wrk101

Used to be, the robo-scammer responses were extremely easy to spot, they simply stated something like: is your item still available? with no reference to your actual item. So the robo message worked, whether you were selling a car, a couch, or a bicycle.

In the last week, I have gotten a flood of new robo messages. They now state: is your item still available? But in place of "item", your title is inserted. Spacing is odd, there is always a double space in front of your item name. Email will come from a spoof name, something like johnbrendan@gmail.com, but if you reply, your reply does not go to johnbrendan, it goes to a totally different site.

Here's the last four I got (just in the last couple of days):

Spoof email account:

algeri70@crosstel.net
badie41@crosstel.net
bynum78@suddenlink.net
clendinnen11@roadrunner.com

And this is where reply would go:

ki.rs.t.ieches.te.r.8.9@gmail.com
d.i.l.arakohler.7.0@gmail.com
m.ays.e.nfi.o.ri.l.lo3.3@gmail.com
ar.es.m.e.r.cy12.01.1.966@gmail.com

Text of responses:

Interested in 1989 Panasonic City/Commuter Bike 47cm frame, is it still available?

Interested in 1984 Schwinn Touring Bike 57cm, is it still available?

Interested in 1974 Jeunet Racing Bike Single Speed 56cm frame size, is it still available?

Interested in 1983 Peugeot P19 Mixte 50cm frame size, is it still available?


Notice the identical response, two spaces after the word "in" followed my my title, other than that, the wording on all four (and I have plenty more), are identical.


Be careful.


thrifty bill

gaucho777 

Interested in Craigs List Scammers Are Getting a Little Smarter!, is it still available? Thanks for the heads-up.

treebound 

Yep, and not all are like that, some will put just "bike" in the email and not ask if it is still available.
Scammers coupled with a poor local market, and my being down to basically my keepers, are why I'm not selling stuff much on VL these days.
And if I do get a suspicious email that might be legitimate then I'll just update the posting instead of replying, either adding additonal info or asking them a question in return.
"I do not know if it will fit you, but I wear 30" inseam pants and the bike is comfortable for me."

Those spoofed email addresses you posted might be legitimate, just copy overlayed. I have sent a fresh email before to the visible address and have freaked out a few people who thought their identity had been stolen so I don't do that anymore.

CL is worse than ebay at times, as a buyer or a seller.

norskagent

I'm interested in Craigs List Scammers Are Getting a Little Smarter! Can you tell me more by sending your account info to n0r$kA&3nt@scammail.c0m.

wrk101

Yes, I have gotten other replies that are totally, completely blank. No message at all! I guess they are hoping someone will assume they sent the message prematurely, so the sellers get sucked in.

mparker326

I still can't figure out why the scammers are going through so much effort for such an improbable payoff.

I agree that the scammers make CL frustrating as a seller.

anixi

I get them all the time also. I would really appreciate a searchable database of craigslist spammer/scammers. Wouldn't it be great to be able to discern which buyers are really interested in the bikes we sell?

I'm tempted to force prospective customers to give me their telephone numbers. Would that turn off too many legitimate buyers I wonder? Timely post Bill!

SteveSGP

I always require a phone number before I'll respond to an e-mail and if it's not a local phone number I watch for a title or something embedded in the message.

I almost blew off an e-mail from a guy with an out of state phone number until I noticed his e-mail address was tied to a big company headquartered in Minneapolis and I get a lot that are from college students with out of state phones but those usually have something like jsmith@macalaster.edu or something.

Odin99

I saw your for saleCraigs List Scammers Are Getting a Little Smarter! on craigslist and am interested in buying it. I will like you to mail me your best price and the present condition.