Craig's list scam???

Stonecove

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Location
Lenawee County, Michigan
I listed an item for sale on Craig's list on Sunday. Within minutes I received an email stating the following:
"I will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check. Full name, address and phone number"
I responded with:
" I’d be glad to provide name & address & phone number if you do so first. Then I’ll call you with contact information."
He then responded:
"I am presently on a mission and we are not allow to make call for security reason.The only means of communication we have is via the internet and its been monitored. I don't want our transaction to be delayed till then cause i don't want to loose the item that why i will ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed."
Today I responded with:
"If you are concerned that this email is being monitored, just have your secretary send me an email with your name and address and her phone number."
I don't know what it is that made me nervous maybe the broken English, but something just doesn't smell right. It will be interesting to see if he sends his secretary an email or if he tells me his secretary is on vacation bla bla. Anyway what do you think. The information he asked for is needed for him to write me a check, but I smell a rat. What can he do with my name address and phone number that he could get from a phone book??? Am I being paranoid for a good reason?
Thanks,
Stonecove
 
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If he can't call then why in the world would he need your phone number.
I still write checks every month. None have the recipient's phone number on them.

Something's not right here.

When I sell something like a car, truck, or motorcycle I want cash money in my hand before anyone drives away in or on my vehicle.
 
I listed an item for sale on Craig's list on Sunday. Within minutes I received an email stating the following:
"I will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check. Full name, address and phone number"
I responded with:
" I’d be glad to provide name & address & phone number if you do so first. Then I’ll call you with contact information."
He then responded:
"I am presently on a mission and we are not allow to make call for security reason.The only means of communication we have is via the internet and its been monitored. I don't want our transaction to be delayed till then cause i don't want to loose the item that why i will ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed."
Today I responded with:
"If you are concerned that this email is being monitored, just have your secretary send me an email with your name and address and her phone number."
I don't know what it is that made me nervous maybe the broken English, but something just doesn't smell right. It will be interesting to see if he sends his secretary an email or if he tells me his secretary is on vacation bla bla. Anyway what do you think. The information he asked for is needed for him to write me a check, but I smell a rat. What can he do with my name address and phone number that he could get from a phone book??? Am I being paranoid for a good reason?
Thanks,
Stonecove

Stonecove,

It sounds like you were being set up for identity theft, or a burglary, or worse. I would suggest not responding to any further communications from this person. Remember: If it doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.
 
I buy and sell a lot on Craigslist. This is a very common Phishing scam it is designed to get you to respond via e-mail, once you respond they have your personel e-mail. The key to Craigslist is to be able to recognize the little traps and pitfalls.
When you get a response to an add via e-mail read it very carefully if it is very generalized and does not refer to your item specifically, delete it you are not missing a potential sale you are protecting yourself.
Another common scam is these people will place adds for popular items at to good to be true prices. Like a Harley for $1000 there will be no contact info so you will have to e-mail them as soon as you do Bam they have your e-mail.
When I use Craigslist I have a separate E-mail account. Like a yahoo or g-mail that I just use for craigslist.
Craigslist is a great resource just be wary and careful when you use it.
 
It's a scam...do not respond to this and delete any electronic correspondence asap.
 
If it works like all the others I've heard of, the purchase check will be a cashier's check greater than the purchase price, and they want you to give change. They usually offer to pay more than you listed the item for, because of the extra trouble you are having to go through. Your bank finally finds out, a month or so down the line, that the cashier's check is fake, and pull money out of your account to cover it. You lose the item. You lose the change. And, if you are like many in this economy, and are living paycheck-to-paycheck, you end up with a negative balance in your account which leads to bounced checks, hard feelings and NSF fees.

Do not respond to him any more, and sell it to someone that shows up at your house with dollar bills.
 
I listed an item for sale on Craig's list on Sunday. Within minutes I received an email stating the following:
"I will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to meet up with the cash and local pick up.I will have my mover to come for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed..I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check. Full name, address and phone number"
I responded with:
" I’d be glad to provide name & address & phone number if you do so first. Then I’ll call you with contact information."
He then responded:
"I am presently on a mission and we are not allow to make call for security reason.The only means of communication we have is via the internet and its been monitored. I don't want our transaction to be delayed till then cause i don't want to loose the item that why i will ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed."
Today I responded with:
"If you are concerned that this email is being monitored, just have your secretary send me an email with your name and address and her phone number."
I don't know what it is that made me nervous maybe the broken English, but something just doesn't smell right. It will be interesting to see if he sends his secretary an email or if he tells me his secretary is on vacation bla bla. Anyway what do you think. The information he asked for is needed for him to write me a check, but I smell a rat. What can he do with my name address and phone number that he could get from a phone book??? Am I being paranoid for a good reason?
Thanks,
Stonecove

I had nearly the same type of scam tried on me on Craig's List, they say they are in the military and cannot due this or that and they need you to etc. They sent me a counterfeit bank check, my bank said had I cashed it, I would have had many problems. These type of requests are nearly always scams.
 
