Craigslist Scam! When it seems to good to be true...............it probably is.

[Aaron L]

A fantastic deal showed up in my local CL listings. A 1990 Ford 3910 with an FEL in excellent shape for $1500? No freakin' way! Smelled like a scam. I emailed the seller and got a response. I then did some searching to see if I could find a CL/eBay/Tractorhouse/etc listing with the same pics and/or description. My google-fu was strong (for once) and I got my answer. Looks like I'm not bringing home a deal-of-the-century Ford this weekend after all...

:thumbdown:


Here's the CL listing:


Hydraulic 199 Manual Ford & LqT8H



Here's the email response I got from the scammer. It also contained nine of the pictures that are in the original eBay listing:

Hi,

My name is Kellie, and I'm emailing you about 1990 Ford 3910 Tractor 2WD with only 1439 Hours, 3 Cylinder, Diesel Engine. Never had or need any paint/body work done, garaged keep always, without any mechanical problems, tires and wheels are in great shape as well, electric is working perfectly. The 50 HP engine runs very good. This tractor has been used by my husband who died 4 month ago. The price was reduced at $1,500 (price firm) because I'm in a hurry to find a buyer. I need to sell the tractor before the end of the month, when I will be leaving on military duty with my medical team out of the country for a year and do not want to store it. Hate to sell it but its not worth keeping insurance and paying storage fees for a year.

Regards,

Kellie Bennett

Recent original eBay ad that the scammer(s) pirated the pictures and description from. Wasn't hard for me to find it, as they kept the original odd number tractor hours count (1439) instead of coming up with a new one or rounding up (say 1440 or 1500). I did a google search for "Ford 3910 2WD 1439 hours" and came up with this:

FORD 391 with 729 Loader..Barn find!!!.1439 original hours | eBay

1990 Ford 3910 2 wheel drive tractor with 7209 front end loader....one of the last 3910's made..manual 2 range transmission, 8fwd,2rev..rear tires are loaded..You have to see this tractor to believe it..It is in absolute incredible condition...One owner tractor, always stored inside...all original condition, hasn't been messed with at all....all paint and decals are original....comes with original owners manuals for tractor and loader...I have more photos available...tractor starts, runs, drives just as it should..everything is tight, steering, loader, brakes, pto, 3 point hitch, all work as they should...no issues, no drips or leaks,,,,really nice, clean, beautiful tractor..

I'm curious to see what their next email will be. Directions to send money via Western Union? Directions to a remote place where they can rob me of my $1500? Who knows.....

 

[CalG]

tell them there is cash bonus waiting when the driver shows up with the tractor Off the bed and in the yard!

 

[japody]

First clue that it's a scam is that the email address is always a gmail account. They cannot be traced.

 

[Aaron L]

tell them there is cash bonus waiting when the driver shows up with the tractor Off the bed and in the yard!

Ha! That's a good one.

 

[Aaron L]

First clue that it's a scam is that the email address is always a gmail account. They cannot be traced.

Yeppers. That was one of the many red flags. The tiny pic in the CL listing and the funky title were also flags....

Looks like I got a response from the 'seller'. Will go read it and get back to you folks....

 

[Aaron L]

It's getting better.....

Hi again,

Right now I'm in a military base. We are training, getting ready for leaving the country. The delivery process will be managed by me. I think I can have it there at your home address within 3 working days. It will come with a clear title and reg. I am a member of the eBay buyer protection program and using this service you will get a 5 days testing period after delivery. During that 5 days testing period I will not be getting any money. I need to know if you are interested so I can ask eBay to send you the details on this deal. If interested just email with your legal name (your right full name 'cause it will appear on the papers), full postal address where you want the tractor delivered and your cell phone # where you can be reached so we can get the ball rolling

This is in response to my second email asking where the tractor is located. "In a military base"??? They have no way of knowing where I live. I could be in Hawaii. Gonna get the tractor there in three working days eh?


Hmmm.......

 

[Cataclysm]

Obviously their trying to steal you I.D.

Play them hard and waste their time. Turn the tables on them by saying your going to check shipping prices and you need their information and the location of the tractor, you know, to "get the ball rolling". Oh, a phone number would help facilitate.....

Ask for a copy of the current "clear title and reg" for your bank. Request their account numbers so you can deposit payment directly into their bank.

Might be good for a laugh or two.

 

[Aaron L]

I emailed again stating that I needed the location of the tractor for shipping costs, and because I wanted to examine it before purchase. Haven't heard back.....


Kinda feel dumb for giving my email address and cell # to them in the first place (when I sent my original email response to the CL ad) when it was obviously a scam. Guess they can't do too much with that info other than provide it to spammers and such. My email address, name, and cell # are already out there anyways. My cheapness/desire for a good deal clouded my judgement.....

