edited: whao.... I AM being scammed on craigslist

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
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Last Friday OP: i posted a bed for sale on craiglist and a person emailed me the day after asking for details. so I told her what's for sale (bed, frame, boxspring) and how much. then she asked me for my address and phone number so her, as i quote, "shipping agent and client can be notified."

1/25 Today: I got a reply from this "buyer" person, here it goes:

Thanks for the mail. he will be paying you with US MONEY ORDER my client said i should ask you in you have an account in the state ? Bank of America and Welsfargo Bank so that he can wire you the money and then you can send the balance to my shipper. waiting to read from you.

okay.... then I read this:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

that's just great....

Question: so should I reply to the scammer saying that "I am sorry I do not want to further this transaction anymore" or just stop replying?



The entire correspondence between me and the buyer:
Andrew Law wrote:
Dear Tina,
Can you please update me with your status, I would like to know when is your
shipping company going to arrive and pick it up and how are you going to pay
me. I am moving out so I will be leaving Missouri and the last day I will be
here in town would be Sunday.
Andy.

Andrew Law wrote:
[i gave her my address and full name and telephone number again]

Tina James wrote:
please e-mail me now with your full name/address and Tel # so i may pass it
on to my shipping agent and my client


Andrew Law wrote:
Hi Tina, I am in Missouri now. I will have the pictures ready tomorrow. If
you would like to call my phone number is 626 XXX XXXX. If you don't mind you can
give me your number and I can call you at the time you prefer.


Tina James wrote:
thanks for the mail.
i will like to know your price


Andrew Law wrote:
Dear Tina
I am currently in Los Angeles right now, and i didn't expect such a speedy
reply. I am sorry that I cannot provide you with pictures right now, but i
will be back to Sprignfield, MO asap, sometimes around this Saturday 1/22.
if you like you are more than welcome to stop by and have a look at it
first. I live in Marshfield which is 20 miles east from Springfield, mo


Tina James wrote:
This is a purchase enquiry in response to your advertised ad ( Queen-size
bed near Springfield) for sale.I admire it so much I want to know more about
it; I am however okay with its detailed features and descriptions but prior
to payment proceedings I'd like to know if there has been any changes to
it's advertised conditions and then do let me know the following : - YOUR
FINAL ASKING PRICE ? .And if available do forward any picture(s) of it for a
clearer insight. Looking forward to your earliest and convenient pertinent
response with all of the requested informations i.e price ,name & address
e.t.c.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
well, you're gonna have to give your address out to someone eventually unless you plan on shipping it yourself.
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
so should I reply the scammer telling I am backing off from the deal or should I just ignore any further contact?
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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0
Originally posted by: andylawcc
so should I reply the scammer telling I am backing off from the deal or should I just ignore any further contact?

Well, you're no fun. Give them a PO Box and have them send the forged MO. Proceed to claim you never got it, etc, etc, you need more time, can they send you more money, Nigerian Prince, etc. :D

- M4H
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Well, you're no fun. Give them a PO Box and have them send the forged MO. Proceed to claim you never got it, etc, etc, you need more time, can they send you more money, Nigerian Prince, etc. :D

- M4H

should I tell them I moved to new address with the PO Box? :)
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
I had a friend who was trying to sell her very nice couch through the westword website here in Denver. She was replied to by a guy who spoke/wrote very poor english and also mentioned some "pickup service" and that he'd like to have her account #'s so he could wire her the money. She was all excited and showed me how she had a buyer. Kinda burst her bubble when I said that it sounded like a scam to me and that she should bail.

Pretty similar situations.
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I had a friend who was trying to sell her very nice couch through the westword website here in Denver. She was replied to by a guy who spoke/wrote very poor english and also mentioned some "pickup service" and that he'd like to have her account #'s so he could wire her the money. She was all excited and showed me how she had a buyer. Kinda burst her bubble when I said that it sounded like a scam to me and that she should bail.

Pretty similar situations.

what did she do at the end? just ignore that guy/"buyer"?
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I had a friend who was trying to sell her very nice couch through the westword website here in Denver. She was replied to by a guy who spoke/wrote very poor english and also mentioned some "pickup service" and that he'd like to have her account #'s so he could wire her the money. She was all excited and showed me how she had a buyer. Kinda burst her bubble when I said that it sounded like a scam to me and that she should bail.

Pretty similar situations.

what did she do at the end? just ignore that guy/"buyer"?

Pretty much. I think she asked a few background info kinds of questions. When the scammer never replied she just left it at that and decided to be a bit more careful/skeptical/less naive about dealing with people online.