You might be the most safe if you just burn that computer and buy a new one. I only use Craigslist for local face to face in daylight and in public places now. And I'm usually armed when I get there. I don't allow anyone to come to my house, I prefer the mall parking lot or similar.
 
You might be the most safe if you just burn that computer and buy a new one. I only use Craigslist for local face to face in daylight and in public places now. And I'm usually armed when I get there. I don't allow anyone to come to my house, I prefer the mall parking lot or similar.

USUALLY armed ??? shame on you!! I am always armed when conducting a cash transaction of any kind.
 
...................................................I don't allow anyone to come to my house, I prefer the mall parking lot or similar.
That's my feeling! I would never agree to meet someone at my house for a Craig's list sale. I've met people on a public parking lot convenient to both of us and "transacted business" without a problem.
 
Well, they're just wrapping the last of a series of trials for the "Craigslist Murder" here in our area. Several people went to a person's residence to "purchase" a piece of jewelry listed on Craigslist. The owner's husband was shot in the robbery attempt. I would never sell other than cash/FTF, and will not let people come to my home. The email you received is most certainly a scam - of which there are certainly plenty.....
 
Well, they're just wrapping the last of a series of trials for the "Craigslist Murder" here in our area. Several people went to a person's residence to "purchase" a piece of jewelry listed on Craigslist. The owner's husband was shot in the robbery attempt. I would never sell other than cash/FTF, and will not let people come to my home. The email you received is most certainly a scam - of which there are certainly plenty.....

...one other thing I forgot to mention: I tried Craig's List using email as a contact - BIG MISTAKE! I got more spam than even I could imagine. Listing a phone number as a contact is the only way to go and, if I can't do that, I don't do it.
 
USUALLY armed ??? shame on you!! I am always armed when conducting a cash transaction of any kind.

That is a darn good point...

That's my feeling! I would never agree to meet someone at my house for a Craig's list sale. I've met people on a public parking lot convenient to both of us and "transacted business" without a problem.

I see no need to worry about someone buying something just to "case the joint" or worse. That and anything that isn't bolted down can be pickpocketed by some people.

I will add to this that I drove away from one guy I was going to buy brass from since he had two other guys with him. They could have been his buddies about to go to the range with him, his brothers there to protect him, or anything. I just see no need to blindly trust strangers. I drove home and sent him a message stating as much. We just canceled the whole deal.
 
Thanks guys, I guess I was not just being paranoid. Interestingly he responded with the following:
"I am presently on a mission and we are not allow to make call for security reason.The only means of communication we have is via the internet and its been monitored. I dont want our transaction to be delayed till then cause i dont want to loose the item thats why i will ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed."
It's basically what he said before. I'll report him to Craigs list and delete all correspondance.
Thanks again!!!!!!!
Stonecove
 
9 ou of 10 Craigs list for sale item I have posted have resulted in that very same responce. I would think CL would have a way of just filtering those into the trash... But I suppose someone would sue to keep it related to free speach or something like that.
 
I would completely cease all contact with that party. And thanks for informing us as well.
 
I dont want our transaction to be delayed till then cause i dont want to loose the item thats why i will ask the secretary to issue the check for you then my mover will come pick it up as soon as the check cleared and cashed.

It's a scam. It is difficult to believe that anybody would be taken by this, but I have some friends who sold a mattress set and got taken by this. My respect for their basic sense took a serious hit.

If you want to mess with him, tell him that you have multiple items for sale and to clarify the item in which he is interested. Might be fun.

Another Craigslist scam occurs with cars. Somebody posts a vehicle whose price is lower than all others for that vehicle/mileage combination, and never in your area. It's not so low that it's obviously fake, but enough so that you think "Now THAT'S the bargain I seek!" The price is also low enough that you'd be willing to make a trip to fetch it. When you send an inquiry, you get back this bizarre response that says something like "You will inspect the vehicle before taking delivery, and if you don't like it, the transaction will be rescinded." They then explain that all you have to do is mail the money, and then come see the vehicle.

Scam, scam, scam, scam. This scam must be working because I've seen it for every conceivable make and model on Craigslist.

My wife told me last night of an acquaintance who got taken by a fake would-be lover on an internet dating site. She sent $15,000 to... Nigeria! Hahahahahahahahahaha. It boggles the mind that people can be so gullible. I guess they are.
 
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It's a scam. It is difficult to believe that anybody would be taken by this, but I have some friends who sold a mattress set and got taken by this. M...............................
Scam, scam, scam, scam. This scam must be working because I've seen it for every conceivable make and model on Craigslist.
I'll guarantee you it's working or it would disappear. Think about it. If they "hit up" 100 people and 3 or four fall for it it's a success. What are they out but an email and a little time and they probably send these out (in some automated fashion) by the thousands. They (evidently) don't have anything else to do anyway. :roll:
 
I have a few things from Craigs list and I always meet the seller at our civic center, outside the door to our Police Dept,haven't had a problem yet.
 

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