Avoid text message scam

Question

Please help guard fellow deal Classified Ads users against text message scams, and post your story and scammer's phone # here.

Please also file a complaint with Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

 

Answer 1

Several reported text message scams from phone # 928-923-3486 .

Answer 2

Several reported text message scams from #: 520-363-8485. The person goes by name Annie.

Answer 3

Another reported text message scam from # 484-397-8585.

Reported story:

"I had someone using the name annnie text me about my ad, It turns out it was a scam they were trying to use pay pal as a third party member. Watch out for this person. The text phone number they used for there scam is 1-484-397-8585. "

Another reported story:

"Watch out for tel # 1 484 397 8585 they tried scamming me into paying $500 to western union to pay for delivery of something I'm selling them. They stated they were on a ship and had no access to western union."

Answer 4

Two more reported text message scam #s: 323-438-3398 and 407-990-1443.

Reported story:

"She supposedly sent me $2750 via PayPal for an item which was listed for $1750. She said that the extra money was for shipping costs and that I was to send $900 of it to a shipping company before the money would be released into my PayPal account. "

Answer 5

Another reported text message scam #: 325-267-8914.

Reported story:

"The person who replied to my sale for **** was a scam. He said he was interested and when I told him I wanted a bank check, he said that a check was sent to me for over the amount of the sale and he wanted me to cash the check, take my money out and send the rest back to him. His name is George Jackson and he is out of Texas. I can get his phone number that he gave me. It is 325-267-8914. His email address that he provided was gjjphotoshop@gmail.com "

Answer 6

I recieved text scam from Annie @ 1-484-397-8585

Here text was she wanted to by my piano (from craiglist) site unseen, through pay pal, and pay any transfer fees included. She asked me to take off the advert from craigslist and that she would have a courrier service pick up the piano. I did sign up with paypal but she wanted my email address.  I texted back I needed hers to request payment. Never heard from her again.

I was told that if you get involved with any of these scams to send no personal information, check with paypal to verify money received even if you get an email saying its been paid. If they offer to buy sight unseen and arrange for pickup don't even deal with them in anyway....Whatever you do, never pay any money to anyone.

Answer 7

Another reported text scam #: 929-214-4895.

Reported story:

"After placing my ad, I received one text asking if the item is still for sale. I said yes. Then another text was received saying he will send a check and offered more money for the item which was being purchased for family and wanted personal information with offering a third party for pick up (his "shipper"). When I said cash only and a public meeting place would be the place for exchange of the item, the same long text with out of state cell number was repeated and sent to me as if they didn't even know they had sent me that text already asking again for personal information. I texted back cash only and my add never gave a price for the item. The texts from him stopped. He goes by Tom (929) 214-4895 "

Answer 8

Several reported text message scams from # 914-580-1043.

Reported story:

"I received a text message from a girl named Annie wanting to buy my truck now. She was asking for my full name and PayPal account info. The text came from phone no. (914) 580-1043. The message's just didn't seem right, and felt someone was messing with me. "

Answer 9

I received a text message from Kevin in Maryland at #262-648-5260 about my truck for sale and would I accept Pay Pal for payment.

I text back CASH ONLY.

He/she never text back, so I checked the area code and it turned out to be in Wisconsin.  I believe this to be a scam.

Answer 10

Two more reported text message scams from # 650-837-6696 .

Answer 11

Two reported text message scams from 827-208-0360.

"Phone number was 872-208-0360.  Area code is Chicago, but there's no 208 exchange.  Name is Wendy.  Received 4 messages almost simultaneously, but context was out of order.  Said she was in MD, so couldn't make it for inspection ~~ My item is in MD, so that was also a red flag.  I didn't respond after that"

"I had a person who called herself Wendy Chastain contact me about buying my camper. She wanted to send me $950.00 over the cost of it and have me send the extra back to her so she could pay the shipper. Her phone # is 872 208 0360 I would hate for her to scam anyone else since she missed out on us"

 

 

Answer 12

"Armanda Jainey at 206-582-6036.  Offered me $150 more than my asking price if I would remove the ad and consider the item sold.  Claimed to be a marine engineer, so couldn't get to me, but would have an agent handle shipping etc.  Asked for more pictures, so I asked for email address.  Sent pics to armandajainey1@gmail.com ~ Buyer wanted my email address for paypal acct, and also wanted to communicate through email rather than continue texting.  Grammar was incorrect, which made me suspicious.  Also hard to believe that someone would make a big purchase sight unseen.  I searched area code, to see where call came from ~ 206 is Seattle WA, but there's no 582 exchange.  Glad I checked ~~ "

Answer 13

Several reported text message scam from # 778-732-2721 .

"Original text messages sent from 778.732.2721

Later a name and address were supplied:

Tayler Carter Barling

Siloam Springs, AK  72761

 

However, the fraudulent check was JP Morgan & Chase

with an address on it from Florida.

 

The check was mailed from Houston.

 

The final phone CALL came from British Columbia."

 

Answer 14

New scam # has been reported: 432-653-2299 .