I put an ad on Craigslist to sell a refrigerator that I no longer need. Within a few minutes I’m happy to report Micheal responded to buy it!

SCAMMER:Hi amMicheal I like to ask if this item is till available for sale and what thepresent condition it.

ME:Still for sale, someone isinterested tho, its like new, 5 months. 

SCAMMER:Thanksfor the  information Joshua I am interested in buying and closing thisdeal before anybody else  the easiest mode of payment  for me is bysending you a cashier check directly from my bank account  to youovernight via USPS , Kindly send me your full name and address to send thecheck out if you are interested . I also promise to handle the shipping myselfonce you have the cash at hand 

ME: Awesome! Thank youMichael! Please send the check to:

Youra Sheethed

15 Deerfield St #15145

Boston MA 02215

Sincerely with love respect hugs and kisses

Youra Sheethed ??

SCAMMER:The check will be mailed ASAP,pleasenote that the amount on the check will be shipping and handling chargesinclusive so you will have more than $640on  the check from which you will deduct $640for  the payment , will counting on you make therest available to my shipper because I have other things he will be picking upfor Me , I will notify you once the check is sent.kindly confirm thename.YouraSheethed

ME: Yup, that is correct.  Youra Sheethed.  It has been a pleasure to do business with such a professional person as yourself.

Few days later…….

SCAMMER:The Usps man just confirmed to me thecheck has delivered now and The amount i wrote is $2340,As our agreement that ihave promised that iwont cause you any financial problem regarding theshipment, The extra fee payment on the check is to cover the shippers fee pickup for your item and they have other items they are picking up for me , So thatcan cover all fee..

SCAMMER: Have you received/deposited the checkalready??

Hey, it’s me Robert, so the SCAMMER didn’t get an immediate reply from me because I was on an airplane. In the course of an hour, probably in a panic, Scammer then sent another 8 messages and called another 12 times every, 2 minutes.

ME when I got off the plane: You seem to have ants in yourpants.  You should have thatchecked.  They can bite you know.  Especially the red ones.  One time that happened to me. I was VERYITCHY.  Are you itchy?

SCAMMER: Excuse me ?

ME: Ants in your pants. You called and texted like 20 times. Maybe it’s me but that tells me you have ants in your pants.

SCAMMER:The USPS confirmed to me check alreadydelivered,so I wanted to be sure you’re in procession of it..i apologize forthe inconvenience and would like to proceed

ME: I deposited it. It’s a lot of money!!!!! Thank you for the big tip.  Youra said she will use the extra money forher hemorrhoid surgery.  She’s veryitchy.

Hey, it’s me Robert, so the SCAMMER didn’t respond to thismessage at all, I think maybe he caught on??!! So I messaged him 2 days later….

ME: When are the movers coming?

SCAMMER: I HAVEYOUR COMPLETE NAME AND ADDRESS,I WILL BE TAKING A SERIOUS LEGAL ACTION AGAINSTYOU…. you will be hearing from my lawyer soon!

ME: Why? I thought we were friends? I like you.  We have lots in common. We both are itchy!

SCAMMER:Oloriburuku!

Hey, it’s me Robert, so I didn’t know what Oloriburiku was, so I googled it. And the Urban Dictionary provided this definition: “Oloriburiku; Direct translation to bastard head meaning someone stupid or crazy with mad thoughts don’t use it around Nigerian parent unless u want to die”

Apparently I’m not selling a refrigerator to Micheal. But at least I have a nice big fat check!

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of Identity Theft Privacy: Security Protection and Fraud Prevention: Your Guide to Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft and Computer Fraud. See him knock’em dead in this Security Awareness Training video