Just a warning to all out there. Cole Platt has attempted to scam once again. The emails come from different email addresses and our conversation appears below. I will respond with my original cash only as stated in the original add and I'm sure I won't hear from them again.
Beware of scammers everyone, these people need to get a real job and leave innocent people alone.
I really appreciate your response to my email. I want you to consider
it sold, Pls do withdraw the advert from CL to avoid
disturbance,anyway I don't have time to come over to take a look
because of my Business but you don't need to bother yourself with the
shipment, I'll take care of that by engaging the services of a
shipper, hence I'll be sending a Certified check and it will be
delivered to you via United Parcel Service (UPS), so I'll need you to
provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of
the check.
Full name on the check.
Full Physical address to post the check
City, State and Zip Code
Home & Cell Phone to contact you.
Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via UPS NEXT DAY
AIR SERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be
responsible for shipping i will have my shipper to come over as soon
as you have cashed the check*
N.B UPS does not deliver to a P.O box addresses.Thanks
--
COLE PLATT
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Hello there,
Yes I have all the clothes (and most shoes) still available.
Either as a lot for $200 or by the bundle if you'd like. I figured I'd price it all to go at once but I know people might just want certain sizes etc.
Let me know if you need further information
Thanks
Carma
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
Hello,
I am interested, just want to know if it's still available for sale ?
------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was remailed to you via: sale-qzyb8-2681242415@craigslist.org
If this email is a scam or spam please flag it now:
http://www.craigslist.org/flag/?flagCode1&smtpid 111119030915jh8L3VsS4RGgQxa0g2qXVw
------------------------------------------------------------------
I have just received an email from Cole platt also.
ReplyDeleteIt almost said word for word as the email above.
I found a couple of entries for him on fakelist.org
He is amazing isn't he?! I received 2 more on different items I had listed on Craigslist in the couple days following the first. I think it must look for certain words or prices on the listing since all 3 items were posted with the same asking price. Hopefully people aren't being scammed by this. Thanks for the comment :)
ReplyDeleteI receive the same email, with a promise of sending me a certified check by UPS. I made it clear that the deal will be completed when the check is cashed, so where exactly is the scam? Since I am selling a stove, so it requires some complicated transactions with shippers. Any suggestions on how to proceed? dickplatkin@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWhen u cash the check it will bounce in about a week or 2. That's how he/they get away with it
DeleteI was thinking it was a cashier check which would come directly from the bank. But it says certified I see now. I would hope people wouldn't cash personal or non bank issued checks in this day and age. Hopefully this scammer hasn't gotten anyone else.
DeleteI received the same emails from him regarding a stove. He said he would send me a certified check, and I told him the deal will be completed when the bank cashes the check, and I have cash in hand.
ReplyDeleteIt is not clear to me how the scam works unless he breaks in to steal an old stove. If the check does not clear, then I would not part with the stove. Any further suggestions on how to proceed? dickplatkin@gmail.com
I'm not sure. A certified check would/should come directly from a bank meaning funds should/would be in the account. I don't like anything that deals with strangers and a bank, plus in the emails there is a * next to the check a few times (no mention what the * is in reference too though).
ReplyDeletePlus he/she says a shipper would be coming to take care of shipping. In this day and age of being being attacked (or worse) because of craigslist postings I would be suspicious of this third party. Maybe someone else would have a better way for you to proceed.
Good luck :)!!
Yes...he just contacted me today about a listing I have!!! It was almost verbatim of what he said to you!! Please beware of another one...her name is Mary Raymond!! Her e-mail is almost verbatim to Cole Platt's!!
ReplyDeleteDitto on absolutely everything stated above. Still in process of setting things up, thought I would check it out. I got same exact initial email, and a second one about some family problems that caused a delay in UPSing the certified check. Glad I saw all of this. I agree how can a cerified check be bad? Anyhow, beware. February 11, 2012.
ReplyDeleteI too received the very same email and knew it was a scam. Who would be willing to buy something without even seeing it???!!!! I sure hope people are smarter than this!!
ReplyDeletei got one the other day word for word
ReplyDeleteI got one the other day from Cole Platt, but the original message was from Matt.Love10@gmail.com, with a replyTo address of jackwest4luv@gmail.com, so watch for those addresses/names as well.
ReplyDeleteI got this one earlier today from Mary Raymond,it goes as follows.
ReplyDeleteHello..
I am getting back to you so lately becauses I lost my Grand dad and
I have be running Up and down for the Burial arrangement but the check
has been sent out via Ups and I was told that it will deliver latest
by today . I will want you to know again that the issuer of the check
just told me that the
shipper's fund has been added with your money and this mistake
happened because I was not around to monitor what is
going on and I will want you to bear with me and follow instructions
by deducting the money for your item and send the rest to the shipper
via western union money transfer so that everything could work out
smoothly
THE BELOW INFORMATION IS THE SHIPPER INFORMATION TO SEND THE REMAINING
MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION..
Name : Katherine Chin
City : San Francisco
State : CA
Zipcode : 94111
Note: You have to deduct the WESTERN UNION charges from the money you
are sending to the shipper and make the money available in a minutes
after you have send it and then get back to me with the WESTERN UNION
transfer details below as it is appears on the WESTERN UNION Receipts.
1....Sender's Name and Address
2....Mtcn Number
3....Total Amount Sent After the WESTERN UNION Charges
What's your schedule regarding pickup as i have some other properties
to be moved alongside the item in the same city of yours, hope i can
trust you with the overpayment?.
Your Honesty and transparency will be appreciated...
cole platt strikes again. Family member got sick said he was overnighting a 2600.00 check for a 500.00 dollar purchase never received anything thank god beware sellers
ReplyDeleteWe were holding an estate auction, we had posted some of the items including a widows love seat and chairs. We received an email from COLE PLATT
ReplyDeletewho stated"consider it sold" and went on how he was sending us via UPS overnight for the full amount and he would arrange for a shipper. As a former cop, I felt something was wrong with this so I went online and investigated. COLE PLATT is a scammer, he is just trying to rip off incocent people. This gut needs to be stopped.
I received the same email today regarding a pair of Jimmy Choos I have for sale for $395. It sounded suspicious, so I am glad I checked it out. The original email I received was from lee.karm5@gmail.com asking if the item was still available. After I responded to the initial email, this is what I received:
ReplyDeleteOn Wed, Jun 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM, COLE PLATT wrote:
I really appreciate your response to my email. I want you to consider it sold, Pls do withdraw the advert from CL to avoid disturbance,anyway I don't have time to come over to take a look because of my Business but you don't need to bother yourself with the shipment, I'll take care of that by engaging the services of a shipper, hence I'll be sending a Certified check and it will be delivered to you via United Parcel Service (UPS), so I'll need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
Full name on the check.
Full Physical address to post the check
City, State and Zip Code
Home & Cell Phone to contact you.
Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via UPS NEXT DAY AIR SERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping i will have my shipper to come over as soon as you have cashed the check*
N.B UPS does not deliver to a P.O box addresses.Thanks
he just contacted me and I replied with a link to this page.
ReplyDeleteI JUST RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM HER COUPLE DAYS AGO.. I REPLYED THINKING IT WAS A REG CLIENT TILL I GOOGLED THE EMAIL ADDRESS..
ReplyDeleteCOLE PLATT cole.platt14@gmail.com
10:18 PM (17 hours ago)
to me
I really appreciate your response to my email. I want you to consider
it sold, Pls do withdraw the advert from CL to avoid
disturbance,anyway I don't have time to come over to take a look
because of my Business but you don't need to bother yourself with the
shipment, I'll take care of that by engaging the services of a
shipper, hence I'll be sending a Certified check and it will be
delivered to you via United Parcel Service (UPS), so I'll need you to
provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of
the check.
Full name on the check.
Full Physical address to post the check
City, State and Zip Code
Home & Cell Phone to contact you.
Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via UPS NEXT DAY
AIR SERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be
responsible for shipping i will have my shipper to come over as soon
as you have cashed the check*
N.B UPS does not deliver to a P.O box addresses.Thanks
POLICE IS LOOKING FOR COLE PLATT 28 YRAR OLD MALE IN CONNNECTIN TO OTHER CRIMES.. LETS HELP THE POLICE FIND THIS CROCK.. HERE IS THELINK THAT SHOWS THE POLICE REPORT
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1181737.ece
The news report was from July 2011, can't believe these idiots have been doing this for so long without being caught. It has to stop already. We all work hard for our money.
DeleteThis guy just replied to my ad. And I had s feeling from the first email I got was a scam. So I looked him up and sure as shit he is a scam. He sent me the same email about sending a check. What is wrong with people. He is a piece of shit. And I hope they find him.
Deleteyes we sure due.. and yes since 2011 he has been on the loose doing his scams.. he also has twitter pages...
ReplyDeleteplease report any abuse that any of you have to your local pd department so they can track this person down and lock him up.
ReplyDeleteI can see this guy has been doing this forever, I just received the same e -mail with an item I have for sale on craigslist, the e-mail was same word for word, I knew it didn't seem right, so I googled his name and nothing but bad things came up! What an idiot this guy is!!!
ReplyDeleteHI EVERYONE!
ReplyDeleteI just got this scammer too!! wow! I feel bad for people who fall for this. I almost cant even believe that somebody would fall for it! But the fact that he is continuing means that someone out there fell for it!
Hopefully word gets out that COLE PLAT at cole.platt05@gmail.com is a shaddy piece of work!
He'll probably change his name and try again!
anybody actually email back confronting him/her? telling them theyre idiots?
I have been getting emailed by cole for a few weeks now. I finally got his phone number out of him, it is 1-912-226-0295 do what you will with this information.
ReplyDeleteI just received an email from Cole Platt, the email is word for word the same as the above, from cole.platt14@gmail.com and I am from Minnesota. Thank goodness for this page!
ReplyDeleteJust got the same e-mails, but from different addresses, and I'm in Fort Wayne, IN. Mark these down: lee.karm5@gmail.com, (Kelvin Park) ken.park44@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteJust got one from cole platt but first i got one from benmike73@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSame messages as listed, but ben mike asked it it was still for sale. I am not replyi g to mr. Platt
Jst got an email from benmike73@gmail.com. Followed by one from cole platt. I wont be responding
ReplyDeleteI just received the same email from him, so he is still at it. Thanks to this page I was able to Google him and email address and find out it's a fraud!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
I received an email also. I gave him the local police dept. address to send a check too.
ReplyDeleteJust received Cole Platts Christmas Greetings on a my recent Post exactly the same crap word for word Repoted to FBI cyber crimes division
ReplyDeleteCurrently in contact with him, wants to send me a check for $1930 and my item is $250! What a jerk to mention God in one of his e-mails!
ReplyDeleteI just got sent a check from him too. Same wording as above. Is there anyone out there that can arrest this person for fraud???
ReplyDeleteGot email from him, told him that God would judge him, shame on him for taking advantage of people and for him to get a job!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry this idiot is still trying to take advantage of people but I am thankful so many have found this post to leave their experiences. I can only hope people google him before falling for his scam.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I Googled the name. The email I got from him is verbatim of the one I received. The only reason I checked was because of the poor wording of the email. Thanks for putting the information out there for us to use.
ReplyDeleteHe struck me today. How odd. Looked him up. Got the same email. Google is your friend, people!
ReplyDeleteI am glad this little post has helped so many people. We can get rid of these losers one at a time.
DeleteI just received one from him today and I pulled it off the list. Thank you for posting this site.
ReplyDeleteYep, he's still at it.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Google & this blog to steer me clear of him!
I believe he scammed me today too.
ReplyDeleteHe sent me an email on my Sunrise painting
Got excited and took it off Craigslist
Then I read this
Wow, this guy is busy. Just got an e-mail from him asking for my information. How have the cops not caught him after the number of times he has tried this!? I am in Missouri, I saw someone above was in MN or something...wonder what area he is actually in.
ReplyDeleteI did get a check from him today...1,830.16., for an item I was asking 75.00 for. We are going to take the check and EXPRESS mail package and see if he can be charged with mail fraud. Glad my daughter in law sent me this link.
ReplyDeleteI got emails from COLE PLATT for my CL ad too. It was nearly the same wording as the posted note from 2011. I had a weird feeling about it from the start. I am in Michigan--guess he has no preferred region of the country to strike. :/
ReplyDeleteGood ole Cole Platt.....TRIES to SCAM again. Get a life Cole, everyone knows about this. I too tld this little turd to bring cash and we will do business. Probably won't hear from him again.
ReplyDeleteI also just received his message in response to my FB posting, in Michigan as well. I am glad people are now able to warn others of the scams out there!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, thank you for getting back to me. Though I'll be using
ReplyDeletethe services of a mover who will come for the pick up of the item on
my behalf all because I'm currently away for a contracting Job but I
will send a Check through my Bank to cover the cost of the items. The
check will be delivered to you by a reliable courier company within
2-3 working days. Please do provide me with your full Name to be on
the check and mailing address, and also indicate your final price,
the Name that should be on check and finally a cell phone #. Kindly
delete the posting because am serious in buying it, when the funds
clears then we can arrange for the pick up asap.
I just got the exact same text in a response from cole.platt14@gmail.com, for an item listed in LA in July 2013. The original response to my ad was:
DeleteIts nice the way i see it...How much are you willing to go down to. Kindly cc/forward your response to my work email at " ksamuel0021@gmail.com " i will reply right away. Thanks
Thought I'd get that other gmail address online so it's linked to this scammer.
*sigh* Anyone out there who *actually* wants to want to buy my dryer?
This is a shame to all the other real Cole Platt's out there. I want my name back.
ReplyDelete-Cole Platt
That is a shame. I am sorry your name is being dragged through the mud by a scammer.
DeleteMe too. Just received a response for a dryer that I have for sale. First email was from ksamuel10021@gmail.com. This is the text of the email from cole.platt14@gmail.com -Hello! let's do like this, actually now I'm not in town for now, I
ReplyDeletecame to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with
the condition as seen on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a Check
out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement
for pick-up. So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. I need you to be honest
with the sale as I am a God fearing person.
Particularly love the "God fearing" part. Um, I think one of the commandments is Thou shalt not steal, Mr. Platt.
Yup, here's another one. His original message regarding my oak table listed on Craig's List yesterday...
ReplyDelete"If not sold and how much are you willing to go down to Kindly cc/forward your response to my work email at " cole.meyer505@gmail.com " i will reply right away. Thanks"
Then I replied with the amount and thanked him for his interest, to which he replied:
"Hello! let's do like this, actually now I'm not in town for now, I
came to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with
the condition as seen on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a Check
out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement
for pick-up. So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. I need you to be honest
with the sale as I am a God fearing person."
Fortunately this sounded fishy to me so I googled him and found this site. Sadly, some - I hope not many - honest people who need to sell their stuff on Craig's List may be falling for this scammer and others. I also received an inquiry from a "Samuel Brown," no doubt another one of those creeps. I will be looking into what Craig's List actually does to try to protect honest sellers, and buyers as well, from these predators from who-knows-where because judging by the syntax and grammar of the messages English does not appear to be their first language. And don't you just love that "God fearing person" bit?
Yikes! Here's the initial inquiry from "Samuel Brown":
ReplyDelete"is the merchandise still available. email me at savannahqzz@gmail.com thank you
Sent from my MetroPCS Android Device"
I responded that it was and thanked him for his interest, to which "Edward" at the same email address immediately replied...
"Thanks for the prompt response to my mail.I will be buying the
merchandise from you and will be adding $50, so please kindly
withdraw the advert from CRAIGSLIST.and i will be paying you via bank
certified check from my Bank and the payment will be delivered to you
via Federal Express Courier ( FEDEX OVERNIGHT) and i will like you to
get back to me with the following information to facilitate the
mailing out the check to you... kindly get back to me with the below
Name to be on the payment...........
