Whaddaya know, Craigslist: 1 for 1

[irishpride28]

Today I posted my first ever craigslist-ad (I'm 16) for my bass that I'm looking to locally sell.
I get an inbox, and i think "oh, a potential buyer, how exciting!" and all that stuff.
I already know I hate craigslist.
this is the email I got almost exactly one hour after posting:

I WANT YOU TO GET BACK TO ME WITH THE CONDITION AND THE LAST ASKING
PRICE OF THIS ITEM AND PIC IF AVAILABLE...


Naturally, this set off a few flags (just reading it in all caps was hard enough!), seeing as my post both included 2 on-page pictures, a link to a photobucket collection with more pictures, and a sale price.

I responded politely with the sale price, and the link to photobucket in case it was broken while going through craigslist.

Then, about 5 hours later, I get a second email. This is the one that made my blood boil, as I had read here about the classic "third party movers" and "cashier check", but I always hoped it wouldn't happen to me and I would just be able to make my sale.


Hello,

Thanks for the swift reply.I am okay with the condition and
price of the item and am ready for its purchase.I'll be paying you
with a certified Bank Check and the payment will be issue out to you
Via Ups Courier service I'll be responsible for the pick-up,while you
hold on my behalf. Once you receive this, my mover's will come for the
pick up at your place.I will be needing the following information to
issue out the payment......
1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address(Physical)....Not P.O.box
3.Your phone number

** Please note that the payment will be overnight to your address and
it will be delivered within 3 days.I will also wait for the check to
clear before i have my mover come for the pick up

Take Care..

I WAS SO ANGRY! I replied with an extremely heated message telling the scammer to get a life and try their luck at a real job.

Why do some people just feel the need to achieve by taking advantage of others?

Sorry for the rant, just had to get it off my chest.
-Brendan

[lobey]

It's Craigslist. Get used to it. That, and getting a person who actually wants what you're selling, but they back out when it comes to the day before they're supposed to buy it.

[lunarpollen]

Hehe good one! I really wish the authorities everywhere were more vigilant and strict about prosecuting scammers, fraudsters, identity thieves, etc.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by irishpride28

I WAS SO ANGRY!

I suggest you save time and energy by not replying to the obvious scams. It won't change anything and you'll keep you sanity a bit longer.

Good luck.

Keep posting to let us know how it goes.

[Morning Beer]

Originally Posted by lobey

It's Craigslist. Get used to it. That, and getting a person who actually wants what you're selling, but they back out when it comes to the day before they're supposed to buy it.

+1. Welcome to craigslist.

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I suggest you save time and energy by not replying to the obvious scams.

Not to mention the fact that you just gave a con man your e-mail address. Don't be afraid to be suspicious, especially on craigslist, which is kind of a clubhouse for whack-a-doos.

[NKUSigEp]

This scam has been going on for years. When I first started selling stuff, I got angry too because it was a waste of time. But now, I give them my neighbors address (the one I don't like LOL) and tell them to send me their (bogus) money orders. They have to pay for postage and materials and my neighbors get junk mail. HAHAHA

[irishpride28]

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

This scam has been going on for years. When I first started selling stuff, I got angry too because it was a waste of time. But now, I give them my neighbors address (the one I don't like LOL) and tell them to send me their (bogus) money orders. They have to pay for postage and materials and my neighbors get junk mail. HAHAHA

Haha thats great
And yeah i mean i know it's to be expected, and really it's all good it was just a pain
I'll live! (and keep my sanity)

[irishpride28]

Another!
an hour later, from another email adress (both came from gmail)
It's just the initial "is it still here" message:

hello, how are you doing? Well, i just wanna know maybe you still have
the above item for sale?

I hope the 'above item' he's referring to is my bass, but, i doubt it.
off to the junk mail filter.

[John Bigboote]

Originally Posted by irishpride28

I hope the 'above item' he's referring to is my bass, but, i doubt it.
off to the junk mail filter.

Every time I post something to CL I write the following:

"Please reply WITH A PHONE NUMBER where you can be reached. Sorry, but I won't respond to inquiries that don't include a phone number."

It works. Also, I've had to abandon two e-mail addresses because spammers "inquired" about the "item I was selling," and I got on their (multiple) lists.

Never, ever respond to a generic request for information, or to an obvious scam. Just trash it and move on.

-jb

[wittynamehere]

I'd also consider setting up a "burn' email address for stuff like this, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, whatever, that way you dont have to give out your real email address if you arent sure if it's an acutal buyer or just another spam bot.

[NickInMesa]

It's an old trick. No worry. Straight to the spam box, along with the great business proposals from Nigeria.

[irishpride28]

yeah you're right
I've seen some people ask for the replier to write something specific in the subject box to make sure it's not a spambot, I'll do that if i repost it

[pigsonthewing]

I got this one today for my Tama Drumset, it's a new one:

Hi there,

I saw your post for #CSVFIELD5# from here: #CSVFIELD4# and I thought about it.

I was doing the same thing since the economy died
1 months ago... It was horrible, I even had to list for sale my oldest girl's iphone
just to make a house payment.. and it was absolutely the most awful part of my life.
Describing it like that doesn't even start to convey it, but I made a commitment to pay or my child and I
would be out of a house.. I was already backed up in payments from previous.
thankfully everyday that I won't ever have to
hurt my child like that again.

A pal of mine sent me how they make a superb and legitimate career out of
working via his house computer with internet. I couldn't believe he'd show me this
in the first place, but I am absolutely grateful for it, so to spread
the knowledge I'm showing everyone who might be in the same position as I was,
and is looking for a break.

Thank heavens it's easy or I would not have been able to do it, not to mention
this has been the most financially stable I've ever felt before. I promise you will
find this link worth the 90 seconds it takes to look it over.

Oh, and here's the link: -----------------

Take care, and God Bless You!

[caeman]

Have the address handy for the nearest FBI field office, and let the scammer send the fake check to them.

[Demon_Hunter]

Another craigslist rant...
why not start a new category for these or just post them in off topic...uggg

[kcole4001]

Originally Posted by wittynamehere

I'd also consider setting up a "burn' email address for stuff like this, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, whatever, that way you dont have to give out your real email address if you arent sure if it's an acutal buyer or just another spam bot.

This is a very good idea for anyone who sells frequently.
Sooner or later you'll have dough-heads try to rip you off.

[NortyFiner]

Get used to the scammers. I've been advertising my Aerodyne on craigslist for a month and haven't gotten a single legit response yet. All I get are the out-of-area scammers and spammers, despite me saying, "I will only deal with local buyers who are willing to meet in person." Very frustrating...

[ProfGumby]

Originally Posted by wittynamehere

I'd also consider setting up a "burn' email address for stuff like this, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, whatever, that way you don't have to give out your real email address if you aren't sure if it's an actual buyer or just another spam bot.

Yup, what you call a burn email address is a great way to do it. That and request that something odd be in the subject line or you will not answer the e mail. You know, put the sentence "Respond with the word carrots in the subject line or I will not answer your e mail"...

[SLIV]

So if Craigslist is a wasteland and online ads killed the newspaper classifieds, where do people sell stuff to each other locally?

To me, Ebay is a similar nightmare. Not as bad but just as dangerous.