Possible gumtree fraudster??

adamwantsadb9

I replied to an add asking for a driver, this is the response I got...

Hello,

Thanks for your response and i am glad to hear from you as regards the driving job. My name is Jim XXXXX, I live in London and work, I own my business. I'm presently in Dubai, on a business trips, my wife in USA is coming from Mississippi to London. I want a good driver that will pick her up at airport and take her to my home.

She intends to stay for the duration of 2 months, and she will be needing you 3 times and in a week for 4 hours each day.

I am offering to 400 GBP weekly for the duration of 2months, I believe you are fit for this position in as much you will prove yourself a reliable and good person. Her arrival date is May 13th I will prefer you have your car available but if you don't have a car I can provide car for you.

Also, I will like to have a photo ID of you, for security reasons. I will also pay your first salary ahead of time before the arrival of my wife, therefore I will have my accountant send

your upfront payment, which would be by checque, inclusive of my wife's freight fees. if you are interested in the job, a checque of 1950 GBP will be sent to you for your first salary

and i want you to know that the remaining funds will be used by my wife for her freight expenses, Get back to me with the following details of yours if
you are interested.

Full Name
Address including (Door Number, City, state and Post Code)
Mobile Phone Number
other email address


Regards
Jim XXXXX

Obviously I have removed Jim's Surname in case it is genuine, but I can smell a rat, I dont know how this scam would work, but it seems to be a scam.
Anyone come across this or something like this before?

fluffnutter

It's a scam. I run a mile whenever I see 'GBP' (or STERLING). That's simply not how we annotate money in this country - we use £.

I can't quite remember how this particular scam works but it's to do with the discrepancy between your wages and the amount you're sent (for his wife's expenses). The cheque will bounce but you'll have paid him back some of your own cash (or something).

warehouse

It's 100% a scam. Just Google the first line of his reply.

roh999

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=45493

paddyrg

your upfront payment, which would be by checque, inclusive of my wife's freight fees. if you are interested in the job, a checque of 1950 GBP will be sent to you for your first salary

and i want you to know that the remaining funds will be used by my wife for her freight expenses, Get back to me with the following details of yours if
you are interested.

You get a forged/stolen cheque for £1950 which you bank. You than have to send the 'freight expenses' (like probably £350 after 4 weeks 'salary') to a fake shipping agent via Western Union (untraceable). Cheque bounces, your account gets corrected (ie -£1950) so you are £350 down.

No harm in giving his fake surname, it is a con.

Visit scamwarners.com for more details, and ideally to post the scam up there to prevent others falling for it.

PZH

Tell them that you do not have a bank account and to send the money via Western Union (with a false address and phone number obviously).... :rotfl: