Clara Barnes hacks Fb profiles then tries to sell vehicles cheap with eBay
Complaint
NotGonnaScamMe
Country: United States
On 02/26/2022, Clara Barnes <clarabarnes512@gmail.com> posted on Facebook Marketplace ad ad for a "1998 Ford Ranger" for $800. She used the hacked profile "Julia Bunting Poland" from an address near northside Chicago, IL. After being messaged on Facebook, she asked me to e-mail her at the above email address. Initially I was interested, until her emails showed red flags.
In her first email to me, she claimed: "I am selling it at this final price of $800 because my husband died of Covid-19 five month ago and it brings back bad memories, that’s the reason I want to sell it. I want to use eBay services for the safety of both of us so if you’re interested in purchasing this car, I can notify eBay that you are selected as my possible buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure."
Julia Bunting Poland's Facebook profile links to her husband Michael's Facebook page, where he posted less than a month ago: clearly still alive.
Her second email she sent many clean detailed photos, writing: "As I told you in my first email, I moved to another city (Hamilton, MT). Before I left, I arranged the agreement with eBay Motors, so my presence is not required. They won't give me any money until you receive and test the truck. The truck is at the shipping company, ready for delivery. The delivery process is managed by me. You have 5 days to test and inspect the car. So, if you want to do this business, I need the following details: full name, delivery address and phone number. Once I get all the details, I will send them to eBay and they will continue the order. They will send you an email with all the information you need to complete this transaction and will also confirm that the transaction is going through them and that you are a legitimate seller. Please wait for your email with the required details."
I emailed her my name, address, and phone number - (all publicly available information I felt safe to divulge).
Her third e-mail went on to say, "I received your info and already sent it to eBay to initiate the transaction through. Once that is done, you would be informed shortly upon all the details of the transaction (terms, buyer protection coverage, payment instructions, invoice for the purchase)."
It was at this point, after having done some detective work to find any recent obituary of anyone named "Michael Poland", or "Barnes" (in either Illinois, or Michigan), and searching for that make and model truck on eBay motors, I sent her a final email taking her to task. She stopped corresponding with me after that.
Here's the email I sent her (it had attached screen captures of the websites revealing her lies):
"Why was the Facebook Marketplace posting saying it was posted near Chicago, Illinois if you are in Hamilton, Montana? If your email name is Clara Barnes, why was the Facebook Marketplace posting from someone named Julia Bunting Poland? Julia and her husband Michael live in or around St. Louis, Missouri. Michael posted on Facebook on February 7, 2022, so he isn't dead. Why are there no obituataries of anyone named "Michael Poland" or with the last name "Barnes" in IL or MI? The pictures of the truck are also shown on a website called Showdown Auto Sales, listing for $16,900.00. This place is located in Fraser, Michigan.... north of Detroit. I ran the AutoCheck report for $11.99 and it says this vehicle has spent most of it's life in Howell, Michigan. What's your husband's name? Why haven't you answered my prior questions? Why am finding the email address clarabarnes512@gmail.com associated with online reports of scams? Please answer all of these questions before we proceed."
Clara Barnes <clarabarnes512@gmail.com> is a SCAM ARTIST with a known history of lies.
In her first email to me, she claimed: "I am selling it at this final price of $800 because my husband died of Covid-19 five month ago and it brings back bad memories, that’s the reason I want to sell it. I want to use eBay services for the safety of both of us so if you’re interested in purchasing this car, I can notify eBay that you are selected as my possible buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure."
Julia Bunting Poland's Facebook profile links to her husband Michael's Facebook page, where he posted less than a month ago: clearly still alive.
Her second email she sent many clean detailed photos, writing: "As I told you in my first email, I moved to another city (Hamilton, MT). Before I left, I arranged the agreement with eBay Motors, so my presence is not required. They won't give me any money until you receive and test the truck. The truck is at the shipping company, ready for delivery. The delivery process is managed by me. You have 5 days to test and inspect the car. So, if you want to do this business, I need the following details: full name, delivery address and phone number. Once I get all the details, I will send them to eBay and they will continue the order. They will send you an email with all the information you need to complete this transaction and will also confirm that the transaction is going through them and that you are a legitimate seller. Please wait for your email with the required details."
I emailed her my name, address, and phone number - (all publicly available information I felt safe to divulge).
Her third e-mail went on to say, "I received your info and already sent it to eBay to initiate the transaction through. Once that is done, you would be informed shortly upon all the details of the transaction (terms, buyer protection coverage, payment instructions, invoice for the purchase)."
It was at this point, after having done some detective work to find any recent obituary of anyone named "Michael Poland", or "Barnes" (in either Illinois, or Michigan), and searching for that make and model truck on eBay motors, I sent her a final email taking her to task. She stopped corresponding with me after that.
Here's the email I sent her (it had attached screen captures of the websites revealing her lies):
"Why was the Facebook Marketplace posting saying it was posted near Chicago, Illinois if you are in Hamilton, Montana? If your email name is Clara Barnes, why was the Facebook Marketplace posting from someone named Julia Bunting Poland? Julia and her husband Michael live in or around St. Louis, Missouri. Michael posted on Facebook on February 7, 2022, so he isn't dead. Why are there no obituataries of anyone named "Michael Poland" or with the last name "Barnes" in IL or MI? The pictures of the truck are also shown on a website called Showdown Auto Sales, listing for $16,900.00. This place is located in Fraser, Michigan.... north of Detroit. I ran the AutoCheck report for $11.99 and it says this vehicle has spent most of it's life in Howell, Michigan. What's your husband's name? Why haven't you answered my prior questions? Why am finding the email address clarabarnes512@gmail.com associated with online reports of scams? Please answer all of these questions before we proceed."
Clara Barnes <clarabarnes512@gmail.com> is a SCAM ARTIST with a known history of lies.
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