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I got two text messages recently for a machine I have on Craigslist. The text message was, "Do you still have it? I would be glad to pay for it as soon as possible though I will not be available to come for an inspection due to my flexible schedule. Kindly get back to me with the following questions below: 1) Are you the owner? 2) Your pick up location? 3) Your full name and your Paypal email ID for the instant payment. I would be glad to make the payment immediately through Paypal so kindly get back to."
I responded by asking for his name and address and I will have someone receive your payment, then we can arrange for delivery.
The text message came from 561-320-3758. BEWARE!!!



I never got a response.

Yep, pretty standard. They ALWAYS ask "Do you still have it?". I posted a machine once and got a scammer hit within 1 hour asking me if I still had it.

Interestingly, the "561" area code is from Palm Beach County, FL...
I may call the number and inquire about some collectibles they have for sale...

I get those all the time too..

THOSE ,, I do not fall for... however can't say that for this other fellow.. (other post)

When I sell on CL it is local pick-up with cash on the barrel head!  The only exception is if I am working with an SMC member who I know.  Every time I list I get the scammers within an hour or two as well.  If you don't respond to me with a phone number, you will not hear back from me.

The damn CL scammers work both sides of the deal.  Just try to shop for a used car on CL.  If the price looks too good to be true--it is usually a scam--where they had to move so the car is no longer local and they will ship the car to you in a container (probably with a s%#$load of packing material to boot!), blah, blah, blah.  I got pretty good at spotting those by looking more closely at the pictures.  Most of them have palm trees or other types of trees not native to Michigan in the background--a pretty good tip off!

CL is still a good local vehicle to buy and sell it just takes a little more work thanks to the idiots out there!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

If I sell something on CL, I dont put my number in the add so I only have to deal with one type of spam.  Here is one I got today:

Good morning and how are you doing, I'm agent for  Adobe Systems Incorporated ., I would like you to get back to me with your Direct Email address to contact you so I could forward it to my clients in purchase of the merchandise from you.


Response back asap.

That's why I hate Craig's List. We had a local older man murdered a few years back from a person answering a Craigs List add.   They shot the guy and stole his money.  I know Ebay gets a lot of bad press on here, but I consider it the best way to buy and sell. Lots of crimes are committed thru Craigs List.  Just my two cents. The few times I have used Craigs List I was also immediately hit up by scammers.

Major news where I live is a couple of weeks ago, a guy listed his pick up on kijiji  (a form of CL) and 2 guys came for a test drive... and they nor the truck returned.  They found the owners body burnt in the field that is owned by the guy who came looking for the truck.

It's a twisted story, but major news here in Southern Ontario.

It's a shame too with these CL ads, because many times I reply to ads of all types after the ad is up for say a week, and I flat out ask "is the item still for sale?"  I am by no means a scammer of any kind, but I guess one rotten apple ruins the bushel.

I almost fell for a CL scam before I even bought my fist machine.  It was a 81, out on the west coast... and he was "away" in Italy, and I just had to western union the cash, and he would ship the item.  He even gave a shipping company with a tracking number etc.... it was WALMART shipping... I thought huh?  So I googled the guys name... and sure enough... there were people out there who got scammed by that name.... I mean, he does this scam, and doesn't even change his name!

These scammers make it so hard for honest people. The other day I located something I was interested in, a type of synthesizer, but it was way too far away to travel. I e-mailed and asked the seller if they would ship the item if I were to buy it. I never heard back. Maybe they sold it, but perhaps they thought I was a scammer and ignored me. I was seriously interested in the item, though.

Thanks alot, scammers  :veryangry: .

Another gripe- Craigslist says always beware of money orders and cashier's checks. I totally understand why, but scammers will target PayPal users too. They don't mention that however. I wonder it it's partially because eBay owns both Craiglist and PayPal.

Not entirely correct.  eBay owns a 25% stake in Craigslist, they do not own it outright.  Craig Newmark still owns the majority share of Craigslist.

Oh, ok. I wonder if eBay would still influence negative PayPal publicity on the site though.

I get the same spam email all the time(please give me your pay pal and home email - craigslist can remove your posting at any time.) I always give my phone number with my listing so I just send back my phone number in response and of course I never hear back.

Think this just might be my favorite to date:

foe reals is that all you got because i am interested and then some more if you have another one in mindset. i have nothing to trade with but if u could give me some discount let me know at Adawc@live.com

I just got that reply as well..