PatricK Leutwyler - Car Scammer

I have a VW listed for sale on Craigs List. I was contacted by a [email protected] who claimed to be a sailor currently at sea, and this person wanted to buy my car as a Christmas surprise for his/her son. He/She insisted that he/she could only use PayPal and wanted my PayPal email. Once I share my Paypal information, I received the following email:

I was just about to pay when i had this problem with the pick up, my
pick up agent says i will need to pay for the pick up before they can
schedule a pick up time, they charged me $900 for pick up and delivery
and also with the insurance fee, and payments for pick up made through
them is made to their corporate international headquarters which is in
State and the payments is made through western union money transfer, i
will add the $1,000 to the money i will send through paypal as soon as
i have made the payments, i will email you and let you know and please
i will need you to help me send the money to my pick up agent Hq in
the US through western union money transfer, this can be done from any
post office ,there is always western union money transfer section in
most post offices or at the bank. I would have done it myself but we
cant bring some of our personal effects along, i am a little
incapacitated.....I will appreciate your help here.

I then asked for the name of the agent and agreed to work with Him/Her on shipping this car.

I then received the following:

thanks for the mail here is the agent details below is a private company

Name: PatricK Leutwyler
Address: 1498.E William St.
City: Carson City
State: NV,
Zipcode: 89701,
Country: United State.


and you can check (insert my payPal info) for the payment confirmation and get back to me asap

In a Google search for Patrick Leutwyler, I found your site. Thanks for the scam alert! And shame on you Patrick!!!

I got the very same scam attempted on me. The guy said his name was Ronald Scott and that he was putting $50K plus and extra $1,000 in my paypal account and that I should westernunion Patrick Leutwyler $900 so that he could pick up the car. Thanks for the posts!!!!!!! I simply googled Patrick Leutwyler and that's when I found this site. No Victim here!

Welcome to ScamWarners RosevilleSmartie and lguthr1e! We are pleased that you were able to recognize the scam before sending any money. This is the purpose of this site, to be a resource to save people from being scammed.

And more:

Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:13:43 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT MADE
From: [email protected]
To:xxxx

Hello John,
I just want to inform you that i have just completed the payment and i hope you must have been notified in your email about the payment i made through PayPal, you can check your e-mail for confirmation of payment, I have just make the payment of $11,300.00 ,i have decided to add the amount of $900 which i paid through PayPal, So please i will like you to help me wire the sum of $900 to my agent via western union so he can be able to come for the pick up and also PayPal said they won't release the funds until they get the western union information from you due to the fact that i emailed them about the excess payment i made.i will need you to send the $900.00 to my pick up agent Headquarters where they normally confirm any commission payment to via western union money transfer(this can be done from the western union office,or online at (http://www.westernunion.com) as they usually have a western union agent there) , i added extra $100 to cover the western union charges which shouldn't be more that $60-75 but just to be sure i added $100, Here is my pick up agent Headquarter info needed to get the money sent through western union money transfer

Patrick Leutwyler
1498 E William St. Carson City
NV , 89701 USA


Please kindly email the necessary details to paypal with the (MTCN Control #) which you will be given at the western union after the $900.00 has been sent as well as the sender's name and address used to send the money through western union,so i can forward it to the agent.
Hope to hear from you soonest.

Well done ScamWarners for providing the means for so many people to detect and avoid scams.
Well done Iguthr1e and RosevillSmartie for searching for more info and detecting the scam!

Does anyone know if there is a way to tell from the email header if an email is actually sent from a boat or a military ship or military base?

Also, I've heard GMail emails will often hide the true location of the sender by using a different IP address.

Does anyone have more info an this?

I would find in interesting if the original poster was able to compare the email header IP address origin location with the scammers alleged location.

I have had the same exact experience with Patrick Leutwyler and am sad to say that I fell victim. I was contacted by [email protected] also wanting to buy our boat. He said the same story, that he was a sailor and was having a pick up agent come get the boat but the agent needed $900 for shipping and an additional $1,500 for insurance. I would have never fell victim for this except that the paypal account looked very real and legit. I even contacted paypal several times and they said everything sounded ok. However, they had never actually checked my account to see if there was a transaction in progress. When I talked to paypal later on, after the guy said he needed an additional $1,500 they said they do not deal with Western Union and that was never them to begin with. Western Union called me because they became suspicious of Patrick Leutwyler receiving so much money in the last few days. I went to the police and filed a report, nothing may ever come of it but at least it is on file. A total loss of $2,401 for us. Never again, a valuable lesson learned.

Does anyone know if there is a way to tell from the email header if an email is actually sent from a boat or a military ship or military base?

Also, I've heard GMail emails will often hide the true location of the sender by using a different IP address

Franck, gmail does strip the original IP from the email and replace it one of there own. So there is no way to trace the IP from an individual using a gmail addy from looking at the header.

I am not 100% sure of the answer regarding the military bases, but I would imagine it depends again on the email provider being used and whether satellites are involved.

