Craigs list scams

[stihly dan]

What are they looking for when the post in the free section. Your e-mail? phone #? I don't get it. In the free section in NH there is someone posting free wood in Hampton, 2 separate posts with different names, then the same post for a town 20 miles away. Same name and number. 6 oaks 2 maples. Plus a couple others. How can responding to the add harm someone? Its obviously fake.

 

[svk]

Trying to get your contact info to fleece you on something else?

Dear xxxx. You are winner of 10 zillion dollars in wired funds. Please provide us with yyyy to claim your prize....

 

[woodsplitta]

I saw same post and had same thoughts. Not sure whats up but not worth finding out the hard way.

 

[svk]

How is the grammar? A lot of scams are overseas and its easy to see. Flag those posts so CL removes them.

 

[stihly dan]

Oh so I have some scrounge competition here huh.

Grammar is perfect, seems legit if they didn't double post the same. Unfortunately I responded to an ash tree post with # and no response but the add is still up days later. I get the sending money ones, but free has me.

 

[svk]

Oh so I have some scrounge competition here huh.

Grammar is perfect, seems legit if they didn't double post the same. Unfortunately I responded to an ash tree post with # and no response but the add is still up days later. I get the sending money ones, but free has me.

Free stuff will get more hits so they can gather more people's data.

 

[woodsplitta]

Did you call the phone #?

 

[pro94lt]

Nothings ever free boys...

 

[svk]

I read it somewhere that both legitimate tele/e-marketing companies and scammers will pay a premium for "validated" contact info. You can buy a cold list of prospects for 10 cents a lead, but a high percentage of them are old/incorrect. Or you can buy a validated lead for a buck a lead and know the person is there on the other end. So people either here or overseas phish nonstop to get more leads to sell.

 

[BillNole]

It annoys me when I read "send me your phone number, I won't reply to e-mails" or some other similar comment, as it comes across as just plain jerky or sounds like a scam. I don't typically respond to these type of postings on CL or any other adds. I have an e-mail account I use solely for CL purposes. I've had it for years and it rarely gets any sort of spam.

It's a shame that people can't be decent about responding and then replying, but the world is what it is and then showing up as promised, or at least making contact to reschedule or cancel. I try to stick to the high road and let others travel the other one and then not worry about them too much.

 

[1project2many]

Grammar is perfect, seems legit if they didn't double post the same. Unfortunately I responded to an ash tree post with # and no response but the add is still up days later. I get the sending money ones, but free has me.

Yep... often for contact info. When I was looking for a Suburban I found an ad for one in Hooksett. I asked to see it and said I would bring cash to cover the asking price but no reply. Seemed strange. I watched that ad repost and repost and finally got so mad I posted a warning (against CL policy). Then I then received replies from others. Apparently that ad had been used for years to collect contact info.

Lessee... free firewood posted for different towns. Mebbe not too hard? I do see a couple ads the same, one with NH number, one from a not so good part of another state. The names listed with the numbers don't match the names in the ads, either. And googling the address with the NH number, the satellite view shows an area with few trees. Prolly not valid.

The Ash ad may be real. I know free wood ads can generate an overwhelming amount of responses, especially this time of year. A couple of years ago I called a free wood ad in Manchester right after it was posted only to find it was a scam. A disgruntled tenant had moved out in the middle of the night and suddenly the landlady started getting calls for the most ridiculous things. While we were talking I searched CL for her phone number and found several ads she hadn't placed. Somehow she got CL to stop allowing ads with her number.

Also, you can grab text from the ad and search CL nationally using google. Sometimes you can find the original ad that way. Nothing this time, though.

Jeez... I never should have looked. I'm having trouble finding time to cut and split what's already here and now I'm thinking about responding to one of the ads.

 

[066blaster]

I'd give it a shot. Sometimes they are legit. Block your number when calling. I mean I puts tons of adds on with my number posted in the ad . If they want to harass people there is plenty of numbers on there to use.
I have gotten a few calls for advertising when I posted in the services offered section, just told them not interested, they didn't call back.

 

[066blaster]

And the multiple adds with slight variation may be someone just trying to get around the duplicate post rules.

 

[Dirtboy]

It annoys me when I read "send me your phone number, I won't reply to e-mails" or some other similar comment, as it comes across as just plain jerky or sounds like a scam. I don't typically respond to these type of postings on CL or any other adds. I have an e-mail account I use solely for CL purposes. I've had it for years and it rarely gets any sort of spam.

It's a shame that people can't be decent about responding and then replying, but the world is what it is and then showing up as promised, or at least making contact to reschedule or cancel. I try to stick to the high road and let others travel the other one and then not worry about them too much.

I agree with you to a point Bill about the "send me your phone #". I also have a separate email for CL, but when I do advertise something I insist on a first name and phone #. I have found it weeds out the folks that are not really serious or just plain spammers. I could not believe the amount of spam I got after answering people via email, because then your email shows up in the response.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Talking about scams...

I found a nearly new Big Text 16' gooseneck dump trailer ad in multiple states for $2500-$2510. The number was also different in each ad. So I text the guy, he texts me back and says to e-mail him, and I do, asking to call me so we can talk.

