Am I About To Get Scammed By A Buyer On CraigsList?

by daddyoh

Posted: 15 years ago 44 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I posted an ad on CL for a physical product I'm selling.
About an hour later I get an email about it to see if it's still available.
I email him back and tell him "yes".
He emails me back with this:

Thanks for the quick response, I'll really like to have the item but unfortunately I wouldn't have time to be around in person so pls I'll be sending you a Check via my bank for the cost of the item. I'll also be sending someone come pick the item up on my behalf.I hope you do understand...So I'll like you to provide me with the following information so as to notify my bank for issuance of payment of the item.
1.Full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address (Ups doesn't deliver to P.O Boxes)
3.Phone number
4 The final price. As soon as you have cashed the check
I'll make arrangement with my mover concerning the pick up. Pls do me a favor of removing the Ad from CL as I'm committed to buying it. Thanks and have a nice day.
-------------------------------
This just smells funny to me. He hasn't even seen it except for the 4 pics I put in the listing yet he wants to buy it. He's not local and he wants a lot of personal info from me. I am going to have to hold the check for 7-10 days for it to clear (item costs $165). He wants me to cancel my CL ad which I would do after I got the check.

Does this smell funny to anyone else?

#buyer #craigslist #scammed

dorim 15 years ago

Turn and run the other way.
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Riz 15 years ago

Personally it sounds fishy.

I would stay away - it's not worth the risk and im sure u will find a buyer that u r more comfortable with.
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- Cackle 15 years ago
  
  I would just tell him that you need cash and that if it were the other way around, he would want the same.
  
  He probably won't respond back. Then you'll know.
  
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InternetMarketingIQ 15 years ago

Cash Only, Pickup Only. Craigs is scam central.
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Loren Woirhaye 15 years ago

Tell him to send a money-order, wire-transfer of F___-off.
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travlinguy 15 years ago

Ahhhhhh... I can smell it from here and I'm on the east coast.
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DrewG 15 years ago

Ignore that email completely.
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dave830 15 years ago

Ask for cash, you'll know immediately.

It is interesting that he was actually going to send a person... a bit more bold than the typical scammers...
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- daddyoh 15 years ago
  
  lol~ you guys are funny! Thanks for making me smile
  The concensus is unanimous.
  I sent him a new email.
  I told him "cash only".
  I'll report back if he responds to that.
  not holding my breath.
  
  Thanks
  
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scattermouse 15 years ago

My general advice is:
Any question that starts "Am I about to get scammed...?"
The answer is almost always yes.
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misterwrecker 15 years ago

It's a scam just delete the email and forget about it.
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- Achilles1963 15 years ago
  
  No, no, no...you guys are missing the point completely, the scam is they get you to give them your personal information, then they can get credit cards etc., i always get swindlers trying to get my information, they claim i won a million dollars or emailing a job offer or a purchase, but the common thread is give me your -
  
  Name (full name)-
  Physical Adress (not mailing adress)
  etc.
  
  The more information they can get the better, i read about this on the FBI tipline when somebody contacted me claiming to be an FBI agent (i turned them in) and this fake FBI guy wanted my
  
  Name (full name)-
  Physical Adress etc.
  
  Thanks
  
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gnajnik 15 years ago

Run, Forest, run! Definitely a scam.
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I.M.Retired 15 years ago

That seems to be a popular form letter Craigslist scammers use. It seems that any time I list something, I get a similar letter. If it's a piece of furniture for sale, their 'mover' will come for it after the check clears. I think they just want your name, address and a valid email address. I've seen so many people get this letter, almost word for word what you have posted. Don't even reply to it - that only encourages them!
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SallyJo 15 years ago

Agreed.. don't even reply to it.

The other thing you'll see done is that a buyer will send two checks "by accident" and then want you to cash them, and send the overage back to him.

Both checks will bounce eventually.

And the checks usually look like certified checks... but they are bogus.

I LOVE Craigslist... I've gotten great deals there... but if you're selling stuff, you just have to roll with the b.s. and ignore the stupid stuff like what you got.

Also.. remember... he didn't have your email address to write that (assuming he wrote to you through your response email that CL posts)... so it very well could be he just wants a real email address from you... which he will get if you responded.

