Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 26 to 50 of 66

Thread: What scam is this?

  1. #26
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Oxfordshire, England
    Posts
    656

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by James Miller View Post
    If doing cash, as checks are not good these days, get a Counterfeit Detector Pen - like at Walmart, 2 come in a pack and are relatively cheap. YMMV
    Just make sure you don't get a fake one

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to OneChordTrick For This Useful Post:


  3. #27

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by OneChordTrick View Post
    Just make sure you don't get a fake one
    Actually... I have heard of problems with counterfeit merchandise at certain major internet-only retailers...

    I think for something important like that, I'd buy from a regular big chain-store, not online from some unknown 3rd-part reseller who might have got a 'bargain' on 100 pallets of product that turns out to be low cost for a reason...

  4. #28
    bon vivant jaycat's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Boston, Mass.
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Well, now I have another "interesting" response, as follows:

    "hell my name is (name) i would lote to buy the mandobird i live in (town) islet me know what works for you i am serious be dieting to take on mado give me a call before noon if you can (phone #) its my work # if i'm not there leave a message please thanks (name)"

    Maybe I am just being too particular about selling to someone with basic grammar/writing skills?!?

  5. #29
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Just a note. If you're worried about someone getting your personal information with your telephone number don't send them an e-mail. I can generally find out more about someone with their e-mail address than I can with their telephone number and if you send me an e-mail I know even more about you. Don't think you're anonymous, you aren't. Carry on.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  6. #30
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    DeKalb, IL
    Posts
    3,633

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    As to the first one, I have a possibility. Maybe it's an older person. (Maybe even older than I am.) They often stay up late. Have a flip phone and don't have texting in their plan. That's what my wife and I have. And he/she is hard of hearing. And he/she is leery of strangers and doesn't trust you, the seller to get him into your house. Everything seems polite. The only thing that seems unusual in this instance is that it's an electric mando. Maybe they didn't notice that or maybe it's something else.
    I'm just saying that a number of the responses here assume the potential buyer is a scammer. It could be that this person is fearful of the seller.

  7. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Dale Ludewig For This Useful Post:


  8. #31
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    569

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    Well, now I have another "interesting" response, as follows:

    "hell my name is (name) i would lote to buy the mandobird i live in (town) islet me know what works for you i am serious be dieting to take on mado give me a call before noon if you can (phone #) its my work # if i'm not there leave a message please thanks (name)"

    Maybe I am just being too particular about selling to someone with basic grammar/writing skills?!?
    I am always amazed at how poorly most folks write. However, in this case i imagine that he's replying from a cell phone and his poor typing is not getting autocorrected. This one seems more legit to me than the first one. I buy and sell a LOT on Craigslist (cars, instruments, appliances, etc.) and have never had a bad experience, but I have learned a lot about the various scams and can usually spot them. The first guy who doesn't want to get texts because of a hearing problem? That's a great reason for texting! There's no sound! However, it could be as Dale noted above.
    As everyone else said, meet in a secure location during daylight.
    It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!

  9. #32

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    LOOK at the first thing they recommend

    Huntsville Police Department offered these 10 tips for Craigslist shopping.

    Trust your instincts.
    Don't go alone.
    Insist to meet at a public place such as a police precinct.
    Do not meet in a secluded area.
    Do not invite strangers into your home, and do not go to theirs.
    Be cautious when buying/selling high value items.
    Perform the transaction during daylight hours.
    If it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
    Tell a friend or family member about your intentions.
    Take your cell phone with you.
    " Practice every time you get a chance." - Bill Monroe

  10. The following members say thank you to AMandolin for this post:


  11. #33
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Trust your instincts young Skywalker.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  12. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:


  13. #34

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I say risk it. I tend to see things in a positive light; if the deal goes sour, at least you'll make local headlines - "Man felled by aspiring mandolinist with own little guitar-thingie"
    Last edited by catmandu2; Feb-08-2018 at 9:54am.

  14. #35

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Dale sort of beat me to it, while I was feeding my dog.

    Even though 99.9% percent of people text, I don't and find it annoying. Same with email and having to check emails. Just call me on the phone and we will talk (about the instrument). Sounds simple, but when you start to spell all that out (in an email!) it makes you start to sound like a psycho...............when in reality, I just don't want to be bothered by the nuisance of technology -- which most people consider a convenience.

    (and I should add, when you call I won't actually pick up, I'll look at your number and if I don't recognize it, well, just leave me a message and we can go from there..................once I understand that you are not a telemarketer or a bill collector, I'll call you right back......anyway, honest, I'm not a psycho, just a bit curmudgeonly and a little paranoid, but mostly just technology-challenged.)

    Mostly, I remember the good ole days when the phone rang and it was always a friend or some good news.....nowadays, not so much.

  15. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


  16. #36

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve VandeWater View Post
    ... guy who doesn't want to get texts because of a hearing problem? ...
    That's not what the OP said in the first post. It got misquoted and changed (by the OP) in subsequent posts.

    Here's the relevant part of the *first* post by the OP:

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    "... Call me repeatedly if necessary as I have a slight hearing problem & do not text. ..."
    If the potential buyer had put a comma after the word "problem", it would have cut down on misinterpretations. I agree with the following comment:

    Quote Originally Posted by jesserules View Post
    Which is it, "I have a hearing problem & do not text" or "I have a hearing problem so do not text"?

    The first just means "Don't give up calling, I have a hearing problem. Also, don't text" the second means "Don't text because I have a hearing problem." Big difference.
    Yup. Two separate things. But, both quoted by the OP at different times. Little details like that can make a big difference in meaning.

