Bike Forums - I smell SCAM

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- - I smell SCAM (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/991389-i-smell-scam.html)

So I have my bike on Craigslist and got this email.

Quote:

Hi, do you still have these for sale? and when can i come check it out? you can email me on atony4462@gmail.com to let me know the present condition...

Thank You

My reply

Quote:

If you give me a phone number we can talk later.

Where are you located?

Quote:

Thank you so much for getting back to me, I am quite comfortable with the condition of the item I wouldn't mind adding an extra $50 to your asking price to keep this for me, getting it for my cousin for her upcoming birthday, i will be making the payment by bank Certified check to cover the cost, then after it clears in your Bank, which shouldn't take more than a day or two according to my bank, I will have my movers come over for the pick up, If you are OK with this, Do reply back with your full name address cell # and your last asking price, in which the check will be sent to you asap, and I would like you to take the posting off...

Thank You

My reply

Quote:

Sorry, but cash only or USPS Postal Money Orders.

I don't take any checks, bank or personal.

please give me your phone number so we can talk. Where are you located?

#1 He's asking for the price when it's in the ad.
#2 He refers to the bike as "item"
#3 He's buying it for his female cousin, the bike's a 56cm so she better be 5'11" to 6' tall.

Smells like a scam.

Most def. I get almost the word for word exact same messages every time I post something on CL. Avoid.

If it walks like a duck......

You should see the ones my son gets. He earns spare change tutoring people in math and computer science.

Yep. I posted an ad for a friend's boat a couple of years ago. Got the same thing almost word for word.

Smells like a variation on the old Nigerian 419 scams.

Have his movers come to pick up? I'd say SCAM!!!!!!

I get offers from sexy women when I advertise on CL. I clicked on a reply too quickly one time and she, well someone probably not the woman, posted some sexy pics. Not porn just alluring!! I learned quickly how to spot them. The subjects of the replies were usually strange if I remember.

Bill

Stevie Wonder could see that scam...

I would like to meet one of these people.....

I'd just raise the price to a million bucks, and take USA cash only...........................

Dumb question. I've never advertised on CL but will have to in the near future. I have purchased stuff off of CL. Usually there's a phone number to call. Sometimes you just have to respond to the ad.

Did you put your phone number in the ad? Or leave it so they have to respond to the ad?

With all due respect to the OP. It's a little strange that there are still some people out there that would even give that request a 2nd look.

And I think my point is driven home even further by the link to the PayPal thread. I mean, are there really that many people out there that would even question the validity of such a request? If you're the seller your calling the shots. As soon as someone deviates, end of transaction.

I sold a nothing special ladies bike last year on Gumtree (the UK Craigslist). One of the replies I had was from a man claiming to be a North Sea oil rig worker who wanted me to sell it to him, pack and post it to an address in west Africa where it was going to be a surprise present for his sister. Are you telling me that was a scam? He seemed like such a nice person.

I got that one too. Scam.

Scam. Get that exact same message too.

If he wants his 'agent' to pick it up, tell him the agent needs to bring cash.

Just send me your bank account information and I'll have the money direct deposited within 48 hours.

When dealing on CL or any online market, I deal in cash only to individuals who will provide contact information and are willing to meet in a public place. No checks or long distance deals. I never acknowledge any response that even hints of bogus.

I once posted a comment about an ad I saw on Kijiji and someone contacted me to inquire about buying the item (I had nothing for sale), including the over-valued Bank Draft or whatever, but as I recall it was actually overvalued by a significant amount and his 'representative' was going to come by to get the difference. I gave him the mailing address of the local police station and the name of the chief of police instead of my own info, and when he emailed me again in a couple of weeks wondering when his rep could come by for the item & cash I just said 'anytime, friend!'

I never heard back from him.

I get the same thing all the time too.

Last one I got I replied with have your movers bring cash. ;)

classic Nigerian scam. I have seen it many times with similar language. They always talk about thier agent or someone other than themselves picking it up. if you want to play with them give them an address in Nigeria as the pickup location.

Or give them your name and address as Head of internet fraud. FBI building. Washington D.C.

I'm amazed that you are depriving that poor Nigerian Prince of the bicycle he so desperately needs! :) That has scam written all over it. Reply-bots are the bane of the internet anymore.

I don't do business on the net,
If It's not done with a handshake It's not done..

I gotta look you in the eye before I trade with ya !