The real estate, RV, and vehicle sections are the worst for spammers collecting email addresses, IMO.
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astaga 15 years ago

<cheeky>
Can't you supply him with an address like:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500, United States
+1 202-456-1414
</cheeky>
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Chris Dolan 15 years ago

Smells of scam.

If its genuine, a few emails will establish it. But if you can sell where you feel more comfortable about the deal better.

Just my .02

Chris
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1entrepreneur 15 years ago

It's a scam for sure, I had that happen to me before. I would advised you not to reply to that e-mail.
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chrisaplin 15 years ago

Anytime a scammer says "item" it's a scam. They send out to everyone. People who want your "item" will usually say, "name of item."

BAM
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prosperityteam Banned 15 years ago

[DELETED]

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- yohan0923 15 years ago
  
  Something fishy is happening.I advice you to not give your personal information on that mail.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  daddyoh 15 years ago
  
  Well, he hasn't emailed me back after I told him I wanted cash~lol~
  
  I just got what looks like a new scammer trying to get my email address from this same CL ad.
  
  This guy asked me if I had or knew where to get any metal folding chairs for him.
  
  Yeah, I sh*t you not. Said he wasn't interested in my item, just some folding chairs and he would "really appreciate it".
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  webwyn 15 years ago
  
  Even if the pretext for this buyer's story is accurate, a better solution than he has provided would be to put money in his friends account who can then pay you cash.
  
  There are stories of scams similar to this where you hold the check, but have to advance pay for delivery etc and can get caught when the original check doesn't clear.
  
  Also, in reference to ID theft, some of the details requested are a little to close to home.
  
  Sounds like your being cautious anyway so all the best.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  appsrus 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by webwyn
  
  Am I About To Get Scammed By A Buyer On CraigsList?
  
  Probably. :p
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Achilles1963 15 years ago
  
  LOL you guys are still missing the point, they were not going for your money, only your information. :rolleyes:
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
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  jstover77 Banned 15 years ago
  
  This is one of the typical scams going around on CL right now. Ignore it completely!
  
  Thanks
  
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  webwyn 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Achilles1963
  
  LOL you guys are still missing the point, they were not going for your money, only your information. :rolleyes:
  
  The ID/Information theft element of the EMail has been mentioned as well as the potential for monetary and/or property theft.
  
  Nonetheless you are right, the ID theft angle is often more subtle and not considered. So many people seem to respond to EMails requesting what appears as harmless fun information (such as star signs, birthdays and age amongst other seemingly irrelevant information) which when combined can actually provide a detailed profile of the respondent.
  
  Hence I believe people need to wary of this angle as well.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Cackle 15 years ago
  
  hmmm...why would a scammer go through all that to just get an email address? It doesn't take a detective to find people's email address's online.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  jmidas 15 years ago
  
  As great as Craigslist can be - it really is "scam central" as IM IQ said earlier.
  
  Get this - this is no joke: right this moment, my house is being advertised on CL in the for rent section for a "too good to be true" amount. Full photos, interior and exterior and my address and map to the house. The info must have been saved from about a year ago when we bought the house (there had been an ad on CL then with the exact info/pics). For the last week we have been getting people showing up on our doorstep asking to see the house, etc. The first one, who alerted me to this, showed me the ad and an email exchange he had with "me." Fake yahoo address, of course. Best of all - the scammer told this guy who wanted to rent that he was - no joke, I have the email - "traveling in West Africa right now, and the best thing to do to guarantee the lease is to send the money by Western Union and he'll have an assistant go pick it up..."
  
  CL has been worthless in stopping this. As soon as one ad comes down, a new one goes up. My only hope at this point is that the scammer gets tired of our flagging it and moves on to another house.
  
  Of the four people who I have actually spoken to, 2 of them were about to send the money (one guy already had the lease), the other two "figured it was a scam", but came by anyway (I'm guessing they'll lose their money soon enough to another one of these). So, I guess this scam must work, but it is very sad to see.
  
  By my guestimate, about a quarter of the for rent ads are fakes on CL - some of the photos of homes for rent in my local CL have palm trees in the yard - Im in the north east. The scammers in africa probably dont have a clue (I wouldn't if I were advertising a house in the Nigerian CL), but what is more amazing is how many people fall for this crap.
  
  Anyway, enough of my venting.
  
