Beware of Scammer

[kaznerm]

There is a suspected Scammer using a Talk of the Villages account. The name he used with me is Michael Prosser. Maria Kazner

[ColdNoMore]

There is a suspected Scammer using a Talk of the Villages account. The name he used with me is Michael Prosser. Maria Kazner

What's his user name (no members showing with that name)...and what kind of "scam?"

[graciegirl]

There is a suspected Scammer using a Talk of the Villages account. The name he used with me is Michael Prosser. Maria Kazner

Forward his messages to Talk of the Villages Team.

I do when I get anything that the owners should see.

[kaznerm]

User name is. Dhinton126@aol.com. He replied to all my postings with the same wording. He wanted to know the present condition and said he would not be viewing the item for sale but would buy it anyway. I did not respond further so I don’t know his next step.

[kaznerm]

How do I reply to the team?

[Moderator]

How do I reply to the team?

Please use the PM function. We have sent you a PM. You can reply to that.

Moderator

[CWGUY]

How do I reply to the team?

;) You could try "Contact Us" at the bottom of the page.

[bcswick]

Yes just received an email from him. Scam written all over it!

[Moderator]

We are still researching what happened.

In both instances cited in this thread, the person selling the item posted a phone number in the body of the ad. It is possible that a scammer who is not a registered member of TOTV is browsing ads looking for phone numbers and email addresses and then contacting the seller outside of the TOTV system.

People can browse ads and threads on TOTV without registering. They cannot post ads or post on threads nor can they send PMs if they are not registered.

This is why we advise members to only put their contact info into the designated section of the ad rather than in the body of the ad. Only registered members can see the designated contact info.

We will continue to look into this.

Moderator

[Tom Alger]

Also received similar type email to an ad from the same person--Michael Prosser and dhinton126@aol.com email address.

[jimmemac]

Same person responded to my ad. There was no phone number in it. I received an email from TOV letting me know he was interested

[VillageIdiots]

Same here. I did not have my phone number in the body of the ad. The first contact was via TOTV best I can tell.

[mixsonci]

We are still researching what happened.

In both instances cited in this thread, the person selling the item posted a phone number in the body of the ad. It is possible that a scammer who is not a registered member of TOTV is browsing ads looking for phone numbers and email addresses and then contacting the seller outside of the TOTV system.

People can browse ads and threads on TOTV without registering. They cannot post ads or post on threads nor can they send PMs if they are not registered.

This is why we advise members to only put their contact info into the designated section of the ad rather than in the body of the ad. Only registered members can see the designated contact info.

We will continue to look into this.

Moderator
This person contacted me through the classifieds on TOTV, his avatar name is dhin11. I looked him up in the member's list. His email said it was sent through TOTV

[bcswick]

The email came from talk of the villages
Hello bcswick,
You have a new message. Below are the sender's information:
First name : dhin11
Last Name : dhin11
Email : dhinton126@aol.com
Phone :
Ad link : Sleeper Sofa
Message : Hi, I would like to know if you still have your item for sale. Please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks Michael
Sincerely,
Talk of the Villages

[geod]

I also had the same person respond to an ad. Sent back a message that said meet me at the police dept. With check and would have police verify . No further messages from him sense.

[bcswick]

Original email he sent to me
Hello bcswick,
You have a new message. Below are the sender's information:
First name : dhin11
Last Name : dhin11
Email : dhinton126@aol.com
Phone :
Ad link : Sleeper Sofa
Message : Hi, I would like to know if you still have your item for sale. Please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks Michael
Sincerely,
Talk of the Villages

[Moderator]

This person contacted me through the classifieds on TOTV, his avatar name is dhin11. I looked him up in the member's list. His email said it was sent through TOTV

bingo...this is what we were looking for...user name. will take care of it. Thank you all for your feedback and responses.

If you get similar 'scammer' type messages, please alert us to the member's TOTV ID and we will address it promptly.

Moderator

[Bill32]

Tried me also but this old dog is aware of these scams.....

[mixsonci]

I actually answered him but gave no added info, he sent back instructions and a phone number to contact him, I did not respond to this one

[starflyte1]

I must be really dense. How do you know it is a scam?

Thanking you for kind replies only.

[ColdNoMore]

I must be really dense. How do you know it is a scam?

Thanking you for kind replies only.

Post #4...is a big clue.

He wanted to know the present condition and said he would not be viewing the item for sale but would buy it anyway.

[rainyday]

Also received inquiry from this guy with exactly the same wording. Did suspect something not right.

[perrjojo]

And he/she thought we old folks were easy targets. Good for you in reporting this.

