Craigslist Scam.....Yes or No?

pinnacle10

pinnacle10

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Usually a Craigslist scam stands out. I'm selling a bike and I'm not so sure about the response I got so thought I'd ask here to get an opinion. The bike is only listed for $165. It's only partially built, but it's a Raleigh touring bike from the late 70s or early 80s and the frame is in great condition. So I could see the right person really wanting it. Here's the message I got -

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Thanks for responding, I'm ok with the price. i would like you to remove the advert from the list cos i want to make the purchase asap and i dont mind adding extra $50 to delete the ads from the list.. Please let me know if a check is ok.? After the payment clears, my shipper will come and pick it up at your location. I would have loved to come and take a look but I can't. My shipper will though. If you can get back to me with your details I'll get the check out asap. Need your full name and address, and your telephone number..
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Also of note, in the original message he asked me the condition and lowest price I'd take. I told him the listed price was pretty close to my bottom price and the frame was in great condition, but some other parts on it showed wear.
 
pinnacle10 said:
Usually a Craigslist scam stands out. I'm selling a bike and I'm not so sure about the response I got so thought I'd ask here to get an opinion. The bike is only listed for $165. It's only partially built, but it's a Raleigh touring bike from the late 70s or early 80s and the frame is in great condition. So I could see the right person really wanting it. Here's the message I got -

------------------
Thanks for responding, I'm ok with the price. i would like you to remove the advert from the list cos i want to make the purchase asap and i dont mind adding extra $50 to delete the ads from the list.. Please let me know if a check is ok.? After the payment clears, my shipper will come and pick it up at your location. I would have loved to come and take a look but I can't. My shipper will though. If you can get back to me with your details I'll get the check out asap. Need your full name and address, and your telephone number..
------------------


Also of note, in the original message he asked me the condition and lowest price I'd take. I told him the listed price was pretty close to my bottom price and the frame was in great condition, but some other parts on it showed wear.
Click to expand...




Sounds like a scam....

obviously I can't be sure - but - I'd google scams like this with a shipper and paying by check

Saying they'll pay another $50 is also a warning...
 
It sounds scammy, but I can't figure out why someone would risk committing a felony for only $165.
 
Okay, I'm sure it's a scam after searching a little. Still not sure what the scam is though. Maybe when he sends the check he's going to send extra to cover shipping and ask me to give that to the "shipper". Or maybe he thinks I'll release the bike before the check actually clears.

The other red flag that I didn't mention....he contacted me by text, and gave me his email address and asked me to email him. This avoided the Craigslist email system, thus protecting himself a little.


Here's one example that is pretty much just like my situation. http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/check-scam.html
 
He's going to accidentally send you a check for $4000, tell you to cash it, keep a few hundred for your trouble and western union back the difference. Then the check will bounce. My brother fell for this when he was 17. It wasn't even a real check. Washington Mutual let him cash something printed on faded paper and ink. Then they told him it cleared and it was fine. 3 weeks later it bounced. 1 month later Washington Mutual went under.
 
I'd never even consider a check from someone on CL.. cash only for me, then there is no chance of any scam..
 
hahahaha omg its a total scam. the first thing he asks for is all your info
 
Complete scam. I take paypal for my CL items (computers and larger priced items) you can get a contact phone number for paypal and they look up the user for you and will let you know where they are and if they have many transactions, etc. But this is a low $ transaction, but would demand their payment 'check' go through paypal so you can verify. That usually weeds them out.
 
pinnacle10 said:
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After the payment clears, my shipper will come and pick it up at your location. I would have loved to come and take a look but I can't. My shipper will though.
------------------
Click to expand...

How the hell would his "shipper" know if it's a good bike or not? Most of the time when a shipper is involved, the bike is usually boxed up for shipment. The driver doesn't even see the bike, just the box. This is the way I've shipped bikes in the past. -Lloyd
 
There were enough red flags for me to ask about it, but I guess it didn't seem obvious because I was having trouble figuring out what the scam actually was. Thanks for all the replies.
 

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