Craigs List scam?

admin

A few days ago I listed  a welder I want to sell on Craigs List. The next day I received two short emails from separate people asking if the welder is still available. I replied yes. Both guys replied back, stating they are buying my welder, please remove my add from CL and they would send me a check. Both request my full name, home address, phone and cell phone. Both are similar. Has anyone else heard of this?.. I will try to attach one. Hello,Thank for the swift response to my mail,as the item is stillavailable, I will instruct my secretary to process a check to coverthe cost of my purchase as am completely satisfied with the advert.Iwill need the details of whom & where to mail the draft.It will bedelivered by the United Parcel Service within 2-3 days.Please note'United Parcel Service' do not deliver to P.O.Box addresses.1.Name to be on the check2.Home address3.Mobile #Kindly delete the advert on Craig List as am totally committed tobuying from you to save me cost, My mover will be coming over for thepick up right only after the payment as been delivered and I want youto understand that, I would have love to call but am a deaf and onlyuses a hearing-im paired phone relay, So please send me an email only.Regards. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Here is the second e-mail I received....I'm serious about buying from you, so i want you to take the Ad offCraigslist.I live in South Dakota ,i know you will be surprised that iam looking outside.Out here i couldn't find good ones cos they livean old school life here ,let me say it's a laid back place.I am heredue to my work ,i should have brought the one that i was using in Newyork but i thought i would find a better one thats why i sold it.Iwill mail you a check as my mode of payment,and as soon as you cash iti will get movers to come move it from your door down to mine.Get meyour full name and address with your both cell phone number and landphone number(s) so as to send the check out..I hope to doing businesswith you.Regards,Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Yes, this is a scam. Tell them cash only in US currency and you will never hear from them again,  or be prepared to start getting a flood of scam emails, now that they have you email address. When I use Craigslist it is only for face to face transactions.
Reply:Yes, definately a scam.  I get those all the time.  Ignore them.  If you reply, they only send you more scam emails.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I have a wanted ad in my local area for a miller welder that I'm wanting to buy and I have my ad worded that I only do local and I have to personally go and inspect it before deciding to buy(craigslist). Most of the responses are crap that have nothing to do with my ad.Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:Talk about scary Craigslist transactions...This spring I sold my boat for $20k to a guy from San Diego, but I live in central TX !!!  I sent lots of pictures.  He said his friend has the exact same boat and he wanted one and mine was the closest one at a reasonable price.  He flew into town on a one-way ticket, took a quick glance at the boat (never even fired up the outboard), we went to a branch office of his bank and I watched them draw up the cashiers check, then he rented a truck and towed that thing all the way back to San Diego (well, actually his weekend place in Yuma AZ, a mere 1200 miles)MillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Man that's wild.Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:like what frieed's transactions,I sold a car on the AutoTrader for a family member earlier this year.  the buyer called me up and asked for lots of pictures, etc.  I took pis of everything....both the good and the bad.  He offered within $500 of the asking price ($6900) , and had a truck transporter sent down from Wisconsin to Florida to pick up the car.  Funds were wired in and verified and the car was picked up by the transporter.It was wierd, but the buyer loved the car. I was suspicious of the transactions, but it was totally clean!  the buyer even sent me pics of the car after he had the front and rear bumper repainted and put some new wheels on.  Everyone was happy.
Reply:Take heart guys.  There are still people out there with wants and the resources to fulfill them.  Oddly enough in this economy, they aren't wringing every last penny to have what they want.While most of us are watching our spending and cutting back to just necessities, there are people who don't have to.The scammers take advantage of this, but we just have to be cautious.  Don't let them scare you out of a good deal but keep both eyes open.
Reply:I've had several ads on CL.  Every time I've had responses from out of state, even though the ad stated clearly "No out of state sales, local only.  No checks, M.O. or credit cards.........cash only".Idiots like to scam people.  If someone were to come to Yuma to purchase one of the items I had for sale, had cash (or went to the bank for the money), I would sell it to them.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Its easy enough to spot the PHISHING emails, they always refer to what ever it is you are selling as an "item" never mentioning what it is, and want to send you a check, usually wanting you to cash it and then send the over amount to some shipping company that they mention and in some they try to dictate the specifics of the transaction and request way to much info.Better to just delete them!I personally get tired of all the "BULL" emails that have nothing to do with what you advertised, like those that say, "I was in your situation, and here is a link to something that helped me"GRRR!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetallike what frieed's transactions,I sold a car on the AutoTrader for a family member earlier this year.  the buyer called me up and asked for lots of pictures, etc.  I took pis of everything....both the good and the bad.  He offered within $500 of the asking price ($6900) , and had a truck transporter sent down from Wisconsin to Florida to pick up the car.  Funds were wired in and verified and the car was picked up by the transporter.It was wierd, but the buyer loved the car. I was suspicious of the transactions, but it was totally clean!  the buyer even sent me pics of the car after he had the front and rear bumper repainted and put some new wheels on.  Everyone was happy.
