Dont use craigslist if you think everyone's a scammer

SMILEYSIXX · #1 05-02-2011, 01:15 PM

There's a guy in my area that showed up on my Craigslist notifications as selling a bass and I've tried contacting him about buying the bass. After I send him you standard "I saw this bass and I'm interested" message, this is the response I get.

"Dude, if you're gonna ****ing scam me, at least make it look real."

I'm a tad flabbergasted by this response so tell him I'm not trying to scam him or anything.

"Yeah right, I'm really trying to sell this bass and you ****ing scammers are clogging up my inbox. I'm forwarding your e-mails to my spam folder."

Moral: Don't use CL if you're paranoid that everyone's a scammer.

carl h. · #2 05-02-2011, 01:16 PM

+1,000,000

I hate those bozo types who think they have it covered.

sirpug · #3 05-02-2011, 01:18 PM

Send him a pic of you playing bass with a wad of cash in front of you and tell him your sorry he missed out on your money.

You can be cautious of CL and not paranoid. Some people.

electracoyote · #4 05-02-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

There's a guy in my area that showed up on my Craigslist notifications as selling a bass and I've tried contacting him about buying the bass. After I send him you standard "I saw this bass and I'm interested" message, this is the response I get.

"Dude, if you're gonna ****ing scam me, at least make it look real."

I'm a tad flabbergasted by this response so tell him I'm not trying to scam him or anything.

"Yeah right, I'm really trying to sell this bass and you ****ing scammers are clogging up my inbox. I'm forwarding your e-mails to my spam folder."

Moral: Don't use CL if you're paranoid that everyone's a scammer.

I hear what you're saying, and I understand your frustration.

However, from the seller's perspective, there ARE a ton of scammers out there, and if your e-mail response to his ad bears even a passing resemblance to a scammer e-mail he's seen before, he might jump to the wrong conculsion.

To counter this, I have gotten in the habit of supplying the seller with my full name, phone numbers, facebook or website info, and the words "I'm not a spammer, I'm real, it's 46 degrees in Denver and the Rockies won last night."

Yep, it's a lot of work to prove you're a real person, but that is the age of mistrust spawned by long distance predators on the internet.

BigOldHarry · #5 05-02-2011, 01:21 PM

When I've responded to CL ads, I always put a bit of personal info in to ensure the reader that I'm not a bot or Nigerian Prince or what not... I get why folks are nervous about this stuff (lord knows I am!)...

Joe Nerve · #6 05-02-2011, 01:24 PM

Curious what your actual response was. I too am sick of scammers responding to ads I have up, and there are a few responses I either immediately discard, or get back to with a go f yerself. Most of those responses have "stilll avaialable?", or "interested in your item" in them, which kind of sets me off.

**Staccato** · #7 05-02-2011, 01:26 PM

The last time I contacted a CL seller was a couple of weeks ago indicating my interest in the bass. My response included the part of town that I live in, and a good, valid email address. His response was no response. Thanks, seller!

SMILEYSIXX · #8 05-02-2011, 02:03 PM

"Hello, I noticed you had a bass for sale and was interested in it. Would it be possible for me to try out the bass before buying it? I don't often check my email, but you can send an email to my cell phone at ***-***-****. If it's easier for you to use facebook, my name is ****** ********."

That was my message. I provided both a number and facebook, a little evidence that I'm indeed a real person.

EDIT: As I was typing this on my phone with my mom beside me, she jokingly told me to tell you all hello. So hello to everyone from my mom.

OmnitzGarima · #9 05-02-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

So hello to everyone from my mom.

Hi, Mom!

elgecko · #10 05-02-2011, 02:14 PM

No pics, no mom!

WJGreer · #11 05-02-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

"Hello, I noticed you had a bass for sale and was interested in it. Would it be possible for me to try out the bass before buying it? I don't often check my email, but you can send an email to my cell phone at ***-***-****. If it's easier for you to use facebook, my name is ****** ********."

That was my message. I provided both a number and facebook, a little evidence that I'm indeed a real person.

EDIT: As I was typing this on my phone with my mom beside me, she jokingly told me to tell you all hello. So hello to everyone from my mom.

And you specifically named the item you were interested in. Most of the scam emails I've seen just refer to "the item" or something else generic, which suggests they are blowing out the emails in volume.

I don't think your email looked like a scam. The part about trying the bass before you buy it, though, was the first place you went and could lead to some unpalatable eventualities in the seller's mind. If I were in your position, I would hold off on making that ask until you have contacted the seller and discussed the bass to determine if there may be a deal to be done there. Then get to the "oh, by the way..." It's just a better sequence, IMO.

tekhedd · #12 05-02-2011, 02:16 PM

I always include a phone number and avoid sounding like a scammer. The last few CL ads I answered received no response. At least on ebay sellers are terrified about hurting their reputations...on CL they have nothing to lose.

electracoyote · #13 05-02-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

"Hello, I noticed you had a bass for sale and was interested in it. Would it be possible for me to try out the bass before buying it? I don't often check my email, but you can send an email to my cell phone at ***-***-****. If it's easier for you to use facebook, my name is ****** ********."

That was my message. I provided both a number and facebook, a little evidence that I'm indeed a real person.

EDIT: As I was typing this on my phone with my mom beside me, she jokingly told me to tell you all hello. So hello to everyone from my mom.

In that case, yes, I would put your seller in the "slightly paranoid" catagory.

You might give him one more chance, poor fellow.

Hi Mom!

Jamestrouton · #14 05-02-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

No pics, no mom!

+5 I second this.

Joe Nerve · #15 05-02-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

In that case, yes, I would put your seller in the "slightly paranoid" catagory.

You might give him one more chance, poor fellow.

Hi Mom!

Maybe he got his emails mixed up. If not, then yeah... he's nuts.

I'd give hime another go asking what was up with his last response?

Hi Mom.

A-Step-Towards · #16 05-02-2011, 02:24 PM

Some of people act like its so hard to tell a scammer from a legit person , is very easy for me to tell whats spam.

Why would he reply to spam? its done by a computer not a person so he is trying to talk to a computer.

chuck norriss · #17 05-02-2011, 02:26 PM

How is that you scamming him?
One douche claimed I was scamming him when he sent the wrong size& thickness wetsuit & I asked for a refund. I don't understand how that's a scam either. He talked all kinds of trash on my feedback too, which I can't erase even w a dispute to Feebay.
On the oter hand I've had some success selling on CL. I haven't bought anything on CL yet. I prefer CL to Ebay even though my ebay addiction & time spent there indicate otherwise.

chuck norriss · #18 05-02-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamestrouton

+5 I second this.

you guys want pics of his mom? that's creepy.

Edward G. · #19 05-02-2011, 02:30 PM

I wonder how the scammers ever take anyone in. Their approach is usually so transparent it's a joke. My CL rule is simple: If I cannot meet you to have a cash-and-carry transaction, there will be no deal.

MatticusMania · #20 05-02-2011, 02:30 PM

Well that depends (the creepiness) on whether your mom is hot.