Craigs List Scam..How??

KEVINS

Post count: 24,375
Joined
May 24, 2001
I posted a 10x10 canopy tent for sale on Craigslist and I recieved several emails today but they both have me stumped. These are obviously scams. They both told me that they will take it but the emails are nearly identical in their reply, ie they will send me the money order via UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc and they will arrange for pickup all they need is my address, etc.
All they are asking for is my mailing address (at this time anyway) so where is the scam? How are they benifitting from this unless they start asking for more personal details which I WILL NOT GIVE THEM.
I'm not going to respind to either of them but I thought I would give some people something to talk about.
Also, as a tip-off that these are scams both of their reply emails were found in my spam folder:D

#1:
smithben600@gmail.com
Hello,
I really appreciate your response to my email, i am completely
satisfied with the advert and do consider it sold to me, i agreed
with the price but i need you to withdraw the advert from Craigslist
to avoid disturbance. I would love to come and check it myself but
I am getting married next week and am very busy at the moment. but you
don't need to bother yourself with the Shipment, I'll be responsible
with the pick up, I'll send a Certified check to you which you can
Easily Cash in your Bank or any Cashing Store around you. my secretary
will mail across to you IMMEDIATELY.and after my check have been
Cleared in your bank then i will arrange for the pick up. The check
will be delivered to you via USPS Postal Mail OR FEDEX
Kindly provide me the following information to facilitate the mailing
of the check to your location.

1. Full name to write on the check
2. Full Physical address to post the check
3. City, State and Zip Code
4. Cell Phone to contact you

*** Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via USPS
POSTAL SERVICE.OR FEDEX and i will make arrangements for the Pick up
as Soon as you have my Check Cashed ***

Hope to read from you soon..
Thanks

#2
erytuyhuj@gmail.com
okay Thanks for the prompt response to my email reply. I will be buying

from you so please kindly withdraw the advert from CRAIGSLIST Please
be informed that i will be paying with a certified or money order
check from my Bank it will be delivered to you via United Parcel
Service (UPS), FedEx or USPS, so I'll need you to provide me with the

following information to facilitate the mailing of the check...

Name to be on the payment...........
Home address...........
City..............
State...........
Zip Code..............
Cell phone #................

I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as you have your
money I am completely satisfied with the advert and the payment will
be delivered within 24hours.** I use a hearing impaired phone # and
will receive your calls via email **

N.B UPS/FedEx does not deliver to a P.O box addresses.Thanks
 
Did one of them tell you they were a Nigerian prince as well?:p Look at the speeling ov the leeter and it's punkchewation Kevin.;)
 
they will give you a certified check which will be found to be fake in the distant future. They will by then have your equipment and the bank will recapture it's money, Ask if they will hand deliver it to you at the police station. :cool:
 
Did one of them tell you they were a Nigerian prince as well?:p Look at the speeling ov the leeter and it's punkchewation Kevin.;)
If they said Princess then I'd be all over giving them my info..LOL:D

I thought about the fake check but the one stated this: "and after my check have been
Cleared in your bank then i will arrange for the pick up"..


I would love to mess with them tho..:D
ks
 
Have some fun with them Kevin. There are several threads where guys have done just this and the responses they get are funny.;)
 
tell them to send you a postal money order so you can take it to the post office to cash it, making sure to remind them that if they send a fake postal money order the FBI will show up at the address where you are supposed to ship the item they are buying..
 
I sent them the police chiefs name and the address of the police station when I got that email.
 
I got these same emails when selling items on craigslist.From what I hear the check will clear the bank but they will discover later its a fraud and you the one who cashed the check will be held accountable.
 
Wish there was a way to reach through the internet and punch them in the balls.
 
Here's another one. The replys are setup on autoreply too..

wooody7675@gmail.com
Thanks you for the response according to the description,am okay with
the price and the condition pasted on cl. I am ready to make instant
purchase.My mode of payment would be in CERTIFIED CHECK and i will
arrange for a local pick up as soon as you get the check, because that
is the only inconvenient means for me and due to my work frame i can
not be able to get there and i promise everything will go smoothly.I
really wish to be there to check out the item but i don't have chance
cause am very busy person (US MARINE). Concerning the pick up, i will
arrange for it after you receive the payment and it clears... Pls get
back to me with below info so that i can proceed with the payment
immediately if you are selling to me.

Full Name:
Address: Not P.O.BOX
City:
State:postal Code:
Phone Number: That i can send text

And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you
and i will let you know when its mailed out. Thanks and i hope we
handle this in good faith while waiting to hear from you. i will add
an additional $30 so that you can hold it for me till the check reach
you.
Best Regards.
John Rowland.
 
It could be a money laundering scam also. Send them a link to the FBI home page
 
When I put an add on craigslist I add a few lines which keep the scammers away.

No MO, cashiers checks, bank drafts, Paypal, your "agent" cannot pic this item up.
 
I'll try that.. I have another add for some wheels/tires but I have not had any scammers on that add..

ks
 
I played with them.. even got the fake paypal email with XYZ sent you 1000.00 Always a different email address was the tip off.
I replied back paypal doesnt have the $$$ and if your a fraud please go away.. they left it alone at that point. 650 for a set of wheels and tires. And the 350 additional was for shipping o_O
 
I thought about the fake check but the one stated this: "and after my check have been
Cleared in your bank then i will arrange for the pick up"..

I would love to mess with them tho..:D
ks

The check is a fake. It does clear as it is drawn on a legitimate account, and clearing it only takes a few days. Then a few weeks later it is determined that the check was a fake and the bank grabs the money back from you. And you have no way to get your goods back.

Many times the check is for even more $$$'s then required. They ask you to refund any additional amount over the true cost. And you are out that money too. This is such on the third offer you posted.

The use of the "hearing impaired" phone number is another scam on US taxpayers. They are overseas and are using a taxpayer provided service to make/place free phone calls.

RemoveBeforeFlight
 
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