I put up an ad on www.ottawa. Kijiji.ca to sell a bicycle for $400.00 CAD (Ad 400490331 on www.ottawa. Kijiji.ca is no longer available, because I removed it since I sold the bicycle to another _honest_person_; but if you want to have an idea of what my original ad looked like, here is a link to another, older ad, for the same bicycle:).
I became suspicious because the potential buyer sent me an email that was strangely similar to emails that scammer Shane Kellar is sending (examples here: and here:). (A friend of mine recently *almost* got scammed by this Shane Kellar individual on AutoTrader... Anyway...)
It first started with an innocent looking text message sent to my cell phone (I got fooled: I did not even notice that he was texting me from area code 631, because here in the Ottawa region we use area code 613). Here is a transcript of his text message:
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From: Kem Rose (16316184471)
Date: 07/30,6:23 pm
Hello is your bike still for Sale, on kijiji.ca available for sale.? Pls email me at [email protected] don't text back cos am at work now
Thanks
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And here is a complete transcript of the email exchange that followed:
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Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Monday, July 30 10:53 PM
"j.G."
To:
[email protected]
Hello there, yes the bike is still for sale (actually you are the first person to reply to my ad!)
Would you like to take it for a test ride sometime this week? Just let me know, either at this email address, or by text/phone at 819-623-8790, and we'll arrange something that can work for both of our schedules. I'm usually available after 5:00 P.M., but if you work evenings, I'm sure I could find some free time during the day.
Let me know!
— Jerauld
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Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Monday, July 30 11:14 PM
From:
"kem rose"
To:
"J.G."
When last was it serviced, how long have you owned it? And what's
your lowest price for it. Let me know your price for it. I hope to
hear from you soon,
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Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Tuesday, July 31 1:03 AM
From:
"J.G."
To:
"kem rose"
It was last serviced in the summer of but it's pretty much been sitting in storage in my appartment since then. I basically bought it, had a ride or two, then got both suspensions (front and rear) serviced in a bike shop here in Hull, then took it for maybe two more rides, always in dry weather, never in the rain or mud. It's been in storage since then.
When I bought it (in the summer of 2010), I had just come back from a couple weeks in Calgary, visiting my brother, and he took me downhilling at Kicking Horse Mountain and at Mount Seven; I loved it so much I decided on a whim to buy two bikes when I got back (I also bought a Brodie that I since re-sold). I was hoping to go to Camp Fortune on a regular basis, but it never happened, no time, busy with life...
My lowest price is $350 firm, take it or leave it. For that price, I can also throw in a trunk bike rack it you need one (similar to this one: http://www.bikecarrierdirect.com/Trunk-Bike-Rack/Swagman&Long-Haul-Pro-Trunk-Rack.html). I bought this rack used to carry the bikes, I won't have a need for it anymore.
Thanks,
— Jerauld
& On Mon, 7/30, kem rose wrote:
From: kem rose
Subject: Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
To: "J.G."
Received: Monday, July 30, 11:14 PM
When last was it serviced, how long have you owned it? And what's
your lowest price for it. Let me know your price for it. I hope to
hear from you soon,
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Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Tuesday, July 31 7:40 AM
From:
"kem rose"
To:
"J.G."
Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me asap I Agree with price you are letting
it go So i will be paying directly into your Bank Account or PayPal
account without any delay... Concerning the shipment. Their is a
shipping company that will come for the pick up after i have
successfully make the payment to your Account... The shipping company
Agent will come to your door step and pick up the bike... Kindly
get back to me with your full Bank formation or PayPal, if you don't have
Account with PayPal you can create one just visit www.paypal.com
... And once i receive the details i will go ahead with the payment and
then i will contact my shipping company after you get the payment. I
will need your home address for bike to be Picked Up by the Shipping
Company my name and address for all documentations regarding the
bike and all other documentations should be prepared by my Pick Up
Agent...
Have a nice day.
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Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Tuesday, July 31 3:09 PM
From:
"J.G."
