Scam Alert

While the vast majority of people using HoustonClassifieds.com are honest and sincere, we want you to beware of scams originating from overseas. 

Scams Show Up in Two Forms:

1. Scam Replies

 2. Scam Ads      

  1.  Scam Replies:  These mainly stem from overseas. They will try to get you to accept a cashier's check that ends up being more than the price of your car or other item you are selling.  This check will be counterfeit but may clear in your account, then bounce after. You will be out of pocket!  Believe us,  they can be convincing.  If you receive a reply from a yahoo email address that you believe to be a scam, please forward it to abuse@yahoo.com 

  2.  Scam Ads:  While we do our best to filter these out we aren't always able to get everyone.  These usually show up as too good to be true ads for pets or motorcycles.  Many times they will try to get you to email them directly so they can obtain your email address and spam you.  In other cases they are also trying to get you to send them a cashier's check as payment.  If you believe an ad to be a scam,  please click on the 'report abuse' link in the upper right corner of the ad.     

Here are examples of scam replies recently received:

Example 1:

"Name: Nill Moore 

Subject: PAYMENT & SHIPPING ARRANGEMENT 

Message: Hello M.M.,Thanks for your mail,I will make you an offer $4,850 has for now i'm not in the state,And i have a Personal Assistance in US that work for me i will tell him to issue you a cheque of $8,600 and send it to you and as soon as you received it,i will like you to help me send the remaning balance of the money through (Western Union Money Transfer).to my shipping agent that will come and pick it up ASAP If this is ok with you reply me with your full address and phone # so that i can forward it to my Personal Assistance ASAP.Looking forward to your response. Regards Nill... :"

Example 2:

madam_ninna@yahoo.it Madam Ninna Kabila Tel:225 07 13 64 92 Introduction. My Dear, It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Son Mack,intend to establish in your country. Though I have not met with you before but I believe,one has to risk confiding in succeed sometimes in life. There is this huge amount of Eigtheen million U.S dollars($18,000,000.00) which my late Husband kept for us with a Security Company in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire before he was assasinated by unknown persons. Now I and my son decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons. We want you to help us claim and retrieve these fund from the Security Company and transfer it into your personal account in your country for investment purposes on these areas: 1). Telecommunication 2). the transport industry 3). Five star hotel If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 10% Of the total fund.I await your soonest response. Respectfully yours, Mrs.Ninna Kabila. 

Example 3:

Name: Marie William
Subject: Dachshund Puppies
Date: 11/18/2006
Message: Hello I Saw your Ad Advertise in houstonclassifieds......Wonderful! what a great item placed in here, i hope this is still in good condition. I come across one of your item place here, on behalf of my client who reside in United Kingdom... i'm ordering this item from you. I will want you to email me if you still have the item and ready to sell the item to my client. A total price of the item will be needed. According to my client, a Money Order/Cashier's check/Check has already been signed for, i will be needing your honesty and faithfulness in this transaction, for future purchases from you. I will want you to get back to me if you are willing to sell my client this item and also ready to approve/mail out the Money Order/Cashier's check/Check ASAP, by getting back to me with your name as you want it to appear on the Money Order/Cashier's check , and your contact phone number between each other. I will want you to get back to me as soon as you have received this message, so i can give a response to my client and let him know that the Money Order/Cashier's check/Check should be mail out as soon as possible. Thanks

Basic rules: - will save any distress 

Most Important rule:  Never accept a cashier's check or money order especially from someone overseas.  Never deal with anyone overseas.  

Contact the person placing the ad through our inbox feature (not directly to their email address) in order to keep your email address confidential.

Avoid including your email address within your ad.  Use our inbox feature this way your email address remains confidential.

Do not sell your car or other high priced item to someone that wants to buy without seeing it! 

Do not accept overpayment! 

Do not arrange shipping - they want it let them sort it! 

Do not sell to someone from overseas! 

Avoid dealing with someone from out of state.  

Learn about nigerian 419 scams - they show in many variations see google 

If it seems too good to be true .... IT IS!! 

If you get a reply which seems similar to this...simply DELETE IT!