So I've been stringing along a scammer...

[Crafter_Man]

A scammer stole the profile of one of my FB friends and messaged me. I played along. The scammer then had an “agent” (another scammer) message me on FB. Over the past couple of days I’ve been having fun stringing along this scammer.

So this morning she (pic is female, but it could also be a male) asked me to send her $3850, and then I would receive $350,000. I was expecting her to tell me to wire her the money, or send a bank check. Nope… she wants me to send her cash via the USPS. And she gave me a street address in the U.S. to send it to. I found the home on Google Maps. It appears to be a private home in Scurry, TX.

I would love to see this scammer arrested. Is there anything I can do at this point to ensure that happens? Contact the local sheriff, perhaps?

[Hampshire]

Illegal and unwise to send them something dangerous but I don’t think you’d get in any trouble if you shipped them a box of dog crap.

[GaryM]

Postal inspectors?

[Alpha_Twit]

@GaryM

Postal inspectors?

+1

Make sure you bring hard copies of all communications with you. If they can’t help you, they can probably tell you who can.

Either that or just send them an envelope of Monopoly money.

[Crafter_Man]

She also gave me her name. A google search shows someone with the same name living in Scurry, TX. I also looked up the address at https://esearch.kaufman-cad.org/. A woman with same last name owns the property.

Would it be against SDMB rules to post the message she sent me that contains the name and address of where to send the money?

[Alpha_Twit]

@Crafter_Man

She also gave me her name. A google search shows someone with the same name living in Scurry, TX. I also looked up the address at https://esearch.kaufman-cad.org/. A woman with same last name owns the property.

Would it be against SDMB rules to post the message she sent me that contains the name and address of where to send the money?

I’m not going to comment on forum rules but I’d be leery of it. The scammer probably didn’t give you their real name. The fact that the name you were given matches the name of the property holder means nothing. By releasing that data, you might be calling fire down on an innocent person.

[DorkVader]

@Alpha_Twit

+1

Make sure you bring hard copies of all communications with you. If they can’t help you, they can probably tell you who can.

Either that or just send them an envelope of Monopoly money.

Me two too also

The moment they said send cash via usps, they’ve entered fraud by mail territory.

I like the monopoly money idea, much classier and less laborious than cutting up newspapers to dollar size bits of scrap paper

[Two_Many_Cats]

I’d make copies of everything, then contact law enforcement for further instructions.

Yeah, dog crap or Monopoly money would be fun, but it wouldn’t be what these people deserve. And it won’t save some more gullible person from misfortune in the future.

[Napier]

@Alpha_Twit

I’m not going to comment on forum rules but I’d be leery of it. The scammer probably didn’t give you their real name. The fact that the name you were given matches the name of the property holder means nothing. By releasing that data, you might be calling fire down on an innocent person.

Echo this. Maybe the scam involves the real miscreant peeking into the mailbox of the named person before they get home each day.

[Crafter_Man]

@Napier

Echo this. Maybe the scam involves the real miscreant peeking into the mailbox of the named person before they get home each day.

Good point.

So who should I contact? The Kaufman County sheriff’s office? The Scurry, TX postmaster?

[Alpha_Twit]

@Crafter_Man

Good point.

So who should I contact? The Kaufman County sheriff’s office? The Scurry, TX postmaster?

Contact your local postmaster and follow their instructions.

[Crafter_Man]

Here is the message where she instructs me to send money:

Payment Instructions

1. Get a brown envelope

2. Put in the whole money as cash

3. Sealed it up properly and write your name on the envelope

4. Approach any Usps office

5. Send it out on overnight delivery and send to the below information

6. Name: XXXXXXXX
   Address: XXXXXX

7. You will be issued a receipt at the USPS office, on the receipt you’ll find a tracking number

8. Just send us the tracking number for the confirmation of your payment.

Note : Please read over and avoid any form of mistake
9. Reply yes to confirm you get this

Make sure you pack and sealed the envelope well then write the information where you are sending to on it before going to the post office, you can use either FEDEX OR USPS

Important notice : They might ask you what you are sending, tell them it is a gift for unnecessary complain for safety and security of your payment

[elbows]

Send $38.50 !

Send it registered.

[Mk_VII]

Sending packets of filth through the mail may itself be illegal (and dangerous to USPS employees)

[Hampshire]

If someone gave you a legit name and address they could be a neighbor of them using that address and then intercepting deliveries there.

[Pork_Rind]

There’s also work-from-home scams where the overseas scammer hires gullible US-based folks to act as mail forwarders or something along those lines. The person in Texas receiving these packages could jus be another dupe just one level up.

[Riemann]

I’m curious, when you say “agent”, what are they claiming to be/do? Are they purporting to offer you something in return for the money? Or is it just a fake sob story asking for charity? It seems less clear cut that the latter would be illegal, although it probably still is if they are misrepresenting their identity.

[Alley_Dweller]

@Riemann

I’m curious, when you say “agent”, what are they claiming to be/do? Are they purporting to offer you something in return for the money? Or is it just a fake sob story asking for charity? It seems less clear cut that the latter would be illegal, although it probably still is if they are misrepresenting their identity.

From the OP:

@Crafter_Man

So this morning she (pic is female, but it could also be a male) asked me to send her $3850, and then I would receive $350,000.

[Alley_Dweller]

@Crafter_Man

Here is the message where she instructs me to send money:
…
7. You will be issued a receipt at the USPS office, on the receipt you’ll find a tracking number
8. Just send us the tracking number for the confirmation of your payment.
…

Using the tracking number, they will redirect the shipment to another address or have it held for pick up at the Post Office.

[ivylass]

I would be surprised if the person living at that address has any idea of what’s going on. #3 on the list instructs you to write your name on the envelope. I would presume that whoever is going through the mailbox asks that so they know which one is for their scam and which one is for the residents of the home. That way the homeowners won’t get suspicious if their electricity bill suddenly disappears.

I agree with contacting the authorities.