Russican Scam; They got me...
 

It sounded too good to be true at first...

I was ICQ'd and asked by a "lady" in "Russia" to accept a payment via PayPal from one of her "clients" in the United States. As a result of doing so, I would earn a receiving fee of 20% or some outrageous amount in the end of total amount being received. Claimed she worked for AnnStudio.org!

I asked why she needed me to receive the money... and she stated that Russia is a PayPal blacklisted country so they are not allowed to receive payments there.

After a lot of thought and confusion, I decided to give it a try one time and see what would happen - that was my first mistake.....

I said okay, send away... and I received a $230 PayPal payment. I was then asked to take my cut, then minus paypal fees and western union fees, and send the remaining to "Ukraine" or whatever via Western Union.

Before releasing the funds to the Ukraine, I e-mailed the guy "client" from the United States to confirm his identity and purchase. So, I emailed him using his paypal email address that was used to send me the initial $230. He replied with a yes, "I ordered a Perl Script Tweak" and received what I am paying for..." - therefore, I proceeded on thinking everything was gravy... so I released the funds to a man in the Ukraine and kept like $45.

This transaction was completed on November 11th, 2005... well - today, I get an email from PayPal stating that a chargeback has been requested for the transaction and that $223.06 is being held until the dispute is over with. I emailed PayPal all of this info, with my exact words to and from the "client".

To cut to the chase... it was too good to be true, I think both me and the so-called "client" got fucked over... however, I'm the one that is paying for the damage of someone else having their paypal, etc hacked into.

I'm now a - $230.00 over this bullshit.... do not EVER trust a foreigner over the Web... and NEVER EVER do any favors for Russians online.

A well thought out scam.... holy cow.

I've learned that I was dumb in making such a decision to help out... and I have decided to report this to the government.

It's late... I better get some sleep - so I can go dream about making a little money to pay this fucker back who obviously had his email/PayPal broken into.

You dumbass.

It happens. I've learned... it will never happen again.

ouch sorry to hear that... at least you learned now a valueable lesson!

and if this dude was from USA ud blacklist all USA?

get a brain hommie!

i wouldnt blacklist all usa no... but the scam would not have flown if he was from the USA... i probably would have said no right away.

So you trust Russians before Americans ????????

Not overall, lol... just for this particular scam I did. Its obvious Americans can accept PayPal payments, so I figured it was legit after the "American client" so called "confirmed" his identity by answering his own email... but I guess it turned out to be a Russian who had control over both the American's email and PayPal account.

Great scam i am in the wrong biz :pimp

sorry for you though :mad:

um, stick around, you'll see every same on the net reported here.

I got a friend in Nigeria who could use some help, can I send him your info?

LOL

You're fucking stupid. Only an american would fall for a scam like this + admit their stupidity on a public board.

That was pretty stupid of you to do

ouch sucks... sounds fucked up at all never help 2 sides to transfer cash for each other especially when you don't know them.

"lessons for dummies" :D

Well, it was stupid indeed, but it was a good lesson probably preventing you from loosing much more in the future. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear this. :(

And next time use your brain, dolt :winkwink:

hello asshat

retard :)

ugh, atleast it isnt a lot of money

i love your sig :1orglaugh

I almost fell for the nigerian scheme back in aug 2000.

The 'client' was in on it... oldest trick in the book.

somebody needs to pull the plug on russia's internet connection

that could happen anytime... no need to be russia or ukraine...

This trick might as well be pulled by any american, canadian, australian, dutch, nigerian or zimbabwian, not only russian.
If you are brainless idiot, Russia and people who live there have nothing to do with this.

lol moron

Wow that scam is pretty old. Sorry you fell for it. Be thankful it was for a small amount.

^^ russian.

Welcome to the interweb.

:glugglug

I call bullshit

Just a heads up but you did not do it to help anyone. You did it for the cash too. But at least it was small sting.

Hopefully you have the icq log, the email and the western union reciept.
scams like this should be reported to the financial crimes division of the us secret service
http://www.secretservice.gov/financial_crimes.shtml

this type of scam is similar to what is called a 419

dont blame others for your stupidity!