So, the title is somewhat misleading because this post has nothing to do with the water situation in Minneapolis. This post is about something else kind of "fishy"...
I recently posted my desk on Craigslist.com to be sold. I received a few emails from individuals requesting more information and expressing interest in the desk. My policy is to respond to the first person to express interest, then pursue other people if that person doesn't work out.
This time the email was from a "KinMily" who expressed sincere interest in the desk and said that he/she for sure wanted to buy it. I pursued this contact and after a few emails exchanged this "Kin" said that he/she would send a check and have some movers come pick it up from me. At this point my warning flags went up and I said that I wasn't sure if that would be ok. That I would prefer having face-to-face contact with "Kin". They assured me that the check was already in the mail and that everything would be fine.
I was out of town when the check arrived and I had Andrea open it. When she opened it she told me that the amount on the check was $2800.00 from a PickaRestaurant.com. Now I was really sure that this was a scam. I emailed KinMily back and said that I was not comfortable with that amount of money coming through my account and that I was unwilling to cash it. They responded saying that they had purchased other items in the area and so the extra money was for the movers and was because there were multiple items needing to be picked up. They sent the address that I was to wire the money to, the "movers", who happened to be an individual in California. At this point I was certain it was a fraudulent check and began trying to contact the company PickaRestaurant.com. I never got through to this alleged company, but got through to the bank listed on the check. As soon as I mentioned who the check was from, the customer service agent said "Oh, let me guess, the check is for too much and they want you to wire the money back to someone??" She said, "Yep, that's a scam!"
Needless to say, I filled out an internet scam report with the FBI and sent an email to KinMily advising him/her of this action. I'm still not sure where the scam actually is, if it's the company PickaRestaurant.com, or if it's this individual. Maybe we'll never know, but it sure is fun getting to the bottom of something like this. I mean, growing up I always wanted to be an FBI or CIA agent, maybe I missed my calling in life!
Or, maybe this whole "missionary" thing is just a cover!
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28 comments:
I had no idea that this person's name was 'Kin'. I've been calling him Ken. But Kin is way more fishy than Ken. Good job at being a supersleuth.
Way to go! I always like a good conspiracy story. We thought we had one the other day with Amazon, but we figured it out. I was really hoping we would get to blow the lid off of some major scandal, but no such luck. :-)
That was honestly my favorite post on this blog. Thoroughly engaging!
Glad you never traced it back to me Ellie.
And I love the word super sleuth! AAAAH!
Ellie I'm going to miss you. I miss all of you girls. Gabby-time soon?
Ok, so we don't know each other. Hello girls at 2120 my name is Karla and I am delightful as I am sure are you. I am a friend of Molly's if this gives me the street cred needed to post. Here's the thing: I have had this EXACT situation happen to me! I was selling my car, they sent a check for too much claiming to be "out of town..." I, being not stupid said no. Way to find the scam ladies. Also, MY WATER SMELLS LIKE FISH ALSO!!! I got in the shower the other day, stopped and said, out loud to MYSELF "why does this water smell like halibut?" I have been buying bottled water because I don't want to die.
It was nice to meet you. Hopefully this wont be the last time. :)
2520 sorry. I suck.
I just had the same problem with kinmily24@gmail.com , although thanks to this blog I didn't pursue it.
I just received an email from kinmily13@gmail.com about a Thomas the Train set I'm selling on Craiglist for $250. I immieditely suspected it was a scam and did a google search for "kinmily" and sure enough found this thread. I'll be reporting this to Craiglist. Thanks for having this thread and confirming my suspicisions. Here's the email I received from kinmily13gmail.com in case anyone's interested:
-----
Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me,am interested in your item and i will
like to buy this item from you...am okay with the price listed for
your item...So please do withdraw the advert.I will also like you to
know that i will be paying via Certified Bank Check due to the
distance i am.I will need you to provide me with the following
information to facilitate the mailing of the check as soon as
possible.
Your full name
.Your mailing address(residential)
.Your phone number.
I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for
shipping,i will have my shipper come over as soon as you have cashed
the check.....Await your response as soon as possible.
Thanks.
---------------
Hey, all. I actually got the same e-mail, verbatim, a few days ago, in reference to a small assortment of Home Theater pieces I have up on there for sale. It was actually this person/organization's follow up e-mail. I smelled a rat pretty early on, because I got identical e-mails for each of my three listings, each a only few sentences, but the same few sentences:
"let me know if the item is still available?and why you want to sell it"
I got those two sentences three times. I decided to do some deduction of my own. I responded with one email, referencing all three listings. That's when I got the response e-mail, the one with the same exact message the person above me got, to the T. That alone told me it was dirty, because kinmily13 (yes mine actually came from the exact same email address as the poster above me spoke about)used the singular "item," even though my subject line refers to three things. I did what he did, I googled "kinmily" and found this thread. I have half a mind to go ahead and pursue it to see if I too get a check from PickARestaraunt.com. For some reason I seem to be thinking of myself as though I'm a character out of some Michael Connely novel. Anyway, I'm glad I was right, and I hope whoever these grifters are, they get caught.
