Here's a neat one: Neal selling on Craigslist, lesson 1.

[Onkel Neal]

Selling one of my dirt bikes on CL, a guy emails me, asks me some generic questions about the bike (is it in good shape, etc). I answer and send more pics. He replies:

Hi,
>> Thanks for your mail.Am glad you still have it for sale and i
>> want you to keep the ad off market and consider sold to me.I am ok
>> with the price $2600,do get back to me with your details needed for
>> payment to be issued out and aswell mailed to you asap via UPS,i am
>> located in MI so i will handle the shipment do not worry about that
>> Ok.
>> Get back to me with your details as requested below:
>> Your Full Name...
>> Address.....
>> City...
>> Zip Code...
>> State...
>> Phone:Cell,Home or Office.
>> Moreover,do tell me more about its present condition.I will look
>> forward to read from you in this regard Today.
>>
>> Thank You.
>>
>> David
>>
>> NB:Please the bike is needed urgently to present as a birthday gift!.
>>

I say, sure, send payment. I bought a bike off ebay and had it shipped to me, so this is not so big a deal.

Hi ,
Thanks for your details..The Payment has been issued out and
will be on the way Today.I will email again to update you on when the
Payment will be Delivered.
Moreover,the payment you will be receiving comprises some extra
funds which is for shipping so i will latter direct you on how that
will be taken care of,that is not a problem at all after the payment
is received and has Cleared.
Do await my next email so you'll know when Payment will be
Delivered and also do get back to me in this regard Today to let me
know you have received and read this email.
I will look forward to read from you in this regard Today.
Thank You,
DAVID.
NB:Please do continue taking extremely good care of it before you will
receive the payment and shipment will take over in your resident.

Ooookay.... so three weeks later, I get a letter with a check for $5500. Say huh? Then I get this message:

Hello,
How are you Today.This is to Inform you that the Payment (
Check of $5500 )Sent to you by my Client Mr. Mark Davis will be
Delivered to you Today by USPS(United State Postal Service).

You are to deduct your own Amount of Payment and the rest
you will be Sending to the Shipper via Western Union Money Transfer
to enable them come for the Pick Up.

Here is the First step to take once Payment is Received: Have the
Payment Deposited in your account Today and Receive instant Cash or
Request for Cash back because with the cash in your hands you will be
able to evaluate your services at the Western Union Store.
Here is the assignment you have to do: You are hereby
instructed to go to the Western Union agent to complete the
Transfer:

WHAT YOU ARE TO DO AT THE WESTERN UNION OUTLET:-
1: After you have Deducted your own Payment.
2: Make sure you Send the Funds using Same Day Service also known as
Money In Minutes.
3: You will have the remaining balance of the total amount transfer
to the information below from the Western Union store, be informed
that
Western Union attracts a transfer fee, deduct the fees from the fund
and send the rest to:

Name: Johnson Williams.
ADDRESS: 355 London Road,
City: Staines
State: Middlesex
Zip Code or Postal Code :TW18 4JY
Country: United Kingdom.

NOTE: If they ask you at the Western Union if you know the Receiver of
the Funds,you say Yes that he is your friend but now live and work in
UK.
1: You are to act as if you are sending the money to a member of
your family or a client.
2: Once the Transfer is Completed via Western Union,email us with
the Transfer Details as requested :

1.)MTCN Control Number # of 10 Digits Number
2,)Amount Sent after Deducting Western Union charges
3,)Sender's Name and Receiver's Name
4,)Sender's Address and Receiver' Address

Further more you are to go to the Western Union and get the funds
Sent without any error, immediately you Western Union you are to come
and give a
report on how it goes.
I will be waiting to hear from you as soon as all services have been
completed.

Regards,
Thank You.

Hahhahham, seriously?

I replied the bike had been sold and I destroyed the check. Sheesh!

[Gargamel]

I would contact the issuing bank and inform them you have destroyed the check, and scan pics of it voided (if still possible). Explain to them why, and inform them you suspect this guy of possible fraud or money laundering.

Cover yourself in case he comes back demanding to know where the money is.

[nikimcbee]

I'll bet one can of diet dr pepper that it's steed.

[Armistead]

None CL scams.

[Herr-Berbunch]

After a quick look on Google Maps I thought that there'd be no 355 London Road, but then in Street View I found this. Send the boys round...

[mookiemookie]

1st rule of Craigslist - only deal in cash, and only deal local.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

1st rule of Craigslist - only deal in cash, and only deal local.

That rule is a good one, and it prevented me from buying the bass guitar I wanted. The seller was in Louisiana, and there was no way I was going to trust someone I didn't know and couldn't meet face to face; and of course I didn't expect him to do otherwise.

I got lucky, though. He didn't get any offers, and put it up on eBay, where I managed the last bid and won it. PayPal and eBay I trust, and it's the one in my newest picture on the "How You Found Subsim" thread.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'll bet one can of diet dr pepper that it's steed.

My first suspicions were centered around you

[Takeda Shingen]

Wow Neal, that's pretty shady. Looks like I'll be swearing off Craigslist.

[Oberon]

Aaah, Neal has encountered the Stainez Massiv' I see.

Well wicked.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

After a quick look on Google Maps I thought that there'd be no 355 London Road, but then in Street View I found this. Send the boys round...

OMG!!!



Look at the name of the shop......


Who do we know....

Has the initials JB.....

Lives in England......

has recently dealt with a scam......

And has a penchant for ugly little cars......

?????????????????????????

[Sharkstooth]

wow...and I thought Craigslist was only for missed hook-ups.

Think how many ppl actually would be trying to follow these instructions step by step. what a shame.

[Jimbuna]

Why am I starting to feel uneasy?

[AVGWarhawk]

The instruction looked clear to me?

Emailed the bike was sold and destroy check.

Two steps. How easy is that?

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Why am I starting to feel uneasy?

Guilty concsience eh?