Someone's posting our personal information on Craigslist

[Unibody5]

Ugh, I could just cry right about now.

It all started at about 11:00pm two nights ago. My mom gets a phone call, and she answers it. This lady on the other end asks if the "ass-kicking machine is still available". My mom said a few choice words to her then hung up. We didn't really think much of it.

The next day, my parents are out, and the phone rings. I just let it go to voicemail. This guy leaves a message, it was kind of staticy, but it was something like "Hi, I was wondering if the stacks of porn you had on Craigslist are still available". This is when I go upstairs to my computer and see what the bleep is going on. I searched our city's Craigslist for our phone number, and sure enough, there were posts advertising an "ass-kicking machine", "Stacks of porn DVDs", and "free bras". Hmm...

Anyway, I let it go. About 10 minutes later, another phone call. I let it go to answering machine again. The person asks if the "Handsets" (????) are still available. These calls just keep going on and on. Asking if random items are still available. I check CL again, and this person just keeps rapidfiring posts with our phone number.

My parents come home, I tell them they might want to check the answering machine. They listen to the messages, stuff happens, they call the phone company and end up enabling some "Call screening" service for $2 extra a month.

I was later called into my parents room to sit with them. The three of us all had our laptops, we were just surfing around CL trying to find clues. This is when I search for our address, just because the thought came to me. Sure enough, there was an ad that said "FREE GAMING PC, COME TO (my address) NOW!!!". Oh jeez

The posts continue. "FREE PIECE OF (bleep) TOYOTA, COME TO (my address) AND JUST TAKE IT, WE DON'T WANT IT". There was also "FREE HUSBAND THAT DOESN'T DO WHAT HE IS (bleep)ING SUPPOSED TO". Just completely random stuff.

Fast forward to this morning. I get on my computer for the usual routine. Check my email, RSS, Mac-Forums, Gizmodo, etc. My mom walks in and says "Good morning (my nameeeeee) ", seems normal enough. I go downstairs to grab some grape juice, I see her in the hallway and I couldn't quite understand what she said, but it was something like "I think you should stop now". I had no idea what the heck she was talking about, so I just said "Stop what? Stop....... walking?" - She said "Nothing" and goes upstairs (Picture a Russian accent on the woman). Strange-o.

This is when my dad comes in. He thinks that I did it!!
I'm the male teenaged son, what defence did I have? The female parent doesn't even know what an IP address is. My mom starts raving on about this "Maybe you don't like living with us" bull. Nothing really new. She's the type who instantly takes an idea then keeps it forever.

All I can say is it wasn't me, but who else would have that much information?
They're emailing CL and dealing with it, but the lack of trust worries me, I've never really been a bad boy.

Basically my question is, what do I do at this point? Is this some idiot just trying to be funny? Am I being framed? Having both my parents mad at me for something I took absolutely no part in just worries me is all.

 

[AngryApple]

That is a good question. What do people do in that kind of situation? Honestly, I have no idea. I visit a website and it is a bunch of hackers who hack people who are "fags" to them. They end up getting personal information about their target (address, phone number, ISP, a lot of stuff). Then they get their entire hacking group to send their target unordered pizza, free tampons and hundreds of free boxes.. This makes me think. I have no idea what I would do.

In my opinion, whomever is doing it is doing it to make your parents mad at you and ruin your life.

 

[rdowns]

You joined to post this?

Sorry, I chuckled over it but I can see how effed up it is. Flag one of the ads on CL and tell them your story. Surely they'll see so many ads with your number and remove them and stop it from being posted.

 

[Unibody5]

I visit a website and it is a bunch of hackers who hack people who are "fags" to them.

I was hoping the word "website" would be a link (I kid.)

Yeah I still don't know what to do. They seem to think it was me because "only I would have access to all that information"

You joined to post this?

I can be found on another Mac forum. I needed another Mac forum just for more things to read. Figured I might as well post the story here as well.

 

[mrj412]

Yikes - Sounds to me like a friend or neighbor is upset - Anyone in your family make someone mad lately?

Back in grade school I had a classmate bully send in a gift subscription to Playboy in my name - My mom called me into the kitchen just to get my reaction, my dad didn't mind though.

 

[spaceboots06]

Blinds and a dog?

Anyone? Anyone?

