Craigs list scams

[1project2many]

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.

This is a common one. My old boss almost fell for a Nissan being sold this way. Difference was seller was "stationed" in Europe and they were using Paypal. Same promise of being able to inspect car, which isn't true. Same promise of free shipping. I searched for the wording and found a similar story all across the country but with different cars. Scam.

 

[svk]

With CL, if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't!

Oh yeah!

I've said for years that CL needs to force both buyers and sellers to register with them. Then through usernames and matching IP scammers could be slowed down significantly. I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[loadthestove]

I sold A Harley on craigs list a few years back and was sent a Cashiers check for payment. Before the bike left my possession I took check to my local bank for verification ,account number was correct-bank routing number was correct and the check even had a water mark on it.
Even the amount was correct, but here was the clincher, the check had already been deposited .Whom ever we were speaking with told us the check would've cleared the bank only to be caught a few weeks in the future.

I buy and sell on craigslist and ebay.Any large purchases are cash in person ,period.

 

[svk]

I sold A Harley on craigs list a few years back and was sent a Cashiers check for payment. Before the bike left my possession I took check to my local bank for verification ,account number was correct-bank routing number was correct and the check even had a water mark on it.
Even the amount was correct, but here was the clincher, the check had already been deposited .Whom ever we were speaking with told us the check would've cleared the bank only to be caught a few weeks in the future.

tricky tricky!!

 

[Jutt]

• In responding to free firewood ads, I use the email relay unless its a known tree service.
• For all other buy/sell ads, email relay only. Emails that then pass possible scam criteria get my unlisted voip number which I can then selectively filter (accept, reject or forward) calls. That number then forwards to my cell phone. Outbound cell calls are relayed through the voip number (caller sees voip number on CLID). Basically, I don't want my cell number getting blown up with marketing calls or something more nefarious after some ******* sells my info from a CL ad. One can never be too paranoid these days.
• If I'm selling on CL, cash only in person, no exceptions
• If selling and feasible, I like to meet up in a neutral location, like a Walmart parking lot
• If buying something that requires me to bring a lot of cash, again request to meet up in neutral, busy location during the day if feasible. This won't work too well if buying an old, non-running tractor from a farm but you should get a pretty good feel of the situation from talking to someone on the phone.
• Not related directly to CL but when private, face to face firearm sales were legal here in CO I would ask for make/model/color and parking lot location of other party and would glass them from a distance to make sure they didn't look "sketchy" before approaching. Example: dudes wearing hoodies match sketchy criteria
• Scam ads or scam responses are pretty obvious in most cases and should be easy to avoid
• If its too good to be true...

 

[brenndatomu]

I have adopted a policy of not answering any call that doesn't come up on my contact list or I at least recognize. Anything important, they'll either leave a message or call me back again right away, then I may take a chance and answer it. When selling on CL or otherwise, my ad says to leave a message, I'll call you back ASAP. Weeds out the BS...I have only accidentally talked to 1 telemarketer in the last 4-5 years!

 

[El Quachito]

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.

Yep, that's exactly how it goes. And the grammar either looks foreign or it is so "perfect" nobody actually talks/writes like that in the US.

 

[RyKR]

I normally just get numb nut replies like "I'll trade you a trailer load of cinder blocks for the truck you have for sale on Craigslist", "I'll take your truck and $8k for my beemer", or "I'll trade my wicked fast awesome Honda Accord with custom lights and wheels for your truck". I'll take the laugh I get out of those over the frustration of the others any time. I did once get an offer for my beat up and rusted Bronco from NC (I'm in Indiana). They were persistent, even after I told them that I would only sell it to them in person and that it was in such poor shape that the cost of gas would exceed the value of the Bronco.

 

[Zeus103363]

check this craigslist scam! "in need of your firewood for FREE!"

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[olyman]

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.

and how id like to be standing next to those scamming trash...........

 

[svk]

check this craigslist scam! "in need of your firewood for FREE!"

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sometimes folks put free when they don't know the going rate or don't want to over bid. Won't be getting any free wood from me lol.