Long story shortened a little, I'm trying to sell my old laptop on Craigslist. Due to getting so many crap e-mails about it I decided to have a little fun with one:

Their first contact with me: Is it available for sale,condition and more pictures

My response: You will have to call me. Phone number is in the ad. Just trying to weed out all the spam messages.

Their reply: I could have done that instead,but the fact is that i am Deaf so i could not make a call,kindly get back to me asap

Didn't quite know where this was going now, so

My reply: What views would you like pictures of? It's in very good condition, no scratches, just a little wear where your hands would rub against all the time.

Their reply: Okay! thanks for responds. actually i"m currently on vacation to Malaysia,Asia but i"m buying this items for my son currently working in an oilfield in the west coast African as Birthday Gift, i will pay $350 including shipping via USPS(ems)express mail., let me know if you accept paypal instant payment, reply back with your paypal ID and your full name,i will make the payment asap

Hmmm, I was only asking $250 and in Malaysia???

My reply: My paypal username is : iruleu@gmail.com (I rule you)
>>> My full name is Barock Obama.
>>>
>>> Thank you for your purchase

Their reply: Am through with the payment and just check your PayPal email for the notification of the payment from PayPal so go and get it ship out now and get back to me with the tracking number and so post out the item out via USPS PRIORITY REGISTERED MAIL that the tracking number start from EG/EH or CP and and also remember to reduce the cost price of the item to $50 on the shipping label cos of the Nigeria custom so they wont charge much in receiving the Item so this where you are sending it to
>>
>> Name...........John Peter
>> Address.......17,Onifade street
>> City...........mushin
>> state..........Lagos
>> Country.......Nigeria
>> Zip code......... 23401
>>
>> Thanks for being honest.


Where the hell did they get that information from??


Another reply from them right away: Did you got my payment yet? kindly get back to me now for me to know what is going on

And another instant reply: Oh my God, You are a scam and you are trying to scam me ,i will make sure i report you to the state COPS and the FBI if i don't hear from you now..................goodbye

Haha, go right ahead!!

My reply to that: Get lost and don't ever contact me again.

Their reply: What do you mean ?

And hopefully me final:So, you're telling me you can't buy a computer in Africa or maybe in Europe anywhere??? Wow, and I thought I was behind times. As I said before, DO NOT contact me anymore!!!!



It's amazing just how far some of these scammers will take it. We'll see what happens next.
So what have you done?

 

And the last reply:

You sound skeptic from your email and that's very wrong,if you are
thinking that I just want to take your item for nothing then that's
very wrong and sounds so absurd When I know how people work hard to
earn their money.I will never think of taking some kind advantage over
you and please take that out of your mind that is an awful thing to
think about. Please understand me better.It seems you don't even trust
your self,because you have to trust…


Time to report them and block the e-mails

 

I always put: "All sales will be conducted on a face to face, cash in hand basis" at the bottom of my ads. Seems to keep scammers to a minimum. When I get one of those scam emails I usually respond with a very similar message. Then to the guys who like to send movers with "checks", I just say "send your movers with cash or they will be turned away". Never really had anything go beyond that....

 

I had them do this to me about a month ago. They wanted to pay 400 for my phone, I was asking 220 and they wanted to send Fed Ex to my house to pick it up ASAP because they wanted to get it to their son by tomorrow who lives in Germany.

I use ebay quite frequently and have this happen to me often. I never thought to mess around with them though. I'll have to do this next time.

 

Any time I've placed ads on Craig's List I purposely do not allow contact via email----like you I provide my business contact number.

Your story is great and I'd be tempted to do the same thing---why not waste their time?

I might be a bit thin-skinned but I get a bit upset those off-shore screw ups think all Americans are so foolish! Then again I had a good friend I thought to be very smart get snookered out of $3800 for a horse trailer, typical deal too good to be true. Without talking to anyone she trotted off to the closest Western Union office, plopped down the cash and waited for delivery. Several days after trying to contact the seller she realized she'd been taken. Only then did she call me---I wasn't sure how to break it to her gently.

Live and learn----she's a Phd in internet smarts now!

 

I completely forgot about the E-bay scam I was involved in a few years back...over an old stereo I was selling. I reported them eventually, but there was 20+ pages of messages from the scammer threatening me and everything. Once I reported them, it was all done and over.

I know Craigslist is really bad for that, and it seems like all the spammers use a "gmail" account. I think I'm going t add that I will only accept calls, no e-mail and cash only. Hopefully that will ward some of them off.

Sucks to hear your friend lost $3800. You'd think there would be a way to get back at them.

 

Ya know 81Choptop there's no way to get at these slick cats----this is their full time job! Once the Western Union agent took her cash there wasn't a way to stop the transaction. On the other end a full cash payout was probably made, no identification other than a code number and address that was provided by the scammer anyway.

Of course a payday of $3800 clear and free for about an hours work makes even an honest man rethink things. I hate she lost that money because its a chunk of cash but I hope she's at least learned to call me---or anyone---long long before doing something similar again.

The phone call only policy is probably best for Craig's List---it definitely weeds out the pests and low ballers too. In the meantime though its still a guilty pleasure to scam the scammers---that sort of payback is fair and well deserved!

 

i never ever ever give anyone my phone number.
the last thing i want is some rectal orifice from around the world calling me at 2 am to try to scam me.

 

I still carry a digital pager----the ultimate Caller ID/filtering device ever created!

 

I recently successfully sold a gps chart plotter. The add of course came along multiple obvious scams. I don't have time to play with the, so they just get spammed.

 

I told one that said he was going to mail a certified check to mail it to

Suite 320
4401 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Never heard back from him again.


BTW if you look that address up it''s the resident agency for the FBI.

 

^^^^

I'd love to know or see the scammers or the FBI's reaction!