I smell SCAM
01-26-15 | 08:33 PM
#1
Thread Starter
On Your Left
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,373
Likes: 2,440
From: Long Island, New York, USA
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
I smell SCAM
So I have my bike on Craigslist and got this email.
My reply
My reply
#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.
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
Thank You
If you give me a phone number we can talk later.
Where are you located?
Where are you located?
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
Thank You
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?
I don't take any checks, bank or personal.
please give me your phone number so we can talk. Where are you located?
#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.
01-26-15 | 09:50 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, PA
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Roubaix Elite, 2009 Specialized Hard Rock 29er, 1989 Cannondale w/Campy Nuovo Record Components (mostly anway, now just on the trainer) and Easy Racer Recumbent (home made from plans)
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
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
01-26-15 | 10:06 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 13
From: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
01-27-15 | 09:12 AM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 4,163
From: Phx, AZ
Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike
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?
Did you put your phone number in the ad? Or leave it so they have to respond to the ad?
01-27-15 | 10:38 AM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 1,150
From: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
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.
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.
01-27-15 | 12:51 PM
#14
Beicwyr Hapus
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 43
From: Caerdydd
Bikes: Genesis Equilibrium, Genesis Datum, Whyte 901, Dawes 701,1973 Harry Hall, 1989 Orbit America
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.
01-27-15 | 01:20 PM
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,560
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
If he wants his 'agent' to pick it up, tell him the agent needs to bring cash.
01-27-15 | 04:01 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,604
Likes: 3
From: Rural Minnesota
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.
01-27-15 | 04:13 PM
#20
Seņor Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,070
Likes: 306
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 never heard back from him.
01-27-15 | 07:19 PM
#22
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 510
Likes: 7
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.
Last edited by RISKDR1; 01-27-15 at 07:21 PM. Reason: add
01-28-15 | 09:01 AM
#24
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Metro East area
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads (red)
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.
That has scam written all over it. Reply-bots are the bane of the internet anymore.