Hey Folks,
I just got the Kin email regarding an item I'm selling on ebay. I also got the exact same email from someone called Dave about a month ago and I've been leading him on ever since... I tracked the address of his "shipper" to a place in Florida and gave them a call. Of course this is all a scam. I've been telling him all kinds of crazy stories about why I haven't sent him the money yet and he keeps writing back trying to squeeze something out of the deal. So far we've exchanged almost 40 emails.
There are lots of stupid people out there, but Dave/Kin/ Whoever isn't all that smart either.
hello
i was just contacted by the same person for a craigslist sofa i am selling, but i already felt its fishy once he sent me the email , so i got his email and runned a google search to find ur blog, thx for letting us now, and since its almost 6 months after ur post and this guy is still active means that no one has done anything for him
I got the same Kin Mily email. I'm giving the check to my bank tommorow so I'm hoping to pursue and get this guy tommorow.
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION THIS IS KINMILY AND AM SORRY COS AM GONNA SCAM THE SHIT OUT OF YOU ONE BY ONE..P.S KINMILY/DAVE PHARRELL
hello i have just experenced this same guy kinmily13@gmail.com i was and still am trying to sell a boat one craigs list 350 bucks he tells me that he will be sending a check and his movers will be there the following weekend he sent me a check for 4500 wow i took it to the bank i had them run it and see if it was real it was a fake. they said they will send the check to there fraud department. but im going to play the game wiht him and tell him that i will deliver the boat for 2000 and he can and i will bring the boat back to him. IN THE END HE WILL GET WHAT DESERVES!!!!!!!!!
Same Guy tried to scam us on tires we had listed on Craigs List for 800.00 he sent 4500.00 and told us he was going to have the FBI and his shipper at my door because I refused to cash this check. I had the bank check the funds and there was NO such account....Kin Mily 13@gmail.com was his name...Beware!
I just got the same emails, and Im in albany. I am supposed to be getting a check in the mail, but the english was so broken that it tipped me off (as im selling law school books)..I am contacting the fraud unit of the PD, but i imagine its coming from a foreign country and thus will continue unabated.
now it is using kinmily08@gmail.com
I think it is the series.
And now "he" has changed his name to "John Smith"
from john smith
to Katy K
5:13 AM (2 hours ago)
Hello,
Thanks for your quick response, I hope it is in good condition
like it stated because I have taken a close look at the advert and am
completely satisfied, I'll want you to remove the advert from web
and consider this item is sold to me... I'll be paying via Certified
cashier check and After you verify the genuity of the cashier check
and the availability of the fund in the check and clears the bank then
my shipper will come and pick it up at your location........ I would
have loved to come and take a look but I can't due to my work shedule.
My shipper will though and the check will be sent out and deliver to
you in next two days .So i want to be the best offer by adding $50 to
your money and i hope you will keep this item for me...
I will like to have this following details to facilitate mailling the
check out asap.
Your Full Name
Contact Physical Address
City and State with Zip Code
Cell and home phone number
I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping
i will have my mover to come over as soon as you have the check,and i
will get back to you once my secretary made the payment out to you.
Thanks.
--
Hello Seller,
Good day to you am very interested in your good and i want to
know the state and condition of it and the last price it is
going for.Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards.
We just received the check for $ 2100.00 for $ 100.00 item. I will take this check to the bank tomorrow and have it traced to see if it has fund. If it does (my gut feeling it won't), I will cash it right out and see what happened.
I would just like to say that using craigslist I got a very "fishy" email from "Kin Mily" Using the gmail address kinmily08@gmail.com dealing with a room I have up for rent. It isn't just a buying scam and more people need to report this or be vocal to prevent others from falling victim.
Hello, i will like you to get back to me with status of the checks with you.
On 4/22/11, kin mily wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I just want you to know that you will get the check from Fed Ex today
> and my secetary made a mistake to send the shipping company funds
> along with your own money.. So here is all you need to do once you get
> the check , just deduct your own money with extra $50 as your running
> around then email me your Map-Quest to locate your place for pick up
> today, then wire the rest funds on the check to my shipper Via western
> union money transfer for then to use the money for transport down to
> your place for the pick up..
>
>
> Here is Fed Ex tracking number: 487968022888
>
>
> Here is the shipper information for you to wire the rest funds via
> western union.
>
> Name: Jean Wright
> Address: 104 Sowell Ave
> City: Atmore
> State: AL
> Zip: 36502
>
> Then email me western union details that you use to wire the rest funds.
>
> Sender's Name
> Amount Sent after western union charges
> Mtcn 10 digit control number
> Best time for pick up at your place.
