CL phishing attempts are getting more sophisticated

[jana519]

I'm selling a laptop on Craigslist and yesterday I received this email:

"Will you be free after 5pm on Monday so that i can see the posted Computer. I get off work around 5:30pm. Please email me here @ Marcia43359@XXXXX.com My name is Chad"

Normally the phishing attempts are so crude it's completely obvious, but this one threw me for a loop with it's attention to detail.

 

[Puppies04]

Why are you so sure it is a phishing attempt?

Not saying it isn't but I want to know your reasoning.

 

[JMapleton]

I avoid craigslist altogether. Most people on there are dirtbags and hillbillies.

 

[DesiPower]

what was sender's email address? do they match?

 

[ImpulsE69]

I simply delete those. They may or may not be phishing, but I assume if they can text me, they can call me - or text, not ask me to reply to an email or if they are serious they will make another attempt.

 

[jana519]

Why are you so sure it is a phishing attempt?

Not saying it isn't but I want to know your reasoning.

Maybe I'm just paranoid. But I do believe this is a phishing attempt.

The reason is phishers always use generalized descriptions in their emails. So he says he's interested in my "Computer" when I'm selling a laptop.

Second it's a man named Chad who has an email address "Marcia43359@XXXXX.com" which doesn't match at all and sounds like a scammer address.

But I went ahead and e-mailed this person back from my alternate email address which I use for promotions and giveaways. I'll find out soon enough I suppose.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Yeah, I get what you mean. Usually people that are interested, will ask for more info about the laptop. They wouldn't just blindly meet like that. The email could be his last name Chad Marcia. If your radar is going off, don't reply.

 

[Rakehellion]

That really isn't any more sophisticated than any other spam email.

 

[Rakehellion]

I avoid craigslist altogether. Most people on there are dirtbags and hillbillies.

I've bought electronics off off craigslist and about half the time it was people trying to scam me.

 

[yottabit]

I simply delete those. They may or may not be phishing, but I assume if they can text me, they can call me - or text, not ask me to reply to an email or if they are serious they will make another attempt.

Wait so, you give out your phone number upfront but are worried about giving out your e-mail?

I always say e-mail me for contact info. I have a separate e-mail setup just for craigslist

 

[jana519]

nvm

 

[Murloc]

maybe you're right, who would name his kid Chad?

Wait so, you give out your phone number upfront but are worried about giving out your e-mail?

I always say e-mail me for contact info. I have a separate e-mail setup just for craigslist

this

 

[smackababy]

I don't get the OP's paranoia. So, someone shopping on CL called a laptop a computer, despite the fact a laptop is a kind of computer? If you were selling a Ford Focus, and they inquired about the 'car' would you consider that spam as well?

With that said, I am pretty sure at least 50% of the people who use CL are incapable of reading. I always put "texts only" and "will not consider trades" and I get tons of responses that are calls inquiring about trading their garbage. WTF would I want a bunch of your shitty, used Northface crap for?

 

[ImpulsE69]

Wait so, you give out your phone number upfront but are worried about giving out your e-mail?

I always say e-mail me for contact info. I have a separate e-mail setup just for craigslist

I didn't say I was worried about giving out my email. I simply don't waste my time with them and delete them. If they can send an email or a text, but the email the request you send back to them doesn't match at all etc etc then it is more than likely fake/phishing. I don't get worked up over it, but it is annoying.

Cell numbers are no issue to give out, because 1) you don't attach your name to it (yet). It isn't something just anyone can match up these days. You have to actually spend money and 2) you can easily block numbers if you needed to.

I'm much more concerned about giving out an address or meeting someone than I am the rest of the process. Having said that though, those that I've actually met have been on the up and good transactions. It just takes time to weed through all the BS.

 

[BUTCH1]

I've bought electronics off off craigslist and about half the time it was people trying to scam me.

If you know your stuff how can they "scam" you?, if your buying a computer you power it up, go to device manager and see what hardware is installed. If your buying a TV tell them you MUST see it up and running before any purchase can be made. I've bought and sold on CL without any issues although nothing worth more than $200.

 

[Auric]

But what if they offer half of your asking price in "cash"... as opposed to beads or chickens and such as? I mean, if it was the other way around it might make sense but when you ask for an amount of money and they offer "cash" but a lot less as if beads were the default and "cash" was more valuable... but then when trading with primitives that was still backwards as "cash" would be worthless... oh nevermind... there's no winning against crazy.

 

[BUTCH1]

But what if they offer half of your asking price in "cash"... as opposed to beads or chickens and such as? I mean, if it was the other way around it might make sense but when you ask for an amount of money and they offer "cash" but a lot less as if beads were the default and "cash" was more valuable... but then when trading with primitives that was still backwards as "cash" would be worthless... oh nevermind... there's no winning against crazy.

I have no such issues with CL, I list at a low price and state that it is non-negotiable, don't bother trying for a lower price because it will not happen, zero issues.

 

[Rakehellion]

If you know your stuff how can they "scam" you?, if your buying a computer you power it up, go to device manager and see what hardware is installed. If your buying a TV tell them you MUST see it up and running before any purchase can be made. I've bought and sold on CL without any issues although nothing worth more than $200.

Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I'm saying a lot of times I left empty handed because what they were selling wasn't the same as what as advertised.

 

[Rakehellion]

I don't get the OP's paranoia. So, someone shopping on CL called a laptop a computer, despite the fact a laptop is a kind of computer? If you were selling a Ford Focus, and they inquired about the 'car' would you consider that spam as well?

It's just vague enough to work on any computer listing. Also, giving your email address in an email is obvious spam.

 

[Schmide]

I thought the CL policy was no dick pic no sale

 

[Rudee]

OP is paranoid. Nothing about that message implies a fishing attempt.