Scam or no scam - Craigslist edition!

Scam.

 

Enlighten me. How is someone saying they want to buy something you have listed for sale a scam?

 

scam. I've noticed of late the CL scammers have been having 2 first names, ex: Joseph William or David James.

 

They don't mention what it is , just "this item". It's an auto response type deal, I dont know what the end "trap" is, but it's in there.

 

there are craigslist spam bots that reply to "for sale" postings that start off with a generic " i'm interested, is it still available?" and then you reply with more personal information and they reply back with a canned excuse.

i'm selling a guitar and an amp locally and its happened to me multiple times.

i believe these spam bots are collecting personal info when you reply to their email. just replying it is enough to tell the bot that you have a valid email address that is used frequently.

 

you should respond: "which item? the refrigerator? Sorry, but that's long gone"

edit: Yeah, on second thought, don't respond at all, cause they'll just be alerted that your email is active and you'll get more junk mail/requests/scams

 

IME- Anytime the responder refers to what You are selling, as "this/the item", chances are its a scammer. When You reply back, look for a response that includes "I will send You a cashiers check" for more than what You're asking, and "I will have someone pick up The item and overwritten amount of money".
I never took the bait, but others have and it goes kind of like this. You deposit the "rubber check" in Your bank, and withdraw the overage. The check will seem legit in the upon first inspection by the bank, until They run it through, then it'll bounce. Basically, it's a con game where they get Your stuff and Your money, and there isn't a darned thing You can do about it.

 

Scam! Basically any response that refers to what you have for sale as "item" is a scammer. Also they only say they want to buy it. Never ask any other questions such as condition, etc.

 

not referring to the actual item listed tells me it's some kind of scam....

 

To the OP. Aren't you a lefty? What kind of bass are you selling?

 

"tay jerry" [email protected] + Thanks...mike = obvious scam.

 

This is why, when a great deal on a Kubicki showed up on my local CL, I responded with an email that called out the bass by name, and followed with a few very specific questions relating to his particular instrument. The seller became very informative and accommodating. 16 hours later, I owned it!

 

It amazes me people accept anything other than cash these days. I've had people try to push personal checks, cashiers checks (whats the point????), gift cards (hah!), and all other sorts of pseudo-currency. For me its either trade an item with obvious cash value, or cashhhhh.

 

I have also noticed that many scammers use gmail accounts. (No flames please, I have one myself.)

 

I had a similar experience to the OP and many others with regards to this spam scam issue. A few days ago I posted two for sale ads back to back, one for a bass and the other a speaker cab. Within the next day I got the following identical response for the two items:

"Hello,
do you still have this item avilable for sale
Thanks?"

Personally my favorite part is the question mark following "thanks". A fine spambot response.

Needless to say I didn't reply.

 

the purpose is to harvest your email addy for resale. When you respond, it verifies a working email addy.

 

And on the other side of the coin , there are people who want to do away with cash as a currency altogether .
[Now where did I leave Bernie Maddoff's cell #.......]