Posted: 3/23/2011 4:55:34 PM EDT
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Here's the deal:
I 've been searching local Craigslist for a specific piece of lawn/ garden/ landscaping equipment for a couple weeks now. I just came across what seems to be an exceptional deal, with photos of a very clean piece of machinery priced way below what the expected price would normally be. The description mentions no mechanical problems; runs great no leaks, yada yada ... There are also a couple other related machines by the same seller priced unusually low as well. (think $6000 -7000 for ones that usually sell for $15000+ for apparently similar condition, year make, etc.). A search of the same models brings up the very same machines posted (again on Craigslist), a few days earlier, and once again a few days before that, from locations around 100 miles distant from one another. I'm 99% sure this is some kind of scam, but am curious as to the reason or motives for such a situation The seller lists no phone #, but provides a link bringing up an e-mail page to leave a message. I'm hesitant to click on it (to protect my online security.) Is that a reasonable/justified concern, or should I try to contact the "seller"? Anybody have any idea what may be going on, besides the bitter jilted wife selling off Hubby's stuff before he gets home from his "business trip"? (I'm hoping.) |
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If the other posts are just in other cities within your area, I don't think it automatically means scam, the seller just might be trying to increase exposure. However, multiple postings and priced thousands of dollars cheaper than similar does raise some red flags. 10:1 if you e-mail them, you'll get a response about them being out of the country, selling for a friend, etc and etc and asking you to wire money or asking for your home address, something like that. You could just create an alternate email and use that to see if it's legit or not. |
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They'll probably be in the military, getting shipped out, need to get rid of it ASAP, you can't come see it or pick it up because it's easier to ship it to you from the Ebay warehouse, blah blah blah....At least that was my experience with a $40,000 + Range Rover Sport for $17000 that I tentatively inquired about. You'll know in the first email response if it's a scam or not. Is there a phone number or just email?
Edit: no number. I kin Reed good..its a scam |
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Quoted:
If the other posts are just in other cities within our area, I don't think it automatically means scam, the seller just might be trying to increase exposure. However, multiple postings and priced thousands of dollars cheaper than similar does raise some red flags. 10:1 if you e-mail them, you'll get a response about them being out of the country, selling for a friend, etc and etc and asking you to wire money or asking for your home address, something like that. You could just create an alternate email and use that to see if it's legit or not. Yeah that might be the case; I may just do the alterate email thing just to be on the safe side. |
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Quoted:
They'll probably be in the military, getting shipped out, need to get rid of it ASAP, you can't come see it or pick it up because it's easier to ship it to you from the Ebay warehouse, blah blah blah....At least that was my experience with a $40,000 + Range Rover Sport for $17000 that I tentatively inquired about. You'll know in the first email response if it's a scam or not. Is there a phone number or just email? Edit: no number. I kin Reed good..its a scam So you think the ad's just a bait to get my email address for spam, etc.? Seems pretty elaborate , especially with all the pics they posted of the equipment, but I guess it's possible. |
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Not sure HOW you do not know this IS a SCAM. I would assume that you are either looking at a Tractor or a Skid Loader. They have been doing this for a long time on Craigslist. Take the title of the add and Google search it. When the same item comes up in several different Cities and States you know it is a scam.
Now the reason why they do this. Most people like yourself want to believe that this is on the up and up and the deal of a lifetime. It's not. They will send you several emails and try to get you to make a deposit. Or they will try and get you to pay a certain amount and tell you it will be delivered. It will never arrive. They will also tell you that it is in Canada, it's not. There are several different angles that they are trying to work on you. They are all SCAMS. I do know someone that really wanted to believe that the John Deere was the real deal. Well after several bad emails back and forth he got the point that it was a scam. If it looks to good to be true, IT IS. |
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What was the equipment?
