Thread: Craigslist scammers

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I was hoping Craigslist would be reasonably free of scammers. I have a couple of items on the local Albany, NY version and both have had scam hits. One I thought was legit until I just got a response back - no punctuation, poor grammar and poor use of English, no capitalization - and want to pay me extra to hold the items and pay via a certified check, BINGO. Generally the same thing for the other. Dammit, and I thought I could finally sell some odds and ends without paying the Ebay fees.

Thank goodness for my Earthlink anonymous email addresses I use for these listings since they never hit my inbox unless I request it via a couple of mouse clicks

I bought five SB Chevy engines . Lots of intakes / carburetors ram horn manifolds . And sold cars but it has been all local sales . Dont give up on the Craigs list I think its much better then E bay !

I buy and sell on Craigs list all the time, I even advertise rental property there. I get scam responses every time, but they are easy to weed out.

Originally Posted by terraplane36

I buy and sell on Craigs list all the time, I even advertise rental property there. I get scam responses every time, but they are easy to weed out.

I actually found a great employee on Craigs while advertising the shop. I know I get a lot of dreamers from the ad when I put it in, but this gu called out of the blue has amazing metal skills and was just looking for some part time work.

Craigslist was originally created for the college crowd in California so you will get a lot of nothings and people who dont follow through but since its free its worth the small hassles I think.

Seems like scammers are into everything these days..... Fortunately most of them only operate with about half a brain so they're relatively easy to see through.... Would be interesting just once to come up with a physical address and have someone in that area pay them a personal visit.....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Seems like scammers are into everything these days..... Fortunately most of them only operate with about half a brain so they're relatively easy to see through.... Would be interesting just once to come up with a physical address and have someone in that area pay them a personal visit.....

It's just too bad that those kind of people can't get a life - but I guess that preying on the uninformed of the world from a safe haven like Nigeria (a part of the world I NEVER EVER want to see again) is profitable.

I just had an offer of $20 for my almost new Sharpe Finex 300 1.4 - blew that one off. I don't mind an low ball offer but not an insulting one. It's not a great spray gun but it will do a credible job.

I'll keep up with listings on craigslist for those items that I feel would be better sold locally

I'm a fan of Craigslist for some things. Most recently unloaded a couple flatties. I'm not sure that the scammers are functionally much different than the "tire kickers" . You know, the guy who runs you through the drill with some questions, then asks for directions (or in the modern era just your address for a Mapquest) and then never shows. You still have to sort the flakes from the real folk. I guess that's part of what I like about Craigslist, I can pre-qualify via email before disclosing where the goodies are stored. The best procedure I've found for sorting out the dreamers is to put the onus on them when they ask for directions/address. I say something like" are you coming over right now?" If they hem and haw they're most likely a flake and I tell them to call me when they're ready to come over so the directions will be fresh in their mind. Minimizes the amount of time wasted on them.

On the flip side, it does usually end up with sending out more pictures to folks you never hear from again. But, the ol' picture/1000 word thing......they probably mean shorter emails/phone conversations, so may still be a bene.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

I'm a fan of Craigslist for some things. Most recently unloaded a couple flatties. I'm not sure that the scammers are functionally much different than the "tire kickers" . You know, the guy who runs you through the drill with some questions, then asks for directions (or in the modern era just your address for a Mapquest) and then never shows. You still have to sort the flakes from the real folk. I guess that's part of what I like about Craigslist, I can pre-qualify via email before disclosing where the goodies are stored. The best procedure I've found for sorting out the dreamers is to put the onus on them when they ask for directions/address. I say something like" are you coming over right now?" If they hem and haw they're most likely a flake and I tell them to call me when they're ready to come over so the directions will be fresh in their mind. Minimizes the amount of time wasted on them.

On the flip side, it does usually end up with sending out more pictures to folks you never hear from again. But, the ol' picture/1000 word thing......they probably mean shorter emails/phone conversations, so may still be a bene.

Bob,
The tire kickers and hem & haw folks I can deal with and can even enjoy the 'negotiations'. I've done so much swap meet selling in the past few years that I enjoy the challange. I do have "no lower then price" but a low ball with out seeing the item tends to P*** me Off. It's the folks that have English as a second language and are from Nigeria or similar 4th or less world country that want to send me a certified check for more then the amount........ More than one or two pictures of a Sharpe Finex or a kerosene heater is a waste of my time tho.

I haven't given up yet on craigslist - as long as it's free and I can winnow out the trash in my anonymous email box I'll keep trying. Batting zero for 3 now.