 

[CalG]

I emailed again stating that I needed the location of the tractor for shipping costs, and because I wanted to examine it before purchase. Haven't heard back.....


Kinda feel dumb for giving my email address and cell # to them in the first place (when I sent my original email response to the CL ad) when it was obviously a scam. Guess they can't do too much with that info other than provide it to spammers and such. My email address, name, and cell # are already out there anyways. My cheapness/desire for a good deal clouded my judgement.....

Your valid phone number was good for 75cents to the phone scammers that just want to record you saying "YES" When asked if you want to speak to someone regarding a warrantee.

 

[coldsteelva]

How many jurisdictions actually title and/or register tractors?

 

[TheMan419]

If you enjoy screwing with these scammers go to 419 Eater - The largest scambaiting community on the planet! They are a whole community related to what is called baiting the scammer. Usually you set up a fake email address and use a google voice number as your phone number if they request it. That way it is not as easy to trace to you in real life.

 

[dodge man]

No paint or body work? Clear title? There to lazy to even type something up for a tractor, they just cut and paste the info from a car they were trying to scam.

 

[Aaron L]

How many jurisdictions actually title and/or register tractors?

Good question. The scammer probably just uses that bit (title and reg) in all their fraudulent auto/motorcycle/boat/etc listings.

 

[Aaron L]

If you enjoy screwing with these scammers go to 419 Eater - The largest scambaiting community on the planet! They are a whole community related to what is called baiting the scammer. Usually you set up a fake email address and use a google voice number as your phone number if they request it. That way it is not as easy to trace to you in real life.

I've read some of their exploits, the 'Nigerian' scams in particular. Funny stuff.

 

[Aaron L]

No paint or body work? Clear title? There to lazy to even type something up for a tractor, they just cut and paste the info from a car they were trying to scam.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have hundreds of those scam listings going at any given time. Probably don't take more than a few minutes to set up each one. English probably isn't their native language, and they probably have a very limited knowledge of American customs and such. When they write their own descriptions and such they often give themselves away (like with the title/reg bit and the name "Kellie" instead of Kelly). Easier and quicker just to cut and paste.

 

[otlski]

Craigslist scam checklist

contact info is embedded as part of the picture
gmail account
woman's name as the main contact - us men must be suckers
tItle de$cr1ption uses non $tandard *****characters to f00l CL $pam deTector
the story has a military slant
person is in a hurry
the price is too good to be true > most important
they frequently do not have a map
the picture does not make sense... ie. the trees in the picture doesn't match the area where the item is supposedly located. like palm trees in upper Michigan

 

[fried1765]

How many jurisdictions actually title and/or register tractors?

Canada does!

 

[fried1765]

I emailed again stating that I needed the location of the tractor for shipping costs, and because I wanted to examine it before purchase. Haven't heard back.....


Kinda feel dumb for giving my email address and cell # to them in the first place (when I sent my original email response to the CL ad) when it was obviously a scam. Guess they can't do too much with that info other than provide it to spammers and such. My email address, name, and cell # are already out there anyways. My cheapness/desire for a good deal clouded my judgement.....

I played with this exact same scammer (same Ford 3910) several months ago.
I asked where I could look at it, but did not get an answer to that specific question.....just more BS.
The scammer finally told me the 3910 was already loaded on a trailer in Omaha, for delivery to me.
I responded that my brother (I have no brother) lives in Omaha, and he could go look at it for me.
Never heard from the scammer again!

 

[Clint S]

Same add is on our local CL.

 

[Aaron L]

Think this is another one. They've left out most of the usual red flags...........but not all of them.

Selling a good condition1991 Ford 771 II


Has the usual tiny and grainy picture and "too good to pass up" price. Also has a funky title. Phone number area code in in Long Beach California (this is listed in NorCal, several hundred miles from Long Beach). The number didn't go through when I tried calling it from work (unlisted number with caller ID block) either. The description is also cut/pasted straight out of another current CL ad (that looks to be legit) in my area.

Selling a good condition ford tractor with 62h.p.,come with frontloader and box scraper.
Brand new front tires, forward / reverse power shift. (562) 352-9671

Here's the (most likely legit ad that they cut/pasted the description from:

Ford 191 tractor 4x4

Selling a good condition ford tractor with 32h.p.,come with frontloader and box scraper.
Brand new front tires, forward / reverse power shift.

After cutting/pasting the description from the legit ad, they changed the HP from 32 (that is right for the 1910 in the 'text donor' ad) to 62 (still wrong, as a 7710 has 97 HP).