haha nothing crazy but something was definitely up. I'm glad that I can say it's nothing crazy cause it's always no big deal until something unexpected happens out of nowhere.
Basically I buy phones on craigslist when I want to upgrade or try something new (among other things, I buy everything on CL). In my area, it's very populated and craigslist has listings for brand new sealed phones for sale all the time, people who upgraded and just dont want to use their phone and pocket the cash, etc. That is what I was expecting out of this situation as she posted an ad stating "Brand new, unlocked Iphone 5" with her number. So i text her and we arrange to meet at 9 or so at an att store. I actually was supposed to meet her at 5pm and threw the att store location to scare off any crooks as a test.
It got delayed due to work so I meet her in a public place. She chooses the mcdonalds inside the Walmart in a local towne center, very public place.
This is fine by me. But the way she was texting was so suspicious. Not really coherent, doesn't answer questions all that directly, very succinct, etc. I gave her the benefit of the doubt cause some people just dont know how to text and I have met people who were very nice that wanted to use CL to sell something and were not very tech saavy. But I wouldn't have gone through the trouble if it weren't for the fact that this was only 10 minutes away.
I go inside, people are eating. Group of teens in one table, 2 older gentlemen in their 50's on the left, a dad in a wheelchair and a son in the back right. I sit down and text that I'm there.
Up to now, it could have been someone who is just bad at tech communication. But she texts me and says Come to X and Y (cross streets). I say "No, I told you I'll be here by 930. If youre not here in 15 mins I'm leaving". She says "Okay" and I wait outside and change positions in case someone's watching me. I tell her I'm sitting at a table though.
After 5-10 minutes I'm ready to leave and I call her. She hasn't been picking up her phone and once again, this was something that's not normal but could be for someone who hates talking on the phone or something. I text her "Pick up your phone" and call. She picks up and I see her walking toward the entrance with this 7 year old boy (my guess). She looks very unsure. Her eyes are darty and she stutters.
With women I meet on CL, I go out of my way to make them feel comfortable and safe, I use a soft toned voice, stand a little less tall and try to smile and be patient as much as possible. This didn't help in this situation, she was nervous for a different reason and I can tell right off the bat. First thought, stolen phone.
She hesitates and asks me "what? uh what? yeah, go inside?" in her semi decent english. I say, Okay but dont you want to do it out here considering you cant just sell and buy an iphone inside the walmart when they SELL iphones themselves. She starts walking. I follow from a distance and look around to see if there's someone she is working with.
We get to a table, I take a seat facing the entrance and no one's behind my back so I get a full view of everything. She pulls out this iphone. No charger, no box. This phone by itself and holds it in her hand. She goes "yeah but uh yeah, no battery. Battery die. You come to my store at X and Y and we charge."
At this point as the events were unfolding, I had already expected this. I ask her "Let me see the phone?" and she will hold it tight in her hand and pull back and say "Oh, no see it no battery. It's useless". I asked her 3 times to see the phone, maybe check the condition, see the IMEI. She says that it's not worth checking out due to the battery all 3 times. All the while I feel bad for this poor kid who looks like a normal, full of potential 7 year old asian kid with a baseball cap following his mom around on a possible criminal activities.
I dont even bother losing my temper or getting angry, I just get up and say "well if it doesn't even turn on, I'm definitely not going to buy it." (by the way, she mentions that the "Brand new" one is sold and that one is her 2 month old personal phone). I just start walking away and exit the Walmart entrance.
As I'm walking I make sure I'm not tailed and also watch for cars and other people waiting or observing. I go outside and wait right in front of the exit where it's very public. I stay put. As I come out and move to place myself along the wall near the entrance, there was this guy. Maybe 5'8" with gelled hair and sort of stocky or chubby, medium build in a jacket and he had his blue tooth on the whole time. I noticed him pacing and loitering while I was waiting for her outside earlier. He's still outside. What is this guy doing out here and who is dressed like that has a bluetooth iin his ear at 9:50pm. Why is he in front of the walmart hanging out? I keep an eye out.
When I exit the walmart that guy is just so happens right near the entrance and walking away about 5 paces in front of me and hangs a right as he sees me come out. Another guy in black, lanky, about 6'2" with glasses is walking towards him and eventually me, and they cross paths. And as they do, the lanky guy sees me and then he makes eye contact with the other guy with the bluetooth and he shakes his head side-to-side signaling "no". He also has an earpiece. He walks by.
By now, I'm thinking two things. They are cops and this is a sting operation and the woman is doing this to bait people into buying stolen goods and she's nervous. Or... I'm going to get jumped. The thought of the second possibility puts me in super awareness mode and also makes me really angry actually. I keep checking the guy out with the earpiece and by now he knows that I know something is up and I make that clear. He walks back towards me and breaks the silence by asking "Do you have a cigarette?" to which I state "no." I walk straight between the crowded parking lot, watching to see if anyone or any cars are keeping an eye out, I zig to the next lane, zag to the next. I call my ride to swing around and pick me up at the burger joint across the street. Then we head home and I make sure we're not being followed. People follow you and then hit your home later. It's not uncommon to be followed from a distance and robbed later.
I also need to mention something i forgot. When she and I entered the walmart, she stops and goes "so what do you want?" like it was some sort of drug deal. And im like "what? the iphone. you put the ad up right?" and she goes "so where's the money?". I look at her like, "are you serious.." and say that I have it. She goes "so You have the money?" to which I state yes. She goes, "where is it?" and I give her this look like, wtf. "in my pocket". That's what made me look out for getting robbed. I was carrying close to $600 in my pocket. People get messed up for a lot less.
So that's the story. I cant say for certain what it was, maybe it completely unrelated and the guys with the earpieces are some walmart undercover employees looking for shop lifters or something but either way, something wasn't right so I bailed. It's always good that you never KNOW what it could've been. Something in that walmart was not right that's for damn sure.
I still use craigslist and bought a legit brand new Iphone 5 today from a guy a lot more trustworthy, met at his work place and he had the receipt, etc. Craigslist is as safe or dangerous as the world itself. There are good and bad people everywhere. Normally people are reasonable but I dont know, something about CELL PHONES bring out so many criminals. I cant think of another category more full of scams, clones, crooks, stolen goods, robberies, etc. I've bought macbooks, laptops, motorcycles, stereos, computer parts and NOTHING is more saturated with shady people than the cell phone category.
So is your common sense. 
