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Scams? Educate me please.

H

Hay hay hay

Well-known Member
I see posts about avoiding scams and being careful on Craigs list.

So what are the scams? I have had a good experience buying and selling on Craigs list and listing my phone number. I've had a few goofy calls and a few suspect e-mails, and an odd text message or two, but no real serious problems that I know of.

How can someone pull a scam with just my phone number? You can get my name, address and number out of the phone book?

Are scams a real problem, or are people just paranoid? How do they work? Facts please.

Thanks
 
I've never had trouble with a phone number, but then I don't put mine on the add! I ONLY use the hidden e-mail, so that way if they want to contact me, they have to click on the "Reply" button, and Craigs List gives them my hidden e-mail. Then if we e-mail a couple of times and I decide that he/she is legit, then I'll give him my number..

There are two big e-mail scams that I get:

1, they will e-mail you and ask if the item is still available, you will e-mail back "yes" or "no" and then instantly you will get a reply that says they are OK with the price and that they are going to send you a check and that their shipper is going to pick it up, and that you give the surplus money from the check to the shipper. I fell for this my first time, the guy sent me a check for $4250, and I "sold" him a Pelican Paddle boat for $250. He told me to give the 4 g's to the "shipper" threw that check away!

2 A "lady" will send you bad pictures and say that she HAS TO HAVE what ever it is you are selling, and says that she wants to meet up, and ya da ya da ya da... Delete and run my friend!

Bryce
 

The only problem I have is with those sellers who state right in the ad "phone calls only, I will not repond to emails". Apparently, that person REALLY does not want to sell that item, and I can only guess as to what his real intentions are.
 

I have put my phone number in the ad when I sell. I have gotten emails asking if it's still for sale and never responded. I figure if the ad is still there, it's still for sale. Phone number gets some texts of folks fishing, but I have moved stuff.
 
So...let me get this straight. You still have the item, people send you a quick note asking if it is still available (because a HUGE number of people don't take their ads down and then are rude to you when you call) and you don't respond because why? You think they should know better? Am I misunderstanding you or are you a bit of a problem child on Craigslist? Frustrating when you need to buy something and you run into this kind of thing!
 
I buy and sell on Craigslist. The people you reference frustrate me a little too. Never know what is going to answer the phone. I really prefer to get a feel for the seller on email before I start serious phone conversations for an item. ON THE OTHER HAND, when selling, I have gotten more wackos on my e-mail than I care to recall. Especially if selling livestock. People who want farm animals for house pets, etc. But even when it is equipment or household item, the responses can be off the wall.
 
Beware of anyone that calls your part an item. If the contact says I am interested in your item. Scam. If it is an exhaust manifold they should call it that . There are red flags you will see in all of the scams. That being said if a con man looked like a con man he couldn't con anybody. Never deal with any request involving Western Union . Or what Bryce posted below. Large check give my change to my shipping agent .Check scam.
 
When I was looking to buy a gator, there were gators listed that were too good to be true. They had no phone #, just gmail. They wanted to ship it to me for free. Just send money order.

I've seen tractors, even houses for rent, on craigslist that were scams.

I once put a want ad on craigs. For 3 months women would respond with very healthy looking pics, wanting to get to know me.

I think the best way is to do what craigslist says only use craigs email to respond to your add. Or get a phone # and talk to a real person.
 
Some scam responses happen--I find a lot of the "good deals" fall apart when I mention meet at local police and fire station parking lot to receive payment- and on vehicle deals offered to get the quick police inspection. Gmail address is noted by local consumer protection to be a red flag- more possible scam than a regular Email and landline phone number, actual address. I know one guy that was trying to sell a PC box, met "buyer at public place and went with him to "test" the whatever- got thumped, robbed and broken thumb that required some expensive, painful surgery to reset since he didn"t get immediate treatment- partially due to drunkenness. Other side is a guy getting lots of free stuff to furnish home and clothe 2 kids- his wife hasn"t worked for couple years now since kids came- they are little terrors- he has some broken bones issues restricting work after being in car hit by drunk driver. Craigslist provides some things, Habitat Restore/Recycle and the local thrift shops and food pantries keep them going. Now if they can stay out of jail- don"t get caught driving drunk is a issue. Lots of Craigslist adds/response seem to be by people with drinking or drug use that 'need' to get next fix. RN
 
A lot of what people call "scams" are merely fishing, (Phishing in computer world) Just like tele-marketers, they are looking for someone that will interact with them. If they find a response then they may try to slowly lure you into some kind of "deal" that you will later regret.
 
i just sold tires on c-list,, after posting local buyers with cash,, had a few text me wanting to send check and have someone p/u tires,,they wanted name-address to send check, or some times bank to send check to,, if you look in the c-list section and read about scams, yopu'll see more of what people are talking about, instead of a hundreds of posting about their expereinces....
 
(quoted from post at 15:25:48 04/14/14)
The only problem I have is with those sellers who state right in the ad "phone calls only, I will not repond to emails". Apparently, that person REALLY does not want to sell that item, and I can only guess as to what his real intentions are.
Click to expand...
write phone calls only because 90% of the scams are through e-mail I believe if someone is interested then they will call. e-mailer's IMO are either scammers or tire kickers.Don't have time to respond to 20 e-mails when you're not even interested,because if you was you would call in the first place!
 
recently a saw a streamline travel trailer for a good price on cl. the guy said he was in the army and that he would have it delivered to me, all i had to do was pay him through google wallet. i told him we have a vehicle to tow it any it's not that far from us. i want to see it in person first and then i can pay you through google wallet or cash at point of sale. he never replied and yanked the add.
 
Seems to me that it should be easy to avoid scams. I have a couple of "rules" that I follow that keep me out of trouble....
1) NEVER send payment to ANYBODY. Exchange good for payment in person - and at a public place. No excuses to leave that public place either.
2) NEVER allow a "middle man" to be involved in ANY transaction. Would you hire a "buying agent" to buy a used item from CL???
3) If you are going to purchase or examine a large item like a piano or other large item, bring a friend. Scammers are less likely to try any funny stuff in the presence of a witness.

I have had many successful dealings from CL listings, and have sold a few items as well. I do not bother to try to "encode" my phone number. If I hear something on my phone that I do not like, I use the hang up button. There is simply no way for somebody to injure me over the phone. Also, in today's era of mobile phones and caller ID as well as GPS, it is VERY difficult to be anonymous over the phone. I see it this way: go ahead and call me. If I don't want to talk to you, I will simply hang up. If you call back, I will hang up again. If you continue to bother me, I will either report it to law enforcement or block your number.
One thing that I avoid is the FREE listings that say something about some scrap metal, wood or other material, and then give a pickup point that is in an alley, or behind somebody's house. Sounds to me like a busybody neighbor that is trying to force another neighbor to remove something, and is posting an ad behind their back. I will not pick up ANYTHING that is not out at the curb or clearly labeled as FREE. Also, a good idea is if you are going to pick up a purchased item, print out and bring along a copy of the ad.
Just my two cents' worth....more like $2. <grin>.
 
(quoted from post at 17:08:52 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 15:25:48 04/14/14)
The only problem I have is with those sellers who state right in the ad "phone calls only, I will not repond to emails". Apparently, that person REALLY does not want to sell that item, and I can only guess as to what his real intentions are.
Click to expand...
write phone calls only because 90% of the scams are through e-mail I believe if someone is interested then they will call. e-mailer's IMO are either scammers or tire kickers.Don't have time to respond to 20 e-mails when you're not even interested,because if you was you would call in the first place!
Click to expand...
Count me among those that generally don't respond to "phone calls only" ads. Reason being I like to have the seller's email response to my questions on the computer screen or printed out and in front of me when when I call. The greater the value of the item, the less likely I'll respond to a phone calls only ad.

I agree that scammers are more likely to use email rather than call. By the same token bad sellers are more likely to use phone calls only.
 
Craigs list changed something in the e-mail system and it is incompatible with the email from my service provider. I can now only answer adds by phone. Provide a phone number or be locked out of about 40% of your market.
 
(quoted from post at 10:29:43 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 17:08:52 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 15:25:48 04/14/14)
The only problem I have is with those sellers who state right in the ad "phone calls only, I will not repond to emails". Apparently, that person REALLY does not want to sell that item, and I can only guess as to what his real intentions are.
Click to expand...
write phone calls only because 90% of the scams are through e-mail I believe if someone is interested then they will call. e-mailer's IMO are either scammers or tire kickers.Don't have time to respond to 20 e-mails when you're not even interested,because if you was you would call in the first place!
Click to expand...
Count me among those that generally don't respond to "phone calls only" ads. Reason being I like to have the seller's email response to my questions on the computer screen or printed out and in front of me when when I call. The greater the value of the item, the less likely I'll respond to a phone calls only ad.

I agree that scammers are more likely to use email rather than call. By the same token bad sellers are more likely to use phone calls only.
Click to expand...

Exactly!! Also, I may not always have the time to place a phone call when I first see the ad, and for sure I do not want to just leave a message and then have the seller call me back right in the middle of eating supper or watching a favorite TV show, or even worse, waking me up in the middle of the night. Nope, I'll take the time to send an email, but I refuse to play the "phone tag" game.
 
No more scams on CL than anywhere else and a person would have to be a Moron to fall for some of the stuff these folks come up with.Real simple I get cash you get the item.
 
