Craigslist scam?

[ngt]

We were talking about ebay/craigslist scams a while back. Is this one?

I'm selling something on CL for $50...here's the email I just got:

Hi,
Am glad it's available. I'm going on a business trip to London but I will instruct my assistant to prepare and mail your payment which I'm sure you will get in about 5 - 7 business days. I'll add $30 extra for the delay. I can only pay via money order as am going on a business trip now so send me your info (i.e full name, mailing address and your phone number) so payment can be mailed out immediately. I will also make arrangement for pick-up which will be after you must have received and cashed the payment. Awaiting your info.
Thanks

what do you think?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Sumthin' fishy about it - the extra $30 part is kinda' weird, at least. Any way you can have them mail it to your attention at a Mailboxes Etc. or something similar? That way you can expose as little personal information as possible.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Classic scam for sure. This guy doesn't think big, though.

 

[ngt]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Classic scam for sure. This guy doesn't think big, though.

Can you explain the scam to me? I mean, everyone I deal with on CL gets my name, address, and usually my phone number. I don't get the money order scam part...

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Scam no doubt! & you are right NyBo. He does not think big but that might be intentional. Who would think it is a scam for so little money. And I really do not think he would be using that info to rip you off for a paltry $50 item. I think he has bigger plans in mind.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Craigslist scam?

The payment you receive will be bogus, but you won't find that out until it works its way through your bank and you've reimbursed the guy for the "extra" $30. You will then get hit with a charge from your bank. In the usual way this scam works, the guy never picks up the item. If he does in this case, you will be out even more.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Definite scam, he just hasn't dropped the bomb yet. Once you agree, he'll tell you he's writing a money order for $200 and ask you to refund the difference.

 

[ngt]

Re: Craigslist scam?

oh, ok. got it. The scam is just beginning, lol. Thanks! I'll be sure to tell him where to go

 

[NYBo]

Re: Craigslist scam?

It may be fun to string him along a bit, but not if he knows where you live. In that case, be careful, and be ready to call the police.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Craigslist scam?

"Am glad it's available" Are you selling a waffle iron? A scam like this will usually never actually state the name of the item you are selling.
ie. So glad the item is still available.. This is the product I am in search of. Just examples.

A potential real buyer would say, Am glad your waffle iron is available.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Craigslist scam?

I've sold quite a bit of stuff on CL. I never get scam responses because I always instruct people to respond by telephone, which I post. I also tell them to not bother emailing me because I am never around the computer.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Craigslist scam?

I've sold quite a bit of stuff on CL. I never get scam responses because I always instruct people to respond by telephone, which I post. I also tell them to not bother emailing me because I am never around the computer.

But you obviously don't have any idea what your Suburban is putting out for the world to see!

 

[lakelover]

Re: Craigslist scam?

I wouldn't touch that one with a 10 foot pole! Just delete it & forget it.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Craigslist scam?

But you obviously don't have any idea what your Suburban is putting out for the world to see!

Hmmm, maybe my suburban is related to Christine?

 

[phideux1]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Definite scam, he just hasn't dropped the bomb yet. Once you agree, he'll tell you he's writing a money order for $200 and ask you to refund the difference.

Just refund him the difference in a "money order". Make the scammers work for nothing.

 

[emoney]

Re: Craigslist scam?

There are now "email grabbers" all over our local craigslist so it's getting a little out of hand. They'll list an obvious "too good to be true" ad for a low-ball price and there's never any contact info, outside of the CL email link. I guess the emails are then sold to a marketing company? There's no telling how many people fall for that stuff either.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Who buys merchandise sight unseen, anyway? Most of the scam ads don't stand up to common sense.
Selling a $30,000 car for $2,000? That should be a huge red flag- something selling for WAAAYYY less than it's worth.
It'd be easier to take that $30K used car to a used car dealer and sell it to them. Selling cars to car dealers will get the lowest offers, but closer to half the retail value, so why bother listing it on CL?
Someone in Europe offering to buy your $5000 boat sight unseen? Another red flag. Nobody would do that except a scammer.
Most of the scams involve the scumball sending a "cashiers" check for more than the asked for price, then asking for a wire transfer for the overage, with a generous reward for the victim. Bank releases funds, check turns out to be a fake, bank takes your money to cover the check. Criminal gets a few thousand wired to their bank account.
Wanna irritate the scamers? String them along for a bit. They will gladly overnight you (at their expense) the fake check. Just don't give them any money or any of your personal information. The more time they waste, the more it costst them.

 

[phideux1]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Who buys merchandise sight unseen, anyway? Most of the scam ads don't stand up to common sense.
Selling a $30,000 car for $2,000? That should be a huge red flag- something selling for WAAAYYY less than it's worth.
It'd be easier to take that $30K used car to a used car dealer and sell it to them. Selling cars to car dealers will get the lowest offers, but closer to half the retail value, so why bother listing it on CL?
Someone in Europe offering to buy your $5000 boat sight unseen? Another red flag. Nobody would do that except a scammer.
Most of the scams involve the scumball sending a "cashiers" check for more than the asked for price, then asking for a wire transfer for the overage, with a generous reward for the victim. Bank releases funds, check turns out to be a fake, bank takes your money to cover the check. Criminal gets a few thousand wired to their bank account.
Wanna irritate the scamers? String them along for a bit. They will gladly overnight you (at their expense) the fake check. Just don't give them any money or any of your personal information. The more time they waste, the more it costst them.

String them along as long as you can, It's fun. Send them back the overage that they paid to you in the form of a homemade check or money order, overpay them with that and ask them to send you back the overage that they now owe you.

 

[projo198]

Re: Craigslist scam?

I just got done stringing a Nigerian along for 4 days and over 75 emails over an iPhone. Good times...good times...

The way I figure it if he is spending time being toyed with by me he has less time to scam unknowing people.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Craigslist scam?

Have the same thing happen to me. They went to the extend of sending me a fake check through USPS registered mail. When I email them and said that my bank wants to hold the check for 45 days, i got NO email return at all. I also told them to send me the money through Western Union and email me the control number and no reply, as what they want me to do with the overage money that they included in the check. So that is a scam, but that person is a small timer, but small timer also make a lot of money if a lot of people fall for it.