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[merged] Anyone else getting scam buyers on TUG classifieds?

[merged] Are these scammers and/or spammers?

I have several ads running in the TUG marketplace and am receiving responses that appear to be from scammers, not serious potential buyers.

Here is a sample of what they write:

Mike grimes
fortune.lomaxs1100@gmail.com
Hello, i am Dr Mike grimes O Neary PHD. i saw the timeshare you posted for sale here and i am glad to inform you that i am really interested in acquiring the timeshare. i am a prospective buyer and i do wish to buy the timeshare as soon as possible before my wife's birthday which is fast approaching because i intend to make the timeshare a Surprise package for her birthday and also to commemorate our silver jubilee wedding anniversary. kindly get back to me with the condition for sale and the price you are willing to sell the timeshare with your preferable Mode of payment. hope to read from you soon. Thanks God Bless you Dr Mike. 2011/07/30

3 David Lomaxs
david_lomaxs@hotmail.com
Good day..I am Mr David Lomaxs.P.hd........I am interested in acquiring the timeshares as an extension of my asset acquisition.......I will like you to get back at me so as to know the reasons for selling, condition for sales,sales period and also the most important thing price and i will like to pay you in (CERTIFIED CHECK) and pay you full as soon as i get to know weather the price is duely favorable for me or not ...I may be contacted on david_lomaxs@hotmail.com ...I hope to read from you soon..God bless.... Thanks in anticipation.... Mr,David Lomaxs

Is anyone else receiving responses like this? I have not answered their inquiries.

Thank you.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sounds Semi-Fishy.

Corky said:
I have not answered their inquiries.
Click to expand...
Just tell'm payment instructions will be provided by the timeshare closing services agency, which will collect all funds & prepare the new deed & arrange for resort transfer, etc.

If they have not chosen a closing services agency, you can tell'm about the ones that TUG-BBS people have used successfully. (Buyers customarily select & pay the timeshare closing service agencies.)

If they're on the level, they'll say OK & you can get'm to sign a purchase agreement (contract).

If they're bogus you'll never hear from'm again.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
Scammers

They have been hitting several of our ads per day, I just delete them, responding is just an exercise in futility.
Anytime you get an inquiry with odd text , that you can tell is done by someone using a translation program, you can take it to the bank that they are trying to scam you.
Greg
.
Corky said:
I have several ads running in the TUG marketplace and am receiving responses that appear to be from scammers, not serious potential buyers.

Here is a sample of what they write:

Mike grimes
fortune.lomaxs1100@gmail.com
Hello, i am Dr Mike grimes O Neary PHD. i saw the timeshare you posted for sale here and i am glad to inform you that i am really interested in acquiring the timeshare. i am a prospective buyer and i do wish to buy the timeshare as soon as possible before my wife's birthday which is fast approaching because i intend to make the timeshare a Surprise package for her birthday and also to commemorate our silver jubilee wedding anniversary. kindly get back to me with the condition for sale and the price you are willing to sell the timeshare with your preferable Mode of payment. hope to read from you soon. Thanks God Bless you Dr Mike. 2011/07/30

3 David Lomaxs
david_lomaxs@hotmail.com
Good day..I am Mr David Lomaxs.P.hd........I am interested in acquiring the timeshares as an extension of my asset acquisition.......I will like you to get back at me so as to know the reasons for selling, condition for sales,sales period and also the most important thing price and i will like to pay you in (CERTIFIED CHECK) and pay you full as soon as i get to know weather the price is duely favorable for me or not ...I may be contacted on david_lomaxs@hotmail.com ...I hope to read from you soon..God bless.... Thanks in anticipation.... Mr,David Lomaxs

Is anyone else receiving responses like this? I have not answered their inquiries.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the responses.

I think I'll delete the messages, as suggested. They just don't seem legit.
 
New Scam

I just had a new scam/SPAM message on a couple of my TUG ads. The all say the same thing, "I need more information on your Ad." The thing that tipped me off is that, even thought they use different names, the naming convention for the e-mails is the same, and they all have the same phone number: 914-470-8823. The names/e-mails that i have received thus far are as follows:

Dan Peters, danpeters88@gmail.com
Keith Hughes, keithhughes160@gmail.com
Welter Martins, weltermartins355@gmail.com
 
Wow, the SPAM I've been getting is as bad as Craigslist SPAM

TSKeith said:
I just had a new scam/SPAM message on a couple of my TUG ads. The all say the same thing, "I need more information on your Ad." The thing that tipped me off is that, even thought they use different names, the naming convention for the e-mails is the same, and they all have the same phone number: 914-470-8823. The names/e-mails that i have received thus far are as follows:

Dan Peters, danpeters88@gmail.com
Keith Hughes, keithhughes160@gmail.com
Welter Martins, weltermartins355@gmail.com
Click to expand...

