Amazon scam from Nigeria

October 14, 2009 by angelchen1111
Filed under: Internet

Before I have listed the phone HTC 8525 for sale in Amazon.com, one day I got an email saying that I have sold the phone and I have to ship it to 16 Razaq Balogun Street, a place in Surulere, Nigeria. The email asked for international express mail so that they can get it by next Wednesday and it gives me about forty bucks of shipping credit for me to ship, it also claims that it has like thousands of deposits on Amazon.com for purchase protection (something which Amazon.com never has). At first I thought it was true and I took my phone to USPS to ship without checking amazon first, and the postage was only $34 and I thought I would make ten buck more out of the shipping credit this time.

Later on in the afternoon after I got home I went to Amazon.com to check the order’s status and I realized that the order was NOT FOUND! I then realized that it is a scam and went to USPS immediately to cancel the shipment at about one o’clock. Fortunately the phone was still there, but the guy who assisted me in the morning went out for lunch and I had to come back later at 2:30, meanwhile they will hold the shipment for me. Later on I came back and made lots of hassles to cancel the shipment and luckily get the postage fee refunded.

I almost lost a phone and $34 because of the scam from Nigeria. Fortunately I found it out on time and came to USPS on time to cancel the shipment. If I came to USPS later than 1:40, my phone would have been shipped and I don’t know what will happen and if I still were able to get the phone and my postage fee back.

From this I learned that whenever we received an email about an order online being sold, we must check the originating website to see if the order exists and matches whatever the email claimed rather than just impulsively shipping the order right away.

Image of the scam email:

Tags: amazon, nigeria, scam

Comments

16 Comments on Amazon scam from Nigeria

software download on Thu, 15th Oct 2009 10:27 am

hahha…nigerian scamers….iacs….why don;t these people get a decent job? instead of stealing from others!
thatcostsmoney on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 8:34 am

i have been the victim of this fraud in the same way!! I posted my ipod and then reialized it was a fraud. But it was too late and royal mail said they cant stop it. Just wished that i had read this before posting it …
Be aware people
Nick ristic on Fri, 21st Jan 2011 9:26 am

This almost happened to me,
i was selling an iphone when ‘lily winter’ became interested in my product.
I the revieved a convincing fake email fom amazon.com telling me to ship the product immediatly. I would have fallen for it there but i then got a second email saying the same thing with the same adress in nigeria just different names, victoria celtings, that was when i knew it was a scam but i descided to play along and eventually sent them a large picture of me giving the finger
Mokhtar on Wed, 9th Feb 2011 10:15 am

Got similar situation. It sounded off. So, I’m not going to send my phone……
Notice how Amazon is threatening me….That made me think again….and the fact that listing on amazon is still up.

hip to: Mr Emmanuel Johnson
Address Line 1: 25,Olanrewaju close, Tabon-Tabon, Agege.
Address Line 2:
Address Line 3: City: Agege
State: Lagos
Zip Code: 23401
Country: Nigeria.

Amazon Buyer\\\’s e-mail:tommy.hanks91@yahoo.com

Amazon Seller\\\’s email:

Note that Amazon.com is crediting you $50.47 in addition to your net sales price to help cover delivery costs. You are required to dispatch these items even if the postage credit does not fully cover your delivery costs.

Important Notice: Only ship to the address given to you by Amazon.com Marketplace. Do not honor buyer\\\’s request to ship orders to any address other than the one provided by Amazon.com Marketplace. Payment for the sale may be withheld if these guidelines are not followed. Kindly go and make the shipment via USPS to the shipping address provided for you.

Failure to dispatch on time may lead to negative seller feedback, revocation of postage credits, or even suspension of your seller account.
Ian on Wed, 30th Mar 2011 4:37 am

I’ve just had a Nigerian try to scam me of my phone!
It all seemed well with the communications, and I received to what looked like an email from amazon saying my phone had sold.

So I started to read it and read the buyer address and knew straight away that it was a scam, because it was in Nigeria and Nigerians are famous for their scams.
I then checked to see if my listing actually sold, but it wasn’t and still actually listed on amazon.