KYC, I am sorry to hear you were scammed. Posting your story will prevent others from being scammed. Please be on the lookout for 'recovery scams'. These usually show up after you have been scammed and they tell you they will help you get your money back. You can read more about them here: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3198

I was helping my friend post a tractor for sale on Craigslist for 11,000 and this same guy using the address [email protected] wanted to buy it using the same lines he used on everyone else.
"I was just about to pay when i had this problem with the pick up, my pick up agent says i will need to pay for the pick up before they can schedule a pick up time, they charged me $900 for pick up and delivery and also with the insurance fee, and payments for pick up made through them is made to their corporate international headquarters which is in State and the payments is made through western union money transfer, i will add the $1,000 to the money i will send through paypal as soon as i have made the payments, i will email you and let you know and please i will need you to help me send the money to my pick up agent Hq in the US through western union money transfer, this can be done from any post office ,there is always western union money transfer section in most post offices or at the bank. I would have done it myself but we cant bring some of our personal effects along, i am a little incapacitated.....I will appreciate your help here."
I have just made the payments now and i expect paypal to have emailed by now if not you can check your spam or junk mail for the confirmation, i sent $12,000 in all, i added $1,000 meant for pick up and delivery and the western union fee also and the insurance, they said they have emailed you to this effect, you will need to send the $900 to my pick up agent Headquarters via western union money transfer,so that paypal can credit the $12,000 into your account as soon as you have emailed the western union details to them, i added extra $100 to cover the western union charges which shouldn't be more than $100 Here is the pick up agent info needed to get the money sent through western union money transfer:


Name: PatricK Leutwyler
Address: 1498.E William St.
City: Carson City
State: NV,
Zipcode: 89701,
Country: United State.

I will need the details of the transfer once you have sent fund . . .
1.The MTCN number that is the 10 digits number on the Western Union receipt
2.Sender's name and address used in sending the money
3.Actual amount sent..
It became suspicious when i received a fake email from paypal asking to send 900 dollars to his agent, i had my husband call paypal because it didnt seem right. Then i googled his name and i found this website. i sent all his emails to [email protected]. Im so glad we didnt send any money. Then he thought he would scare us by sending us a fake email from the FBI

Welcome to ScamWarners dianen73 , we are pleased that you found information here that is helpful to you and that you trusted your instinct that it was probably a scam. Thank you for posting your experience here and hopefully it will help someone else. Let others know about ScamWarners too.

I have same experience as that one but luckily I did background check and find out that he was a scammer through his IP address. It was being told to me by one of my friends who knows more on computer technicalities. Your post will help others to know that there is a scam like this over the net under the account name [email protected].

For my boat in craigslist
New name:
Kent Janet [email protected]
He didn't even change a word, so "lazy", but he said he will report me as scam if I didn't sent him $900. Ha ha.
Paypal sent me a email said this is a phishing attempt already.

1.Thanks for the swift reply and will like to purchase it.And i will be paying $1,300 USD which will also include the PayPal charges. I will be paying you with my PayPal because it's attached to my bank account,If my offer is accepted send me your email with PayPal,(Paypal ID) so i can pay in right away.I went on a tour out of town do not have much time on me.I am only online during relaxation time Make sure you get back to me so that i can arrange for pick up as i will like the item to be picked,so no shipping included.I await your reply

2.I can not call or receive call here as am currently on a tour to
Mexico..And i told you earlier on that i can only pay via paypal
account so i will be glad if you can get back to me with your paypal
account so that i can send the fund to your account asap...And my
agent will be responsible for the picking up of the boat at your place
as soon as i transferred the fund to your account..You can like wise
get back to me with your full address so that i can send it to them
for the pick up arrangement..

3.I just heard from the pick up agent says i will need to pay for the
pick up before they can schedule a pick up time, they charged me $900
for pick up and delivery, and payments for pick up made through them
is made to their corporate international headquarters which is in the
united kingdom and the payments is made through western union money
transfer, i will add the $1,000 to the money and you will use $100 for
the western union charges i will send through your paypal account as
soon as i have made the payments, i will email you and let you know
and please i will need you to help me send the money to my pick up
agent through western union money transfer, ., i would have done it
myself but we cant bring some of our personal effects along, i am a
little incapacitated.....I will appreciate your help here. And i will
need your full address where the boat will be picked up..

Regards

4. 2 FAKE PAYPAL EMAIL

5.Hope you've gotten the payment notification from the transaction desk
office.I got a transaction alert that $2,300.00 USD had been deducted
from my account.The office desk deducted $2,300.00 USD along with the
shipper fees..all you need do is to get the additional $900.00
USD..wired via western union money transfer and use $100.00 USD for
the transfer charges Here is the shipping company agent address;

Name: Ursula Clossy
Address: 20 Rayens Cross Road
City: Long Ashton
State: Bristol
Zip Code: BS41 9EA
Country: UK.

