. The car has never been repainted, though I have touched up some areas to repair chips and prevent rust.
> I'm asking $3500, but would be happy to consider any serious offer.
I hope I've provided the information you need. If you would like any clarification or have any further questions, please feel free to email back. As for the inspection, I will be available through the weekend; just let me know the time that's good for you. You can reach me best on my cell: 574-202-1906.
Thanks!
Ryan
P.S. I have the original spoiler and rims, as well as a set of after-market chrome rims (and tires) that I could include in the purchase of the Sebring, should you be interested.
At this point, everything seemed to be proceeding normally, albeit in slightly non-typically internet-ish grammar. Then came the first curveball:
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris
Ryan
Thanks for your mail. I am delighted to tell you that my client appreciates and commends your vehicle, with full interest, he is willing to carry on with this Transaction.I have finalized with my client on the price of ($3,500) which is not the last asking price for your vehicle and its ok by him cos he like it, I have forwarded your vehicle information including your last mail to him for his proper records. He also instructed me to inform you that payment will get to you in a US certified cashier check of ($10,000) which is a refund payment of a cancelled order earlier made by my client .Due to company policy this check has to be made out in this amount to you,Because company policy only allows a refund payment on one cashier cheque.So you are required to deduct the cost of your vehicle ($3,500) and send the balance of($6,500)to the Agent ( our shipper ) for him to be able to offset shipping & tax charges, and other cosmetic repair costs.
After payment has reached you and balance sent back to my agent,he will then proceed with his mechanics for the inspection, pick up(of vehicle & signing of title papers), make some cosmetic touches and drive to a prepaid shipper to be shipped to my customer,while title papers and other necessary documets will be handed over to my agent at the time of pick up.
Please confirm this and forward the following informations;
Names:.......
Address:.......
Phone#:.......
For payment to be made and send to you as soon as possible.I decided to
mail it now for urgent purpose. Thanks for your understanding and
co-operation
Best regards..
$10,000? Well, I guess if the car were listed on ebay, I would charge them for shipping, right? Still, $6,500 must buy some pretty nice shipping. Where exactly is my car going?
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good evening,
To make sure I understand the proceedure, I will (just quickly) repeat my role in the transaction; let me know if I've misstated any part below:
After releasing my mailing address and phone number, I will receive in the mail a Cashier's Check for $10,000. I will deposit this amount, and immediately (upon confirmation of the monetary transfer to my account) issue a Cashier's Check for $6,500, which I will mail to a previously-stated address. Once the second check has been recieved, the representative and I will meet to sign title papers and for him to take possession the Sebring for inspection and shipment.
Please send the check to:
Ryan Ferris
***** ** **
**********, ** *****
The check should be made out to "Ryan Ferris". If you have any questions, you may reach me at 574-202-1906.
Are you still interested in interior photos? I have not yet had an opportunity to take those pictures...
Thanks!
Ryan
(I really did give them my mailing info; I've edited it out here because, well, this is the internet and I'd like to think I'm not completely stupid.)
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Hello,
How is life treating you?hope fine..
Well i just had a confirmation report from my client that the check payment for
the property bought from you has been endorsed by my client and also sent
through a registered express mail today .
I was also informed in details by my client that the check will get to you in
less than 8 working days from today ,you should kindly excercise patience in
this transaction and we are giving you every of our attention and sincerity to
make sure that this transaction goes on swiftly and smoothly so that we will
all smile at the end of the day.
Please you should also note that the difference of the money that will get to
you will be sent to the agent and the shipper that will be coming over for pick
up and delivery of the purchased property,hope this is well understood.
I guess we have really done our part by sending the check to you and hope you
will at the other hand follow up with the instruction been given when the check
gets to you so that we will all achieve a common goal{give and take} at the end
of the day.
We appreciate your patience and sincerity in this transaction and we look
forward hearing from you as soon as the check gets to you.
You should also consider your property sold at this moment and you are also
advised to remove your property from the site you posted it in order not to
bring complications with other interested party.
Thanks..............
Several days went by...
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
How are doing? I was contactd this day by my client to forward to you this
Bill of Sale to go through while you wait for the arrival of the agent with the
original signed copy by my client. You are only require to preveiw and get back
to me as a comfirmation that everything is up and ok. You will be signing the
original copy together with my client agent.