Him:
Hey,
This is Ryan Jenkins. I received your email about my 2012 Big Tex Model 14GX-16BK7SIR 16' Dump Trailer. The trailer is in great shape. It was always garaged and has normal wear for the age. No mechanical or electrical problems. It has been extremely well maintained. Clean title in hand, with no loans or liens on it. It does not need anything additional to function. It has 83" x 16'; 14,000 G.V.W.R.; pay load 9,000 lbs; 7' stow away ramps; "D" rings; rear split combo gate, heavy duty scissor lift, battery with 110v charger and a solar panel; new "Roll over Netting" to cover the loads and more. It just completed a full inspection and is good to go. The price for the trailer is $2,500.
For more pictures here is a link to the trailer's photo gallery:
https://plus.google.com/photos/105239822367523598375/albums/6052643031288283025
Let me know if you are interested.
Thanks

Seems pretty "legit", considering the grammar and sentence structure is there. So I play along some more, asking him again to talk on the phone.

Him:
Hey,
I am currently stationed at Fort Irwin (U.S. Military training area in CA) making final preparations before deploying to Afghanistan. The trailer is here with me at the base and if we reach an agreement the shipping won't be a problem because military has a considerable discount, so I can handle it by myself with no charges whatsoever on your account. Shipping may take anywhere between 2 to 5 business days depending on the destination. You will receive the trailer along with all the documents including title, bill of sale, 2 set of keys, full service records and more. I am currently signed up with Google Wallet and I would like to close the deal through them. If you are not aware of Google Wallet you should know that it will allow you to test and inspect the trailer before paying me. You will have a 5-day inspection period to decide whether you want to keep the trailer or not before they release the funds to me. If you decide not to keep it Google Wallet will refund you the money, no questions asked, and shipping back will be my concern. In this way you're not buying something sight unseen. If you agree with these terms please send me your full name, phone number and the address so I can initiate the transaction with them. You will receive all the transaction details from them (terms, buyer protection coverage, payment instructions, invoice for the purchase).

I want to point out that because I am going to Afghanistan I am looking after a fast transaction, with no delays. That is why I decided to lower the price, to avoid wasting time with negotiations and find a buyer ASAP.

Thanks,
SGT. Ryan Jenkins

Ok, so I go to California's craiglist and searched many of their ads for a local listing. Nothing. So I e-mailed him back...

Me:
Ryan or whomever you claim to be,
It's truly a damned shame that you would pose as a military service member to scam folks. Funny how I found the same trailer and pictures in another ad on craigslist in another state, utilizing a different phone number.
I'll flag every single ad you post from now on when I see them. You should truly be ashamed of yourself.
If I reached this assumption in error then I truly apologize and wish you the best of luck in the sale, but I highly doubt it's legit.


No response back. Imagine that. I've flagged atleast 6 of the same ads with the same pics, but slightly different price and number.

 

[svk]

I sell a few things a year on CL. Without fail the first response I get goes like this:

Them: Hello, is your item for still available?

Me: Yes, would you like to come to Anytown to see it? I'm available today after 6.

Them: I will purchase your item. I will send you payment via overnight and arrange for a courier to pick it up.....

Me: Don't you want to see the item first? Or I say, Sorry I will only sell for cash.

Them: No answer

I'm not sure what they are trying to do here. Maybe send a rubber check and then steal your banking info when it is printed onto the returned check? Regardless if you question them they go cold.

 

[BillNole]

I sell a few things a year on CL. Without fail the first response I get goes like this:

Them: Hello, is your item for still available?

Me: Yes, would you like to come to Anytown to see it? I'm available today after 6.

Them: I will purchase your item. I will send you payment via overnight and arrange for a courier to pick it up.....

Me: Don't you want to see the item first? Or I say, Sorry I will only sell for cash.

Them: No answer

I'm not sure what they are trying to do here. Maybe send a rubber check and then steal your banking info when it is printed onto the returned check? Regardless if you question them they go cold.

That's a common one svk and the only thing you can really do about it is to simply ignore the responses. I've received similar with almost identical wording numerous times over the years.

Responding only confirms to them that you are real and not a scam offer.

CL is full of risk, but it also has it's rewards too. You just have to be careful...

 

[svk]

That's a common one svk and the only thing you can really do about it is to simply ignore the responses. I've received similar with almost identical wording numerous times over the years.

Responding only confirms to them that you are real and not a scam offer.

CL is full of risk, but it also has it's rewards too. You just have to be careful...

On that note I always use the anonymous CL email exchange for correspondence.

CL is a necessary evil to sell stuff these days. Always love to get the all caps, no punctuation emails with an ultra low ball offer for something they haven't even seen.

 

[kevin j]

The anonymous part of CL is only when a buyer writes you.
If the seller replies to inquiry your email is revealed. At least here

Set up several emails and only use for CL or when an email is required for online registration etc

 

[brenndatomu]

I'm not sure what they are trying to do here. Maybe send a rubber check and then steal your banking info when it is printed onto the returned check? Regardless if you question them they go cold.

They tell you they will overnite a check to cover your price (usually full price, no negotiation) plus the cost of shipping, and a lil extra to cover your time and trouble for taking it to their "shipping guy". This always has to be done in a hurry for whatever bogus reason they come up with. By the time your bank realizes that the "cashiers check" that they sent is junk, you've lost your item. My sister used to work at a local bank, she said to tell the bank what is going on and to never ship your stuff before the bank verifies that the check is good, often they won't even charge you a bounced check fee if they know what's up from the get-go. A guy I work with had this happen with an old Caprice Classic that he was selling from his Moms estate, the scammer made ALL KINDS of threats when he was told that the car was not gonna be shipped until the check cleared!

I found a couple year old John Deere compact tractor (diesel, 4x4, front end loader) looked brand new, they were only asking $1800 for it. So I did a lil research (googled the ad) found the same ad splattered all over the country, flagged all of them I found. With CL, if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't!