[John_W]

I must be really dense. How do you know it is a scam?

Thanking you for kind replies only.

They told the OP that they would not be viewing the item, who buys used furniture, appliances, whatever, without seeing it first and then pays full price. Actually they pay more than full price, that's the scam. Next they'll say I'll have a mover, friend, etc will come and pick up the item. They say I've sent you a money order, I made it out for $500 (official looking but bogus). You've agreed upon a price of $300, gee can you send me back my $200. They were never interested in the merchandise, it's like casting a net. They throw out 20 replies on TOTV, Craig's List, newspaper ads, and if a few fall for the scam, they're a few hundred dollars richer today... and nobody comes to pick up the merchandise.

[starflyte1]

Thank you.

[Two Bills]

Here in UK similar scams are used, one is where they get you to phone them back by claiming a problem with their own phone, and they uses a premium phone line costing $10-$20++ a minute.

[Jgsch]

Boy am I glad I checked here! This person sent me a message through TOV and I have sent him several messages including my address and phone number. He said he was going to send me a check for my item plus the cost of his representative handling the mailing of my item. It wasn't until then I got suspicious.

[b0bd0herty]

We just received the same type of requests from this individual. Wants a bottom line price, wording is somewhat stilted and says he would be making arangements to pick it up as he would not be doing so himself.

[TOTV Team]

Hello - we did get a report a couple of days ago about user Dhin11 and banned the user and blocked their IP address.

TOTV requires anyone wishing to contact a seller register and this gives us the control to block and ban user like this. For this reason we suggest also never putting your contact info in the body of your ad just in the appropriate fields when you list your item for sale.

If you ever have a concern about a user please send us the user name and we can research.

Best Regards,

TOTV Team

[socrafty]

I also had the same person respond to an ad. Sent back a message that said meet me at the police dept. With check and would have police verify . No further messages from him sense.

That's funny you say this. I told my girlfriend yesterday to do the same thing. She text back and told him there is a place at the Lady Lake police station where internet transactions can take place. They can meet there and she would pick up the "certified check". Imagine this, they never replied back lol.

[mhorsman]

There is a suspected Scammer using a Talk of the Villages account. The name he used with me is Michael Prosser. Maria Kazner

He tried to buy from me too. When a person tells me he is giving me a check and someone is going to pick up the product I know it’s a scam. I like to tell them to make the check payable to the sheriff and mail it to their office.

[Retiring]

Last week I was at the post office. The person next to me was wiping away tears as she was receiving a receipt for the counterfeit $500 postal money order she was trying to cash. In the 30 seconds I was able to over hear, she sold something and was given this money order. Worst part, the item was less than $500 so she gave him change and the item. All the postal worker was able to say, “we see a lot of this, I’m very sorry.”

BTW, from a few feet away I thought the money order looked real. Laser printers have come a long way.

Very sad.

[Fred McNickle]

Also received "offer" and promised check from this person. He keeps emailing and calling. Cannot get rid of him.

[Fred McNickle]

He keeps promising a check that never arrives.

[John_W]

He keeps promising a check that never arrives.

Turn it over to the police, that might do more than get rid of them. See something, say something.

[Nucky]

This scamming thing is way out of control. The calls never end and the cell phone blocker Mr. Number has stopped blocking. Maybe it is full. I would say an average of 4 calls a day.

A friend of ours was selling a dining room set and this clown offered a check to cover the dining room and the shipping. When she mentioned it to us we said when was the last time you sold something and someone wanted to pay you in advance for something they didn't see and why would you as the seller ever care about shipping? She said she was going to report it to TOTV'S. I don't know the final verdict yet? I just hope she didn't cash the check. I have to find out the name next time we see her. We are a humongous target for these thieves.

[Fred McNickle]

Went thru the same thing with Michael prosser aka dhinton@aol.com
He even sent me a check now in my possession for $2000. I assume it’s fake and am considering taking the check to the sheriffs or just shred it.

[villagetinker]

Went thru the same thing with Michael prosser aka dhinton@aol.com
He even sent me a check now in my possession for $2000. I assume it’s fake and am considering taking the check to the sheriffs or just shred it.

Definitely take to police.

[EdFNJ]

Went thru the same thing with Michael prosser aka dhinton@aol.com
He even sent me a check now in my possession for $2000. I assume it’s fake and am considering taking the check to the sheriffs or just shred it.


Maybe they can pull prints or DNA off it! :D I would notify the police and let the whole thing play out as a "sting". He's probably reading this thread anyway as there are many ways to get past an IP block.