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Keep Clear Of Craigslist Scams

#1 User is offline   PCWorld 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 06:01 PM

Post your comments for Keep Clear of Craigslist Scams here
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#2 User is offline   thewazak 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!
To disagree without being disagreeable is the art of debate. Simply because one has a strong opinion, it does not necessarily make an alternative opinion less valid.
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#3 User is offline   LarryE 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 12:09 PM

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!


It's all based on greed, trying to get something for very little effort or for nothing. And it doesn't mean these people are stupid.

This post has been edited by LarryE: 09 February 2010 - 12:10 PM

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#4 User is offline   JimH443 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 12:31 PM

View PostLarryE, on 09 February 2010 - 12:09 PM, said:

It's all based on greed, trying to get something for very little effort or for nothing. And it doesn't mean these people are stupid.


I have only three words for people who actually believe it's possible to get something for very little to nothing: Here's Your Sign.
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#5 User is offline   WinTard 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 01:01 PM

I'd propose that greed and laziness are by definition consequences of stupidity. Posted Image

~~~~~~~~~~
Your time and energy are more important than your money.
~ Deborah Browning

Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn’t always have to be their top priority.
~ William Arthur Ward

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
~ Lao Tzu

When you have given nothing, ask for nothing.
{Albanian Proverb}

If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.
~ John D. Rockefeller, 1839-1937, American Industrialist and Philanthropist

There is no greater calamity than being consumed by greed.
{Chinese Proverb}

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt



Disclaimer: This is just my humble opinion -- In a free world, is everyone is entitled to their own opinions?
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#6 User is offline   compnovo 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 01:16 PM

View PostPCWorld, on 08 February 2010 - 06:01 PM, said:

Post your comments for Keep Clear of Craigslist Scams here

I had somebody attempt the "buyer scam" when I listed a propane fireplace on craigslist a while back. I received an email saying he would pay full price and I should take it off the market (my 1st warning sign) and that he would send a moving crew (2nd sign) with a cashier's check for the full amount (3rd). I googled "craigslist scams" and, waddaya know, the guy scored on all three scam criteria. Funny that I didn't get a response when I responded saying I would be happy to accept his offer but he would have to pay with cash.
Moral to the story: when in doubt, google.
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#7 User is offline   artzy65 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 01:17 PM

View PostLarryE, on 09 February 2010 - 12:09 PM, said:

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!


It's all based on greed, trying to get something for very little effort or for nothing. And it doesn't mean these people are stupid.


They may not be stupid, but something is wrong with them... like people who fall for mlm scams and that Trudeau guy who says he can cure every disease (and in the meantime become a billionaire selling his crap to the suckers), and claim that the moon landing was faked. There are plenty of wingnuts out there, ready to have the wool pulled over their eyes... unbelievable.
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#8 User is offline   WinTard 

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  Posted 09 February 2010 - 01:22 PM

View Postcompnovo, on 09 February 2010 - 01:16 PM, said:

View PostPCWorld, on 08 February 2010 - 06:01 PM, said:

Post your comments for Keep Clear of Craigslist Scams here

I had somebody attempt the "buyer scam" when I listed a propane fireplace on craigslist a while back. I received an email saying he would pay full price and I should take it off the market (my 1st warning sign) and that he would send a moving crew (2nd sign) with a cashier's check for the full amount (3rd). I googled "craigslist scams" and, waddaya know, the guy scored on all three scam criteria. Funny that I didn't get a response when I responded saying I would be happy to accept his offer but he would have to pay with cash.
Moral to the story: when in doubt, google.




You sir, are sure a wise person. Thanks for the tip! I've never dealt with Craiglist yet...
Disclaimer: This is just my humble opinion -- In a free world, is everyone is entitled to their own opinions?
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#9 User is offline   RickBeckwith 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 01:42 PM

I have bought and sold stuff on Craigslist as well. I agree with thewazak, you just have be smart. Deal locally and primarily in cash only. It's that simple. Don't be stupid and fall for stuff that sounds too good to be true. If it sounds that way, then it is too good to be true, and therefore a scam.
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#10 User is offline   renmaster 

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Posted 12 February 2010 - 06:08 AM

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!


I usually don't consider myself "stupid," or fall for those phony e-mails and even the ones that look like "real pages" asking you to log in, but I did fall for a Craigslist scam. I wanted to get 4 tickets for my in-laws to see Wicked. So, I replied to the e-mail and the guy gave me the call the following day. I even met up with him in Times Square and made the transaction in person. I gave him 500 bucks and he gave me 4 tickets. Well, I didn't know they were FAKE tickets until my in-laws went to the show that night. I felt HORRIBLE. I had nothing but good experiences with Craigslist before that. So, I felt like an idiot, and had never fallen for a scam before, but never say never... I was one of those who always used to say, "How can people fall for that???" ;) So, in terms of getting tickets, I guess you have to know exactly how they look like, and not even that, you have to somehow be able to check the validity of them. I should have said to meet at the theater to check the tickets...
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#11 User is offline   marysduby 

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Posted 12 February 2010 - 06:42 AM

View Postartzy65, on 09 February 2010 - 01:17 PM, said:

View PostLarryE, on 09 February 2010 - 12:09 PM, said:

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!


