Craigslist scammers - UGH!

[PepperElf]

Seems pretty legitimate. So I respond to say yes it is and to let them know when I would be available to complete the transaction.

FYI just be careful if you're doing the transaction at your home.

I haven't just heard rumors of "buyers" showing up and robbing the sellers - and then pointing out "i know where you live".... I actually KNOW someone who did that. Five times. I happened to find out when I was looking up information on my second ship and noticed a former shipmate's name and the prison sentence.


So if you're selling expensive stuff, please consider having a safe area to conduct the trade.

About a week after the yard sale was over I received a reply to the ad asking "Is this item still available?"

if not a scam then just really really bad timing.

[Dreamstalker]

I always meet buyers/sellers (even for a $10 widget) at a local coffee place where the employees know me. I don't advertise my computer services on CL anymore because nine times out of ten I need to have the unit here to fix it properly and I'm not letting Joe Random in the apartment (when I did advertise, I got a few 'can you unlock my computer/retrieve some data' emails that seemed fishy).

[Aethian]

The thing is, they had a California phone number and I am in Louisiana... >_<

I can actually see that being legit since I use a Lansing number in Kalamazoo and the boytoy uses his home state number in Vegas.

[csquared]

Or it could be a Google Voice number. If you are doing a lot on CL, I would strongly suggest getting one.

[Sapphire Silk]

And the few times I've had the "Whoops I sent $500 for a $50 item by mistake", I void that sucker and cut it into eight pieces. Then I email them a image of the voided and dismembered check and ask them to send me another one with the *correct* value.

Oh, now that's just too damn funny! Well pwned, sir!

I haven't just heard rumors of "buyers" showing up and robbing the sellers - and then pointing out "i know where you live".... I actually KNOW someone who did that. Five times. I happened to find out when I was looking up information on my second ship and noticed a former shipmate's name and the prison sentence.

So if you're selling expensive stuff, please consider having a safe area to conduct the trade.

Excellent advice, and normally my routine practice. Sometimes there are exceptions, though. Sometimes the buyer changes their mind after seeing the item (I've had that happen several times) or try to talk you down even more in the hope you won't want to lug it home (I've had that happen, too).

Large, heavy items I have them come to me. Did that today: finally sold the durned eilliptical. I could not have moved it myself (too large and heavy), and if I had managed it, the buyer would have refused to pay the agreed upon price (he tried to talk me down another $50 as it was; I refused, and he paid up).

I usually don't give out my address until the last minute, and I never let the buyer get between me and a route of escape. I haven't had anyone in my home that's made me uncomfortable, but you never know.

It usually is better to meet in a neutral place.

[EricKei]

...and discovered that she'd 'adopt' them from people just wanting good homes for their animals, then 'flip them' to double or triple her money. Rescuer flagged the scammer (Guess it's not illegal, just immoral) a

Check your local laws, or suggest that your friend do so. The people at the local animal shelter or SPCA might even know off the tops of their heads. If she "adopts" animals without cost, she could argue theft (and probably could anyway due to the cage thing); if she pays and resells animals she was supposed to just hang on to, my guess would be that it's fraud. More importantly, spread the word about what this woman does. She won't stop until she either gets into real trouble for it, or suddenly has no more customers.

[Andara Bledin]

Generally speaking, it would be theft by deception. Laws may vary, of course.

^-.-^

[MoonCat]

Re: meeting at a safe place....I recall an ad I took from a guy selling some kind of tickes...I can't remember what event they were for, but they were hard to get and expensive as hell....He put in the ad, "cash only, will meet at a police station of your choice."

I seem to remember a guy selling a pricey diamond ring doing the same thing.

[Shalom]

Can't sell animals on Craigslist.

10. Household pets of any kind including dogs, cats, primates, cage birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish. Re-homing with small adoption fee OK. Pet animal parts, blood, or fluids - including to stud/breeding service

You could probably get her shut down even without the theft charge.

[LillFilly]

Can't sell animals on Craigslist.

You could probably get her shut down even without the theft charge.

I suppose she was just upping the 'adoption fee' then in order to make more money; 60$ instead of 25$. All in the wording I suppose. I figure though, if people want the animals badly enough to pay what she wants and give them good homes, it's still a win for the animals. I think it would be hard to file any charges against her unless it was by the people she defrauded by re-selling animals they adopted to her. Probably too much trouble for the average person, but I'll look into it.

[veniteangeli]

I like the thing about not letting them get between you and a route of escape. It's not something I would have thought of on my own, but now that I AM thinking about it, it makes perfect sense, especially when I run it against all the TV and movies stockpiled in my head! Thanks for the tip!

[Seshat]

"Once the cheque clears, I'll send you the item and a cheque for the excess."

But if you choose that route, make absolutely certain the cheque has fully cleared - I've heard third-hand stories of banks letting you have the cash, then the cheque doesn't clear and they hit you with the cheque money & the dishonour fee.

[Gizmo]

"Once the cheque clears, I'll send you the item and a cheque for the excess."

But if you choose that route, make absolutely certain the cheque has fully cleared - I've heard third-hand stories of banks letting you have the cash, then the cheque doesn't clear and they hit you with the cheque money & the dishonour fee.

Yep. Banks will make it available to spend in 3-5 days. It can take 3-4 weeks for the cheque to work its way through the system to the 'issuing' bank and be refused. In the meantime the recipient has spent the funds.

In the UK the only way you can change this is with a "special clearance" and you will pay about £10 for it. Your bank will get the cheque, phone the other bank and say will you honour cheque X for £Y on account Blah? I believe then it is relatively safe and they may not even be able to go back on it and bounce the cheque.

[SailorMan]

I'm getting frustrated with Craigslist, too. I've been trying to sell an elliptical for two weeks. I've gotten lots of interest, but when I offer to let the buyer set up a time to look at the item, I get no response.

Hunnhh! I just tried to buy an elliptical from someone on craigslist this morning. It was listed today, and my first two calls went to voicemail. On my third call, I was told that someone was there at that very moment to pick it up!

Panacea, I doubt very much that your 'Arkham Assylum' is anywhere near the Hampton Roads area, or I'd make you an offer!

[Seraph]

I tend to really tick off the guys who do the response about "Oh I made money from HERE!"

See, I know that industry.

I get their affiliate ID from the webpage, track down the "offer" to the network, and report them for Craigslist spamming. Its actually against FCC rules to do stuff like this, so every time, they get dropped like a hot potato. And then lose ALL the money they're earned from the network.

...And then I reply to the scum, letting them know what I've done. Had two reply back with some rather vulgar replies, wishing me a very happy time in the Bad Burning Place Below.