Have also inform the shipping company about the money you will be
sending them, For them to come for the products pickup from you as
promised by me...So all you need do is to visit nearest Western Union
Office with the cash and once you have wired the money...get back to
transaction desk with the scanning copy of the receipt collected from
them for complete transaction. Pleasure doing business with you.

Regards

6.Hello seller,

What is happening,I am contacting you again as
regards the item purchased from you... I have since then not heard
anything from you and i have decided to report you for attempt scam
.... but if you get back to me with the western union details I mean
the MTCN number for the money sent.... and then you have your money
credited into your account because it has been deducted from My own
account and i just cant afford to loose that kind of money just like
that. so you better get back to me......


Thanks

Welcome to Scamwarners, and thanks for posting that.

but he said he will report me as scam if I didn't sent him $900. Ha ha.

He may follow up with an email claiming to be the FBI, and threatening you with arrest if you don't send the money.

Hi Guys I've just had the same scam attempted on myself as 'yoyo' has explained from [email protected] with the exact wording, thankfully i stumbbled across this post as the enquirey i got seemed rather strange, Thanks alot for the post guys saved me alot of hassel.

Welcome to ScamWarners benj7891. We are pleased that information posted here helped you. It was good that you did some research before you started a business transaction with this scammer. Feel free to look around and of post up any scams you receive.

From: James Leisten <[email protected]>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will be offering you £1450 for the car and the payment will be made
via bank wire transfer, so kindly get back back to me with your bank
details such as bank name, account number, sort code and account name
for me to proceed and make the payment into your account and once the
payment has been made i have a pickup agent that will come for the
pickup of the car from you address. i await your response to proceed
and make payment.

James Leisten <[email protected]>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was just about to make the payments for the car when i had this
little problem with the picking up, i just got an email from my agent
that he won't come and pick up the car unless i pay him the agent
commission fee first in order to be able to schedule a pick up time
for it, my pick up agent head quarters is at UK and all payments made
for pick up from anywhere in the world is sent to their head quarters
in the UK and the only form of payments they accept is western union
money transfer and i tried to pay online but i will need my credit
card to make the process which i didn't bring on board and there is no
post office or any western union agent on sea! so i have to ask you to
help me with the pick up fees as i will include the £650 they charged
to pick up the car to the payments i will send through
paypal, after i have made the payments, i will need you to help me
send the £650 to my pick up agent through western union money
transfer, the western union money transfer can be made at a post
office near to you as there is always a western union agent in most
post offices. I will be making the payments shortly and will email you
as soon as it has been done.

Thanks


From: James Leisten <[email protected]>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That is what they charge me for the pickup of the car and have it
delivered. am not really worried about the money once car is delivered
safely with no scratch. payment will be made shortly and will get back
to you


Thursday, 10 March, 2011 22:07:20PayPal Payment Notification: Temporary Hold Pending Verification (Routing Code: C840-L041-Q999-T5365) Confirmed.
From: "[email protected]®" <[email protected]>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Dear


This email confirms that James Leisten has just sent you £2,170.00 GBP.

View the details of this transaction here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Payment Details

Transaction Date: Mar 10, 2011

Purchased From:

Purchased By: James Leisten

Transaction ID: 4UN6GJUKL68Y8YEU


Item # Description Quantity Price Subtotal
******
Seicento Fiat

1
£1,450.00

£1,450.00





Agent Fee: £720.00



Subtotal £2,170.00


Total: £2,170.00 GBP.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is to inform you that you are required to send a sum of £720.00 to the address below via western union money transfer and get back to us with the relevant information which you will be provided with after the money has been sent, you are requested to email us the Mtcn (Money Transfer Control Number) ,sender's name and address used to make the transfer and also the secret question and answer.As soon as we have received these information from you, we will credit a sum of £2,170.00 GBP to your PayPal Account. Below is the address where the money is to be sent to using western union money transfer.


Agent Information


Agent address: Name: Ursula Clossy
Address: 20 Rayens Cross Road
City: Long Ashton
State: Bristol
Zip Code: BS41 9EA
Country: UK.



Status: Confirmed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: We wish to inform you that James Leisten has made his intentions known to PayPal that he will like £720.00 to be sent to the recipient's address above via Western Union Money Transfer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been "APPROVED" but will not be credited into your account until the MTCN # is sent to us for verification, so as to secure both the buyer and the seller. Below are the relevant information required before your account could be credited:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All you have to do is to reply directly to this mail with the MTCN #, Secret questions and answers and the sender's name and address used when sending the money.Once it has been verified and the details above sent to us, you will receive a " CONFIRMATION E-mail" from Pay Pal® Service informing you that your account has been credited with £2,170.00 GBP.

Please, understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect both the Buyer and the Seller.We apologize for the inconvenience that has caused you.

Because of the inconvenience this causes we are giving you the next two incoming transfers for free! You will pay no fees for your next two incoming transfers*.

If fees would normally apply,you will not pay anything for the next two incoming transfers you receive.