Scam - Be Aware of someone claiming to WB7QZU
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:11 pm
For several reasons I suspected something was wrong when attempting to purchase equipment from WB7QZU Charles Mohr. Fortunately for me I checked for scam alerts and found the following, which is exactly the same story I was given including just being released from the hospital and to transfer funds to his checking account because his PayPal account was hacked.
Jim K4EAB
Inverness, FL
Here's the original posting from W7PVA about his ordeal.
Recently I found an ad on a website, http://www.radiotrader.com/post.html, advertising equipment for sale. I was interested in the items and responded to the email listed in the ad, wb7qzu@aol.com. WB7QZU is the call sign for Charles Mohr. Mr Mohr lives in Billings Montana.
My inquiry about the equipment was answered with a preference for a bank transfer as his PayPal account had been "hacked". "He" further related that he had had an accident and wasn't physically capable of completing the transaction and asked if his "wife" would be acceptable to do it for him.
As I am quite suspicious by nature and training I decided to investigate using the resources on the internet. I found that Mr Charles Mohr does indeed live in Billings MT. I also found a different email address and phone number for Mr Mohr. I contacted Mohr via email to which he responded by voice call. I spoke with Mr Mohr at his home in Billings. He told me that the email address on the original ad, wb7qzu@aol.com was not his. He told me that he did not post equipment for sale and he knew nothing about it.
I sent another message to the fake Charles Mohr advising that I was interested in purchasing some of the equipment asking how we might complete the sale. He replied with an email providing the information listed below, an account in the name of Rosa Rodriguez at the Prosperity Bank in El Campo TX.
At this time I have emailed the PD in El Campo and reported the fraudulent activity to the bank. The website got the same notice and Mr Mohr was copied on the messages.
Since posting I have had responses from the police department in El Campo TX and the bank involved. Another scammer shut down at that point. Of course no one is going to do anything with this. The account holder was contacted and denied any knowledge of any part of the activity. The accounts were shut down by the bank. At least if the account holder was the perp they have been contacted by the PD..
I have yet to have a response from the website where the ad was posted.. It continues to be buyer beware when shopping on the internet as not everything is as it seems...
Bill Noe - W7PVA
Jim K4EAB
Inverness, FL
Here's the original posting from W7PVA about his ordeal.
Recently I found an ad on a website, http://www.radiotrader.com/post.html, advertising equipment for sale. I was interested in the items and responded to the email listed in the ad, wb7qzu@aol.com. WB7QZU is the call sign for Charles Mohr. Mr Mohr lives in Billings Montana.
My inquiry about the equipment was answered with a preference for a bank transfer as his PayPal account had been "hacked". "He" further related that he had had an accident and wasn't physically capable of completing the transaction and asked if his "wife" would be acceptable to do it for him.
As I am quite suspicious by nature and training I decided to investigate using the resources on the internet. I found that Mr Charles Mohr does indeed live in Billings MT. I also found a different email address and phone number for Mr Mohr. I contacted Mohr via email to which he responded by voice call. I spoke with Mr Mohr at his home in Billings. He told me that the email address on the original ad, wb7qzu@aol.com was not his. He told me that he did not post equipment for sale and he knew nothing about it.
I sent another message to the fake Charles Mohr advising that I was interested in purchasing some of the equipment asking how we might complete the sale. He replied with an email providing the information listed below, an account in the name of Rosa Rodriguez at the Prosperity Bank in El Campo TX.
At this time I have emailed the PD in El Campo and reported the fraudulent activity to the bank. The website got the same notice and Mr Mohr was copied on the messages.
Since posting I have had responses from the police department in El Campo TX and the bank involved. Another scammer shut down at that point. Of course no one is going to do anything with this. The account holder was contacted and denied any knowledge of any part of the activity. The accounts were shut down by the bank. At least if the account holder was the perp they have been contacted by the PD..
I have yet to have a response from the website where the ad was posted.. It continues to be buyer beware when shopping on the internet as not everything is as it seems...
Bill Noe - W7PVA