To:
"kem rose"
Hello Kem,
Well I don't use Paypal so give me a little time to set up an account with them. Also, I would normally prefer to deal locally (as recommended by the Kijiji Terms of Use), so if you are ever in or near the Ottawa/Gatineau region, I would much prefer to deal with you in person. Why do you want to use a shipping company? How far are you from the Ottawa/Gatineau region? Would it not be cheaper for you and easier/simpler for the both of us to just meet in person? Anyway, if you don't mind could you please give me the details of your shipping company — their name, address and phone number — just so I can have a little reassurance?
Thank you in advance,
— Jer
& On Tue, 7/31, kem rose wrote:
From: kem rose
Subject: Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
To: "J.G."
Received: Tuesday, July 31, 7:40 AM
Hello,
Thanks for getting
back to me asap I Agree with price you are letting
it go So i will be paying directly into your Bank Account or
PayPal
account without any delay... Concerning the shipment. Their
is a
shipping company that will come for the pick up after i
have
successfully make the payment to your Account... The shipping
company
Agent will come to your door step and pick up the
bike... Kindly
get back to me with your full Bank formation or PayPal, if
you don't have
Account with PayPal you can create one just visit
www.paypal.com
... And once i receive the details i will go ahead with the
payment and
then i will contact my shipping company after you get the
payment. I
will need your home address for bike to be Picked Up by the
Shipping
Company my name and address for all documentations
regarding the
bike and all other documentations should be prepared by my
Pick Up
Agent...
Have a nice day.
=
Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Tuesday, July 31 4:44 PM
From:
"kem rose"
To:
"J.G."
ok i wait for your paypal email
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Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
Tuesday, July 31 9:59 PM
From:
"J.G."
To:
"kem rose"
Well Kem, you did not answer to all my questions.in my previous email I specifically asked you:
1) Why do you want to use a shipping company?
2) How far are you from the Ottawa/Gatineau region?
3) could you please give me the details of your shipping company — their name, address and phone number — just so I can have a little reassurance?
You should reply to all three questions above, *especially* question #3, before I move any further with the creation of a Paypal account. I mean come on, you seem like you are interested in the Kona Stinky, so please show a little bit of good will and try to be upfront about the informations that I am asking you to provide me with.
Is there any other way we could do this transaction? Oh wait, I have an idea: how about you give me the following details:
* Your full address (including Street number, Appartment number, City, Province, Postal Code), this way I can hire the shipping company of my choosing and send them to your house with the bicycle, or I could even deliver it myself to your house if you don't live too far (I travel a lot, so it should not be a problem);
* Your Bank Information (including Name of Bank, Bank Number, Tansit Number, Chequing Account Number), this way if you still insist on using your own shipping company, I could reimburse you for shipping costs by depositing money directly in your bank account, just the same as you seem to want to deposit money in my own bank account to pay for the bicycle;
* Name of your employer (including full address and phone number) if applicable, just so I can give him a quick call and inquire about your reputation;
* Your full name (including middle names if any), your date of birth and social insurance number while I'm at it, this way I could do a full credit check on you, just to make sure that you will be able to pay me;
I will be waiting for your reply which should contain all of the informations requested above.
Sincerely yours,
— Jer
& On Tue, 7/31, kem rose wrote:
From: kem rose
Subject: Re: Kona Stinky on ottawa. Kijiji.ca
To: "J.G."
Received: Tuesday, July 31, 4:44 PM
Ok i wait for your paypal email
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I must admit that I sent that last email *after* I had sold the bike to another _honest_person_; but I was kinda mad at all these stupid scammers and I tried to stay as polite as possible (he has not replied to me so far...)
The _honest_buyer who finally bought my bicycle (he found me through Kijiji) told me that there is an ongoing problem in Ottawa with thieves looking specifically for Kona bicycles: they try to get your home address with scam emails like the ones I posted above, pretending that they need this info for Paypal or for Ebay or for some shipping company. He told me that he knows someone to whom that happened: he gave his home address online, and the next day thieves broke in his appartment and stole his bike! So beware: never give your address to anyone on the internet! Always deal locally, and always meet potential buyers in public places if at all possible, for your own protection!
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