Sounds Fishy to Me. CraigsList Scam 101.

[DeanT]

I'm selling my B.C. Rich Warlock and placed an ad on CraigsList. After having the listing up about 5 minutes, I get an email from "Jeff" stating: "Am interested in your ad on CL, still avail for sale?"

So I email back that yes it's still for sale and if interested let me know and I'll let him know how to contact me.

The next day I get this email from "Jeff":
"Hello,
Thanks for your prompt reply, I am very much interested in buying your item and i am ok with the price. Hope you dont mind making payment by money order at this time b/c i am away on assignment and wont be available to come have a good look at the items in person, Pls send me more pics of the item if available, but i really hope its in good condition as you have stated in your posting, Please provide me with your name , address and phone number for payment. It will take about 5days for payment to get to you, and as per pick-up, I will make arrangement for the pick-up within 2 business days after payment has been received by you. I don't mind adding twenty dollars so you can keep it in my favor.Please take the posting off craigslist today and consider it sold to me. Thanks
Expecting to hear from you soon.
Regards
Jeff."

This screams scam to me.

First thing that sticks out is that he never once mentions bass, or BC Rich, or warlock, nothing. Just the "item." The next thing is that he's "on assignment" and can only pay by money order. The third thing--and the clincher-- is he's willing to pay an extra $20 for me to hold the "item" for him.

So I email him back and told him I only take PayPal or cash. I doubt he'll want to pay by PayPal. He'll probably say since he's on "assignment" he can't access PayPal.

Take heed newbies, this is Classic CraigsList Scam 101.

[bongomania]

"Sounds fishy"? As you later say, this is a classic scam--it's the number 1 scam every CL seller encounters.

In case you were just looking for confirmation, yes that is a scam; and it probably wasn't even generated by a person, but by a 'bot that just auto-responds to thousands of CL posts at a time.

It's "fishy" in the same way that robbing a bank or mugging an old lady is "fishy".

[DeanT]

"Fishy" as in not legit.

I just thought I post this in case anyone out there got something similar and expects the sale to go through without the check bouncing.

[sonic assassin]

scam. ive got that email 5 times

[crow01]

Scam

I got an email like that once. Some guy asking too much info.

Also the typical email of i will send you a money order with 3 times the value of what I am selling.

Scam artists, they are experts on tricking people.

[baba]

I get that email, or one very similar asking if the "item" is still for sale, at least twice on EVERY item I post on Craigslist. *delete*

[wld3]

I would post a comment on this subject but I am too busy with my efforts to help a Nigerian price right now.