Having heard of scammers targeting online car sales sites, I was only too happy to dust down the spamfighting cape and spring into action!

The mission: to raise false hopes and irritate.

From: james wright [mailto:jmswrght25@googlemail.com]
Sent: 30 June 2011 10:52
To: stewie
Subject: BMW 3 SERIES 325i SE 4dr Saloon £2795 (9 miles)

Dear Seller,

I saw you Car advert on the internet website for sale and am interested in buying it. So i will like you to kindly get back to me soonest with the details of the Car below:-

*Present condition
*Last asking price
*Current Pictures

And Method of payment is Bank Draft. If you’re satisfied kindly get back to me for further arrangements.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

From: stewie
To: jmswrght25@googlemail.com
Subject: BMW 3 SERIES 325i SE 4dr Saloon £2795 (9 miles)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:37:55

Hi James

I am responding to an email that you sent to my work address. It is best if we liaise via my personal account as my work emails are monitored!

I have a few cars for sale after the death of a wealthy aunt and uncle in a tragic accident involving a runaway lawnmower on their estate. I think you are referring to an old BMW 3 series? It’s a classic example in pristine condition – picture attached.

Asking price is £2795 although it is worth more. I just need a quick sale.

Are you interested in other cars?

Thanks

Stewie

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 16:00:58 +0100
Subject: Bank Draft Payment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: BMW 3 SERIES 325i SE 4dr Saloon £2795 (9 miles)
From: jmswrght25@googlemail.com
To: stewie

Good day ,

Thanks for your swift response ,I really appreciate your quick response towards making a successful transaction . About the present working condition of the CAR as stated by you, I am really pleased
with it, [really?!] because i believed you are telling me the real fact I cannot come over to your location now due to the nature of my work. I have called my wife to no about the transaction. And she is the one that want to used the car , There is nothing to worry about the pickup.I have a shipping company that will take good care of the pickup at your location and to my location and sign all the necessary papers with the transfer of ownership certificate at your location on behalf of me when the money credited to your account.. Payment will include the asking price to be send to you. And the shipping company money will be add to the money you will receive ,Is when the money cleared into your account that your will release the car and the remain money to the shipping company ,Any amounts on the asking price is to shipping cost charges.

Here is the information for payment: —

Your full name………………..
Address in full……………
CITY CODE ……………………..
COUNTRY ……………………
Tel(mobile)………………..
Final price………………..

PLEASE NOTE: You will receive the payment by post man [okay man], When you receive the payment you will have to take it to your bank for clearance date, it will clear into your account 2 to 3 working days
,That the Banker’s Draft cheque will be cleared first before releasing the car ok .and the car is shipping to my wife which is in Ireland

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

From: stewie
To: jmswrght25@googlemail.com
Subject: RE: Bank Draft Payment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: BMW 3 SERIES 325i SE 4dr Saloon £2795 (9 miles)
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 16:01:36

Good day James

I have several cars for sale, so can you remind me which one you would like to buy? I am sorry but I am not very organised! Is it the BMW pick-up that is attached?

It is in good condition, even though it has been up and down a lot of hills.

Would you like to know about the mileage and previous owners? It has just 260,000 miles on the clock and has been owned exclusively by one family only!

One question: what is the name of the shipping company that you will use? I would rather correspond by email as I don’t like to give out my phone number. I’m sure I can trust you.

My full name: Stewie Word-Press
Address: 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2BD, UK [Where the Prime Minister lives!]
Final price: £15,000

Best regards

Stewie

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 08:13:39 -0700
Subject: Urgent Reply!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: jmswrght25@googlemail.com
To: stewie

By now you ought to have received the payment for the car am buying from you,please get back to me as soon as you receive this message.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

From: stewie
To: jmswrght25@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Urgent Reply!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:16:19

Hi James

I haven’t received any payment. Can you confirm that you wanted to buy the vehicle that was pictured in my last email?

What method of payment did you use? I accept postal orders and IOUs.

Thanks

Stewie

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:39:47 -0700
From: jmswrght25@yahoo.com
Subject: URGENT!!!!! CHEQUE HAS BEEN DELIVERED
To: stewie
Hello,

Please get back to me as am expecting you to have received the cheque by now. [I will ask David Cameron for you. I thought you wanted to pay by bank transfer?]

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

From: stewie
To: jmswrght25@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: URGENT!!!!! CHEQUE HAS BEEN DELIVERED
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:08:32

Hi James

Sorry for the delay, I was on a whaling trip in Iceland. We caught a blue whale and were dragged out to open sea for six days. But I hope you are still interested in purchasing the car? Just to refresh my memory, was it the one attached?

I haven’t received your cheque. Do you have another method of payment?

Thanks

Stewie

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:47:25 -0700
From: jmswrght25@yahoo.com
Subject: Have you receive the cheque???????
To: stewie

Have you receive the cheque???????

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

From: stewiejt@live.co.uk
To: jmswrght25@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Have you receive the cheque???????
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:27:27

Hi James

Good news – I have received the cheque! What are the next steps?

Thanks

Stewie

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

No reply! Was it something I said? He really wasn’t sure of himself, was he? Did he want a bank transfer, the preferred method of scamming, or was he trying to send me a bouncy cheque? And why did he take so long to reply each time? He clearly needs a refresher course at spam school.

I would just like to apologise to David Cameron and family for any junk mail that may have arrived recently.