 

[benflick]

Whoa, this happened to me sorta. I was trying to sell my old iPhone (Oddly enough), and my ads must have pissed somebody off, they made new ads with my same contact info (Included an email address in the ad, not the CL confidential one). The ads made many false claims, for instance, one of the ads said "Don't call if you're black, this is for whites only". Seriously, who thinks of this stuff?
Needless to say, I got tons hate mail to my email, calling "me" all kinds of names. I contacted Craigslist, and they couldn't do much about the ads already there, only deleting a few. They did say they would stop any additional ads. I still haven't sold my iPhone.
This doesn't compare to having your street address out there.

 

[Unibody5]

This doesn't compare to having your street address out there.

There were actually people out there this morning. I was too tired to remember it, but I think they wanted the car. The female parent loved that one.

 

[spaceboots06]

Whoa, this happened to me sorta. I was trying to sell my old iPhone (Oddly enough), and my ads must have pissed somebody off, they made new ads with my same contact info (Included an email address in the ad, not the CL confidential one). The ads made many false claims, for instance, one of the ads said "Don't call if you're black, this is for whites only". Seriously, who thinks of this stuff?
Needless to say, I got tons hate mail to my email, calling "me" all kinds of names. I contacted Craigslist, and they couldn't do much about the ads already there, only deleting a few. They did say they would stop any additional ads. I still haven't sold my iPhone.
This doesn't compare to having your street address out there.

I take precautions. I'll verify a posting with my "real" email address but when replying to someone I'll use my "outdated" email address that I rarely check anymore.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Sorry, but this post made me laugh. Ass kicking machine and stacks of porn.. haha.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

I'd sit down with your parents and tell them you are offended and insulted they thought it was you.

 

[MattG]

So...is the ass-kicking machine still for sale?

 

[mward333]

Sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like someone is playing a practical joke on you, but it got out of hand. That's a shame to hear.

Good luck getting it resolved. Some day you'll probably look back on it and laugh and maybe tell your grandchildren about it, but right now is doesn't seem funny at all. That's really a pain to deal with.

Best of luck to you.

 

[ethical]

That sucks man. But why do you refer to your mum as "the female parent"?lol.

 

[mward333]

That sucks man. But why do you refer to your mum as "the female parent"?lol.

It does not convey an informal feeling..... but every family is different.

For instance, some people call their Mom by her first name, even from a young age.

 

[ethical]

It does not convey an informal feeling..... but every family is different.

For instance, some people call their Mom by her first name, even from a young age.

I was just curious because he referred to her as "mom" in the beginning part of his post. But anyway, this thread isnt about his mum.... sorry for de-railing it

Im not familiar with craigs lists, but isnt there a way to contact the person who placed the add in the first place?

 

[Unibody5]

Sorry, but this post made me laugh. Ass kicking machine and stacks of porn.. haha.

So...is the ass-kicking machine still for sale?

I googled Ass-Kicking machine and found the image used in the post:

Sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like someone is playing a practical joke on you, but it got out of hand. That's a shame to hear.

Good luck getting it resolved. Some day you'll probably look back on it and laugh and maybe tell your grandchildren about it, but right now is doesn't seem funny at all. That's really a pain to deal with.

Best of luck to you.

Haha I probably will

That sucks man. But why do you refer to your mum as "the female parent"?lol.

It does not convey an informal feeling..... but every family is different.

For instance, some people call their Mom by her first name, even from a young age.

Haha I call my mom "Janet" and my dad "Dad" (usually). They sometimes get "The (gender) parent" when I'm not pleased with them.

I'm not familiar with craigs lists, but isnt there a way to contact the person who placed the add in the first place?

There is, but they had their email address set to "Do not show".

I'd sit down with your parents and tell them you are offended and insulted they thought it was you.

This is my plan, thanks

 

[InvalidUserID]

I had something similar to me happpen: I kept getting calls on my cell phone about cars for sale that were posted on CL. When I searched my phone #, about 20 different ads came up, with the guy's business name. When I searched the name, I found his cell phone # was "9572" and he accidentally put "9552", my number.

When I called him and asked him to edit his posts because I was getting constant calls, he said "Well thats what caller ID is for" and when I mentioned that I get many calls from people whose #s I don't know he replied with "sucks for you" and hung up.

