+1 You'll never see the money. Even if you get a bank check it will be a fake. One clue, the person capitalized the word Bank. This kind of scam is very common on the Internet.Originally Posted by John Coloccia
Member
+1 You'll never see the money. Even if you get a bank check it will be a fake. One clue, the person capitalized the word Bank. This kind of scam is very common on the Internet.
[OP]
Member
Thanks folks. As I mentioned, I was suspicious from the get-go, but had never received one of these before (I don't have an extensive history of selling items on CL, but have done some). I just was unable to figure out the angle. Now I get it. Thanks.
Regards,
Glen
Woodworking: It's a joinery.
Member
Who talks like that?
Guys using an (insert language here) to English translator, who want your
Name, Address and cell phone #, that's who.
Member
Read over the Craigslist warnings. Usually, "Is this Item still available " is a good indication of something possibility fishy.
Contributor
I have found in the couple of CL adds I have posted, it is best to just put your phone number.
I have bought from a few people on CL. A couple I emailed and they called be back and a couple I Just called. I find it easier to call and leave a call back number.
It makes life easier and no spam.
Member
Glen, Avoid this at all cost. I am a police officer by profession and unfortunately see this all the time. The trick is that generally they send you a certified check (fake) for "accidentally" too much money. They then ask you to deposit it in your bank and wire them back the amount that they overpaid, minus the fee that you can keep for the inconvenience. You go deposit the check, wire them the money and a couple days later find out that the check was bad. You have unfortunately paid them from your bank account by Western Union and its too late. I just had a woman come into our department a couple weeks ago (elderly) who was scammed out of $164,000 through a scam of this sort. Probably a large chunk of her life savings. Hope this explains the process these crooks will go through.
Brian
Brian E. Cosgrove
Member
Another variation - the "buyer" sends you a bank check for $1000 over your asking price. He says they already had it drafted and could you please wire them the difference. He says you can even keep another $100 for your trouble! You deposit the check, the bank credits your account, you wire the difference, then the check doesn't clear and the bank deducts your account. You're out the money you wired and you still have your jointer.
Member
Question for Brian - would the woman who lost $164,000 have her case investigated by the FBI and the villains found (if they were US based)?. I can see that if the scam netted say $500, and originated in say Oregon with the victim in Florida, it just wouldn't be a good use of resources. However, in this case, $164,000 is a LOT of money, with aggravating factors of her age (ie vulnerability) and the fact it's her life savings. I'm not asking you to comment on this particular case, which would obviously be subjudice, but in general, would affirmative action be taken on fraud of such a scale?
Oddly, I had an interest in a RAS on CL about 6 months ago, and they used a hearing impaired service. They jacked the price $100 in the call, saying they listed it incorrectly, and I just assumed it was a mistake and declined to pay the higher price. It didn't enter my mind it was a scam, I just assumed it was a deaf person that made a mistake. Every day a school day, it seems.
Member
If you will google certain phrases in the email, you will get lots of responses. I saw this (or similar) in CL ads where the buyer was offering an incredible deal (TGTBT) on a car. They ask for simialr info. It is the reverse of what you are seeing, but the same game. Only you lose money instead of a thing that you own.
Good for you for asking. What is amazing to me is that there is always poor grammar in these scams. Like Nigerian scam letters. I am guessing that these originate in non-english speaking countries.
Mike
Member
These guys are all correct. Another bit of advise: use a secondary (disposable) email address when using CL. Treat your email address as you would your cell phone #. I have a personal email I use when dealing with legit people and websites. I have a disposable email when dealing with possible shady types like CL ad responders. I use this email to reply to CL ads or to reply to responders to my ads. That way if someone is in fact a spammer, all the spam is sent to that address. When spam is so great I just delete that address and make up a new one. I keep spam down to a minimum with my personal email address. Don't post your phone number in your CL ad. You may start getting spam texts on your cell phone. My son downloaded a ring tone on my cell when he borrowed it and for a year got phone sex spam texts. They finally ended, thank God! Nowadays, you don't even want to tell people your name. Only give out your phone number to an ad responder when you know they are legit.
work with wood - not against it
Member
Mike, Unfortunately for the woman, the money was all wired domestically, but retrieved overseas instead. That's the problem with Western Union wire transfers. Once you provide them with the confirmation number of the transaction, the suspect can retrieve the money from ANYWHERE in the world, with 99% of the time, it being overseas. I have not seen it much lately, but the hot spot a couple years ago was Montreal Canada.
Brian
Brian E. Cosgrove
Contributor
I vote to string them along. Scam the scammer, but don't give any personal info or money (or tools) away.
Contributor
It's a scam.
Member
I sell things on CL pretty often and see scams like this a lot. I try to remove the motive for this type of activity by doing my part to make it un-profitable. I respond eagerly with an email from a throw-away account (gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc) and give them a bogus address to overnight the check to - to make it amusing I use a street name that no native english speaker would ever fall for - usually a combo of american slang & vulgarity that would be obvious to any fellow american as bogus but those scammers in Nigeria (or where ever) go for it every time. They spend real cash to create a phony check and pay to have it over-nighted but it can't be delivered. I then send them daily emails desperately asking about "my" check - I have even been able to have them send out more than one
Member
I've been looking at used boats on Craig's List. I found one advertised close to home for what was a good price, not a give away, but priced to sell. Anyway........ I Googled the e-mail address and found a post online where a guy in another state calmed he purchased a boat Via e-bay and seller (same e-mail) never shipped. Talk about getting yourself in a mess. I'm at the point if I go used will only buy from a dealer or someone I know personally.
But you never know...........I have a friend who sold a classic car on e-bay. A guy on the west coast wanted to buy it. Said he would send a check then have a trucking company pick it up. (Sound familiar ? ) My friend was nervous, this was a high $$$ car. He received the check and the guy said keep the car till your satisfied you have the money cash in hand. He cashed check, cleared the bank, held the car a month just to be sure. The guy hired a company to pick it up. said he loved the car and even has a video posted on youtube of his new car.
"Remember back in the day, when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work?"
- Rick Dale
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