It's all based on greed, trying to get something for very little effort or for nothing. And it doesn't mean these people are stupid.


They may not be stupid, but something is wrong with them... like people who fall for mlm scams and that Trudeau guy who says he can cure every disease (and in the meantime become a billionaire selling his crap to the suckers), and claim that the moon landing was faked. There are plenty of wingnuts out there, ready to have the wool pulled over their eyes... unbelievable.

Thank the Lord for Wingnuts!!
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#12 User is offline   Gamecock58 

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Posted 12 February 2010 - 10:51 AM

View PostPCWorld, on 08 February 2010 - 06:01 PM, said:

Post your comments for Keep Clear of Craigslist Scams here

A simple solution is to use your local newspaper's classified ads. MUCH less likelihood of being scammed.
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#13 User is offline   VGuyver 

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Posted 12 February 2010 - 11:06 PM

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!



Voltaire once said: "Common sense isn't so common." How true that rings when it comes to the Internet. People believe what they want to believe, and too many people rely on the appearance of a person to judge if they are truthful. The Internet pretty much destroys the gullible ones who don't do their research.
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#14 User is offline   JimH443 

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Posted 13 February 2010 - 02:03 AM

View PostVGuyver, on 12 February 2010 - 11:06 PM, said:

The Internet pretty much destroys the gullible ones who don't do their research.


And therein lies the problem. If they're gullible, they're not going to do the research. It's suspicion that motivates the search, and the gullible aren't suspicious.
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#15 User is offline   Circlestrafe 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 02:39 AM

Isn't all this just plain old common sense?

The 'check scam'...pull your head out people! Why is ANYONE taking a check from someone via craigslist in the first place? I wouldn't take a check from a private party EVER, let alone give the item to the buyer before the check clears.

Sorry, but to the post claiming 'it doesn't mean people are stupid'; dead wrong. If you're greedy enough or just think there IS something for nothing, that's just being stupid.

Craigslist is NO worse than any other communication medium, and is evidently quite a bit better than some. The REAL reason it's being trashed is due to the immense revenue loss realized by it's competitors. (i.e newspapers, mail, fee based classified ads, etc.) Let's just get that fact right out front and center.
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#16 User is offline   JimH443 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 06:24 AM

View PostCirclestrafe, on 15 February 2010 - 02:39 AM, said:

The 'check scam'...pull your head out people! Why is ANYONE taking a check from someone via craigslist in the first place? I wouldn't take a check from a private party EVER, let alone give the item to the buyer before the check clears.


Some people are under the mistaken impression that a certified check is as reliable as cash. These checks can sometimes take over a month to truly "clear." Just because the bank has credited your account with the deposit does not mean it's cleared. They can, and will, come back and deduct that credit if it turns out much later that it bounced.

And, of course, if this deduction results in insufficient funds... they won't hesitate to charge you for them.

This post has been edited by JimH443: 15 February 2010 - 06:25 AM

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#17 User is offline   GunBunny59 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 06:44 AM

View Postartzy65, on 09 February 2010 - 01:17 PM, said:

View PostLarryE, on 09 February 2010 - 12:09 PM, said:

View Postthewazak, on 08 February 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

I have bought and sold bargains on Craiglist - with no problems. It simply requires common sense to be used.
Craigslist is no better or worse than anywhere on the Internet - full of scams.
This article is pointless: if folks are stupid enough to fall for the scams - they won't be reading this!
Just realize how many idiots open and respond to obvious scam emails - there is no hope for some folks!


I'm an older gent who until recently never messed with computers, (never needed them except for work) now that I have more time to play around on one I find articles like this one most beneficial. Your comment shows immaturity and a lack of compassion for those who didn't grow up with these fancy toys mommy and daddy bought them. Try living in the real world.

It's all based on greed, trying to get something for very little effort or for nothing. And it doesn't mean these people are stupid.


They may not be stupid, but something is wrong with them... like people who fall for mlm scams and that Trudeau guy who says he can cure every disease (and in the meantime become a billionaire selling his crap to the suckers), and claim that the moon landing was faked. There are plenty of wingnuts out there, ready to have the wool pulled over their eyes... unbelievable.

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#18 User is offline   cdrsjb 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 08:17 AM

I had an item I wanted to sell on Craigslist for $100. A buyer contacted me and asked what she had to do to obtain the item. I said send me a check and when it clears the bank I will mail the item to her. I never heard from her again. How do you get around the mutual distrust that has arisen around internet sales between private parties?
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#19 User is offline   yampaw 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 08:18 AM

One reason these schemes are rampant is that most security measures are just aimed at avoiding scammers, not taking them out of circulation. It would be far more effective to catch and punish them. Once we recognize a potential scam, such as the above one involving a pickup crew and certified check, don't just ignore or refuse it.
Call the cops to arrest and lock up the crooked pickup crew and the writer of the phoney check.
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#20 User is offline   cdrsjb 

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Posted 15 February 2010 - 08:25 AM

If Darwinian evolution is true and we are all the result of random, undirected natural processes under the law of survival of the fittest, why is greed wrong? Why is anything wrong? Who decides what is right and wrong? What's wrong with scamming everyone you can to get the most for yourself? Unless, of course Darwin was wrong...
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