Craigslist Scams

That same truck is over here in the DC Craigslist too!

 

I was washing my truck at the self-service car wash last week, and had some guy wander up and try to hit me up for money. Said it was his son's birthday that day, and he needed to get him a present. My response was "You waited until the day of your son's birthday before attempting to get money to get him a present? And what exactly are you doing out here, instead of spending time with your son on his birthday anyway?"

He then tried to ask if he could wash my truck for me, and have me pay him for it.

"You're not washing shit. Go figure out how to be a better parent."

 

Translation: I'm not sure I want them. Please take this clearly fake excuse as reality and hold on to the wheels until I decide. He could have thought of SOMETHING more realistic. Got called in to work, kid broke arm and I'm at ER...anything other than "birthday."

I love when people get called out like that. Just trying to tug at heartstrings...jerks

 

Believe it or not, another guy hit me up a minute after the first guy left. Came up and introduced himself with his full name (who the hell does that at a car wash?), and proceeded to tell me he need $8 and change to get back home (a town an hour away) because he had gotten into a fight with his wife, and she had left his ass there, LOL.

 

One time I was approached in a parking lot and given this dudes spiel. He was going on about how he needs a couple bucks for a beer because his mother in law is living with him, blah blah blah. We told him no, and continued on our way. Fast forward a few months, and I'm in the same part of town again. SAME dude walks up, and starts again with the same exact thing. I hold up my hand and stop him short and told him that he's already tried this bit on me a few months ago. His demeanor changed from desperate to casual, shrugged his shoulders and said something to the effect of "Oh well, at least I tried" and just walked away. At least he's dedicated, I'll give him that.

 

You need to find a new car wash, preferably one that is away from crack heads and homeless people, ha.

 

Nailed it, actually. But I find it highly entertaining (and am always carrying, so I'm not too concerned).

 

Most recent scammer interaction. Background, I'm trying to sell my oem grill on craigslist. This is the third scammer so I decided to play along.

First message from scammer:

Hey, What is the base price? I can come and take a look at it tomorrow at 6.30 pm? Preferably, we could fix a convenient time/place for us to meet for mutual security at both ends. I get off work at 4pm tomorrow after which I'll attend a church program so I can have a view after church. I wouldn't mind pictures revealing all the visible parts before I come though. I could possibly purchase it from you on the spot of viewing it if I am satisfied with what I see... Touch base with me asap.


My reply:

Where are you located?
I can sell the grill for $75. That is my best offer.
It's in great shape. What year is your Tacoma?

Second message from scammer ( Next day):

Hi there,
I'm sorry to inform you that, I won't be able to come view it as I initially planned because I'm currently heading out of town as I am writing you attending to see to my father's burial arrangement. As fate would have it.....man proposes God disposes...i was just informed that my dad passed on, but I'm ok with the condition as seen in the Ad. I'll proceed in issuing a Cashier's Check or a bank certified check out to you and when you receive the check, I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as the check clears and you have your money in hand. I will add $40 to the agreed price for you to hold it for me. So, get back to me with below details asap in order to facilitate mailing out the check to you: -
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
The payment will be delivered within couple of days, Pls do remove the Ad online and consider it sold to me. I'm really interested in buying it from you and i will appreciate you if you can help me to save the item till the payment arrives. I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as you have the check cashed in hand, So please get back to me ASAP. I'll be on the look out for you reply asap. I'll also give my freight agent a signed note so that you'll know he'll be assuming responsibility for the property on my behalf.
Thanks for getting in touch with me.
Katilyn
(760) 600-8429
Happy Connecting. Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® 5


My reply:

Sorry about your father.

Unfortunately I will need to increase the price to $824.56 as I have had multiple offers for my one of a million mass produced grill.
Are you interested at that price? Also I would need to setup a night , so I could sleep with your whore mouthed mother.
So if you are good with whoring out your dirty pirate mom and paying me $824.56, we have a deal.


Third message from scammer:

NOTHING AS OF YET, HA

 

A newly naturalized Co Worker, a number of years ago, found the deal and car of his dreams on Craigs List. Of course it was too good to be true - a fancy sports model that listed for $30K? and was selling for about $10K less. Excellent condition, title in hand. My Friend ran a Car Fax report - that came back clean. Paid $20K ? CASH! Passed papers and then went to the registry. Stolen 6 months earlier. Title was an excellent Fake. ID was fake, etc, etc. Police came a few days later and towed it away. Too bad he did not tell me until it was over. Car Fax said they did their job as there was no REPORTED theft of car from their sources. I felt really bad for the guy.

 

The only do it yourself car washes are kinda in sketchy sections near me, doesnt keep me away though!

 

Here's one with 78k miles for only $1500. Wow what a deal!

https://mobile.craigslist.org/cto/6184727246.html

 

"I promise you won't spend any money with it." - Ya know, I had heard good things about Toyota's longevity.

"You can also find a few pictures of it." - Where, on Google?

 

It happens to the best of them. I used to work for a Ford dealer in a small town. The owner would take his buddies with him to the auto auctions, so they could drive his newly bought cars to the shop. One time, he bought two Pontiac Grand Prix's, and sold one of them to a young guy in town. FBI came knocking on the young guys door one night, and told him that the car he bought was stolen, and took the car. Ford dealer gave him a Ford as a replacement.

 

"Uncle Sugar" will only pay a privately owned transport service to move service members crap when they are being assigned a new duty station. Only people who get their stuff humped on military cargo plans are generals and admirals.

"The lowest I'll go is first gear. Can't get it to move very fast in neutral."

"I cheated on a girlfriend in high school with her sister, that was pretty low."

 

Maybe I'm old school, but I still like Auto-Trader. Those people have to pay to list on there, and that tells me they are serious about selling. I also find the vehicles for sale on there tend to be better maintained.

 

I had a lady try the 'our son died in Afghanistan' story and 'we need to sell his motorcycle because it reminds us of him'. Same scam, we send you extra money to cover, you keep the difference. They told me the bike was in storage awaiting shipment. Problem was, the storage location they gave me was an abandoned storefront that had been boarded up years ago. (thank you google and google image search)

 

Awful.

 

Sounds like online dating! Some sites you pay for while others are free. The more serious (or maybe desperate) woman are on the pay site. Every once in awhile you come across a good find on a free site though, with my wife proving that point. Military medical officer with a well off family. Yes please!

 

I wrote to them, looks legitttttt ??!?

Hello,
My name is Teresa, and I'm emailing you about 2005 Toyota Tacoma SR5 TRD with a gasoline engine, automatic transmission and only 78,378 miles. Never had or need any paint/body work done,always garage kept,without any mechanical problems,the tires and wheels are in great shape as well,the electric is working perfectly. The engine 4.0L V6, runs very good and the automatic transmission shifts perfectly. Has an US clean and clear title in my name and there are no liens or loans on it. This car was used by my husband who died 4 month ago. The price was reduced to $1,500 because I'm in a hurry to find a buyer. I need to sell the car before the 15th of the next month, when I will be leaving on military duty with my medical team out of country for a year and do not want to store it. Hate to sell it but it's not worth keeping insurance and paying storage fees for a year.

 

Wait, the owner bought the Pontiacs from an auction? Don't auction houses run the VINs to find out if they're stolen?

I gotta remember these for future Craigslist shenanigans lol