Is this a known Craigslist scam?

.
... ...
.

 

Okay, prior to our comments, there were three references to "the item" or "an item" or just "item" in this very thread. Certainly not hard to find the word "item" in the classified section of this forum either ("is the item still available," "will you ship the item to," etc). Why repeat the name of the item when it's right in the very title of the email or thread?

Good grief. With an attitude like that, I suspect most would be far better off doing the transaction with someone else anyway. You must be truly hell to deal with when there's a problem or conflict.

 

If a giant rambling paragraph that is 100% generic and could be used for each and every CL post doesn't throw a red flag, then you must not live in the real world.

Actually I'm great to deal with, and rarely if ever have problems with online dealings, largely because I'm pretty dismissive of potential buyers who aren't interested enough to do more than to waste time with statements like "You still have this?"

I would like for to purchase your very fine item. I will pay for you $50 more than your asking due to condition. You must only make one payment to me one time in advance for the shipping and I will return $100 after the item is item.

 

If you can't meet the person face-to-face, it's a scam!

 

It has to be a scam because the dude can't speak and write English.

I don't quite understand how he's going to make money though. Does the check bounce and then they have the merchandise to resell? Seems like a bunch of hassle.

Usually don't they try to get you to cash a check for more than you're asking and then send them the difference?

 

Thanks guys.

I replied...a string-a-long kind of reply...telling him great to have him buy my "item". Told him to call the number in the add...and that the payment will be sent to my work address...and the item picked up from there too. Doubt I'll hear from him again.

Douch!

 

I told my "scam" that I only deal with USD cash. Never accept a personal check

 

I totally agree. See where it leads, have fun with it. Please post responses from buyer...could get interesting!

 

Sound familiar? Lol.

http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/check-scam.html

I can't believe some people don't see this coming a million miles away. Think of all the poor older folks who fall for this crap. It's sad to think about.

 

I'm just not going to automatically assume it's scam. I own a business. Customers ramble, ask silly questions, have odd requests, and so on. I don't automatically assume those are scams either.

This is getting off the subject (scams), but, if they're not permitted to ask if you still have something, how are they supposed to know for certain if you still do? Just look through the classified ads on this forum at how many have asked that very question ("is it still available"), to only then be told it's not. You talk about wasting time. Just how long does it take to type "yes" or "no," along with hitting the send button?

Anyway, I just didn't realize there are rules on what can or cannot be said or asked - or potentially be deemed an idiot. I'd be out of business real quick if I handled customers like that.

 

Yeah, Its a scam. Ive had this happen to me when I was selling some furniture on Craigslist. But, heres what I did. I emailed the "scammer" back and asked them to call me at home to go over the details of the transaction. But, instead of giving them my home number I gave the number to the local FBI office. They never did email me back.

One thing that throws up the red flag is they keep referring to what your selling as an "item" and not using its specific name, i.e. camper shell.

 

Really? If you got the response the OP got you wouldn't know it was a scam?? You might want to check out the link I posted if you rely on this sort of thing to pay the bills...migh save you some headache.

 

I do tons of transactions on CL and eBay. There are sooo many scammers it's ridiculous. I get those stupid 'out of town' messages all the time and you see other regulars post 'no out of town offers, we meet in person and bring cash.'

Between the scammers and flakes many people just give up on CL, however, it still is a really really good way to sell stuff locally. I just sold a ton of stuff sitting in my garage that I could not have sold any other way (I would have ended up donating all of it). I also do a lot of barters. You will be amazed at what you have lying around and what people will offer you that you can actually use. Also, it's a great way to barter for services, right now I got a great barter going for a bunch of stuff I need to get rid of for house painting. Saving me a ton of money out of pocket, getting rid of a lot of crap AND helping a painter that didn't have any jobs for a couple days...awesome.

 

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

 

I had that once, except the kept calling back, , and my oldest was a baby. After the fourth call, I hit *69 and got the number. They made their little sister answer, and I asked to speak to her dad. I could hear the older ones coaching her, so I said, "Listen, if I don't talk to your daddy, I'm calling the police because you guys are prank calling me." "The pah-LICE??" "That's right." "Will we go to jail?" "You might, so you better let me talk to your daddy!" *phone drops* "DADDY!" I told him that his girls were pranking me, and I knew it was kids being kids, but I had already gotten four calls in 10 minutes, and I had a sleeping baby. He was pissed. I tried to pass it off as not a big deal, again, it just looked like this was going to be the evening entertainment. Just before he hung up, I said, "You might also want to tell them to use #67 before calling, so your number doesn't show up"...

Most of the major banks in Canada just give money orders for less than $1000 or drafts for over $1000 if a certified cheque is requested. As a matter of fact, if you ask for a certified cheque, usually you'll get charged the cert cheque price, but given a draft because it is less processing. And now days, cert cheque means nothing as theu are being forged at a high rate so banks are holding them anyway. (former senior account manager, married to a bank manager).

That's awesome. Tell him he doesn't need to call, send the draft. Then in a week or two, when he e-mails you to ask if you got it, say no, even if you have. Ask him to send another one. Keep this up for a bit, then send a picture back of your junk, with a note "Scammers suck". Or just keep giving him different addresses, except pretend you keep giving him the same one. "Where'd you send it? What? No, you're supposed to send it to" and give him another address. Eventually, he'll give up. In the meantime, those fake drafts still cost money to make and mail. There's a whole website I'll try to find where someone has made a hobby of pissing off the scammers.

 

Broken English? Check
Bank check? Check
Unable to meet in person? Check
Deployed military? Clear
Sick child? Clear
"Agent" will meet? Clear
Shipping company? Check

Yup... it's a scam.

 

Couldn't find the "Garden Wolf" story, but here's an internet legend about someone getting a scammer with a Powerbook.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

And another site:
http://www.419eater.com/

 

this ^

 

If your unsure say "f*** you" and see what happens next. But I don't needed to reiterate what everyone else has mentioned already. Just be vigilant of cl and eBay buyers