Craigslist help --> Am I getting scammed?

JHS5120

This is the first time I have ever tried to sell an item off Craigslist and I was looking for opinions.

I have three items for sale and I get two emails within 10 minutes of each other from different people BOTH saying "still up for sale?" I thought this was peculiar, but I separately replied to them telling them they were in fact still available.

I get this email from them:

Hi
Thanks for the response.I am willing to pay your asking price.I will pay by money order as its the only way i can pay you at the moment.I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment have been received by you. I dont mind adding an extra twenty dollars so you can keep it in my favor.Reply with your full name,cell phone number,and address where payment should be sent.Please take the posting off craigslist today and consider it sold to me. Expecting to hear from you soon.
Regards



Again, two separate people, two separate email addresses, but two IDENTICAL emails written! Is this how Craigslist normally is? How should I reply?

Thanks,
Jason

Maurice

<< <i>Am I getting scammed? >>



Yes.

JHS5120

<< <i>

<< <i>Am I getting scammed? >>



Yes. >>



Hahaha, I guess this answers my question...

Link w/ identical email


Wow... Craigslist sucks.

sportscardtheory

Scam. Although I never understood this scam, as receiving and cashing a money order leaves you in the clear. I guess maybe it's some kind of fishing for your personal info scam.

Edit - Just read that article. Can't you simply cash the money order with whomever made the money order, as cash? Or wait until it goes through officially before handing over or sending the item?

Foo3112

The scam usually goes like this:

The seller receives an email from the buyer saying how they are out of town but that want the item and they will send you a check. Then after you reply, they write back saying something along the lines such as "my secretary wrote $100 extra over the amount but for you to keep the difference for your troubles." Ive actually had this happen to me and although I knew it was a scam, I let them send me the check just to see it. The check looks pretty legit but this is how it works. You get the check, you cash it and now you have access to that money in your bank account. Then of course you send the item and yout hink done deal - but here's what happens the next few days. Your bank realizes that the check was bogus so now they take back the deposited amount (which you probably spent by that point and now your without the money and without your item.

The best way to ensure you do not get scammed is easy. Only deal with cash and face to face. Its a simple process really but it takes a bit of common sense.

Dboneesq

I think the "OK, I'll meet you in the local police station parking lot. Cash only. It will protect us both." will separate the legits from the scammers. LOL

grote15

Anytime a prospective buyer doesn't mind adding extra money to the askinmg price, you ought to be real wary!

baseballfan

i have a vehicle up there and keep getting texts that they will take it sight unseen and will pay with paypal

i tell them i dont do paypal and they beg me to open an account. i tell them no and dont hear from them again.

i have had this happen a couple of times now, now i just ignore them unless they are local and want to see the car

good luck


go irish!!!

MooseDog

Exactly this (below)...you'll also get a lot of emails saying "still available?" to which you will reply and you'll never hear from them again. This is a way spammers gather "good" email addresses.



<< <i>The scam usually goes like this:

The seller receives an email from the buyer saying how they are out of town but that want the item and they will send you a check. Then after you reply, they write back saying something along the lines such as "my secretary wrote $100 extra over the amount but for you to keep the difference for your troubles." Ive actually had this happen to me and although I knew it was a scam, I let them send me the check just to see it. The check looks pretty legit but this is how it works. You get the check, you cash it and now you have access to that money in your bank account. Then of course you send the item and yout hink done deal - but here's what happens the next few days. Your bank realizes that the check was bogus so now they take back the deposited amount (which you probably spent by that point and now your without the money and without your item.

The best way to ensure you do not get scammed is easy. Only deal with cash and face to face. Its a simple process really but it takes a bit of common sense. >>

milbroco

The answer can be found in a math problem.

Craigslist + Money = Scam

WinPitcher

<< <i>I dont mind adding an extra twenty dollars so you can keep it in my favor. >>




lol

mygotta

Yup, its a scam. I got one or two of those before. Another obvious red flag is that they are out of state and will have someone pick it up for them.

digicat

Most of the emails I've gotten as a result of my craigslist posts have been automated phishing attempts.

I've also encountered a pair of dead-beats who were no-shows at the face-to-face transaction meetings.

When ever you get an email form craigslist that looks fishy, do a google search for the text the person used, and if it shows up on some other sites, you know the email is no good.

BruceinGa

Five years ago I was selling my pickup on cl and received an email stating that they would pay my asking price, sight unseen. I just replied that they should try to screw someone else. I never heard anymore from them.

jay0791

scam 4 sure.

When u place a craigslist add.....have the 'buyers' respond in only a certain way..."such as responding to your add for the cards." EXACTLY
and mention only adds responded in this way will be answered.

Many of the scammers send out 100's or more automated responses to adds. Then sit back and wait to see who bites.

Money orders are faked and it may take your bank 3 weeks to find out. Thn guess what......they reverse the $ on you.
By then the 'buyer' often has the merchsandise.

also some adds are meant to get into peoples houses to see what else or what they have. Then go back and steal

around here there was a big ATV theft ring doing just this.

Mention cash only deal.

swartz1

Is it just me...

or dont sellers wait for "funds" to clear?

MooseDog

<< <i>Is it just me..or dont sellers wait for "funds" to clear? >>



Some people may assume (wrongly) that a money order is "good". If a bank determines any check is phony, doesn't matter if funds have cleared they can still debit your account weeks, even months later. Happened to me with a fake cashiers check years ago.