How to Maximize Chance of Catching a Scammer?

So, I put up a posting on Craigslist to sell my computer. This guy emailed me saying that he will buy it, and that he would pay a little extra for me to take the posting down immediately.

He said he was out of town at the moment, so we sent back and forth a couple of emails. I realized that this was a scam when he sent me a $2,500 check and asked me to wire him the difference via Western Union.

What would be the best course of action to take at this point? So far, I've filed a report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). I didn't lose anything since I caught it (although he did waste my time), but I would love it if this scum gets caught somehow.

So far, I have his fake name, email address, the fake check and the phone number he used to text me (it traces to Arizona). I haven't told him that I know he is a trash being, so he is still sending me emails to follow his instructions.

UPDATE:

Actually, he just called from a restricted number. I thought about pretending to not know anything, but I couldn't help it.

Me: Hello?
Scammer: Hello? This is Adrian. Hi.
Me: Who?
S: I am Adrian, the guy who bought your computer on craigslist.
Me: Ahhh, Adrian, the guy who sent me the fake check!
S: Yes, yes. [I guess he didn't hear the "fake" part]
Me: Oh, I see that you can be honest!

Call gets hung up for some reason. He calls back right away.

Me: Yeah?
S: Hello. This is Adrian.
Me: What's your name again?
S: Adrian, I am the person who bought your computer.
Me: No, I mean your real one.
S: Huh?
S: I am calling to let you know that my check has arrived in your residence. Can you check my email and..
Me: Oh yeah, I got it.
S: Oh good.
Me: I took it straight to a police department.
S: What?
Me: I gave your fake check to the police.
S: What are you saying?
Me: I'm saying that I verified your fake check at a bank and took it straight to the police station.
S: No, no, Impossible!
Me: You kn...

(He hangs up)

Of course, since he hid his number, I couldn't call back, but I did send him a nice email

Hi Adrian. Looks like you at least didn't fake your ethnicity judging from your accent.

I've reported you to the FBI internet crime complaint office and gone to my local detectives to present every evidence I have including your counterfeit check.

Good luck and have fun.

I don't think he got the reference at the end.

Last edit: 2012-11-24 09:32:42

Jonoman92 United States. November 24 2012 08:26. Posts 7411

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Lol, such an obvious scam. I don't know enough about it to know if you can do anything to catch him though. I mean, I think it's too small a scam to warrant actually apprehending him in person when he picks up the western union money (do you even have to do it in person, I dunno how that works.)

If you're bored I guess you could try wasting some of his time or something. Or tell him you'll have to wait for the check to clear and then not hear from him again.

pigtheman United States. November 24 2012 08:48. Posts 325

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ask him to send you pictures :D

*rawr* d(^_^d)

Sein United States. November 24 2012 09:30. Posts 1654

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Actually, he just called from a restricted number. I thought about pretending to not know anything, but I couldn't help it.

Me: Hello?
Scammer: Hello? This is Adrian. Hi.
Me: Who?
S: I am Adrian, the guy who bought your computer on craigslist.
Me: Ahhh, Adrian, the guy who sent me the fake check!
S: Yes, yes. [I guess he didn't hear the "fake" part]
Me: Oh, I see that you can be honest!

Call gets hung up for some reason. He calls back right away.

Me: Yeah?
S: Hello. This is Adrian.
Me: What's your name again?
S: Adrian, I am the person who bought your computer.
Me: No, I mean your real one.
S: Huh?
S: I am calling to let you know that my check has arrived in your residence. Can you check my email and..
Me: Oh yeah, I got it.
S: Oh good.
Me: I took it straight to a police department.
S: What?
Me: I gave your fake check to the police.
S: What are you saying?
Me: I'm saying that I verified your fake check at a bank and took it straight to the police station.
S: No, no, Impossible!
Me: You kn...

(He hangs up)

Of course, since he hid his number, I couldn't call back, but I did send him a nice email

I don't think he got the reference at the end.

Last edit: 2012-11-24 09:30:44

TerranosaurusWrecks Canada. November 24 2012 09:41. Posts 142

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nice, you really went out of your way to get this guy, you definitely did the right thing, who knows how many people he has already ripped off or was going to. JUSTICE

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "Like you can train a n00b, but they will just be a trained n00b."

TheAmazombie United States. November 24 2012 09:52. Posts 3643

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Dude, I was totally trying to buy a computer from a guy. I sent him a check that I had to make for over the amount (Since my ATM was broken and I totally needed gas money as well in order to get back into town), then asked for cash in return, which is totally normal and logical in my book. I also offered to pay him more for the machine because I wanted it now, but was out of town and did not want anyone to scoop up the machine while I was gone.

...the weird thing is that he totally accused me of of giving him a fake check and being a scammer. I do this all the time when I am out of town and need cash! My phone cut out at that point (Damn Verizon wireless) and when I called back he said he was turning me in. Then he taunted me with a voicemail and something about the FBI. I was so upset that I hung up and went crying to my mom, hoping that I don't get into trouble...

I am so confused and afraid that the police are coming after me now. When I finally get back into town I am going to call my buddies to help find out who he is and ask him why he does me wrong in this way...

-Adrian the IV: Prince of Nigeria

Last edit: 2012-11-24 10:06:15

We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. -Charlie Chaplin

Disregard China. November 24 2012 10:21. Posts 8061

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This reminds of the blog where someone trolled Nigerian scammers with very professional replies.

"Architects know nothing about everything"

Game November 24 2012 10:38. Posts 3026

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You know, I've had to ignore countless scammers, as I do online business frequently. I've never thought to report them because that would further waste my time and nothing would likely result from it. However, I appreciate your initiative and might actually send some e-mails back inspired by your "Good luck and have fun" signing.

SC is like sex. You should play often, but never too hard. And you should only try hard when it matters.

Release United States. November 24 2012 14:57. Posts 3973

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you sir, are not lazy.

Well played. Well played indeed.