(quoted from post at 11:09:07 04/14/14) No more scams on CL than anywhere else and a person would have to be a Moron to fall for some of the stuff these folks come up with.Real simple I get cash you get the item.
Click to expand...

What he said..I agree.. If you can't spot a scam, you have a problem. Also while people play the email/text game, stuff gets sold. I don't email or text. If there is no number I simply ignore it.
 
The only trouble I have with craigslist is people who agree to buy something,then don't show up.
I held a tractor for three days while some guy was getting a check from the farm agency.Suppossed to pay today,haven't seen him.I called him,he didn't say anything about paying and said he wouldn't be off work till Thursday.so,it's back for sale again.
 
My favorite was an aluminum fishing boat I went to look at. It was a decent deal, but not a steal. The guy seemed legit.

Turned out it was a steal, but not by me. Midway through our negotiations, 2 sheriff's deputies come strolling across the lawn. Seems that the true owner saw his boat on Craigslist, and called the cops. The guy was protesting that he helped the other guy move, and the guy gave him the boat for his trouble.

I finally called one of the deputies aside, and asked if it would be worth my while to wait around- he smiled and said "No, I wouldn't- because shortly, your seller will be headed downtown with us."
 
I then copy email address and send an email via personal email. This is how women spammed me with X rated pics
 
That fails to work with my system too. Says invalid email account. everybody I know has trouble with anything that is from your ISP. but now I think that failings between the new windows 8 that wants to only use a msn mail account are contributing factors.
 
It seems I get more idiots with email then my phone number. I just say no text and I don't use my email. Just phone number. maybe I am just lucky.
 
I have posted adds for neighbors and know of several
other people that do the same. because a lot of
people dont have a computer , and I dont want a
bunch of emails for someone elses item, so its phone
number only.
 
When selling, I make it clear that the first show up with cash gets the stuff. When buying, I understand that I better be there with cash in hand before somebody else does.

I won't hold an item, nor do I expect a seller to hold for me. However, if I have to drive a significant distance, I'll call right before I leave to make sure it's still there and to let him know I'm on my way with cash.
 
(quoted from post at 11:02:42 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 10:29:43 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 17:08:52 04/14/14)
(quoted from post at 15:25:48 04/14/14)
The only problem I have is with those sellers who state right in the ad "phone calls only, I will not repond to emails". Apparently, that person REALLY does not want to sell that item, and I can only guess as to what his real intentions are.
Click to expand...
write phone calls only because 90% of the scams are through e-mail I believe if someone is interested then they will call. e-mailer's IMO are either scammers or tire kickers.Don't have time to respond to 20 e-mails when you're not even interested,because if you was you would call in the first place!
Click to expand...
Count me among those that generally don't respond to "phone calls only" ads. Reason being I like to have the seller's email response to my questions on the computer screen or printed out and in front of me when when I call. The greater the value of the item, the less likely I'll respond to a phone calls only ad.

I agree that scammers are more likely to use email rather than call. By the same token bad sellers are more likely to use phone calls only.
Click to expand...

Exactly!! Also, I may not always have the time to place a phone call when I first see the ad, and for sure I do not want to just leave a message and then have the seller call me back right in the middle of eating supper or watching a favorite TV show, or even worse, waking me up in the middle of the night. Nope, I'll take the time to send an email, but I refuse to play the "phone tag" game.
Click to expand...

same here
putting an ad in a newspaper? sure, phone number.
putting an ad on the INTERNET?.......email should be an option.
(phone # is ok too, but c'mon, computers, internet, email all go together, right?)
Who says I even have a phone?
I do, but it's a data only plan, I pay for all calls. I don't talk much.
no email, no sale
When I email, I just ask if it's still for sale, some questions, and when would be a good time to come to look at it.
and yes, I will call, or leave my number AFTER that to get the address
 
There is no law that says if someone tries to scam you, that you HAVE to participate!

If you get an email that is an obvious scam, don't throw an "old man fit," just delete it. You don't have to respond!

I REFUSE to deal with anyone that puts "Phone calls ONLY!" in their ad, or some other idle threat. I don't want to deal with your grumpy mad-at-the-world attitude and your wackatoon political views and your mean dog.
 
I don't know if it was a scam or not, but yesterday, I missed a call and they left a message. Person was talking so fast, I could only understand part of what he said. He did mention the saw I had for sale and was it still available.
When I got home, I googled the number, which was one of the surrounding area codes, and was surprised to find many others had received this SCAM call.
Then give the location in a town about 125 miles from me. In most cases, a number like this will allow you to pay for identification and I don't usually googled that type number. Don't know why I did?
I did not respond!!
 
I"ve heard too many bad comments about win 8. So I just ordered a computer with win 7, which is only going to be good for 6 more years. I"m still using XP and does what I said above.
 
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