Home address...........
City..............
State...........
Zip Code..............
Cell phone #................
Last Asking price..............
I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as you have your
money I am completely satisfied with the advert and the payment will
be delivered to you
overnight (next day delivery from my bank by fed ex).** I use a
hearing impaired phone # and will receive your calls via email **
N.B : FEDEX does not deliver to a P.O box addresses.
Thank you"
Oh man, I can picture a call center buzzing with these vipers someplace abroad, preying on unsuspecting Craig's List sellers here in the US and elsewhere no doubt.
My mom just received an email from him too. Due to the wording of the email I looked him up online and it led me here. Thank you so much for this, it has saved us a lot of trouble.
ReplyDeleteAt it again, answered a CL ad under one name then responded back under Cole Platt:
ReplyDeleteHello! let's do like this, actually now I'm not in town for now, I
came to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with
the condition as seen on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a Check
out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement
for pick-up. So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. I need you to be honest
with the sale as I am a God fearing person.
Just got this from "COLE PLATT"
ReplyDeleteHello! let's do like this, actually now I'm not in town for now, I
came to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with
the condition as seen on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a Check
out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement
for pick-up. So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. I need you to be honest
with the sale as I am a God fearing person.
Here is the email that was used in the reply: "cole.platt14@gmail.com" and the one used for the initial contact: "bill.martins19731100@gmail.com"
I also received this email, on August 11. I have to admit I'm a bit gun-shy now in trying to make a craigslist sale :(
DeleteAnother one: Ralph Martins, phone number 323-638-7466. He doesn't leave an email, just the phone number. Same scam as "Cole Platt".
ReplyDeleteIt is really a shame that "Cole Platt" is still up to his old tricks. I am glad this blog is at least helping people find out before falling into a scam. Post any and every scam you can find. I will try to enter a new entry on the blog to keep track of them all. Thanks for all the help to rid the world of scammers, 1 at a time.
ReplyDeleteGot a check from Cole Platt today (email address cole.platt14@gmail.com). The check was for $2260.77 for a $250 craigslist item. The check is printed on security business checks, from "Suntrust Bank, Central Florida, NA" and Suntrust Bank, NW Georgia, NA". That was my first red flag. The second red flag was that the address of the account holder stated "Orlando Health, PO Box 562008, Orlando FL 32856" which also gave me a red flag. The check is signed by a very pixelated "Christine" no last name. It is obviously a computer image. After I received the check, he was very aggressive in sending me emails to cash the check right away, save a little for myself because of my troubles, and then send the difference via Money Gram International Transfer to his shipper. I had already arranged for shipping so thought this part was fishy. This is a total SCAM! Don't do it! You could be out $2000 or more!
ReplyDeletedame i don't even know what made me Google this dudes email address i guess t was to good to be true the items i had post i was asking to much to begin with and it was something i didn't think anyone would want to buy i replied back to him and asked him what kind of check and what bank it was from before i Google the address and he hasn't replied back lol fucker
ReplyDeleteHello! let's do like this, actually now I'm not in town for now, I
came to visit my son so i wont be able to meet with you but am ok with
the condition as seen on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a Check
out to you and when you received the check , I will make arrangement
for pick-up. So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. I need you to be honest
with the sale as I am a God fearing person.
I Just received an email from him. Telling me he was just here visiting his son but that he will trust the picture on Craig List and will send someone else to ship it. He then asked me for my address and phone and said will send me a check. I knew this was a scam as soon as I read and after goggling it I FOUND this message and many more. Thanks for the Messages I hope it saves more people from been scam.
ReplyDeleteHi He send me an email exactly as above re visiting his Son and mentioning God (COLE PLATT )and a TEXT message from phone (916)304-4921. Thanks for letting people know re this scammer. Thankfully I knew had the feeling it was a scam and Google it. Hope not more people falls for this.
ReplyDelete