Comments on: Craigslist First Impressions: Lots of Scammers

By: Jon B

Jon B — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:42:34 +0000

ebay and craigslist are great ways of getting items cheaper, the whole trick is NO MONEY ORDERS. paypal and meet in person is the way to go. if ur a female dont meet in person tho, not safe. with paypal one phonecall to tech support n ur money goes right back into your account.

By: airlessgel

airlessgel — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 22:19:31 +0000

Craigslist has gotten so bad with the scamming!! In the past I’ve sold a few items and rented my apt through it. I recently posted a car radio and I must have gotten 5 or 6 emails from scammers, same thing, the shipping, the checks, the company that will pick it up. I wonder if there is a way for Craigslist to get rid of the scammers , It makes you not want to post ever again!

By: Sarah Sunshine

Sarah Sunshine — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:26:01 +0000

I’ve listed several items here in Phoenix, but sold only one. I DID, nowever, reply to a job posting for a tutor, with a legitimate tutoring service. I emailed my resume in the morning, interviewed that evening at a local coffee house, and started tutoring my first client the next afternoon! I’m still working for that service, happily.

By: Ankur

Ankur — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:23:42 +0000

Hi, I ran across a couple of scammers on craigslist, sending me the following messages:

1)Sharon Smith
Hello Dear,
My Name is Sharon Smith, I read your description and I am highly impressed and interested in your Electronic. Please I’ll like to have the Breakdown Details, the total Selling and Shipping cost of the Item you advert on Craigslist as well as the picture of the Electronic if you have any that you can send to me as I’ll not be able to come to your place and check it out. Please do get back to me so that i can make arrangement for payment prior before i send a Shipping Company to pick it up for me.
If you are interested in selling it out to me,…get back to me with this information below:….
Full Name:………….
Full Address:………
Phone Number:……
As i will be paying you with US Postal Money Order Or A Certified Cashier’s Checks that will be easy for you to cash in your Area
Regards.
Mrs Smith.

2)Derek Williams
Thanks for the reply…ok
However am well pleased and satisfied wiht the condition of the item..
And besides,i had a shipping company who will definitely come for the pick up of the item at your door step…ok
Perhaps ,am doing this so as not to give you stress or pains in shipping the item..ok
After you might have receive the check and cash it i your bank,the shipper will definitely come fo te pick up immediately..
.i will notify you immediately the check is been sent and provide you the tracking number thru ups for verification
So therefore kindly get back to me with your name,phone# and address where you want the payment to be addressed to.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:14:18 +0000

I am currently expirencing a fraud right now who is trying to do this exact same thing to me. Good think I came across this. I will tell him/her to go to hell and get a real job. So much for my hopes of someone over buying.

By: Davy

Davy — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 23:09:37 +0000

I’m From Brooksville fl. and this guy probably isn’t from here. we have been overrun with idiots lately. Find out who he is and i’ll go beat him up for you.

By: Currie

Currie — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:46:42 +0000

I just listed some stuff at craigslist last weekend and then got what I thought was an awesome response only to gradually have figured out that this person going by “mary davis” is just scamming me. I thought her grammar was questionable and spelling, too, but naive one here just thought, “how great to have sold it!!” but no check (from which I am to send back the excess – HAH!!)has yet to arrive. I hear such great things about craigslist but so far I don’t know if it will work for me. Am glad I caught on to this BEFORE I really got scammed. Any suggestions of what to do if indeed I do receive a check??

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:31:26 +0000

Ya I have just been approached by Geremy in Brooksville, FL and he wants to ship a $300 fridge to Belgium! Thought right a way something was wrong…Be careful out there….will still use craigslist though. THanks for this post.

By: Lyle

Lyle — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:48:53 +0000

I searched to see if this was a scammer and found this post…Check out this clip from an email on my craigslist posting…
Am jerry willy from brooksville,FLORIDA.Am interested in buying your top gas for my sister inlaw in beligium…Can i have the last price of the item,including the present condition of it up to date…..My method of payment is going to be by a reputable certified check .About the shippment of the item this is going to be done after the paymnet is comfirmed by NAHANCO SHIPPING AGENCY..who is going to be at your door for the pick.you can concact the shipping compeny via this email address and phone….(nan_nacoshippingcompany@mail.com).So can i have the name that will be on the check and the address to issue it out to..plus your contact number.

By: Michele Cali

Michele Cali — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:59:03 +0000

Boy that sister in Belgium must need to fill her house as this same scammer is trying to get me to sell my dining room furniture. He is even using the same storyline and shipping agency. I have heard good things about craigslist and from those that have had successes. As always…if it sounds too good to be true…it probably is!

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:19:07 +0000

Definately agree with Dave, you need a “WILL NOT SHIP. MUST PICK UP ITEM. CASH ONLY” type message. It won’t limit the spam that you get, but it helps to identify people who actually read the message before they email you.

Also, depending on your area, you are hitting a smaller demographic then other forms of advertising. I found that if you aren’t rushed for time it’s best just to keep reposting your ad. If you never get any responses it is probably priced to high. Lower it slightly, and repost!

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 01:53:46 +0000

Craig’s List rocks! I’ve seen the scam things, but they’re so obvious, I don’t remotely consider it a problem. Great “flea market” type of exchange for locals….

By: Becki

Becki — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:11:23 +0000

I’ve bought and sold on the site, and had great luck, it’s like a flea market but you can stay home till you find what you want or need.

By: Carl Guild

Carl Guild — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:43:38 +0000

I have used craiglist for advertising housing for sale and rentals. It actually works quite well, but I have been hit by scammers as well. It was easily picked out from the rest because of spelling issues and an immediate deposit for them to move from England? To a small podunk town in Connecticut? I doubt it. Anyways Craigslist is great at what it does which is to give you free exposure for whatever it is your selling or giving away. Also if you like to give away things and recieve things for free – check out the Yahoo! group “freecycle”

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:13:46 +0000

I have bought and sold a lot of things on Craigslist and never received any scamming type emails. A feature of Craigslist I really like is the “free” section – i have given away stuff that isn’t in good enough condition to sell (sometimes even broken) and there are always people who want it (I guess for parts?).

Also, I always get moving boxes for free from Craigslist, and then give them away for free once I’ve unpacked. Less cardboard in the landfill!

By: Dave Mann

Dave Mann — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:16:18 +0000

I have bought and sold all kinds of stuff on CraigsList. Sold a used car on the first day for the asking price. Tons of misc computer parts. I even found a new employee for my company. I’m in the process of turning all my attic junk into cash.

Scamming is a problem though. Usually at the bottom of my CraigsList postings I put a “WILL NOT SHIP. MUST PICK UP ITEM. CASH ONLY.” type of disclaimer. Then I know people didn’t read the ad when they’re asking me to ship to Nigeria or Belgium or wherever.

I turned my mom into a believer, too.

She’s more wary than I am about money stuff so a once-over of the Cashiers Check thing and she’ll be good to go.

– Dave

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:56:05 +0000

I’ve had pretty good experience with CraigsList. We have sold a few things on there with no issues. Like you said, it’s free so if something doesn’t sell you can always relist for a lower price! I had to do this once and it sold right away at the lower price. I will definitely be using them again in the future. Since I tend to sell smaller things though, I haven’t run in to any scams.

By: EdK

EdK — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:02:19 +0000

The same scams are going around on eBay now, too. We tried to sell some items recently and were innundated with these messages. We even had a scammer complete an auction through the Buy-it-Now process, only to then email the overpay-and-refund scam.