Try your hand at "Spot The Scammer"!

[prfesser]

Craigslists all over the country are loaded with scammers. YOU can now enjoy the safe, anonymous, socially-productive game called "Spot The Scammer".

Objective: to find and flag as many scammers as possible. Three easy ways to start you on this game:
--Offer is a big-ticket item for a ridiculously low price.
--Price is 'oddball'; e.g., a new enclosed trailer for $1003.
--Contact is via an anonymous email, usually gmail.
--Language of posting ("I'm searching offer you this trailer." "Our company is moving and want to say good bye to our trailer. Contact me to get a additional requests.")

Four ways. So I can't count. And there are other ways that you learn about as you play.

Most CL scammers used to post automobiles (two-year-old immaculate Toyota Camry, $2023) but now there's a charge for those postings, so they've moved to other big-ticket items like RVs and trailers.

Side benefit: if you're in the market for a big-ticket item, you'll probably learn a lot about them.

Don't stop with your local Craigslist! Go to others in the general area! Lots of opportunities to WIN THE INTERNET by playing "Spot The Scammer"!! It's fun! It's legal! It's addictive! Best of all, it pisses off people who deserve it!!

$1233... I only wish...

5x8 trailer with sink, queen bed framing? Yeah sure...

"Includes a large solar system with enough power for the full kitchen"...WHAT full kitchen? And are Neptune and Pluto both included for just $800?

The 16 Year Legend 36 V-Nose Enclosed Cargo 12V Lighted Grab Handle - $1000
Not "2016 trailer" but "The 16 year"... Language is another way to spot the scammer. And isn't it strange how this same item and photo appears in Cincinnati, western KY, southeastern MO, Atlanta?

Tsk, tsk...Linda is a Bad Girl.

Ad says "single axle". I'm not the only one who can't count...

 

[Bat-mite]

Slow day at the office?

 

[nelie61]

Lol. I would say, Plenty of time on the Prfesser's hands. I'll bet retired and nothing to build right now. But you go get 'em and I can see how that is amusing. Especially if there is an outcome that leads to misfortunes for the scammer. I would love to hear about any actual busts or consequences because it seams the law enforcement or security fraud departments just shrug their shoulders . I also bet we've all been around enough to go through some shaky deals on eBay and such. Also, never fall for a Western Union request that is another red flag.

 

[Bat-mite]

Isn't it great that the IRS outsourced all their collections to India?

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

I quit using craigslist.
It used to be quite good but the last few times I tried to sell a vintage bike and some model trains
all I got were responses of i want to buy your thing and i will pay more than you are asking. I will send you a certified bank check
When you get it ship the product.
Yea,No.
Craigslist has gotten useless now,

 

[tim cubbedge]

Craig’s list still has some usefulness. They now charge $5 to list vehicles. I sold my truck last Friday within an hour of placing add. 3 legitimate buyers contacted me. First guy to look at it, bought it & paid asking price.

 

[georgegassaway]

I've been fortunate. Gotten maybe 6 to 8 things via Craigslist. Every one was legit. Even a laptop.

Also saw a few deals for a used iPhone that looked sleazy, price too low to be legit, for an undamaged phone. The one I asked about immediately wanted to upsell something pricier, so that confirmed some sort of racket. Their biggest "tell" was the fact there were a LOT of very low priced used cellphones of different kinds listed.... and he was the seller for most of those listed (was not a pawn shop).

 

[prfesser]

Lol. I would say, Plenty of time on the Prfesser's hands. I'll bet retired and nothing to build right now. But you go get 'em and I can see how that is amusing. Especially if there is an outcome that leads to misfortunes for the scammer. I would love to hear about any actual busts or consequences because it seams the law enforcement or security fraud departments just shrug their shoulders . I also bet we've all been around enough to go through some shaky deals on eBay and such. Also, never fall for a Western Union request that is another red flag.

Yep, retired. There's an Estes Mercury Redstone, a 3" Aerobee, and a top-secret project on the bench right now. Am also mentoring a Murray State engineering team who were too late to enter the NASA competition but want to use those guidelines to build & fly a rocket for their senior project. And textbook work continues. But boy-howdy, when you don't have to prepare lectures and Powerpoints and exams and quizzes, and grade papers and supervise labs and deal with administrative bullhockey, etc., it's amazing how much free time you have!

As for busts and consequences re. Craigslist, there's just too much of it going around, and too much effort is required for little return, so to speak. Look at the number of scammers who post every day using Gmail or a burn phone for contact. Hard to get objective evidence that will pin them down, and all they're likely to get is a fine when it's all said and done.

I've never been scammed on Craigslist though two people tried. "Wow, you want my $90 table saw that's in Kentucky, and you live way out in California?" He hung up. Caller ID is useful in so many ways...

 

[Worsaer]

“I’m selling it for a friend...”

 

[jlabrasca]

But boy-howdy, when you don't have to prepare lectures and Powerpoints and exams and quizzes, and grade papers and supervise labs and deal with administrative bullhockey, etc., it's amazing how much free time you have!

Rub it in, why don't ya. I am buried in that "bullhockey" right now (+ all the grading and writing and writing and grading...).

I've had good luck on Craigslist. I just bought a couple of big sheets (like 4' by 6') of 5/8" plexiglas from a local business that just wanted it out of their office. It will become an enclosure for the Shapeoko -- probably shortly after I retire.

I mostly use CL to sell stuff, though.

Years ago I put a DV camera on Craigslist. The purchaser had me jump though crazy hoops: First a lot of emails about "is that really the price?". Then, setting up (and blowing off) a meeting at a local camera shop where they'd arranged to have a technician look over the camera. I showed up and talked to the tech for a while -- he didn't know anything about video -- until we decided that the buyer wasn't coming. I've since thought the buyer cruised by the shop to get a look at me through the window, but I really don't know.

The buyer called that night for another weird conversation about the price (no apology for flaking). We finally met in a coffee shop. When we made the exchange it was clear that they thought they were getting away with something. There was, at the time, a GL1 on eBay for about twice what I'd asked. It'd been sitting at that price with no offers for weeks -- but the buyer mentioned it as soon as cash and camera had passed between us.

I remember that I got a LOT of emails offering to buy that camera for extraordinary sums, if I'd be willing to ship it to Denmark, or Belarus, or Lagos and would accept payment by wire transfer. "We are an orphanage and we desperately are in need of a "Canon GL1 3 Chip NTSC Camcorder". We will pay the extra for it..."

 

[Bat-mite]

Why not just use ebay? Safe, easy, fast.

 

[dr wogz]

We have Kijiji up here, same deal as Craigslist. and again, "buyer beware" We also have a few community based 'garage sales' websites to go thru. Againb, 'buyer beware' and 'you get what you pay for'. I've seen a few ads where the people expect what tehy paid, despite wear & tear.. I have found a few good deals though. a few..

As for Ebay & Amazon. I feel Ebay has cleaned up it's act a bit, where the sellers have a bit more of a reputation for being honest & straight forward. Amazon, on the other hand, I find is becoming a haven for overpriced items from unscrupulous sellers.. Ebay & Amazon have switched placed in my opinion..

 

[tim cubbedge]

Why not just use ebay? Safe, easy, fast.

Too many fees!

 

[georgegassaway]

Too many fees!

Yes, sell a rare item on Craigslist locally, or some limited traffic free auction site, for $50 that you coulda sold for $125 on an eBay Auction. "But I didn't pay no fees!!!" Nose. Spite. Face.