    The rest of us reading this, aren't going to get an accurate picture of what's up, unless we have accurate info. Too many variables.

  17. #37

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    Well, now I have another "interesting" response, as follows:

    "hell my name is (name) i would lote to buy the mandobird i live in (town) islet me know what works for you i am serious be dieting to take on mado give me a call before noon if you can (phone #) its my work # if i'm not there leave a message please thanks (name)"

    Maybe I am just being too particular about selling to someone with basic grammar/writing skills?!?
    Looks like you are LUCKY to have TWO potential buyers, IMHO! The goal of selling is to actually SELL it, right? It's not like they are running for office and need to be vetted with such scrutiny. If they bring cash and hand it to you -- they are a GREAT BUYER. End of story.

  18. #38

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    meet in a bank they have cameras all over the place, even the parking lot.

  19. #39

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I'm sorry.
    Last edited by catmandu2; Feb-08-2018 at 1:38pm.

  20. #40
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    St Paul, Minn
    Posts
    569

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I would have no problems with that at all. I am 64...have tinnitus and some hearing loss. I do not have a cellphone and do not text. Everything is done through my PC and Skype on the PC. While the writing style of the request is a bit clunky it describes me pretty well.

    Only three things to consider. Meet in a public place and cash. And make sure the ink doesn't smear on the bills.

  21. #41
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Annapolis, MD
    Posts
    1,663

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    My favorite Craigslist contact was a female, (allegedly, as I only spoke to her voice mail) who had a microphone with stand to sell. Would only text. Would not answer the phone, and wanted to meet at a mall parking lot nearby around 9PM. Did not want me coming to the house nor did they want to come to mine. I texted, "This is a microphone. I'd like to try it out. Should I bring my amplifier and portable Honda generator?" Needless to say I passed. I used the "More items for sale by this person" link. This same contact had volumes of random stuff for sale on Craigslist.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    Looks like you are LUCKY to have TWO potential buyers, IMHO! The goal of selling is to actually SELL it, right? It's not like they are running for office and need to be vetted with such scrutiny. If they bring cash and hand it to you -- they are a GREAT BUYER. End of story.
    Basic, you say?
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  22. #42
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Annapolis, MD
    Posts
    1,663

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I've just about stopped texting due to my increased hearing loss. I really don't like talking on the phone either, due to mounting vision problems.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  23. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Bill Kammerzell For This Useful Post:


  24. #43
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    0.8 mpc from NGC224, upstairs
    Posts
    10,054

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by willkamm View Post
    I've just about stopped texting due to my increased hearing loss. I really don't like talking on the phone either, due to mounting vision problems.
    ...and you can't walk far because of the arthritis in your arms?

    Easy: tell people to write to you only in capital letters, and to speak to you very slowly on the phone.
    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

  25. #44

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I'm beginning to see why I don't have much luck buying on CL........

  26. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


  27. #45
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Just a note. If you're worried about someone getting your personal information with your telephone number don't send them an e-mail. I can generally find out more about someone with their e-mail address than I can with their telephone number and if you send me an e-mail I know even more about you. Don't think you're anonymous, you aren't. Carry on.
    Boy, now I’m really worried, I’ve emailed with you at least twice, I bet you even know my dogs name when I was a kid! Stop scaring me Mike!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  28. #46

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I've had had good luck buying, amongst the people who have actually responded. I've managed to sell a few things too. Houston has a pretty good volume of music gear compared some smaller towns though. Probably the riskiest buy I made was a sight unseen Art & Lutherie 12 string guitar, but at the price it was being sold I figured worst comes to worst I could probably resell and break even. It ended up being a great guitar.

  29. #47
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    720

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by Charlieshafer View Post
    As Mike says, meet in a police parking lot. Even in our little town the police encourage you to meet at the station, even inside if one prefers. The language may not be an issue, especially if he's just typing off the top of his head and not worrying about grammar. A lot of posts on this forum are just sort of "wing-it" things that sound a little off when read. And don't even get me started on auto-shell.

    It's a weird way to offer for sure, but easily explained away. Just go by your own comfort level. If nervous about it, pass.
    I see what you did there ...

  30. The following members say thank you to jesserules for this post:


  31. #48
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    569

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    I think both offers should be followed up on, as neither sounds obviously bogus.
    But for your information, here are some other reasons I often suspect scams:
    1) The email starts out with "I will like to know if your..." instead of "I would like to know if..." To me this screams that it's a foreign bot created by someone who doesn't speak English. I get this response a LOT to my various ads. The rest of the wording is usually funky too, phrased in such a way that no one who is a native speaker would say it that way. (even though they have an American sounding name like Jason or Chad. Responding to an inquiry like this will often yield no response. They only wanted your e-mail address to sell.
    2) You call the local number back and it's a text-only line, even though the ad says to call or text. I had this happen twice last week. It shows me that the seller isn't really local like he says he is. Probably just phishing for phone numbers to sell.
    It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!

  32. #49
    bon vivant jaycat's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Boston, Mass.
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Update: Well, I feel a bit abashed now. Just met the fellow who sent the first response at the local cop shop and the deal went down without a hitch.

    Maybe I am getting paranoid in my old age.

    I really want to thank everyone who took the time to respond; without your input I might not have made the sale. Lesson learned.

  33. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to jaycat For This Useful Post:


  34. #50
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Annapolis, MD
    Posts
    1,663

    Default Re: What scam is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bertram Henze View Post
    ...and you can't walk far because of the arthritis in your arms?

    Easy: tell people to write to you only in capital letters, and to speak to you very slowly on the phone.
    The arthritis is in my hands, but close.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •