POLL: Is this a Craig's List scam?

[MotionMan]

I have a couple folding bikes listed on Craig's List here (Yes, I know the photo links don't work). You can also see my AT FS listing here.

After going back and forth via e-mail a few times with five potential buyers last night, I get the following two e-mails six minutes apart:

Hi, thanks for your detailed information about the bike. I'm a student just move into LA and going to UCR. I'm looking for decent transportation for me and my sister, I hope you can sell this for me 150 for both bikes. Your kindness is appreciated.

Dear Sir,

is it possible to buy 2 bikes $140? (one for my girl)
coz i found same old model just $70 in good shape (not rusty),
but it's far away from la (east coast),
please help poor oversea student lol

(Bold added by me)

Is this some sort of Craig's List scam? Like are they going to ask me ship the bikes to Nigeria!?!

MotionMan

 

[Epic Fail]

Unless the guy is the twin from this story, you don't call your sister my girl.

 

[FoBoT]

if they want you to ship, then it is a scam

if they are willing to meet local and pay cash, then not a scam

 

[mh47g]

Originally posted by: yamadakun
Unless the guy is the twin from this story, you don't call your sister my girl.

?? The scammer probably doesn't have a sister or a girlfriend.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: yamadakun
Unless the guy is the twin from this story, you don't call your sister my girl.

I was equating the "sister" and the "girl" for the "help a girl out" factor of the potential scam.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
if they want you to ship, then it is a scam

if they are willing to meet local and pay cash, then not a scam

I would not ship anyway, and I will only take cash, but I was curious if this was the first step to some well-known (other than by me) scam.

MotionMan

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: FoBoT
if they want you to ship, then it is a scam

if they are willing to meet local and pay cash, then not a scam

I would not ship anyway, and I will only take cash, but I was curious if this was the first step to some well-known (other than by me) scam.

MotionMan

the general wording of the message is similar to some spams, but it is a bit short. most scam spams tend to be longer

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: FoBoT
if they want you to ship, then it is a scam

if they are willing to meet local and pay cash, then not a scam

I would not ship anyway, and I will only take cash, but I was curious if this was the first step to some well-known (other than by me) scam.

MotionMan

the general wording of the message is similar to some spams, but it is a bit short. most scam spams tend to be longer

Maybe Craig's List scams are shorter to fit the style of Craig's List listings?

MtoionMan

 

[AmpedSilence]

scam, they will pay with cashier check or something in an amount way over what you asked.

reply by saying you will agree IF they come pick it up AND pay in cash. Those are the only ways. It's possible that they moved here recently and the english is not the best.

 

[randay]

it doesnt have tell-tale scam signs. but that doesnt mean its not a scam. youll have to dig deeper to find out.

 

[ViviTheMage]

they could have shotty english, as they state they are out of towners going to the u.

if they pay cash in person, you are fine.

 

[chuckywang]

He could have been looking for bikes and came across your listing twice and therefore emailed you twice not knowing it was for the same bikes.

Did you list your bikes on Craigslist multiple times?

 

[Injury]

It's possible that the emails are scams, but I do not believe them to be related.

Cash + Pickup and you have nothing to worry about, but that's if you want to go for those lowball offers.

 

[RossMAN]

If they ask you to ship, regardless of the destination = scam

 

[jagec]

1)TONS of people using craigslist are students
2)Quite a number of students have sisters or girlfriends.

As with every craigslist deal, do it in cash in person at a public area, and you have nothing to worry about.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
He could have been looking for bikes and came across your listing twice and therefore emailed you twice not knowing it was for the same bikes.

Did you list your bikes on Craigslist multiple times?

They are not from the same e-mail address/person.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: jagec
1)TONS of people using craigslist are students
2)Quite a number of students have sisters or girlfriends.

As with every craigslist deal, do it in cash in person at a public area, and you have nothing to worry about.

Yeah, I was going to do cash with the pickup at the local Gelsons. It just seemed odd to me and, since I do not use Craig's List often, I was not sure if it was some Craig's List-specific scam.

MotionMan

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: jagec
1)TONS of people using craigslist are students
2)Quite a number of students have sisters or girlfriends.

As with every craigslist deal, do it in cash in person at a public area, and you have nothing to worry about.

Yeah, I was going to do cash with the pickup at the local Gelsons. It just seemed odd to me and, since I do not use Craig's List often, I was not sure if it was some Craig's List-specific scam.

MotionMan

Doesn't look that way. Those sound like pretty typical Craigslist responses. Now, if they say anything about shipping, Nigeria, or paying more than you asked and having you do a partial refund....run away.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I have a couple folding bikes listed on Craig's List here (Yes, I know the photo links don't work).

You know you can put pics directly into your CL ad right? No need to link at all...

On topic, i dont know what to think, but it is fishy...

EDIT: I reread the emails. Definitely a scam.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I have a couple folding bikes listed on Craig's List here (Yes, I know the photo links don't work).

You know you can put pics directly into your CL ad right? No need to link at all...

On topic, i dont know what to think, but it is fishy...

As you might be able to tell, I was really lazy on the Craig's List listing. If I feel a second wind, I may go change the links to pix.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Whoever voted for "I would like to buy your bikes!!! (PM sent)", I am still waiting for the PM!!!

:frown:











:laugh:

MotionMan

 

[chuckywang]

BTW, nice price on Dahon's...Damn, if only you didn't live 2000 miles away.

This is all that's available here:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/535741233.html

 

[thomsbrain]

"Dear Sir"
"please help"
"Your kindness is appreciated"
"overseas"
"lol"
--Ridiculously poor grammar.
--Similar stories except for small details.


The Nigerian scam is generally far less obvious these days, and they can draw it out for weeks before nailing you. I call these OBVIOUS SCAMS. Any response from you will merely put your address on the "sucker" list. And even if they aren't, I just don't sell to people who can't write properly, as a way of weeding out those who are likely to be unsavory in person.

For an example of how sophisticated they have become, they are doing things like hitting Bed and Breakfasts. They call and arrange for a long stay a couple months in advance, send a check to pay, then call back in a week saying their plans have unfortunately changed, and could they have a partial refund? The business finds out a month later that the check never cleared.

 

[gingerstewart55]

I've done some selling on Craig'sList and most of the scam emails I have gotten rarely if every mention what I'm selling by its name, such as bike or computer or whatever; instead it almost always syas "goods" or "item" or something very generic and strange. After all, if you were responding to a for sale listing, wouldn't you say "Saw your laptop, good shape?" or "Would you take $xx for your bike?" instead of calling it a goods or items?

These sound more like something that may be real, but again, as has been mentioned before, do a pickup only, no shipping and you'll be fine.

 

[MotionMan]

I sent the following e-mail by bcc: to both of them about two hours ago:

This e-mail is being sent to everyone who has made an actual offer for the bikes.

I am willing to sell both bikes and bags for $200 total on the conditions that 1) you pay in cash only and, 2) you pick up the items at the XXXXX Gelsons this weekend (preferably Saturday at about 4 p.m.).

Of course, if you want to offer more than $200, that is fine, too - highest offer wins.

I will accept responses until midnight tonite. I will e-mail everyone who responded tomorrow morning as to whether or not they were the lucky purchaser.

Thank you for your interest.

Nothing yet.

MotionMan