This is prudent advice, and probably the best way.
Unless, like me, you need to sell a bedroom set or unload a three-ton pile of decorative rock.
True. But I don't ever sell big things....Probably for that reason.
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Craigslist scammers!
- Thread starter bpclay1
- Start date
True. But I don't ever sell big things....Probably for that reason.
So, on the slightly more serious side, the only thing you can really do to mess with scammers on the Internet is to report them to whoever runs the server the scammer contacted you through or to waste the scammers time somehow. Wasting their time can be fun, but it also keeps the scammer busy, therefore less able to accomplish their goal with someone else. Setting up a sting is not going to end well. Possibly stabbed or shot. Cops actually refer to these misguided vigilantes as amateur batman or Bruce Wayne types. There may be a cop or two on this board that would like to chime in on that. It has nothing to do with not wanting to do the right thing or being "I got mine, screw you" selfish. It has everything to do with not putting yourself in a situation that could lead to a worse crime or someone being seriously injured.
OK so if you care to read how I dealt with a scammer on eBay back in the early 2000s, click the link below. It helps if you have a knowledge of vintage Vespa scooters, but it's not necessary. For those that don't know, there is no such thing as a Johnson Rod on a Vespa.
In the end, I wasted a bunch of their time and actually got them to send me a dollar
revenge on Ebay Scammers - SUPER LONG AND FUNNY!
OK so if you care to read how I dealt with a scammer on eBay back in the early 2000s, click the link below. It helps if you have a knowledge of vintage Vespa scooters, but it's not necessary. For those that don't know, there is no such thing as a Johnson Rod on a Vespa.
In the end, I wasted a bunch of their time and actually got them to send me a dollar
revenge on Ebay Scammers - SUPER LONG AND FUNNY!
i'd never ever do anything with CL ... won't look at it ... never'd use it ...
i trust folks here at TB Classifieds ... and Ebay/Paypal have pretty good protections in place, if/when folks use common sense ...
i trust folks here at TB Classifieds ... and Ebay/Paypal have pretty good protections in place, if/when folks use common sense ...
Another thing, if you meet someone away from your house, only bother traveling 5 miles. Once a guy got 25 photos of a bass from me, he 100% said he wanted it, seemed really cool, I stressed the distance, the firm price etc. I drove 65 miles to meet him half way and he cried about things I described and pointed out in detail, then he offered me a lower offer. At this point it was a major struggle not to loose my cool but basically I told him no. All said in done I did 130 miles of wear on my car, burnt 3 hours of time and $20 in gas. Since then anytime I am asked to meet somewhere its within 5 miles of my house. If they want me to meet farther they can paypal me gas money. The rule doesnt apply to well known TB members but craigslist you bet.
Best bet is to create an online email to use for the ad(s) and then dump it when you;'re done--don't use it for anything else.his 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.
Sounds like that guy was using the long drive as a stategy: "well, this guy drove 65 miles to sell the bass, I can probably lowball him once we meet. After all, if he doesn't sell the bass to me, he'll have wasted his time making the trip"
Scumbag move on his part, I commend you for not folding.
Have people offering to send personal checks and told they will pick up when check clears. Guy today wanted to send me a money order, or certified check. Would send someone to pick it up when cleared and give me 50 bucks extra for my troubles. He wanted my legal name and address for sending his payment. Real easy, cash in hand, meet in public place, (preferably a local cop shop) anything else is a no go. Guy wants it before next week for his wedding anniversary. Of course a check needs a week to clear and anyone can make up a fake certified check or money order.