[QUOTE=IC2]I was hoping Craigslist would be reasonably free of scammers. I have a couple of items on the local Albany, NY version and both have had scam hits. One I thought was legit until I just got a response back - no punctuation, poor grammar and poor use of English, no capitalization - and want to pay me extra to hold the items and pay via a certified check, BINGO. Generally the same thing for the other. Dammit, and I thought I could finally sell some odds and ends without paying the Ebay fees.

man i feel bad, i never use proper punctuation, cant spell that good, poor grammer, and no capitalization. and that makes me a bad person who rips people off? just because i did not get straight A's in english does not mean i will steal your money. it just means i cant type and hen peck this keyboard to death to communicate on the web, but i can assure you i am one of the most honest and polite people on earth, no matter how bad my grammer is.

[QUOTE=mooneye777]

Originally Posted by IC2

man i feel bad, i never use proper punctuation, cant spell that good, poor grammer, and no capitalization. and that makes me a bad person who rips people off? just because i did not get straight A's in english does not mean i will steal your money. it just means i cant type and hen peck this keyboard to death to communicate on the web, but i can assure you i am one of the most honest and polite people on earth, no matter how bad my grammer is.

If you feel picked on and are taking it personally, my apologies. If you contacted me about my items on Craigslist and I blew you off - sorry, but most people do not ask me to hold the item, promise to pay me with a certified check when I have specified CASH ONLY and most will not offer me MORE then I'm asking by a third. And the fact that the language skills displayed by those individuals was stilted like a poorly learned second language and grammatically incorrect, I feel that that is enough of a reason to say what I said.

You are stating that you are the most honest people on earth - I believe you.

When you say that you are one of the most polite people - well, reread your negative and very personal comments to me.

[QUOTE=IC2]

Originally Posted by mooneye777

You are stating that you are the most honest people on earth - I believe you.

When you say that you are one of the most polite people - well, reread your negative and very personal comments to me.

well here we go, first off there were no very personal comments to you, and yes without rereading it, i did say i am one of the most honest and polite people on earth no matter how bad my puncuation is. but i will not be polite to anyone who bashes my pesonal character based on how good i am at navigating a stupid key board. you in short term said because someone cant type in good grammer with proper punctuation they are a thief, you are very shallow in stereotyping others based on thier computer skills and i am taking it very persoanl at this point. no one calls me a thief and gets off without hearing my comeback.

ive never looked but i can guess that 1/2 the posters on this board do not follow proper grammer skills. ive got 662 posts and never have i used proper typing skills, sorry if i have offended anyone by this post or any of the other 661, i guess its time for me to take a hyatis from the forum for a while and let this guy work out his deep ceeded phycological issues!!!!!!!!!! its been great with every one here, until later, cccccc-ya

Come on you guys cool down a bit . I really have had great luck with my local Craigs list . I think you guy also can find some real good local deals .

I have heard about Craigslist but never knew what it was until now. After reading this thread I Googled it for my city and found several interesting items already. If I spend as much time on it as I do on here I might never get any work done.
John

[QUOTE=mooneye777]

Originally Posted by IC2

well here we go, first off there were no very personal comments to you, and yes without rereading it, i did say i am one of the most honest and polite people on earth no matter how bad my puncuation is. but i will not be polite to anyone who bashes my pesonal character based on how good i am at navigating a stupid key board. you in short term said because someone cant type in good grammer with proper punctuation they are a thief, you are very shallow in stereotyping others based on thier computer skills and i am taking it very persoanl at this point. no one calls me a thief and gets off without hearing my comeback.

ive never looked but i can guess that 1/2 the posters on this board do not follow proper grammer skills. ive got 662 posts and never have i used proper typing skills, sorry if i have offended anyone by this post or any of the other 661, i guess its time for me to take a hyatis from the forum for a while and let this guy work out his deep ceeded phycological issues!!!!!!!!!! its been great with every one here, until later, cccccc-ya

Oh - bye the way, before you leave I really think you should reread and understand what I said:
1. I stated that I believe you were honest, as you stated, because I don't know different.

2. I am taking offense at the fact that you you were saying to me that you are polite - and your first post really was totally the opposite to me and directed to me personally.

3. I have also not condemned your personal grammar, spelling or punctuation capabilities. I am well aware of the fact that many people do not have those skills. But I for sure know when I'm being scammed by their language usage

4. I don't believe that language skills make a thief as you so nicely put it - but as said above," I for sure know when I'm being scammed by their language usage" There are certain language signposts that tell me that by the context of the message and by many others similar that I've received on sale items.
So with that said.....sorry to see you go as you are a good contributor here
Goodbye

I got an e-mail from some girl in russia????? She responded to a add for a trans I had on there. She sent me a picture the second time--good lord! My heart wouldnt take it--she was very nice! Told the wife I was thinking of trading her in!