BILL OF SALE FORM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES USA :
VEHICLE INFORMATION:
Make:________________________
Model:_______________________
Year:________________________
Style Color:____________________
Odometer reading: _______________
Vehicle ID Number:_______________
(VIN#) Date of Purchase:___________
Seller's registration#:_____________
Have you previously filed an application for title of this vehicle?
YES___ NO ___
SELLER:
Seller's Full Name:________________
Address:_______________________
City or Town:____________________
State:_________________________
AS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, I HEREBY TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO:
BUYER:______________________
Buyer's Full Name:_______________
Address: ______________________
City or Town:___________________
State:________________________
FOR THE SUM OF:_______________
ENTER THE AMOUNT IN NUMBERS:_____________________
WRITE THE AMOUNT IN WORDS: _______________________
I purchased this vehicle from:
PREVIOUS OWNER:
Previous Owner: ___________________
Address:_________________________
City or Town:______________________
State:___________________________
I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENTS HEREIN CONTAINED ARE
TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.
x_________________ _________________
Seller
Date
NB:Payment is expected to be with you by this coming friday 15th Feb,
You are to be checking your delivery mail box from thursday to avoid
misplacement.
As soon as it arrives notify me for onward information.
Regards.
Well, this seems normal. I mean, it's not exactly the Bill of Sale I used in the purchase of my other car, but then, I used the Indiana State form and Williams Voss referred to this as a US form. Could this be an overseas buyer?
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good Evening,
Everything looks good so far. I will keep an eye on the mail from Thursday (the 14th) onward for the check. You should know that I have another party interested in the car, but they understand fully that they are second in line, so to speak. Also, please advise your agent that I have continued to drive the Sebring from time to time since I first listed the car in October, so the odometer will read just slightly above 138k miles (I would rather he not have any surprises when he inspects the car).
One item I must insist upon is that the check must clear in my account before I will sign a Bill of Sale. I would greatly appreciate your understanding of my desire to be careful with a transaction of this size.
Thanks!
Ryan
Several more days went by...
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
ATTENTION:
Goodday,from a telephone conversation with the buyer my "client" this morning i was made to undestand that the check payment of the purchased property is ought to be with you today or tomorrow afternoon morning. you've to be around to acknowlegde receipt of the check,it was sent via registered mail.
Hence,you are required to check your delivery mail box today to see if it has arrived.Once you receive the check,cash it and send the balance to the agent that will be coming for the pick up to conclude all the necessary papers work that regards the shippinng of the vehicle to my clients destination via western union money transfer. This is very important to avert more delay as we have already had enough delays waiting for the arrival of the check. You are also required to provide the "Address / Location"of where the purchased property is presently located at the moment, so that as soon as the agents receives the funds and the address /location from you, they will be able to seal-up the contract on pick-up and shipping of the vehicle. The agent will come along with the original signed copy of
BILL OF SALE AND AUTHORIZATION LETTER FROM MY CLIENT.As soon as you have made the transfer,
Please forward the transfer details to the Agent/Shipper via email address.
AGENT'S /SHIPPER 'S EMAIL - (interdelivery_pickup2@yahoo.com )
Please note that it is very important that you also forward to my own email address a copy of the transfer details that you will be sending to them, as evidence that you have made the transfer to them and indicate the date that the transfer was made,
this is very important for office records.
The agent and shipper are presently in NEW YORK, NY. right now,they'll be heading to the location of the Vehicle after recieveing their Money.
These are the Money transfer details needed:
1 - Money transfer control Number (mtcn)
2 - Sender's Name and Address
3 - Exact amount sent after transfer charges
We have made enquiries from Western Union Outlet and we have been informed that you
would be required to pay some charges as cost of the money transfer .
My client is aware of these transfer charges and has agreed that you should deduct it from the balance you are sending to the agent/shipper, i hereby instruct that you go ahead and send the balance to the shipper and agent.
This is the AGENT's and SHIPPER'S details that you would need to send the money via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
as they will be needing these funds to settle some fees and tax charges regarding their shipping arrangements and as
payment for their services before they can render their services.
