CL Scam Responders

[roscoe]

I have used Craigslist in the past, and have had ok results with it.
But lately, all I get for responses are scammers.

How about you?


The first 2 emails from this guy almost sounded legit, then I got this one.


""" HI AGAIN, (UP FRONT WITH YOU) WE ARE MOVING HERE IN EAGLE RIVER FROM CALIFORNIA. I PURCHASED A USED PICK-UP FROM RED'S AUTO IN EAGLE RIVER TO PULL A TRAILER. I HAVE ACCOUNTS IN CALIFORNIA BUT THIS IS THE ONLY BUSINESS I HAVE DONE. OUR RESIDENCE WILL BE HERE IN EAGLE RIVER. IF YOU WILL ACCEPT A GOOD CHECK AND WILL CALL RED'S AUTO AHEAD MY WIFE AND I WILL COME DOWN AND CHECK IT OUT. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME. THANKS JIM """

My response:


"" No reason to come look at the boat as I am a well known and reputable nautical broker.

I will offer you a discount of 324 pence and will deliver the vessel anywhere within the confines of Fantasia.

Please do send a check straight away and I will proceed with the process.
Make sure it is a latex constructed checke, as they are more resilient and handle the post service much better.

Send the checke quickly and I will return $2000 to you in cash, as thanks for getting this done fast, as I will be
leaving to business in Japan in only a few days.

Post the checke to

Edit: [Fred Garvin]
4784 Route 66
Chelsea, Fantasia Minor, USA 55666

Many Gratitudes. ""

 

[QC]

Re: CL Scam Responders

Sorry I had to edit out Phil's name . . . but I had to. Maybe you'll appreciate my replacement

 

[dccordell]

Re: CL Scam Responders

LOL! Very funny... makes ya wonder if those scammers even actually read the replies? I guess they would if they are trying to scam you...

We've often wondered how those that offer to send a check as payment can pull a scam like that... do they try to pick up the item for sale before the check clears, then you get a bounced check...?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I never answer emails related to my ads, as they are almost invariably scammers. Folks who call and talk face to face are the only ones I deal with, and I alway insist on cash in person. I pay close attention to how the responders want to conduct their business, and folks who make me feel uncomfortable I usually decide not to go any further with the deal.
It sure does seem like these scammers would be easier to catch by someone who knew something about computers-----I guess there's just so many of them..........
I've had good luck with craiglist, though.
JBJ

 

[roscoe]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I've had no contact with Fred Garvin, but my wife highly recommends him.



The good news is that I have a potential buyer, with a local phone number, only 40 miles away.

 

[Scorpion8]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I hate CL spammers. Such a nice service inevitably gets ruined by somebody like them.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: CL Scam Responders

My craigslist account has been hacked more than a couple times. At one time I evidently had a 57 Corvette for sale in Florida and a really nice Tahoe in California. I have to sell another truck so I'm starting an email account just for craigslist. It's to bad these deadbeats exist. I also had somebody play that game with me when trying to buy a boat.

 

[zopperman]

Re: CL Scam Responders

It's been off the charts lately. Almost every posting taht I make, I get a scammer. I've been trying to sell a utility trailer for months... scam after scam.. "i'm out of town, I jsut need your address, phone # and oh yeah, your social." I hate that these people ruin such a great thing. I love craigslist and it's a shame.

 

[roscoe]

Re: CL Scam Responders

The guy from the email above, actually ended up calling me, twice.
Trying to build trust.
Kept mentioning Red's auto and Eagle River Wi., over and over.
Said he just bought a home on the lake, but didn't know the name of the lake.
Said he was a life long resident of northern California, but spoke with a deep south, possibly cajun accent.
Complained that the boat was too far to drive and look at.

Bottom line, he wanted to pay by check, as all his money is in Calif.
Didn't understand why I wouldn't take a check, its good after all.
Just call Red's auto and ask them.

I told him that if Red's auto trusted him so much, that he should write them a check and
have them cash it, then give the cash to him, and he can give it to me when he picks up the boat.