  But, if anyone wants to rent a 3/4 million dollar house for only $1100/mth, just send the deposit to me in West Africa in the name of "cash" and I'll be sure to mail you the keys.
  
  Thanks
  
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shakti2u 15 years ago

This is a scam and if they can get a legit address and name they can pull up a lot of other information and possibly get your bank account information. They can even send cashier's check or money order that is not legit. I got a cashier's check that was not legit for service I was going to do and luckily I asked the bank to check with the company the check was from. They said it wasn't legit, so I didn't do the service.

Good job of recognizing it.

Sylvia
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Jason Moffatt 15 years ago

I pulled some pretty funny stuff on a Craigslist flake the other day. I posted a short 2 minute video on it in my Facebook profile...

Jason Moffatt | Facebook

(I think you may have to be a friend of mine in Facebook to see it, not sure)

The dude was PISSED!

I was STOKED!
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Technologize 15 years ago

Dodgy With A Capital D!
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Terry Crim 15 years ago

If you go ahead with this tell them that you will only accept a money order due to previous fraud experiences and that the item will be sent directly to him via fedex, ups or whatever. Add the cost of the shipping to the final cost.

Tell him no exceptions and until payment is made in full the ad will remain also inform him that you have others interested and that it is a first come first serve basis, the one that pays in full first wins.

But if you listen to your inner voice whether right or wrong in this case, refusing to deal with this person will save you any problems that could arise.

Edit: If you do not want him to have your physical address then go rent a mail box at the UPS store or similar place. They will also ship out the item for you.

- Terry
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Droopy Dawg 15 years ago

The short answer would be... "yes"
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- fernando avila 15 years ago
  
  yea craigslist has alot of scammers these days. . .
  
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askmichaelknowles 15 years ago

I get about 2 of those a week. I just send an email back asking for all of THEIR personal info....never hear back from any of them.

imagaine that

Michael
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oleskool 15 years ago

Doesn't sound like a good deal. I keep getting these checks in the mail for $3500 to do surveys that I never asked to complete. The checks are frauds, sound like the same type of deal.

Don't do it.
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imageworx 15 years ago

Postal Money order, they're difficult to fake. Most scammers wont try to fake them
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Doug D 15 years ago

Yes, this is very common scam nowadays. It is definitely a scam.
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Lightlysalted 15 years ago

why would they need all this information on you? It's a scam, I'd email back asking for a different payment method. If they can't pay via cerdit card or paypal then explain that you won't sell them the product.
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- edd666666 15 years ago
  
  It is a scam and generally they make the check out for more than you agreed to, so they want cash back in addition to the item, they do not really want your item, they want the cash back.
  
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queenbuzzy 15 years ago

P-U!!!!

Something smells in here!

Hey, why don't you look at the full headers of his email and track his IP? That will tell you where he really is located.

Craigslist should always be "CASH ONLY" (although I have done paypal with success!)
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Tedders 15 years ago

"I hope you do understand..."

This person probably has $10million in a bank account waiting for you if you send him all your details!
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Floyd Fisher

15 years ago

Originally Posted by daddyoh

I posted an ad on CL for a physical product I'm selling.
About an hour later I get an email about it to see if it's still available.
I email him back and tell him "yes".
He emails me back with this:

Thanks for the quick response, I'll really like to have the item but unfortunately I wouldn't have time to be around in person so pls I'll be sending you a Check via my bank for the cost of the item. I'll also be sending someone come pick the item up on my behalf.I hope you do understand...So I'll like you to provide me with the following information so as to notify my bank for issuance of payment of the item.
1.Full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address (Ups doesn't deliver to P.O Boxes)
3.Phone number
4 The final price. As soon as you have cashed the check
I'll make arrangement with my mover concerning the pick up. Pls do me a favor of removing the Ad from CL as I'm committed to buying it. Thanks and have a nice day.
-------------------------------
This just smells funny to me. He hasn't even seen it except for the 4 pics I put in the listing yet he wants to buy it. He's not local and he wants a lot of personal info from me. I am going to have to hold the check for 7-10 days for it to clear (item costs $165). He wants me to cancel my CL ad which I would do after I got the check.

Does this smell funny to anyone else?

Tell him 'sorry, cash only'.

Thanks

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Am I About To Get Scammed By A Buyer On CraigsList?

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