I check out craigslist on a regular basis and have seen some too cheap pices on a lot of things.Just the other day there was a diesel Kubota tractor with a couple attachments for 2600.00.Only around 96 hours.No phone number,couple pics.The tractor alone goes for 10k+.Price was posted 3 times,so doubt it was a mistake if it was legit. It was listed in a few areas within the state that I check,next day it was gone. I'm guessing scammer trying to collect e-mail addys.I have gotten inundated with spam after inquiring about stuff on craigslist in the past,and never get a reply from the "seller". Here's an e-mail I got the other day for a horse I listed: Hello I really appreciate your response to my email.I want you to consider it sold, pls do withdraw the advert from craigslist to avoid disturbance.I want you to know that i will be paying via bank certified check .I will like you to provide me with the following. information to facilitate the mailing of the check to you . 1.....Full name to write on the check 2.....Full Physical address to post the check 3.....City, State and Zip Code 4.....Home & Cell Phone to contact you *** Note that the payment will be shiped to your address via UPS NEXT DAY SERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check** Thanks. Fucking scammers need to be beaten to death. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
They'll probably be in the military, getting shipped out, need to get rid of it ASAP, you can't come see it or pick it up because it's easier to ship it to you from the Ebay warehouse, blah blah blah....At least that was my experience with a $40,000 + Range Rover Sport for $17000 that I tentatively inquired about. You'll know in the first email response if it's a scam or not. Is there a phone number or just email? Edit: no number. I kin Reed good..its a scam So you think the ad's just a bait to get my email address for spam, etc.? Seems pretty elaborate , especially with all the pics they posted of the equipment, but I guess it's possible. No, its a true scam. Not saying this is for sure but it definitely sounds like it. The "too good to be true" factor generally is. Google "Craigslist Ebay warehouse scam". Plenty of info. Basically they want you to wire them money and they "ship" your new tractor. Only thing is, they get your money and you get nothing. They just use email because they can copy and past responses to all the emails they expect to get. No phone number because they're probably in Nigeria. |
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Just came across an Autotrader post that seemed to follow the same pattern. I say scammers... emailed the guy and got this:
Hello slanted, Thank you for your email and for showing interest in my xxxxx. It is still available and the asking price is $31,000. It's registered on my name and the title is clean clear (no loan or lien). It is in great condition, no dents or scratches. It was always garaged and the regular maintenance was done in time. It wasn't involved in any accident not even a minor one. Do not hesitate to email me any questions you have about the car. I had 2 preview buyers, both offering more than what I am asking for it now but one didn't show up and the other called saying he lost the money. I've lost about 2 weeks and a couple of thousand dollars waiting for them so I've decided to lower the price and try to sell it on-line. I'm in desperate need of cash due to several uninspired financial decisions, because of which I ended up with a lot of debts and with no idea how to pay them off. The car is priced for a fast sale, so it would be better if you don't need financing. I'm currently signed up for a protection program offered by Amazon Payments and I would like escrow the payment through them. If you are not aware of this program you should know that it will allow you to test drive and inspect the car before paying me. You will have a 5-day inspection period to decide whether you want to keep the car or not before they release the funds to me. If you agree with Amazon Payments's terms and conditions and have cash available let me know and I'll ask them to fill you in with all the transaction details. Look forward hearing from you. |
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Quoted:
Just came across an Autotrader post that seemed to follow the same pattern. I say scammers... emailed the guy and got this: Hello slanted, Thank you for your email and for showing interest in my xxxxx. It is still available and the asking price is $31,000. It's registered on my name and the title is clean clear (no loan or lien). It is in great condition, no dents or scratches. It was always garaged and the regular maintenance was done in time. It wasn't involved in any accident not even a minor one. Do not hesitate to email me any questions you have about the car. I had 2 preview buyers, both offering more than what I am asking for it now but one didn't show up and the other called saying he lost the money. I've lost about 2 weeks and a couple of thousand dollars waiting for them so I've decided to lower the price and try to sell it on-line. I'm in desperate need of cash due to several uninspired financial decisions, because of which I ended up with a lot of debts and with no idea how to pay them off. The car is priced for a fast sale, so it would be better if you don't need financing. I'm currently signed up for a protection program offered by Amazon Payments and I would like escrow the payment through them. If you are not aware of this program you should know that it will allow you to test drive and inspect the car before paying me. You will have a 5-day inspection period to decide whether you want to keep the car or not before they release the funds to me. If you agree with Amazon Payments's terms and conditions and have cash available let me know and I'll ask them to fill you in with all the transaction details. Look forward hearing from you. Ah the good old BS escrow scam. 
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Quoted:
Not sure HOW you do not know this IS a SCAM. I would assume that you are either looking at a Tractor or a Skid Loader. They have been doing this for a long time on Craigslist. Take the title of the add and Google search it. When the same item comes up in several different Cities and States you know it is a scam. Now the reason why they do this. Most people like yourself want to believe that this is on the up and up and the deal of a lifetime. It's not. They will send you several emails and try to get you to make a deposit. Or they will try and get you to pay a certain amount and tell you it will be delivered. It will never arrive. They will also tell you that it is in Canada, it's not. There are several different angles that they are trying to work on you. They are all SCAMS. I do know someone that really wanted to believe that the John Deere was the real deal. Well after several bad emails back and forth he got the point that it was a scam. If it looks to good to be true, IT IS. I'm pretty certain you've nailed this situation; I had never run across this one before and was curious as to HOW they could benefit. I personally would never put down a deposit on something that I couldn't take home with me after handing off the cash in person for full payment (at least as far as machinery is concerned). but I suppose there are folks who would, and do so. (And it's not as if the deals were necessarily too good to be true, either. Sometimes a real good honest bargain does pop up, especially when so many are losing their homes, etc. Thanks for all the input, Fellas! |