>
> Get back to me once you see this message.
>
>
> Thank for your understanding.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 4/20/11, kin mily wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Today is Wednesday...I want you to email me back now if you have
>> receive the payment sent to you via Fedex for the items bought from
>> you.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> On 4/11/11, > wrote:
>>> Wonderfull!
>>>
>>> Hendrik Jan de Elder
>>> 358 E 3RD ST Apt21
>>> Brooklyn, NY 11211
>>> 607-316-1326
>>>
>>> Please call me when you get there!
>>>
>>> On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 5:16 PM, kin mily wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Sorry for the late response, and thanks for getting back to me,i
>>>> am okay with the price and condition, i would like to make an outright
>>>> purchase immediately but i will need your honesty because i anticipate
>>>> that a Certified Cashier's check will be sent out to you via ups as
>>>> the mode of payment, concerning the pick up, i will be responsible for
>>>> that, my mover will
>>>> come for the pick up at your location upon your confirmation of
>>>> receiving the payment and cleared in your bank.I would want you to
>>>> remove the posting from the web and also get back to me with the
>>>> information below so as to further a development.
>>>>
>>>> 1.......full names
>>>> 2.......full home address ( Not P.O Box )
>>>> 3......City, State & zip code and cell phone number.
>>>>
>>>> As soon as this is provided,the payment will be mail out immediately
>>>> and i hope we handle this in good faith.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the understanding... Kin Mily.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Do you still have the room available and also your exact price.
>>
>
>
> --
> Do you still have the room available and also your exact price.
>
** Kin Mily is a SCAM! **
I just received a job offer from Kin Mily about being his personal assistant. He is using the email address of kinmily08@gmail.com. He claimed to be a 44 year old lawyer. What seemed fishy to me was he didn't have his name capitalized and also he said, "I hope this makes sense?" Note: he used a question mark when that should have been a statement. I know (or would hope) that an educated "lawyer" after 8+ years of college would NOT make that mistake. Someone in elementary school should know better than that. He did not personalize the email and vaguely wrote, "Dear Applicant." You would think if he was sincerely trying to find someone to be his "personal assistant" that he wouldn't send out multiple emails to various people. He would want ONE good person. He moved from being very vague to being specific and saying that I was a good choice for various reasons. He also said something about a Certified US Check and that he would send me sufficient amount of funds. Another thing that seemed sketch to me was that he claimed he would rather email back and forth instead of contact via phone because he was hard of hearing..or in all reality, BECAUSE THIS IS A SCAM!!!
Be careful..and stay away from this guy! Don't give him your personal information, address, or anything!
**KIN MILY IS A SCAM!** And he sure can't fool me!
goldendan says,
Beware of Kin Mily and Jean Wright of Atmore Al running the scam on the Senior People Network. SeniorPeopleMeet,com They are behind the User name: JANECRETELLA who is a fictional character with a sick 6 yr. old kid that needs medical care the mother can't afford and also needs food money. After a few days of "I love you's", you will be asked to send a money gram to "help" them out temporarily so that you can continue your relations with the ficticious woman. Jean Wright 104 Sowell St Atmore, Al 36502 at cell phone 251 253 4628 is the contact at Western Union they want the money sent to. Jancretella@att.net is the ficticious email addr. Jane Cretella or Jan Cretella is the Yahoo Msgr. user name. Don't fall for this sob story. Run away! It's a SCAM!
This was the only record I found of this scammer so I may as well update it for other people.
Current name: Tarae294 (@gmail.com)
Current actual email: kinmily08@gmail.com
If at all you see a "from" and a "reply to" email address as totally different, you need to be careful!
He is now a doctor.
Apparently, he was just in Cleveland and wanted to buy my Wii.
Dr. Alex Jordan
kinmily08@gmail.com
kinmily15@gmail.com
2350.00 same story just different customer and bank names..
here was my final email responce to this person after doing my own investigating:
First of all, if you spent half as much effort in getting a real job as you
do these scams, you would be a rich person and a positive for economy..
Fred Meyer Inc is a grocery store chain that started back in the late 40's
and has nothing to do with EJC Property Mgmt which is sister front company
with Campbell Capital Management, Inc. and who's only officer is Douglas R J
Campbell. There is no Dr. Vicky Fernandez, however your Kinmily is plastered
all over the internet as fraud no matter what number you put after it. Your
"shipper" Joseph Manley from Brooklyn, NY, well that’s another story all
together. PLEASE stop wasting all of our time and go do something more
constructive instead of destructive.. Oh and slandering God the way you do..
well have fun answering for that... All documents and conversation
transactions are being turned over to Department of Homeland Security so don’t
bother trying it again...
I just received an email from Tarae294@gmail.com saying that they wanted me to watch their kid. I guess craigslist is not a good website to post anything.
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