To make a long story short, I copied his pictures and his ads and made new ads. However, I listed his vehicles well below his asking price and included stuff like "I need to sell FAST...make me an offer, lowballs included...call me anytime, day or night...must sell by this weekend!".

I made sure to include his correct phone #.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

I had something similar to me happpen: I kept getting calls on my cell phone about cars for sale that were posted on CL. When I searched my phone #, about 20 different ads came up, with the guy's business name. When I searched the name, I found his cell phone # was "9572" and he accidentally put "9552", my number.

When I called him and asked him to edit his posts because I was getting constant calls, he said "Well thats what caller ID is for" and when I mentioned that I get many calls from people whose #s I don't know he replied with "sucks for you" and hung up.

To make a long story short, I copied his pictures and his ads and made new ads. However, I listed his vehicles well below his asking price and included stuff like "I need to sell FAST...make me an offer, lowballs included...call me anytime, day or night...must sell by this weekend!".

I made sure to include his correct phone #.

That's awesome!

 

[Unibody5]

An update. My parents are still mad at me for nothing. They are still convinced I did it. ("The wording style" matches my type). I talked to a few of my closer female friends about it, they also think it's crazy that they are dumping this all on me with no solid evidence. Didn't really get any ideas from them though. Just an "Aw" and a hug.

 

[greg555]

An update. My parents are still mad at me for nothing. They are still convinced I did it. ("The wording style" matches my type). I talked to a few of my closer female friends about it, they also think it's crazy that they are dumping this all on me with no solid evidence. Didn't really get any ideas from them though. Just an "Aw" and a hug.

Free hugs are good.

You could point your parents to this thread to show them that you are trying to solve the problem (that someone else created).

Does CL have a Report link to get these ads removed?

Good luck - Greg

 

[pooryou]

I had something similar to me happpen: I kept getting calls on my cell phone about cars for sale that were posted on CL. When I searched my phone #, about 20 different ads came up, with the guy's business name. When I searched the name, I found his cell phone # was "9572" and he accidentally put "9552", my number.

When I called him and asked him to edit his posts because I was getting constant calls, he said "Well thats what caller ID is for" and when I mentioned that I get many calls from people whose #s I don't know he replied with "sucks for you" and hung up.

To make a long story short, I copied his pictures and his ads and made new ads. However, I listed his vehicles well below his asking price and included stuff like "I need to sell FAST...make me an offer, lowballs included...call me anytime, day or night...must sell by this weekend!".

I made sure to include his correct phone #.

I really like the way you think

 

[Macky-Mac]

An update. My parents are still mad at me for nothing. They are still convinced I did it. ("The wording style" matches my type). I talked to a few of my closer female friends about it, they also think it's crazy that they are dumping this all on me with no solid evidence. Didn't really get any ideas from them though. Just an "Aw" and a hug.

LOL....aw, come on! time to fess up! we wont tell your parents

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I had something similar to me happpen: I kept getting calls on my cell phone about cars for sale that were posted on CL. When I searched my phone #, about 20 different ads came up, with the guy's business name. When I searched the name, I found his cell phone # was "9572" and he accidentally put "9552", my number.

When I called him and asked him to edit his posts because I was getting constant calls, he said "Well thats what caller ID is for" and when I mentioned that I get many calls from people whose #s I don't know he replied with "sucks for you" and hung up.

To make a long story short, I copied his pictures and his ads and made new ads. However, I listed his vehicles well below his asking price and included stuff like "I need to sell FAST...make me an offer, lowballs included...call me anytime, day or night...must sell by this weekend!".

I made sure to include his correct phone #.

Hilarious. That's all I can say.

As for the ass-kicking machine and stacks of porn, that is even funnier.

This thread made me laugh out loud, which is hard to do.

If you want some more laughs, head over here.

 

[yojitani]

An update. My parents are still mad at me for nothing. They are still convinced I did it. ("The wording style" matches my type). I talked to a few of my closer female friends about it, they also think it's crazy that they are dumping this all on me with no solid evidence. Didn't really get any ideas from them though. Just an "Aw" and a hug.

Unless this is their big practical joke on you? Probably not.

The best thing you can do now is make an effort to put an end to the ads. Contact craigslist, flag the posts, try to get rid of them.You could, I believe, report the matter to the police since it is a form of ID theft. The steps you take to put an end to it may demonstrate to your parents that you are not responsible.

Who on earth would CALL for an ass-kicking machine?