Alert: Craigslist Scammers To Watch Out For

smike · Post by **smike** » 19 Jun 2012 9:10 am

i've received a couple of emails from obvious scammers on craigslist...

the names and emails (so far) are:
miractonic111@gmail.com (Anita Ford)
greenlorene07@gmail.com (Lorene Green)

each email... with varying degrees of grammatical challenges... says that they work at sea, or somewhere with limited email access, that they will pay by paypal if i send them my info (and all they need is my email address), and that their shipping company will pick up the guitar... even though my ads says shipping included.

be on the lookout.
bruce

Jay Kardong · Post by **Jay Kardong** » 19 Jun 2012 9:36 am

To add to your comment, although emails are a good thing to note, be cognizant that the email addresses change daily for these folks, so it's generally a better idea to recognize the scammers MO than a email blacklist.

I watch for the following:

1. Bad grammer
2. Ambiguous references to your item, like "I'll take your item, please remove from craigslist"
3. Any reference to being away like , "I'm out of town so will have a shipper pick it up"
4. Any offer to pay more like, "I will add $100 to the cost for your trouble"
5. Paying via Western Union or PayPal (which they generate fake invoices)

Basically, these things are super easy to spot. Craigslist is great, I love it, but a few rotten eggs are out there, so just be aware

JK

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 20 Jun 2012 5:55 am

Now they can post a pending payment to your Pay Pal account!
I do not understand how they can post a pending payment if they do not have a pay pal account.
PP has not answered this question for me.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 20 Jun 2012 8:29 am

I believe it's PayPal that makes it "pending."
Charitable explanation: to make sure the payment is good.
Cynical explanation: so PayPal gets 3-5 business days' interest.

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 20 Jun 2012 9:29 am

That's exactly why I removed my ad to sell my guitar on Craigslist & put it here in the classifieds.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 20 Jun 2012 9:50 am

Jay Kardong wrote:... to recognize the scammers ...I watch for the following:

1. Bad grammer

.. or spelling

Jay Kardong · Post by **Jay Kardong** » 20 Jun 2012 9:54 am

ha ha!! Watch out for me I suppose!!

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 20 Jun 2012 10:36 am

Lets proceed with the exceleent bargane!...LMAO

Josh Sharpe · Post by **Josh Sharpe** » 22 Jun 2012 7:28 pm

I had a similar situation on Craigslist and wrote this cautionary tale:

http://www.ngcsuthesaint.com/2012/03/a- ... e-scammer/

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 22 Jun 2012 8:28 pm

Great article Josh! I can't believe he agreed to talk to you ...wow..

Clinton Damron · Post by **Clinton Damron** » 22 Jun 2012 8:39 pm

I stay away from "crazylist"

If I need to sell something it'll go on here or a bowhunting forum I'm a member of.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 23 Jun 2012 5:27 am

I still want to know ...
How can someone post a payment to my pay pal account... pending or otherwise... if they do not themselves have a PP account. $:\$
It is pretty easy to identify them though.

Josh Sharpe · Post by **Josh Sharpe** » 23 Jun 2012 6:06 am

Matthew: Thanks! I am still surprised myself that I was able to talk him into speaking with me.

Ken: I really don't understand that either. I work at a shipping retailer and had a customer come in who sold a $5000 ring on Ebay and was shipping it to the "customer" (though, she never shipped it). She received an email (very legitimate-looking) from "Paypal," saying she's received payment on Paypal, but when she checked her account on the site, no payment was shown. She had Paypal research and the account came up totally fake.

The peculiar thing was the ring was to be shipped to an address in Florida. This was presumably an abandoned house and it would seem that a setup could be done to catch the folks trying to steal the ring when they go to pick it up, but the simple fact is that this kind of scam is so prevalent nowadays that authorities do not investigate. When I contacted the Secret Service about the incident I had, they told me flat out that they didn't have time or resources to investigate online scams.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 27 Jun 2012 8:18 am

Funny I posted a beware on Austin Clist..a few weeks ago.
New Pay Pal Scam (BEWARE) - $1000000 (Clist)

I just got a hit wanting to know if the item is still available.

Bob Fraser · Post by **Bob Fraser** » 27 Jun 2012 10:49 am

Josh, I read your article,
I just love the "just trying to provide for his children.” line.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 27 Jun 2012 2:12 pm

New Pay Pal Scam (BEWARE) - $1000000 (Clist)

I have a hitter wanting to buy it for ONE MILLION DOLLARS

Good to have your reply. I am Henry Scott from U.S.A and would have
loved to come and inspect it at your place myself, but I am a marine
engineer and presently off-shore. I am buying this for my father in
United Kingdom and pls just make sure it is in condition described. I
will appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your
money asap. My shipper will be available to pick this up as soon as
payment is made. Do you have PayPal account? because, I have a PayPal
account that I can easily send money through because, its good for
business payments. Get back to me with your PayPal email address and
name in order for me to have your money sent on time. Confirm sale to
me and remove the add from posting..please no shipping!!!

Henry Scott,
424 Center Street
Lewiston,
NY 14092
Phone;646936538 Text only!!

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 6 Jul 2012 4:07 pm

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 7 Jul 2012 7:30 am

Sounds like a variation of the Nigerian 419 scam. Don't give them any info. Or if you've got the time, sometimes it's fun to play them and waste their time.