So a warning to all sellers, do not fall these scams, always check the buyers address and to see if your listing has actually sold before shipping your product!
gmguise on Fri, 1st Apr 2011 2:23 pm

I was a first time user and had a canon450d camera to sell.Followed all instructions from amazon,saying they had sold it for me and monies was in
their account,and to send goods to address in nigeria.At this point Ihad no idea
about scam,it cost £62 in postage and was promised £54 towards it.Ihave lost camera worth £350 plus £62 postage.I hope whoever has my camera rots in hell.The police have been informed.they dont hold out much hope for its return
or me getting my money back.Please all 1st timers watch what you are doing you dont know who to trust.One very dissatisfied customer.
stmichael on Wed, 11th May 2011 4:38 am

These people are scum of the Earth. I’ve got a Samsung Galaxy Tab listed on Amazon Marketplace and received an email request for some photo’s. I duly sent the photos and then receieved an email back saying that they had made the payment and could I send the item to their father in Nigeria. I also received email purporting to be from Amazon saying that my item had sold and that the postage credit had been increased to £43.99 to cover postage to Nigeria. It was all very creditable but alarm bells started ringing inside my head! I checked my Amazon seller account and the item was still there available for purchase. Please be wary of people. I’ve got a good mind to crap in a plastic bag, seal it and box it up and send it to the address supplied with a note inside saying eat my sh*t scumbags!
Amazon nigeria scammers on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 6:44 am

yep, I am currently selling my cannon 40D and a scammer from nigeria wants to buy it. I got an email from “amazon” claiming the item was sold and that I must ship it via usps immediately. The email also claims that the buyer has a deposit of $4,000 with amazon and that transactions with this “amazon” buyer are covered 100% in case of fraud. This is of course a ghost email for Amazon never sent it. Thank god I found this website. By the way the name of the scammer that contacted me was kti114 BEWARE!! his address was kti114@yahoo.com
Sean on Sat, 23rd Jul 2011 6:18 am

I hope that I read this 2 hours earlier. I have posted my Phone to a Nigerian buyer named Carol Perkins asking me to send the item as a present for her dad. I then received a “Sold, dispatch now” emails and got to know that I have credit of 43.99 from Amazon. I went on the post it, even though Nigeria sounds scandalous to me but I was relax when I see the email from Amazon.co.uk. Now the item is in the post office waiting to ship on Monday. I am so worried and I hate myself for not browsing more of these website as I am a first time seller.

By the way the address is going to

Axion Plaza 279 old Abeokuata Motor Road, Agege, Lagos 23401, Nigeria.

Why Amazon wont deal with this as we are victims? I saw from somewhere saying a victms called up Amazon to report this and when they heard Nigerian scam they hung up the phone and not giving further support. What a shit!
Umm Sulaim on Fri, 12th Aug 2011 12:52 am

Although I am a proud Nigerian, I bear the consequence of the alleged actions of my compatriots. I wish to purchase some hair and skin care products online, and no one ships to Nigeria.

I do feel the annoyance of some of the commenters. One should be more prudent when conducting any financial activities.
Darren Carey on Sat, 24th Sep 2011 1:05 am

i posted a canon dos 5d mk 2 and a 17-40 mm L lens off to the scum and paid £104 for the shipping. This law sucks, they wouldn’t even stop the shipping , knowing it was a scam and theft!
Scott on Mon, 10th Oct 2011 5:16 am

This happenend to me last week. I listed my Ipod classic on the marketplace and the next day got an email from mizznk@yahoo.com asking for pictures which i agreed and then he said he had purchased it, followed by emails which i thought were genine. Royal mail wouldnt even stop the package even though it had a tracking number and i gave them a crime number from the police who may i add are bloody useless!! royal mail i crap aswell! Amazon are equally crap and i wont be using them for anything again!. I put my trust in them and they should make themselves more secure if they are able to be copied that easy!. I havnt been offered any compensation from them. I have been a loyal customer for 10 years! not anymore!! p.s Nigerians are scum!
Oliver on Wed, 9th Nov 2011 1:57 pm

So glad I just read this, there’s someone trying to buy my iPod from amazon, WITH THE SAME ADRESS THAT TWO OF YOU HAVE POSTED!! I cannot believe I almost fell for this!
Rush on Thu, 24th Nov 2011 2:17 pm

Glad I found this in the nick of time same scam same email and I’m glad I dint send it! – so is does anybody know if it’s ONLY legit once the money is in your account?
Hannah on Tue, 29th Nov 2011 4:56 am

This scam just happened to me; I decided to do some research before I shipped it off. Thank you so much for posting this! Saved me my camera!
King on Sat, 21st Jan 2012 10:36 pm

I just had this happen to me as well 3 different people emailed me wanting to buy the iPad I have posted all wanting me to send it to Nigeria in almost fell for it the confirm, emails are so believable but checked my amazon account and it’s still for sale, do research before selling!