Craigslist gyrations

Steve B · 2011-07-23T15:35:54+00:00

I got the following response for some conduit I am selling on Craigslist. It is fishy, but there is no mention of kickback or taking the goods before check clears. I figure this is a scam, but am unsure of how it works.Anyone?aroo james to me:Hello, I am very much satisfied with the condition and price of the aboveitem you posted on KSL and I would like to make an immediate purchaseof the item. So i will advice that you withdraw the ad from the web.Pls, i will like to know how you intend to proceed on this, but iwould prefer that i issue out a certified check to your location andupon the confirmation and clearance of payment, my shipper will comefor the pick-up at your location. I would really have loved to comefor the viewing of the item but since i am not chanced my movers will.If you are okay with this, please do get back to me with the followingdetails so i can make out paymentIMMEDIATELY.1: Your Full Name to be on the payment2: Your Address and zip code (NOT P.O BOX)3: Your mobile number or cell phone numberI would forward all your details to my secretary to make the paymentout to you fast...i am on a business trip right now, and would be busyfor sometime, i would be checking my email time to time to check yourmessage.Have a nice dayME TO AROO JAMES:I proceed very simple. Bring US currency. Pick up merchandise.AROO JAMES BACK TO ME.Hello,Thanks for your swift response.I would have preferred paying you bycash,but i am presently on Business Trip,and due to the interest ihave with the item.I will instruct my secretary to go ahead andprepared the Certified Check asap. Then when the check clears, myshipping Agent will come for the pick up.Get back to me your full name and address,so that I can go ahead andissue out the payment.MY LAST TO AROO JAMES:You seem not to understand what I told you, so I will tell you once more. When a living person pays me with American currency, I shall release the goods. Is that clear enough?Steve

Jul 23, 2011 24 Replies

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Tim 14 years ago

Because the Democrats wuv you and want you to be happy, the banks are required to make funds available to you within three days of depositing a check.

But if the check doesn't actually clear the other bank, they'll suck that money right back out again.

So that 'certified check' (likely) has something wrong with it. And while you might think it's 'cleared' the bank when the money shows up on your account on-line, the truth is that you don't find out for much longer.

If you really wanted to waste time playing with the guy's head, take the check and when he calls say "oh, the bank has made the funds available to me, but they tell me that it hasn't actually cleared yet -- I'm waiting". But it'll just waste everyone's time, and his time is less valuable than yours.

Or say "Sure. I won't be there, but my neighbor Bob from the Fraud Investigation Unit said that he'd be happy to take the check and take a picture of your shipping agent to boot".

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Steve B 14 years ago

I have not heard from the guy since the last contact, and if I had, I was ready to filter him.

Problem gone.

Steve

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jeff_wisnia 14 years ago

My bank would have charged me $20 for that no good check.

Things sure aren't what they used to be.

Jeff

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jeff_wisnia 14 years ago

About six years ago I had a little fun with one of those guys.....

formatting link

Jeff

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DoN. Nichols 14 years ago

Speaking of scams, I've recently gotten two attempts to get me to share the costs of a gift to someone (who I don't know at all), with the gift being an "electric cigarette" in both cases.

It is actually addressed specifically to me, and has my first name in the Subject: line.

Obviously an example of what is called "spear phishing" ("spear" because it is directed to an individual, with references which are supposed to make it seem to be from someone who knows me, or who does regular business with me, instead of having a large number of addresses hidden behind a BCC (Blind Carbon Copy), and saying something like "dearly beloved" or similar in the salutation, getting around needing to use an individual's name there.

In this one, I am supposed to connect to a web site which is selling the electric cigarette. I suspect that this tries to get my credit card -- or tries to dig passwords and the like out of my computer. (Not likely to work, since I don't use Windows anyway.) But there is no way that I will actually connect to that URL anyway. I did look up the most recent one, and it is located in Norway.

I guess that they are assuming that I am a businessman who is likely to give frequent gifts to people I barely know to maintain business connections. Enjoy, DoN.

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