Same thing. I didn't respond when I saw the first two; same thing, different names received at same time. I just checked email and had 11 more. I think that just about covers every ad I have listed. :doh:
 
Got two messages from him today and unfortunately responded to the first one. What is he trying to accomplish, retrieve email addresses?
 
ada903 said:
Got two messages from him today and unfortunately responded to the first one. What is he trying to accomplish, retrieve email addresses?
Click to expand...

No, he's after your money, I'm afraid. Better report him. :annoyed:
 
I am only concerned about having my email address sold and then getting tons of junk. He can't do any other harm! Because he emailed so many people, I assume he is collecting personal info and emails.
 
David Johnson

David Johnson also has the same phone number listed as Keith.
 
But where did all the Ph.D's go?

Scammers all, of course, but what has become of the responding Ph.D's who wanted to "express their gladness at your rapt attention"? :D :shrug: :D

You've got to at least admire their initiative and boldness, attempting to scam others without even a basic, fundamental mastery of the language in which they are attempting to work their gig.

I guess we should perhaps also be a bit more appreciative of their "gladness at our rapt attention". ;)
 
Does this sound legitimate?

I posted my Mystic Dunes timeshare in the TUG Classified section and was contacted by someone named Tim Stanton. The initial message asked for additional information (Stuff already listed in the ad) and now they are offering to buy the week at slightly lower than my asking price but using his broker:

"Thanks for the extra details. Having reviewed all the information provided, I am willing to pay 3200 dollars to close immediately. I have a hearing disability and as such will be using my broker to close the sale and pay all the closing costs and title transfer fees.

Let me know if this works and I will try to close as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Timothy Stanton"

Just seems fishy and yes, I am paranoid about someone willing to pay closing costs as long as we use his broker.

Has anyone been contacted with a message like this?

Thanks for your help!
 
Oh wait now he starts communicating, here is his response:

Thank you for your response. I am interested in purchasing your timeshare. Is it owned by you or do you represent someone?

I would like some more information such as weeks of availability for the year, your final price and any other information you think I should know. Can the resort be exchanged with any other resort?

Awaiting your feedback

Regards,
Keith Hughes
 
bandito19 said:
I posted my Mystic Dunes timeshare in the TUG Classified section and was contacted by someone named Tim Stanton. The initial message asked for additional information (Stuff already listed in the ad) and now they are offering to buy the week at slightly lower than my asking price but using his broker:

"Thanks for the extra details. Having reviewed all the information provided, I am willing to pay 3200 dollars to close immediately. I have a hearing disability and as such will be using my broker to close the sale and pay all the closing costs and title transfer fees.

Let me know if this works and I will try to close as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Timothy Stanton"

Just seems fishy and yes, I am paranoid about someone willing to pay closing costs as long as we use his broker.

Has anyone been contacted with a message like this?

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

What I always do is telling the potential buyer that my lawyer will contact him/her since my lawyer does all my business deals. Just ask them to call or e-mail your lawyer and give him/her all the papers, like identity papers etc. When they hang up on the phone (yes, that happens) or do not e-mail back you know they are frauds.
 
ada903 said:
Oh wait now he starts communicating, here is his response:

Thank you for your response. I am interested in purchasing your timeshare. Is it owned by you or do you represent someone?

I would like some more information such as weeks of availability for the year, your final price and any other information you think I should know. Can the resort be exchanged with any other resort?

Awaiting your feedback

Regards,
Keith Hughes
Click to expand...

I have posted this on another thread:
Margariet said:
What I always do is telling the potential buyer that my lawyer will contact him/her since my lawyer does all my business deals. Just ask them to call or e-mail your lawyer and give him/her all the papers, like identity papers etc. When they hang up on the phone (yes, that happens) or do not e-mail back you know they are frauds.
Click to expand...
 
Does this sound legitimate?

Thanks!

I already asked him for his contact information. Haven't heard back yet. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Bill
 
we blocked a large number of these emails last night...hoping to have a solution implemented this weekend that limits the number of messages one user can send in X timeframe to prevent this flood from ever happening again.
 
we blocked a large number of these emails last night...hoping to have a solution implemented this weekend that limits the number of messages one user can send in X timeframe to prevent this flood from ever happening again.
 
bandito19 said:
I posted my Mystic Dunes timeshare in the TUG Classified section and was contacted by someone named Tim Stanton. The initial message asked for additional information (Stuff already listed in the ad) and now they are offering to buy the week at slightly lower than my asking price but using his broker:

"Thanks for the extra details. Having reviewed all the information provided, I am willing to pay 3200 dollars to close immediately. I have a hearing disability and as such will be using my broker to close the sale and pay all the closing costs and title transfer fees.

Let me know if this works and I will try to close as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Timothy Stanton"

Just seems fishy and yes, I am paranoid about someone willing to pay closing costs as long as we use his broker.

Has anyone been contacted with a message like this?

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Got one from the same guy with the same MO, though he was willing to pay my asking price. Wants to mail a deposit then finish the documentation and paperwork through his broker.
 
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