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Craigslist scammers!

B

bpclay1

Guest
Jul 3, 2014
249
125
#1
I need some ideas on how to get revenge! I'm selling some basses, and the amount of scam attempts I get is infuriating!

I've got one on the line, gave him an address, and am trying to push him to send the mover to do the pickup as soon as possible.

I'm thinking I could arrange a meeting, and not show.... Try to keep him waiting as long as possible.

Another was to post up away from the meeting place, then call the police.

Part of me wants to get a bunch of guys together, and show up with baseball bats just to make him poopie his pants.

I know the scammers I talk to aren't the "movers" that come to pick up the bass, but the movers have to know what they're doing right?

I've tried drawing out the initial convo endlessly with the scammers. I've given the address for the Whitehouse, the local police department... They keep coming and I keep getting more and more pissed off.

I even called the local police to ask off they were interested in setting up a sting with my cooperation! What are your ideas? Have you done anything funny, or ever gotten justice?
 
#5
I'm confused about the scam here.

Are you saying that you are worried someone is going to stick you up?

Craigslist exchanges need to happen at a high traffic Starbucks. And bring some backup. Otherwise, just ignore their emails.

Also, cops aren't really into the amateur batman types.
 
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#8
Wow... So many people can just let it be...

I know they're scammers from the very first contact.

Even if it's not irritating, does no one want to try to stop a criminal anymore? Does no one worry about the poor folks that get scammed? If it had ever worked on me I would have been financially f**ked... What about people who aren't familiar with their tactics?

Where does the lack off concern stop? Would you try to help an old lady getting her purse ripped off her arm? Would you alert a mom and pop store owner of a shop lifter, or chalk it up to part of the business? Would you walk right past a rape in an alley?

Sure it doesn't effect me all that much, but what about the people getting scammed out of thousands of dollars? I don't understand how you can just ignore thieves trying to steal... What if it were a thief trying to get into your neighbors home?

Damn... Maybe this world needs a Batman if this is the attitude of the general population.
 
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#10
Coolhandjjl said:
There are too many scammers out there for you to make dent in it by doing vigilante work. You really gonna go to Nigeria to put a stop to that "Prince" with a small fortune he wants to cut you in on if you send him money to release it?

Just protect yourself.
Click to expand...

Yup, you'll do more good by educating those who are unaware of the scams.
 
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#13
Supposedly most of the scams are a small group in Nigeria, but they have American associates. So how many can they have? If some of them started getting arrested, how many would give it up? How many would be deterred from getting involved with that?

There are too many criminals, stopping one wouldn't put a dent an it... Might as well give the police brooms and let them really start cleaning up our streets
 
#14
bpclay1 said:
Wow... So many people can just let it be...

I know they're scammers from the very first contact.

Even if it's not irritating, does no one want to try to stop a criminal anymore? Does no one worry about the poor folks that get scammed? If it had ever worked on me I would have been financially f**ked... What about people who aren't familiar with their tactics?

Where does the lack off concern stop? Would you try to help an old lady getting her purse ripped off her arm? Would you alert a mom and pop store owner of a shop lifter, or chalk it up to part of the business? Would you walk right past a rape in an alley?

Sure it doesn't effect me all that much, but what about the people getting scammed out of thousands of dollars? I don't understand how you can just ignore thieves trying to steal... What if it were a thief trying to get into your neighbors home?

Damn... Maybe this world needs a Batman if this is the attitude of the general population.
Click to expand...


Best to buy and sell on TB or reverb. Safest places in the web.
 
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#16
When you post an ad, make sure you uncheck the contact by email button. You can just about eliminate the scammers by refusing email contacts. State that only phone calls will be answered. It has worked very well for me. I was told by Secret Service, when I reported a phony check scammer, that most of them are overseas, most likely in Nigeria, Eastern Europe or China. This is why your phony addresses don't scare them away. Every time you respond to a scammer, you run the risk of your email being hacked. That is what a lot of them really want when they ask stupid questions with obvious answers. Don't let them know your email address is legit. Don't respond to them at all.:):cool::bassist:
 
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#17
dawson.png
 
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#18
bpclay1 said:
Wow... So many people can just let it be...

I know they're scammers from the very first contact.

Even if it's not irritating, does no one want to try to stop a criminal anymore? Does no one worry about the poor folks that get scammed? If it had ever worked on me I would have been financially f**ked... What about people who aren't familiar with their tactics?

Where does the lack off concern stop? Would you try to help an old lady getting her purse ripped off her arm? Would you alert a mom and pop store owner of a shop lifter, or chalk it up to part of the business? Would you walk right past a rape in an alley?

Sure it doesn't effect me all that much, but what about the people getting scammed out of thousands of dollars? I don't understand how you can just ignore thieves trying to steal... What if it were a thief trying to get into your neighbors home?

Damn... Maybe this world needs a Batman if this is the attitude of the general population.
Click to expand...

Hyperbole much?
 
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#19
A few years ago I was getting tons of these scammers to my stuff on craigslist. I had a word doc saved that I cut and paste into responses where I would "agree" to their deal. I told them to send their check to me at my office and to be sure to include with the check a note detailing that it was for my item on craigslist and the extra amount to me for "the trouble". I told em the note was to make sure it didnt get confused with some of the incoming checks for our billing dept. I then gave them the nname of the local police chief and his dept address without mentioning it was the P.D. A week or so later they would ask if I received the check yet. Iwould tell them yes and give them choices of times they could come by.Told em to just come to the front desk and ask for me. At least a dozen sent the "check" and scheduled a time to send someone to my local police dept. Took me zero effort. Im sure after getting a dozen bogus checks (mail fraud) delivered to them the police at least looked into them. Maybe not...but the scammers were out time and money.
 
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#20
I sold my 2014 MIM Precision through Craigslist just today. He was a very nice guy who after doing a lot of research online, actually asked me in his first email contact if I were GregT on Talkbass. He gave me a local phone number, which I verified before responding. In his research, he was directed to Talkbass, which helped him make a good decision. He got a great bass at a great price and we were both happy.
Craigslist is a great thing if you just follow their suggestions. From their website:

Personal Safety
The overwhelming majority of craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned.
With billions of human interactions facilitated, the incidence of violent crime is extremely low.
Nevertheless, please take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.
When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:
Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe.
  • Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
  • Be especially careful buying/selling high value items.
  • Consider making high-value exchanges at your local police station.
  • Tell a friend or family member where you're going.
  • Take your cell phone along if you have one.
  • Consider having a friend accompany you.
  • Trust your instincts.
Avoiding Scams
Deal locally, face-to-face —follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
  • Do not extend payment to anyone you have not met in person.
  • Beware offers involving shipping - deal with locals you can meet in person.
  • Never wire funds (e.g. Western Union) - anyone who asks you to is a scammer.
  • Don't accept cashier/certified checks or money orders - banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible.
  • Transactions are between users only, no third party provides a "guarantee".
  • Never give out financial info (bank account, social security, paypal account, etc).
 

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