Are craigslist international buyers always scammers?

[50]

Hello,

I'm selling an ipod touch and had a few people respond to me saying they would pay, one was in Paris, the other hasn't told me. If I receive the paypal payment in my account and confirm the cash is there by logging on and not going through a phishing email, is it safe to say the money is mine? Can they somehow bounce the money back? Thanks

 

[Brainonska511]

Craigslist -> For local, cash sale only.

Anything else should be ignored.

 

[spaceman]

yes

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: 50
Hello,

I'm selling an ipod touch and had a few people respond to me saying they would pay, one was in Paris, the other hasn't told me. If I receive the paypal payment in my account and confirm the cash is there by logging on and not going through a phishing email, is it safe to say the money is mine? Can they somehow bounce the money back? Thanks

Yes, happens all the time. They pay with fraudulent funds, you think you made out like a bandit.

Few days later after you've shipped your item PayPal takes all the $$$ back saying it was fraudulent.

You *will* lose the money AND the item. Don't even think about it. Only deal local in cold hard cash in a public place with video cameras.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, they can use a stolen PP account...and PP will revoke it eventually.

 

[Jeeebus]

Originally posted by: spaceman
yes

quoted to preserve the most lucid statement spaceman has EVER made.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: 50
Hello,

I'm selling an ipod touch and had a few people respond to me saying they would pay, one was in Paris, the other hasn't told me. If I receive the paypal payment in my account and confirm the cash is there by logging on and not going through a phishing email, is it safe to say the money is mine? Can they somehow bounce the money back? Thanks

Ask yourself this, why the hell would someone from Paris want to buy your iPod?

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: 50
Hello,

I'm selling an ipod touch and had a few people respond to me saying they would pay, one was in Paris, the other hasn't told me. If I receive the paypal payment in my account and confirm the cash is there by logging on and not going through a phishing email, is it safe to say the money is mine? Can they somehow bounce the money back? Thanks

Ask yourself this, why the hell would someone from Paris want to buy your iPod?

this

 

[FuryofFive]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Craigslist -> For local, cash sale only.

Anything else should be ignored.

how local is local? ive had people message me who live an hour away from me

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: Jeeebus

Originally posted by: spaceman
yes

quoted to preserve the most lucid statement spaceman has EVER made.

This.

Originally posted by: FuryofFive

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Craigslist -> For local, cash sale only.

Anything else should be ignored.

how local is local? ive had people message me who live an hour away from me

Local = you meet in person and make the exchange, cash for goods.

Doesn't matter how far away you live. If you're selling, you get to determine how far away you're willing to travel to meet the person. I wouldn't drive an hour to sell something, but the buyer might.

 

[Terzo]

Originally posted by: FuryofFive

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Craigslist -> For local, cash sale only.

Anything else should be ignored.

how local is local? ive had people message me who live an hour away from me

The more important thing is that they will meet with you in person and pay cash at that point in time.

 

[FuryofFive]

Originally posted by: Terzo

Originally posted by: FuryofFive

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Craigslist -> For local, cash sale only.

Anything else should be ignored.

how local is local? ive had people message me who live an hour away from me

The more important thing is that they will meet with you in person and pay cash at that point in time.

lol. the person's wanted to me me in the middle..which is a city that i am unfamiliar with. and dont go unless i have to

if anyone in the CT area is aware of.im refering to Hartford

 

[50]

Hmmm...so the other person says they are from Canada but want me to send the ipod to their son in Augusta Georgia. Still sound fishy? At least this person is in the USA. What do you guys think? I am in need of cash right now and no one else has offered me anything decent for my ipod touch. Thanks

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: 50
Hmmm...so the other person says they are from Canada but want me to send the ipod to their son in Augusta Georgia. Still sound fishy? At least this person is in the USA. What do you guys think? I am in need of cash right now and no one else has offered me anything decent for my ipod touch. Thanks

Go for it, it seems legit.








(No)

 

[aldamon]

Yes.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Find someone from AT that is in the Augusta area that can act as a third party/escrow for you or some one in Canada to obtain the $$ from the buyer.

I would recommend the Canadian option - there are quite a few AT peeps in all the major cities.

I would be leery of Paypal because there is so many frauds using hijacked accounts.
Unless you want to loose your Paypal account if a reverse charge happens.

If you can spare the time, have the buyer send you a postal MO. Deduct the cost of the MO and mailing. Verify the MO is good using a phone call.

Just because they have a US address, does not mean that there is a person that will be there - it could be setup to be a forwarding house.

Unless the receiver is at a government address; that they are in the US means nothing.
It means that scammers have upped the stakes one level.

 

[Miramonti]

Take the payment and ship them a bag of dog doodoo.

 

[nick1985]

Unless they are airmailing you a shoebox with the US currency in it, then I wouldnt do it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: 50
Hmmm...so the other person says they are from Canada but want me to send the ipod to their son in Augusta Georgia. Still sound fishy? At least this person is in the USA. What do you guys think? I am in need of cash right now and no one else has offered me anything decent for my ipod touch. Thanks

Dude. So fucking obviously a scam that I shudder in fear at the thought of someone being unable to discern that from a legitimate offer.

Here are two simple steps to avoiding scams on Craigslist:

- ONLY EXCHANGE THE GOODS IN PERSON
- ONLY ACCEPT CASH AS PAYMENT, ALSO IN PERSON

Anyone who suggests doing something other than that (shipping the item, or paying by a method other than cash) is a scammer. Period.