While sending the money split it into two and send it to the agent and the shipper.
(1)AGENTS INFORMATION. ($3000 less the transfer charges)
NAME:Heather Vanzile
ADDRESS:1286 SAINT NICHOLAS AVE
BROOKLYN, NY 11207
(2)SHIPPERS INFORMATION...($3500 less the transfer charges)
NAME:Patrick Schmidt
ADDRESS: 1290 AMSTERDAM AVE
BROOKLYN, NY 11203
I hope to read from soon. Nice doing business with you.
Thanks.
This all seemed very official and straight-forward, though it occured to me that they had not sent their funds via Western Union, in spite of their obvious preference for the service. Also, the names and addresses of the shipper and agent yielded no results on either whitepages.com or maps.google.com.
The check arrived by USPS on February 15. My address was handwritten in large letters from the top left corner, where a sender's address usually is. The envelope was post-marked STOC-PORT (Stockholm?), and possessed both a 78-cent stamp (well, a 78-something stamp) and a blue sticker with the phrases "BY AIR MAIL", "par avion", and "Royal Mail". So, this was an overseas buyer. That would explain $6,500 in shipping... On the other hand, the check inside was a Capital One cashier's check, issued from Houston, TX.
But, what if this was, in fact, a legitimate buyer? I'd rather be suspicious and sell my car than turn a buyer away because I didn't like the way he wrote his emails and his behaviour wasn't typically American. I deposited the check. However, certain events prevented me from informing the buyer of the check's arrival until the next day.
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Hello,
I believe that by now the check must have been delivered,i called the post office from where the check was mailed from and they told me that they have delivered the package.the check was mailed via regular mail.kindly check your mail box to see if the check has been delivered,once you receive the check,send
the balance to the agent to enable him to conclude his own part of the transaction.
I await your response asap
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good evening,
You're correct! The check arrived Friday afternoon, and I immediately deposited the funds at my bank. The bank requires 5 days to verify the transfer of funds before I can withdraw funds to send via Western Union. I will alert you and the recipients of the funds as soon as possible.
Thanks!
Ryan
Then came the second curveball:
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Hello,
Thanks for your mail,my client got to me and explain that it takes a day to 2 for a cashiers check to clear the counter or 5,000 will be deposited in your account as soon as the check is deposited.
Please,kindly check your account first thing monday morning to see if the check has cleared,once the check clears,send the balance right away.
I await the transfer details asap
Impatient, isn't he? No worries, I'd encountered similar situations frequently at work, and decided to try to calm him down a bit:
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good evening,
I appreciate your concern for timeliness, and will make all effort to expedite the process on this end. However, until the check clears, I cannot forward the money simply because the money is not yet in my account. I will of course keep you updated on my progress and will appreciate any understanding you can give as my bank does its job. Again, I promise to keep you updated every step of the way as such progress becomes known to me.
Thanks!
Ryan
Apparently, it didn't work. He threw me a third curveball:
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Hello,
I sent this final payment directly to you via The Curse Of The Wicked Soul. Cradling the powers of the Orunmila to Wizard Of Ingoni, I have unleashed an army of seventy-two spirits and demons. The Eiye Efe will gaze from above as the summons of the spirits appear before your eyes. My cosmic powers have grown from the fears of deception and will reek havoc and spill the blood of the guilt. I have carved marks of evil into your conscience and your spiritual blindness will direct you to fall into the hands of proper authorities. The curse will begin when I attach this written segment of your soul "hope you are christain, in the name of the almight God. help me thanks". For you have only made me wiser. check/money is just paper in which I used to buy your soul. If you would like it returned unharmed, you must make ammends to the deception you have brought amongst yourself. If you do not, you will live for eternity in the firey pits of hell and in fear of Bytor, Light of Darkness, Centurion Of Evil, Devil's Prince.
You have dealt wrongly with the GOD of thunder,who is an imortal.i will give you 2 days to return the money or the check or you wiill face the wrath of the gods and my own.
