Recognizing A Scam

[Mark Page]

This guy wants to sell this Bobcat and accessories for $5,700 on Craig's list. No one in their right mind sells $40,000 worth of equipment for $5,000. Just for fun I told him I'd take it. I asked where in Baltimore could I take quick look and pay him cash for the machine. Oh, suddenly the machine is in ND and if I will use Amazon's escrow system he'd get it crated up. Shipping was included, so he didn't know where it was shipping to.
In my 3rd email I called his bluff, haven't heard from him since.
Proof positive that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
If he had put a somewhat reasonable price on it some sap may have gone for it.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tid/2876750319.html

 

[TrenaryDucks]

I always get a kick out of those ads. If you google parts of the description, you can see where there are other postings for the same item.

 

[Mousefield]

We get those scam spam posting up our way as well.
Interesting most are $13,000. :laughing::laughing::laughing: :mur: :smiley_aafz:
This is for motor homes, boats, tractors, heavy equipment, all kinds of stuff that should be selling in the $30,000 - $80,000. range.

 

[miramadar]

We get tons of them here...mostly for Acura or Honda cars. I've emailed them back and forth a few times just for kicks. They must make money at it though...they keep doing it. It's just aggravating to have to weed through all of that.

 

[nybirdman]

Don't resond to these ads,they are looking to harvest your e-mail account.

 

[creekbend]

Some of the reasons there are so many Scams, are that most people are honest and they don't expect the other party to be dishonest or conniving. Also the majority of buyers are searching for a good deal, thus laying the groundwork for scammers to entice and catch the buyer's attention. Three quotes come into mind: "If it sounds too good to be true; then it probably isn't". "There's a Sucker born ever minute". "Buyer beware".

 

[Mark Page]

How does he get the escrow service to release the money to him without the buyer's permission? I must be naive.

 

[MasseyWV]

Scams are so common because there is always someone who is going to be stupid enough to fall for them and the scamers know it. My policy is simple: Trust noone!

 

[dodge man]

I like the ads that say "Peoria Illinois" and in the photo, you see palm trees in the background.

 

[aczlan]

How does he get the escrow service to release the money to him without the buyer's permission? I must be naive.

The escrow service is fake... They pass the money right to the seller.

Aaron Z

 

[kebo]

One thing you can do is copy the title of the ad, or some part of the body of the post and Google it. Usually the SAME ad will pop up on Craigslist in a number of other cities. Proof positive it is a scam. Flag it and move on to the next one!!! I really like CL, but hate the A-hole's that want to screw it up for all the rest of us honest folks.

 

[PILOON]

If the phone # is listed, I do a 411 search to confirm it is real and usually even get the seller's name and address.
Google map also shows me where he is located which should agree with the phone listing.
First sign of possible scam is Email addy ONLY and usually it will be a google type email. or hotmail.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I usually just browse on Craigslist. The only time I will buy if the seller lives close and has listed their phone number, otherwise I go on about my business. You just have to remember, you can and want to find a good deal but common sense goes a long way.

 

[Catfish Man]

If the phone # is listed, I do a 411 search to confirm it is real and usually even get the seller's name and address.
Google map also shows me where he is located which should agree with the phone listing.
First sign of possible scam is Email addy ONLY and usually it will be a google type email. or hotmail.

If you do that with me, you would assume I'm a scammer. I'm still using a cell phone with a number from Mississippi, but I'm in West Virginia now.

 

[aczlan]

First sign of possible scam is Email addy ONLY and usually it will be a google type email. or hotmail.

You would probbaly think my ads are fake then... I use Gmail and dont generally give out a phone number until I have one from the other person...
Most of the scams I see are from Hotmail or Yahoo addresses.

Aaron Z