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Someone's trying to scam me on Craigslist?

GFLPraxis

GFLPraxis

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 17, 2004
7,152
460
Heh, well I just posted a car up on Craigslist and within 24 hours got someone asking if the car was still available.

I responded that, yes, it was, and almost immediately got this response:

Hello,
Thanks for your reply i got all your information about the vehicle and am ok with it, i will be making your payment today, i need your full name and address and your valid phone number to make the payment today through certified check will handle the shipment myself.i The check will get to you in 2-5 days time and when you recived the check you can then get the check cashed at your Bank i will wait for you to confirm and clear the check.The payment will be in excess as i will want you to contact my shipper with the excess fund for him to pickup the vehicle after you must have confirmed and cashed the check .i will wait for your bank to clear the Check so you can deduct your own money and send the excess fund to my shipper via money gram Money Transfer cos he needs the excess to pick up the car .You can IM on this ID -*********@yahoo.com or call me on ******* for more information.Thanks and God Bless,you can get the posting deleted from craiglist
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This certainly sounds like a scam; I specify that my car's odometer is not working and offer either a discount or to get it fixed before the sale, the buyer doesn't even mention it. They don't ask to look at the car and want to mail a check.

I'm assuming this is a scam (can anyone confirm?). My question is, where does the scam come in? Is the point to steal the car and get the bank to pull the money back or something? I'm trying to see where they'd get money.

Also, why do scammers write like such idiots all the time?
 
MacNut said:
Because the people that fall for it are idiots as well.
Click to expand...

So the reasoning is that if they write intelligently, people might get suspicious and think they're clever? :D


Should I just tell them to get lost, or have a little fun with it?
 
GFLPraxis said:
Heh, well I just posted a car up on Craigslist and within 24 hours got someone asking if the car was still available.

I responded that, yes, it was, and almost immediately got this response:



This certainly sounds like a scam; I specify that my car's odometer is not working and offer either a discount or to get it fixed before the sale, the buyer doesn't even mention it. They don't ask to look at the car and want to mail a check.

I'm assuming this is a scam (can anyone confirm?). My question is, where does the scam come in? Is the point to steal the car and get the bank to pull the money back or something? I'm trying to see where they'd get money.

Also, why do scammers write like such idiots all the time?
Click to expand...

Here is the scam: The check is bogus - but will pass at first moment with the bank. You get the cash, take the excess for his "shipper" to cover costs. After which (couple of days later) the bank declares the check bogus - and you owe ALL the money back. The shipper likely will never even try to get your car, but will have the 500 or 1000 or whatever the shipper wanted.

You, meanwhile, owe the bank everything back, and the "shipper" has your $ free and clear.

And maybe a car - but that is not likely at all, usually just the electronic funds is all they want.
 
yes you are being scammed.

who would seriously buy a car on craigslist without checking it out?
 
GFLPraxis said:
My question is, where does the scam come in? Is the point to steal the car and get the bank to pull the money back or something? I'm trying to see where they'd get money.
Click to expand...

They'd send you a check for a grand or so more than the price. You cash the check, it seems to clear and give the car and the extra amount to the pick-up guy. The bank discover that the check is fraudulent and the amount is taken back out of your account. The crook has your car and the extra cash, you are out of pocket and carless.
 
Just google "Nigerian Scam" and you'll know more than you ever wanted. They use the same exact tactics, except apply them to Craigslist, instead of your email and long dead relative in the kingdom of whatever...
:rolleyes:

(#*$ Them. Hard.
 
give the shipper a bogus check for the difference and arrange for the car to be picked up "next week". Probably not worth your trouble.
 
You want to know for good and sure, tell them to meet you in person, and that's how the transfer will take place at the bank itself.

99.999% sure they will no-show.

Not worth (#*$ing with them, they do this all day long, every day. You've got better things to do, trust me.
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
You want to know for good and sure, tell them to meet you in person, and that's how the transfer will take place at the bank itself.

99.999% sure they will no-show.

Not worth (#*$ing with them, they do this all day long, every day. You've got better things to do, trust me.
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Nah, I could tell almost instantly it was a scam from the writing style and overcomplicated directions, and your summation of the scam it made perfect sense and clinched it.

It's a scam. I'd love to mess with them but I'm slightly concerned that my phone number was in the ad. I didn't stop to think about scammers when I put it up.
 
Hello,
I appreciate your interest! I hope you'll take good care of the car. However, before any monetary exchange can take place, I'll need to sign the title over to you. I'll need your full name, address, and social security number, and I can draft up a contract and send it to you. Thanks!
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:D
 
I once saw a picture of an internet add that went something like this :D.

Millions of Americans have had their credit card number stolen on line. Enter your card number and experation date here ____________ and see if your's has been stolen.
 
AP_piano295 said:
I once saw a picture of an internet add that went something like this :D.

Millions of Americans have had their credit card number stolen on line. Enter your card number and experation date here ____________ and see if your's has been stolen.
Click to expand...

THAT's funny!! :D I've not seen that one before.
 
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