Thanks
Wow. I've never had an unhappy customer call on the supernatural before. After an apprehensive moment (and a moment of wondering if demonic summonings worked without correct spelling or grammar), I realized there really wasn't anything to worry about. I have trusted my life and soul to Jesus Christ, and although I have spoken with other Christians who believe in the possibility of demonic possession after salvation, I just can't see the the third person of the Trinity being roommates with some demon. As for the apparent kidnapping of my soul, I rest assured that my soul is safely in the hand of God, and nothing, much less some random evil spirit, can take that eternal security from me.
With that settled, I decided to try to move his focus back onto the car:
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good evening,
I have to say, I am not sure what to make of your message. It is a little bit disturbing.
Just so you remain informed of the situation, I will contact my bank tomorrow (which is the fourth of the five days they required) to check on the progress of the funds transfer. If the transfer has gone through, I will forward the designated funds to your agent and shipper immediately.
I will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.
Thanks!
Ryan
Just after I sent this email, my brother decided to Google some of the phrases in the "curse". 'Wizard Of Ingoni' yielded [ http://www.snoskred.org/2007/11/an-original-scammer-or-not.html ], a blog entry by a baiter (someone who attempts to scam scammers), revealing that I was almost certainly dealing with a scammer that had simply copy-pasted the message from somewhere else. Interestingly, [ http://www.chooselove.org/appendix%20A.htm ] revealed that 'Orunmila' and the "Wizard of Ingoni' are probably real people involved in the black magic culture of Africa.
Then came the fourth curveball. The check cleared on Thursday afternoon, February 21. What kind of scammer was I dealing with, sending me real money? What kind of buyer was this, acting for all the world like a scammer?
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good afternoon,
The cashier's check has just cleared, depositing the $10k into my account. I will forward the additional funds, via Western Union, to the following recipients first thing tomorrow:
(1)AGENTS INFORMATION. ($3000 less the transfer charges)
NAME:Heather Vanzile
ADDRESS:1286 SAINT NICHOLAS AVE
BROOKLYN, NY 11207
(2)SHIPPERS INFORMATION...($3500 less the transfer charges)
NAME:Patrick Schmidt
ADDRESS: 1290 AMSTERDAM AVE
BROOKLYN, NY 11203
As promised, I will keep you updated on my progress and will also forward pickup details to the shipper / agent at interdelivery_pickup2@yahoo.com as soon at the fund are transferred.
Thanks!
Ryan
Williams Voss to Ryan Ferris:
Hello,
Thanks for your mail,please,kindly send the balance first thing tomorrow morning to enable us to conclude the transaction asap.
i await the transfer details.
Also send the transfer details to the agent email address
interdelivery_pickup2@yahoo.com
Yeah, you're playing nice now, aren'tcha?
Then came the last curveball. On the morning of February 22, I recieved a call from my bank's accounting department. The nice lady let me know that a $10,000 check I had deposited about a week before had come up counterfeit. I should therefore subtract those funds from my records, as well as $7.42 (the fee for depositing a bad check). Of course I asked her about the information they had given me the day before. She fumbled around a bit before informing me that, "You can never really be sure." Thanks, I appreciate that.
So I was dealing with a scammer after all. Thank God I hadn't withdrawn the $6,500 Thursday afternoon. Inspired by the baiters, I decided to see how long I could keep the scammer talking. Was it possible, given the right incentive, to get some real contact information out of him?
Ryan Ferris to Williams Voss:
Good Morning,
I have just taken a call from my bank; the cashier's check was refused by Capital One as counterfeit and as such, I have been penalized for the deposit of a bad check. Please immediately send the necessary funds plus the bounced-check fee of $7.42 immediately to expedite the sale of the car. Also, be advised that I have saved each email since our first communication, and will hand this information over to the appropriate authorities should I not hear back from you.
Thanks!
Ryan
As it turns out, I haven't heard back from "Williams Voss". Perhaps I came on a little strong?
The experience I've gained is invaluable (both with a scammer and my bank), and although I am disapointed at not selling my car, I would rather have had the experience than not. As for the bank fee, this is a risk everyone takes whenever they accept a check of any kind, and the amount of the fee deprives me merely of a burger and fries or perhaps a used DVD. I consider it an acceptable loss. I will of course keep my eyes open for any online baiter community where my story might be useful, and I'm sure Capital One will looking into the source of the counterfeit check (though I have no illusions that I'll ever hear the results of such an investigation).
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