Generic response to CL ad

**Bruce Clausen** · Dec-30-2009, 11:03am

I'm sure this sort of thing has been discussed here, but can't find a suitable thread to continue. I've just advertised an expensive instrument (not a mandolin) on craigslist, and received this response after a few hours:

"Can you sell this for the price you have listed through PayPal.I will arrange for a pick up as well,so you need not worry about the shipping.
Reply ASAP,if you are interested in this."

No mention of what is for sale (let alone questions), or the price, or the location; sender used a gmail address. I also find the lack of spaces after punctuation disturbing, though I'm not sure this in itself identifies a scammer.

What is the angle here? Not that I'm tempted in the least to make contact. I think even if it were a legitimate offer I'd rather meet face to face-- I always enjoy passing instruments around, swapping licks and ideas.

Thanks for any insights.

BC

**Jim MacDaniel** · Dec-30-2009, 11:23am

Looks like a scam: I just did a quick google using keywords craigslist, paypal, & scam, and received numerous hits and horror stories.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-30-2009, 11:26am

I used to use Paypal on things I bought to get them in under the radar at home. Don't have to any more.

I'd send back this answer:

I have several items for sale. Which one are you referring to?

That will tell you if they are paying attention. It might not be a scam, No sense in not being cautious though.

**allenhopkins** · Dec-30-2009, 11:32am

That "arrange for pickup" is the red flag, IMHO. So many of these scams state that the "buyer" will arrange for pickup by his own express firm. I catch the faint scent of Nigerian cooking...

**JEStanek** · Dec-30-2009, 11:42am

Lots of red flags. I would follow Mike's advice or ignore the response.

Jamie

**Jim MacDaniel** · Dec-30-2009, 12:17pm

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

I used to use Paypal on things I bought to get them in under the radar at home...

Now that's a brilliant use of PayPal.

**mrmando** · Dec-30-2009, 1:03pm

I have made long-distance purchases through Craig's List (and even used PayPal), but if I make first contact by e-mail, I always include my full name and phone number. I won't complete a transaction without at least one phone conversation. I have had a friend in another city pick up an instrument once or twice, but I don't think I'll try that again, since it inconveniences the friend and potentially gets him/her involved in weirdness. In my experience, sellers who will accept money long-distance, but won't return the favor by shipping the instrument, often turn out to be unreliable in other ways.

Anyway, what Bruce got sounds a lot like a fishing expedition by a scammer. I wouldn't bother replying if I were him.

**Bruce Clausen** · Dec-30-2009, 7:08pm

Thanks for your comments, gentlemen. I never had any intention of communicating with this person (if there is an actual person involved), but I was curious to know what exactly the scam is. I imagine if I bit there would be some further details to do with the money transfer and the pick-up. But I can't quite see whether I would end up losing the instrument, or money, or both. Why is PayPal specified? ...And why are those spaces missing?

Anybody have any precise knowledge of what the scenario might be?

Thanks again.

BC

**John Rosett** · Dec-31-2009, 1:59pm

A lot of the scammers seem to respond only to ads with substantial prices listed. Anytime that I've listed an item for $1000 or more, the scams pour in. I currently have a guitar listed on CL for $500, and not a single scammer has contacted me.
If you're listing something for $1000 or more, you might want to spell out the price (one thousand, rather than $1000) and see if it has any effect.

**mandroid** · Dec-31-2009, 2:33pm

Hmm , 2 words , perhaps?

Bring Cash ..

**barney 59** · Dec-31-2009, 4:42pm

I'm not sure how a buyer would scam you using paypal. I do know about scams done with cashiers checks and courier service pickup. I'd think that whatever you do once you have the green in your hand it should be pretty safe to let go of the instrument.

**Jim MacDaniel** · Dec-31-2009, 7:26pm

Here is a description of one such scam from someone's blog:

I want to warn everyone of this new way of a Paypal scam. I had someone offer to buy my most expensive item for sale on Craigslist and they wanted to pay me through paypal if I shipped it to them because they're in IL. Because I've had some successful sales this way to some out of town mamas, I sent them my paypal address. I then received a bogus Paypal confirmation of a pending payment email that looked kinda official but had some variances from real Paypal emails (it didn't say, "Dear Mrs. XXXX XXXXX", it only listed my email address, it had the wrong fonts and all of the links had alternate info if you clicked on the "view link"). It looked suspicious to me, so I forwarded it to Paypal's spoof@paypal.com address...

I'm not sure how this would have worked out with a local pickup as in Bruce's case, but I guess the lesson learned is don't solely trust pending payment confirmation emails; instead, login to your paypal account to verify the money is actually there or in process.

**Bruce Clausen** · Jan-02-2010, 12:13pm

Thanks, Jim. Maybe that was the idea: you get a phony email confirming receipt of the money, then a knock at your door, and with no shipper there's no address or any way of tracing or aborting when you realize the money isn't there.

BC