A seller on craigslist tried scamming me yesterday

[SAWYER]

There was an ad for a Surface Pro 4, I call and didnt get an answer then they would text. I told them to call and they finally did. I wanted to confirm it was indeed a Surface Pro 4, they send a pic of the system info screen and it confirmed to be a 4. I get there and wait about 30 minutes and they guy texted and sent his "son", who was probably 20-something and the guy on the phone sounded about the same. He hands me this pos Surface RT, I go ballistic on him, I dont think he was expecting me to react the way I did. I have a short fuse and when I blow up I go off like crazy. It really made me mad that he tried conning me, they guy was wide-eyed and apologizing profusely, in hindsight I probably looked like a lunatic to the people that was around but I dont care.


Have you ever had someone tried getting over on you on craigslist?

 

[WackyDan]

Eh... Sold a Toy hauler camper a couple years back and dealt with numerous losers that couldn't even afford the thing making low ball offers that weren't even realistic. Others kept offering trades even though I specifically said, no trades. Seems Craig's list is therapy for those who love to window shop but don't actually have the money.

AS for scams.... I just listed my Spyder for sale last weekend. Within ten minutes I had a text from some guy claiming to be interested and that he might not be able to do the deal in person and would Paypal be ok? Red flags on that as well the rest of his story. I've been contacted by three scammers in less than a week for one stinking ad.

 

[SAWYER]

I have been called asshole and rude numerous times because these idiots will ask questions that are clearly answered in the ad and I tell them to read the ad and then contact me

 

[Rumpltzer]

Cmon! It's Craigslist! It's free. It's a haven for flakes and cheapskates and scammers. Well over 90% of my dealings (attempted dealings) on CL are abysmal failures.

Try to keep in mind that it's not personal.

 

[Bardock]

I have bought and sold a lot on craigslist, usually goes well. Only people who tried to scam me are when I sold a compressor and said in the ad plain as day in all caps cash only no checks and everyone had some sob story, going to write a check and I just never contact them again. What kind of fool would I be to take a check? The only time I have ever been scammed was selling me car radio on a forum, honda tech. The guy somehow renegged the money through paypal after I shipped the radio and got his money back and my radio, I got nothing. Mods at the board took his side because they were all friends. Lost $60, will never go to honda tech again. Thing is I know where the guy lives, he had the radio shipped to a university apartment that I had many friends in, but I took the high road, let him take my $60 on the road to hell with him. Damn thieves.

 

[Brainonska511]

I haven't had anything like that, but it reminds me of the time I tried to sell some Klipsch 2.1 computer speakers years ago. One guy responds to my ad and agrees on a place/time, never shows up. A week later, I reposted the ad and the same asshole wanted to buy them, but at that point, I told him to fuck off.

 

[WT]

So did you buy the Surface ??

I just sold my ATV yesterday on CL - had a few tirekickers and lowballers as usual, but eventually had a very nice couple take it home with them yesterday. Guess I need to change my avatar to the new ride now.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Craigslist isn't a paragon of virtue? My entire world view has now been shithammered!!

 

[Carson Dyle]

I've had only good experiences with buying through Craigslist. I've never sold anything. I make sure it's what I want, get some decent photos, make sure the person seems reasonable. I've let many things go because the other person just seemed indifferent or was a genuine douchebag. I seldom dicker about price. If someone lists something for an unreasonable amount, screw it, I don't even bother.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Getting scammed on CL is like getting damp in a rainstorm.

 

[OutHouse]

my area has 3 small towns and somebody made a facebook page for the area to buy/sell/trade. its the only way i sell online now. ive had great success selling stuff with none of that craigslist bullshit. I just sold a 4X8 utility trailer, from listing to the guy driving off with it full price money in my hand was about 24 hours.

 

[luv2liv]

as a seller, i get tons of text asking if payment via paypal is ok.
can somebody here explain how that scam works?
as a buyer, i have been lucky so far...

 

[feralkid]

I have been called asshole and rude numerous times because these idiots will ask questions that are clearly answered in the ad and I tell them to read the ad and then contact me

Absolutely!

As a seller, what possible benefit would there be in answering questions from potential buyers?

Bunch of losers.

