mrmando
Feb-11-2009, 6:50pm
I flagged this sale on Craig's List (http://charleston.craigslist.org/msg/1028134786.html) and I hope it's already gone, but in case it shows up elsewhere:
Seller claimed to have a Gibson Doyle Lawson for $1300, with good photos. The ad gave a serial number. I Googled the description and the serial number and didn't find where they might've been stolen from.
Obviously a Lawson for $1300 is too good to be true. The seller e-mailed me back with a couple of new twists on the old scamaroo:
Good day,
Thanks for your email. Item is in perfect condition, it works perfect. Price is $1,300.
Now i am located in WA with my work and i need to come personal to meet you and present the item.Few days ago a buyer told me that he'll buy it, so we must meet in Austin. I come to Austin because I trusted his word, but when I arrived I called him and no answer, so I lost money and precious time on his promise. I don't want to ask you to send me any money in advance, I just want to see that you are a serious buyer. I will come only for a serious deal. If you don't want to buy it after you will inspect it, no problem, but I need to be sure that you will be there.To be sure that you are real and serious, here is what I propose:
1. The service name that we'll use is Money Gram money transfer. You must find the nearest Money Gram agency and you will go there with your best friend or your wife. Your wife or your friend (relative) will be the sender of the money and you will be the receiver.
2.Ask your wife or your friend to send $1,300 to your name. Is enough for me to see that I have a interested buyer. (I will pay the Money Gram fees when we will meet)
3. Only you can pick up the money from Money Gram, so this is no risk on your side.
4. Once the money is sent, from MG they will give you a receipt so you need to find a scanner and scan this and send it to my email.
5. In the same day I will buy the flight ticket for the next day and I will email you the scanned ticket.
6. We will meet at your location and we will finish the deal.If you don't want to buy it there is no problem but I assure you that you will love it and youŽll buy it. It is in perfect conditions.
I repeat: You must understand that you will not send the money to me. You will be the receiver of the money and only you can pick the money from Money Gram .If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply me.Please don't spend my time with endless disscutions,or pure curiosity.Thank you for contacting me and hope you will understand my point of view!!!
Respectfully.
So this dude wants me to send him a scanned image of a MoneyGram receipt. Obviously that's the end of the deal: he's got some way of getting the $1300 by submitting a claim to MoneyGram along with the receipt, and I will never see him or the mandolin. Or the $1300. (Notice that the word "mandolin" doesn't appear in his e-mail.)
He picked the wrong lie to tell about where he's working -- I happen to live there!
Seller claimed to have a Gibson Doyle Lawson for $1300, with good photos. The ad gave a serial number. I Googled the description and the serial number and didn't find where they might've been stolen from.
Obviously a Lawson for $1300 is too good to be true. The seller e-mailed me back with a couple of new twists on the old scamaroo:
Good day,
Thanks for your email. Item is in perfect condition, it works perfect. Price is $1,300.
Now i am located in WA with my work and i need to come personal to meet you and present the item.Few days ago a buyer told me that he'll buy it, so we must meet in Austin. I come to Austin because I trusted his word, but when I arrived I called him and no answer, so I lost money and precious time on his promise. I don't want to ask you to send me any money in advance, I just want to see that you are a serious buyer. I will come only for a serious deal. If you don't want to buy it after you will inspect it, no problem, but I need to be sure that you will be there.To be sure that you are real and serious, here is what I propose:
1. The service name that we'll use is Money Gram money transfer. You must find the nearest Money Gram agency and you will go there with your best friend or your wife. Your wife or your friend (relative) will be the sender of the money and you will be the receiver.
2.Ask your wife or your friend to send $1,300 to your name. Is enough for me to see that I have a interested buyer. (I will pay the Money Gram fees when we will meet)
3. Only you can pick up the money from Money Gram, so this is no risk on your side.
4. Once the money is sent, from MG they will give you a receipt so you need to find a scanner and scan this and send it to my email.
5. In the same day I will buy the flight ticket for the next day and I will email you the scanned ticket.
6. We will meet at your location and we will finish the deal.If you don't want to buy it there is no problem but I assure you that you will love it and youŽll buy it. It is in perfect conditions.
I repeat: You must understand that you will not send the money to me. You will be the receiver of the money and only you can pick the money from Money Gram .If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply me.Please don't spend my time with endless disscutions,or pure curiosity.Thank you for contacting me and hope you will understand my point of view!!!
Respectfully.
So this dude wants me to send him a scanned image of a MoneyGram receipt. Obviously that's the end of the deal: he's got some way of getting the $1300 by submitting a claim to MoneyGram along with the receipt, and I will never see him or the mandolin. Or the $1300. (Notice that the word "mandolin" doesn't appear in his e-mail.)
He picked the wrong lie to tell about where he's working -- I happen to live there!