DropDeadFred

Just because some of the things we see online or get as responses to our own listings are so hilarious you just have to share.

I've got my bike listed on Craigs right now and its not the first time I've listed it but it is the first time I've had a barrage of responses from scammers about my bike. I think it has to do with the price I have it listed for (I listed high so I'd hit somewhere around my price after negotiating). Anyways. Post up your experiences, responses and knowledge so other people don't fall victim to the scammers (yes, some people are that dumb)

First emails come in from gmail accts asking : Where is it?
when i respond I got this:

t's my pleasure to read from you as regards your advert via
Craigslist. I am Kester, I'm an US Air Force Lieutenant currently
stationed at San Diego on a mission, a military base and i will be
delighted to offer your asking amount as you have disclosed on your
above advertisement post contacts. My initials plans were to schedule
time & date to come over your residence for proper inspection before
the completion of this deal, though i have been buying and selling via
Craigslist & due to the fact it's secured, I am scared free hence i
want go ahead and finalize this transaction with you reason been that
my job won't permit me to under go any further inspection due to i am
Air Force Lieutenant Trainee and deployed here at the military base
taking place here at San Diego for some official assignments hence why
i have limited access to emails and phone's communications. I am
purchasing this for my uncle in southeast Alaska, i want an adequate
assurance from you as regards it's present condition described. I will
appreciate more pictures if available and will be sending your money
asap. My shipper will be available for pickup as soon as payment is
made. Do you have paypal account? because i have a paypal account that
I can easily send money through due to, its good for business payments
and best online auction payment method. Get back to me with your
paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent
on time. Confirm sale to me and remove the add from posting.
regards

Kester Ed,


worst punctuation ever...

If you post about SCAM sellers then throw up a link, price and pic...cuz no thread is cool without pics

achoo

He's not Air Force. There are three or four partially-intelligible sentences in his email. No zoomie could do that.

DropDeadFred

lol, thats where the red flags went up for me

guadzilla

Although it IS via Paypal. If it is a verified account and you post to the verified address, what is the risk?

I am curious - I genuinely dont know the answer to that. Not saying that this isnt a scam - sounds like one. But I am trying to figure out how.

rooftest

I'm just disappointed in this scammer. There are Marine and Navy bases in San Diego - but no Air Force bases. Also "south east" Alaska? Research is indeed a dying art...

Homebrew01

Not sure. Maybe once he gets the email address, he'll send a fake phishing PayPal link to get the password and hope to clean out the money.

hhnngg1

Actually, these usually start sounding legit. They start with Paypal. There's a 100% guarantee that when paytime approaches, some excuse will come up and it'll switch to something else not so bad. It then rapidly decelerates to the bottom, culminating in Africa's favorite, "Western Union". Have seen a few of these before - they all start sounding 'legit' at least for the payment part, and then some excuse always comes up so that the cash wire has to happen.

datlas 

I must have cycling on the brain.

I read "SCAM" as "SRAM."

I agree to steer clear of the "buyer."

SHIM_105

Air Traffic Control would love that idiot. Who falls for those scams when the're that blatantly obvious. I mean really

JAJ0404

Sounds like a scam from China . . . . they always screw up American names and think the name name is the first name - hence the Kester Ed.

JAJ0404

LAST name is the first name