Still he would not give up.
He called 2 more times that week and insisted his check was good, and there is no reason to turn it down.


***************************************************

CL is seriously not working like it used to.
Not sure if much is selling either.
I seem to see the same items for sale, for weeks, with the price dropping.

I've been trying to sell 2 items for 3 weeks.

Run the ads almost daily, on 4 CL boards near my area.

Received one possibly legit response, but I have my doubts.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: CL Scam Responders

For those scammers I usually tell them to send their checks to:

FBI
Special Agent in Charge (Nancy McNamara)
330 E. Kilbourn Ave, Suite 600
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Usually never get another response from the scam artists.

 

[zopperman]

Re: CL Scam Responders

Wow, Rosco, that's some serious scamming.. usually I just get a few annoying emails. I needed a welder a while ago and the guy kept insisting that his friend could do it but was awaya nd wanted me to pay upfront. I asked what kinda of weld he would do and the guy replied "the right one"

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I use CL quite a bit and like it. Because there aren't any huge fees associated with selling, you can really get great deals. Kind of like the old Wednesday free Penny Saver classifieds. Listing fees increase the price. Sellers on beat-bay can't stand the fees ether. I have had reply's from sellers telling me EB even requests them to inflate the shipping/handling costs because they get a percentage on that also. If a used Perko cleat (actual example) or another example (shock assist rubber bushings) with shipping on beat-bay cost me the same as the local Marine store. I'll shop local.

I'll agree CL has many issues. I had one scammer spell his first name "Bruce" differently in three separate messages to me. There is a link on CL to report scammers. I always do if something looks fishy. i.e the used Aircraft Carrier for sale last week on CL asking price $2,000.000.00.

I have to say there is a real need for a new site with good controls and free classified posting.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: CL Scam Responders

Sorry I had to edit out Phil's name . . . but I had to. Maybe you'll appreciate my replacement

LOL Love it!

"I call this one the snake"

 

[jkust]

Re: CL Scam Responders

When I call on big ticket items in CL, I find the sellers are more suprised that a real potential buyer is actually interested. Then when you show up and are able to pay for it and not just wasting their time, they are in uncharted territory. There must be a 20:1 scammer vs actual, qualified, legitimate buyer ratio. Funny thing is I tried giving a gas grill away on the free section of CL once and that was harder than selling a car on CL.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I'll probably be in the same boat, so to speak, since I'm getting ready to put my 60 MGA on CL this weekend. The following will be at the bottom of the add.

Note to scammers: Yes you can have your shipping agent pick it up. Just make sure the they have cash in hand, when they show up. In God we trust. All others pay cash!

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: CL Scam Responders

Don't mind c-list. Pretty easy to pick out which emails are spam, and everytime I've bought something, it was as-described in the ad, no hassles.

Weirdest thing I've seen happened to a friend. He bought something for about $50 from some lady, got an email from her a week or so later asking for his mailing address because she found some documentation he might be able to use. When he checked his mail, it was the money he paid her. She decided it wasn't worth selling, and he could just have it.

How often does that happen?!

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: CL Scam Responders

That's cool. Recently I bought a bunch of deck parts for a buck. When checking them out I found four brand new Starcraft fender rub rail ends. What a find. I replaced all four of my pitted ones. I'm going to send the guy ten bucks. It was worth it.

 

[yetiman]

Re: CL Scam Responders

I enjoy selling and buying from CL, no real problems on small items but with large ticket
Items a lot of scammers. Unfortunately when selling anything in this day and age you have
To deal with scammers, even auto trader is pretty bad.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: CL Scam Responders

The only thing I check on CL is the personals. Trying to find out if my wife is looking for someone else to dominate.

 

[roscoe]

Re: CL Scam Responders

The only thing I check on CL is the personals. Trying to find out if my wife is looking for someone else to dominate.

What? She's already squashed yours, and is up for a bigger challenge? LOL


Or maybe you're hoping she's ready to move on ?