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetalthe buyer even sent me pics of the car after he had the front and rear bumper repainted and put some new wheels on.  Everyone was happy.
Reply:I got almost the same email on my 20 Schwinn bikes i have for sale,,,BobThanks.     How are you today?Thanks for your willingness to sell the items to me.As i promised you the check will be issued out to you soonest.I also like to inform you that i included the moving fund along with your check so i want you to look forward to received the check okay...and i want you to take the advert  from Craigslist immendately. I will get back to you with the tracking details of the package.     Best Regards.     Thanks and God bless.Hello,      Thanks for the quick response...I will like to make anoutright purchase of the item, so i will like to proceed ininstructing my bank to issue out a certified check to you and upon theconfirmation and clearance of payment my shipper will come for thepick-up at your location. So get back to me with your full name,address, zip code and phone number  ...  so that payment  can be mailout asap. let me read from you today.ThanksBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:It is usually easy to spot the scams. They just look weird. With that said, whenever I go out of town I usually look at craigslist for a few day before I go and the whole time I am there looking for things that I want. Some people react strangely to an email saying that I will be in town in a couple of days and would like to arrange a time to look at it. But hey, what else are you supposed to do on vacation but go insane.Miller millermatic 251Miller aircrafter 330st, wp201961 Lincoln SA200Ellis 1600 bandsawLogan 820 latheSouth Bend 13"Bridgeport M Head
Reply:Well i went thru all the "instructions" from the buyer and got a 3,000.00 dollar check today. Of course it was bad written on a stolen bank acct. The UPS next day letter was stolen also. My local PD gave me a letter to send the buyer saying he has 10 days to make it good or bla bla bla. I sent the letter and don't expect anything back from him but there is enough names and address on all the crap i got maybe someone can follow along...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:I listed a car on craigslist and regretfully list my phone number...You will never believe how many calls I got from people offering to help me sell my car! I never responded either. I've bought tools from all over the country from craigslist and fleebay. So far (knock on wood) every transaction has been flawless. There are still honest people out there. You just have to watch very closely.
Reply:The sad thing is, I have not received any legitimate inquires about the machine I have for sale.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Wagin:what are you selling?Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:I bought a spoolmatic 1 gun from a fellow lived outside of houston,texas.Googled craigslist for same and his ad came up.The price was great so i called long distance and made the deal,paid him with paypal and included the paypal fee that they snag .Received it about three weeks later(customs had to take a peek)The gun was perfect and we were happy campers.The guy called me about a month after i bought it to see that it had arrived.There are good people out there you just have to be carefulFelonLast edited by Felonyass Monk; 11-18-2009 at 10:53 AM.Caution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:There are a couple of keys you can look for in detecting scams.  Some have been mentioned.1.  Their English is bad, or at least strange.2.  They seldom refer specifically to what you are selling, but refer to "the item" or similar terminology3.  They tend to intimate that they are wealthy, such as mentioning that they will "order their banker to..." or "instruct their financial institution to...", or "instruct their secretary to..."4.  They tell you not to ship until you have received their check.  They never offer to pay by Paypal, by credit card, or by money order.5.  They always request very specific personal information and seldom provide personal contact information for themselves.6.  If you respond to them and start to go forward with a transaction, they may tell you they are sending a check for above the amount and ask you to cash the check and return to them what remains after shipping costs.  It may be hundreds or even thousands above the amount.  They may even begin to tell you a long, sorry story about how they need your help in getting their funds out of their country, due to legal entanglements with their corrupt government, etc. (this one has been active for nearly 20 years out of Nigeria).The above are not all-inclusive, just some I have seen as an investigator. The first two are the most obvious hints.If you are suspicious of a responder, but elect to go ahead with a transaction, be smart and do not ship until after the check is deposited AND AFTER IT HAS CLEARED!!!!!  Clearing normally takes at least one week.  I would tell the buyer the item will be shipped no sooner than two weeks after the check is received.  One major scam recently being perpetrated is where they send you a large check and ask you to deposit it and keep 1/2 and send  them 1/2.  The victim (if you want to call them that) gets stuck for the full amount once the bank's clearing house returns the bad check two weeks later.Still, there are honest folks out there just trying to do the right thing.  If someone is trying to give you something for nothing, or if you are asked to pay a fee in order to receive your "winnings", beware.  Greed will get you every time.Last edited by thenrie; 11-22-2009 at 02:23 PM.
Reply:It's unfortunate that the scammers ruin it for a lot of people, but be careful not to lose out on a legitimate sale.I live in Canada, I have bought a few things from folks in the states for many thousands of dollars, on occasion, I take my time and let things work through the process so that the seller is comfortable.My sister and brother-in-law regularly buy vehicles in Florida and bring them back for personal use and for sale, seems to work out ok for all parties involved.Not everyone is a crook, and not everyone lives near you.Regards to all.Working on cars and bikes is my hobby, learning to weld the pieces together is my quest.