 

[Carson Dyle]

as a seller, i get tons of text asking if payment via paypal is ok.
can somebody here explain how that scam works?
as a buyer, i have been lucky so far...

I guess the theory is that they can complain to Paypal and have the charges reversed.

To me, it makes perfect sense not wanting to have to grab hundreds of dollars in cash and take that somewhere to meet some unknown person to buy something*. Or showing up, agreeing to buy something, then having to go home or a bank to get the cash, go back. I haven't made too many large purchases, but I'd worry about being robbed at gunpoint about 100x more than being scammed.

* Another thing I make sure of for any purchase over a few dollars, is that the seller doesn't appear to hide his identity. I want his email. I want to know his name. I want his phone number. If it's just "Bob" at some gmail account and "my phone isn't working" - f*ck that.

 

[Ns1]

Sold a Toy hauler camper a couple years back and dealt with numerous losers that couldn't even afford the thing making low ball offers that weren't even realistic. Others kept offering trades even though I specifically said, no trades. Seems Craig's list is therapy for those who love to window shop but don't actually have the money.

that's because CL is also loaded with sellers who say that but don't actually mean that. I've gotten many, many things off of CL based on what I felt were lowball offers from desperate sellers.

I just send em an email with my price and say I'm paying in cash; if they don't respond I just move on with life.

 

[slag]

my area has 3 small towns and somebody made a facebook page for the area to buy/sell/trade. its the only way i sell online now. ive had great success selling stuff with none of that craigslist bullshit. I just sold a 4X8 utility trailer, from listing to the guy driving off with it full price money in my hand was about 24 hours.

IMO, facebook is just as bad or worse. I always put "first person with the money takes it home, reach me @ xxx.xxx.xxxx or use a throwaway email". I will then get about 5 or more "interested" posts and finally someone who shows up and pays for the item. Then, an hour or so later, the people who posted "interested" bitch because they were at work all day and couldn't make it, or their kids dad didn't show up to watch them so they couldn't meet me somewhere or whatever, and get all pissy. I couldn't give two shits if you were interested, you weren't the first one to get to me with cash so suck on it.

 

[Thebobo]

Had a couple purchases on CL no problem. Back in the day I sold lots of stuff on the mag penny saver that was sold at 7-11 and the like.

 

[aigomorla]

a friend of mine got mugged while doing a CL transaction.
She was buying a MacBook for 600 dollars.
When the guy was supposed to pull out a MacBook he pulled out a pistol.

Sad thing is the Cops did little to nothing because there was no "injury" and the amount stolen was little.

This is why i tend to avoid CL now.

 

[Craig234]

a friend of mine got mugged while doing a CL transaction.
She was buying a MacBook for 600 dollars.
When the guy was supposed to pull out a MacBook he pulled out a pistol.

Sad thing is the Cops did little to nothing because there was no "injury" and the amount stolen was little.

This is why i tend to avoid CL now.

Meet in a public place.

 

[Imp]

I only sell <$150 or under items on Craigslist. I actually get worried when it goes over $100 because I expect to be shived and mugged.

Craigslist doesn't seem to be popular here anymore. Most of my responses are on Kijiji when I dual post.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I buy and sell on craigslist every so often. My biggest problem is the time wasters. Meet at 7-11 at 4pm. They either are a complete no show or they want me to wait around for 45 minutes until they get there.

 

[Sonikku]

It's depressing how many people choose to try to scam others.

 

[Brovane]

Craig's list can be fun. Tried to sell my old laptop a year ago. Had one lady txt me wanting to pay full price but she wanted to ship the laptop overseas to her son serving in the military. Well that set off all my red flags and I told her I only deal face-to-face with cash to keep the honest people honest. Offered to knock $50 off the price so she could ship the laptop herself. For some reason never heard back from her.

My Dad has purchased 3 forklifts, boom lift, pickup truck, trailers, car lift, etc. off Craig's list.

 

[aigomorla]

It's depressing how many people choose to try to scam others.

seriously....
I always learned the statement:
"there is always someone who is smarter then you" always works both ways..

Meaning someone out there is smart enough to scam you so be careful, at the same time, someone is always smart enough to yell out SCAM when you try so, so don't scam others and ruin your reputation.

 

[zinfamous]

I think you undersold your position, OP. You should have also grabbed the tablet and slammed it into the floor.