A buysafe question for you experts out there...
GraigK
Posts: 63
Hey guys,
I had a question that I was hoping y'all could help with. It's not sports related, but it does deal with a company I know some of might have used in the past. My brother found a posting on Craigslist, with a buyer selling a certain saxophone he was interested in purchasing. The price is very good, and for some reason, his correspondence with the seller seems a little bit shady. In his emails, he never gives my brother his name, only going by the tag of 'JJ', at rakuzale@gmail.com, and has made some interesting suggestions as to how the transaction would go down. I had mentioned to him that more often than not, when a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is (something you folks have been kind enough to teach), and that some folks on the board might be able to offer up their opinion. Here's the final email they exchanged:
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Hello,
As I said in my first email I will explain how BuySafe works. BuySafe is a third party service used for Internet transactions to make them safer and to protect both parties, the buyer and the seller. You will have a 10 day return policy too so you will be sure that you receive the item exactly as described. I am using their services because i had to leave with business and I couldn`t find somebody else to take care of the transaction for me. If you haven`t used BuySafe before I will explain how they work:
They already have the item in their custody packed, insured and ready for shipping. They will contact you with all the details of this sale (they will send you an invoice ) and with the payment instructions. You will send the payment to one of their agents that is handling our transaction and after that you will send them the payment information so they can verify It. I will have to make you aware of the fact that I don`t know the agent name because they change it in every transaction for security reasons.As soon as they do that the shipping process will start. After you receive the item you will have a 10 day return policy, in this time you will have to decide if you accept it or not. If you do then you will notify them that you accept it so they can send me the payment. If not, they will give you a complete refund and return the item on my expense. I will need your full name and shipping address so I can have them contact you with your invoice and payment instructions.
Regards!
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So, does any of this sound fishy??
Thanks,
Graig
I had a question that I was hoping y'all could help with. It's not sports related, but it does deal with a company I know some of might have used in the past. My brother found a posting on Craigslist, with a buyer selling a certain saxophone he was interested in purchasing. The price is very good, and for some reason, his correspondence with the seller seems a little bit shady. In his emails, he never gives my brother his name, only going by the tag of 'JJ', at rakuzale@gmail.com, and has made some interesting suggestions as to how the transaction would go down. I had mentioned to him that more often than not, when a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is (something you folks have been kind enough to teach), and that some folks on the board might be able to offer up their opinion. Here's the final email they exchanged:
------------------
Hello,
As I said in my first email I will explain how BuySafe works. BuySafe is a third party service used for Internet transactions to make them safer and to protect both parties, the buyer and the seller. You will have a 10 day return policy too so you will be sure that you receive the item exactly as described. I am using their services because i had to leave with business and I couldn`t find somebody else to take care of the transaction for me. If you haven`t used BuySafe before I will explain how they work:
They already have the item in their custody packed, insured and ready for shipping. They will contact you with all the details of this sale (they will send you an invoice ) and with the payment instructions. You will send the payment to one of their agents that is handling our transaction and after that you will send them the payment information so they can verify It. I will have to make you aware of the fact that I don`t know the agent name because they change it in every transaction for security reasons.As soon as they do that the shipping process will start. After you receive the item you will have a 10 day return policy, in this time you will have to decide if you accept it or not. If you do then you will notify them that you accept it so they can send me the payment. If not, they will give you a complete refund and return the item on my expense. I will need your full name and shipping address so I can have them contact you with your invoice and payment instructions.
Regards!
------------------
So, does any of this sound fishy??
Thanks,
Graig
0
Comments
CL is fine for local pickups, public-place meetings, cash payments.
I would NEVER do a "buysafe" deal.
not so good
DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.
In most instances, these sellers make it look like the transaction is going through ebay or buysafe, but in all actuality, it is not. Notice how you are not going through the buysafe website, but instead, they are contacting you. I would stay clear from this. Test him by asking him if we would put this item on ebay, then you can buy it and pay via paypal. I am certain he will come up with a reason that he cannot do it this way.
After rereading your email, this is definitely a scam. Try emailing one of those "too good to be true" car ads on craigslist and you will get a similar story. I would say that about half of all vehicles posted on craigslist in Peoria are scams.
Again, do not fall for this.
>
Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
Steve
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When your brother offers the seller 25% of the asking price,
and the offer is cheerfully accepted, you will know for sure
that is is a SCAM.
See the stories in the link I placed above.
You can use a USPS money order to make such a deal, and then take it to USPS for a refund if the deal goes sour. Not too many smart crooks would be excited about conking you on the head and stealing a USPS money order.
<< <i>I would add to the excellent advice you've gotten that it's also very dangerous these days to arrange to meet a stranger when that stranger knows you're carrying a large pile of cash.
You can use a USPS money order to make such a deal, and then take it to USPS for a refund if the deal goes sour. Not too many smart crooks would be excited about conking you on the head and stealing a USPS money order. >>
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Yup.
For ANY amount of money, I would insist on a public-place meeting.
The parking lots at Sheriff's Depts. are pretty popular transfer spots.
Lots of folks use MCD and SBUX as meeting spots, also.
Also, I would never let the other party set the meeting place.
If you use a USPS MO, you can meet at a PO.
<< <i>MCD? SBUX? >>
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MCDONALDS
Starbucks
<< <i>"The price is very good, and for some reason, his correspondence with the seller seems a little bit shady. "
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When your brother offers the seller 25% of the asking price,
and the offer is cheerfully accepted, you will know for sure
that is is a SCAM.
See the stories in the link I placed above. >>
Yes, if they need to "give it away" they only have to go to the local pawn shop - there's no need to give it away and bother with Craig's List.
A friend of mine was involved in a "ponzi scheme" a few years back.
His brother figured it all out before the deal went through and they luckily
eluded what could have been an ugly situation.
Never hurts to get a second or third opinion during a meeting.
PoppaJ
Thanks so much for the quick feedback. After reading my brother a few of your posts, he's convinced that it's not worth the bother. It's horrible to know that there are people out there who get away with this stuff daily. I just we all were as much informed as we should be. And I suppose the ol' gut feeling should not be ignored.
Thanks again,
Graig