So Tired Of Internet Scammers... Craigslist

[kdogg]

Hey all, just thought I would rant a little bit about the annoying problem of internet scammers that seem to be popping up everywhere. I have a bass head, which I listed here in the classifieds, but to get some added exposure, listed on the local craigslist too. I have now received, in just 1 day mind you, two of the following emails:

hello,
how are you doing today ? i am interested in the purchase of your instrument for sale. At the risk of sounding too rude i will be glad to know the last asking price. i want the instrument to be shipped from your destination to my home in florida by a shipping company that is reliable which i will provide.This is all you needed to do, payment will be made with a certified check and the check will bear the cost of the instrument plus shipping. Once you receive the check you will deduct the cost of the instrument and i will provide you with the shippers information to wire the remaining funds to via western union money transfer so that they can come and pickup the instrument right in your door step .The shipper will come to your destination and pickup the instrument without any stress and a pickup day and time will be scheduled after you receive my payment.
Provide me with the following information:
1. I Need The full name to issue payment;
2. Full Address:
3. city, state , zipcode
4.Your contact phone number.
I will be waiting to hear from you as soon as possible.

I am so tired of this kind of garbage! I know I shouldn't let it bother me, but between craigslist and ebay, it seems you can't buy or sell without some scammer trying to get over on you.

What this idiot could hope to accomplish with information readily available online, or in a phone book, I don't know. But give us all a break already! I love how he asks me to transfer money, via western union, to his "reliable shipping company". In other words, his buddy who will be sitting pretty with the money while their bogus check bounces, leaving you out all of the funds. What a joke!

The email I received previous to this one actually asked me to remove my post from craigslist to avoid "disturbance", and consider the item sold. Okay, yeah right buddy. I actually laughed when I read that one.

On a positive note, it does make you appreciate the classifieds here at talkbass.

Sorry for the rant. Just had to get that off my chest... I feel better now.

[BillyRay]

I'd be willing to buy your item. PM me for details. I'll send you a check for shipping and the cost of the item and you will deduct the actual cost and send me the balance.

Consider the item sold.

[kdogg]

Originally Posted by BillyRay

I'd be willing to buy your item. PM me for details. I'll send you a check for shipping and the cost of the item and you will deduct the actual cost and send me the balance.

Consider the item sold.

Done! I'll just need you to wire the money, via western union, to my broker in Nigeria.

[NickInMesa]

Yeah they did that with cars and motorcycles. Each time I sold a bike (except for the last one, they probably realized they were beating a dead horse by now), I would get the same email.

I would play with them and ask all sorts of stupid questions, or asking road-related questions for dirt bikes and vice-versa.

The trick is for you to cash the check, but because it takes days for the funds to be really available, the bank may show a balance that's not accurate.

My bank (chase) now has two balances: if I put checks it, it will show a balance without the check amount and one with, until the check clears.

[ehque]

String them on if you can. The more time you make each scammer waste, the more likely they will go out and find a real job.