theoldwolf: (Default)

So here's the advert, one of nine I placed this week. Before a day had passed, I had seven inquiries, all basically the same: "Is this item still available?" That's a dead giveaway for a Nigerian scammer.

Solid Hardwood Antique Secretary's Desk - $550 (Payson, UT)



This is a piece to refinish, it's had a long life and needs restorative work, but would be gorgeous with some TLC.

A similar item recently sold on eBay for $750.00.

Principals only. Cash only sale. No checks, money orders, shipping agents, Western Union money transfers, or anything else a Nigerian scammer may be using this week.

Initial inquiry from "Austin Siregar" at austinsiregar@yahoo.com

Would love to buy this from you if its still on offer. Please let me know asap.
Austin



I respond, "Still available. Read the ad for further details."

Next email comes back from "peters moore" at petersmoore03@gmail.com. The moron is already using a new name and email address.

Thanks for the prompt response to my mail.I will surely buy it from you so please kindly withdraw the advert . Please get informed that i will pay you with a certified bank check and once you have the check cashed at your bank then i will arrange for the pick up at your
place..I will need the following details to mail the payment as soon as possible.

Name to be on the check____
Home address(Not P.O.BOX)____
City___________________
State____
Zip Code_____
Cell phone #______

Please get back to me asap.
Thanks.


My response to him:

First: "Peters" is not a name.

Second: You didn't even read the advert, or you would have seen this:

Principals only. Cash only sale. No checks, money orders, shipping agents, Western Union money transfers, or anything else a Nigerian scammer may be using this week.

Third: Please "get informed" that your English sucks. You are a mugu, and a thief. I send you the very finest black powder by way of Olumba Olumba Obu.

Dem no born you reach, onioburu. U no fit comot face, just skip along.

If you're selling on Craigslist, be prepared to receive any number of inquiries like this. Blow them off. Craigslist prefaces every email from a respondent with this caveat:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams


It's much harder to get taken if you deal with people face to face and accept cash only. Be smart, and be careful. The number of scumbags out there who want your money is breathtaking.
theoldwolf: (Default)
Here's why you need to be so, so careful when dealing with people on Craigslist.

Scam correspondence beneath the cut. )

Please be careful out there.
theoldwolf: (Milkshake)
More Lads from Lagos.

And jollies were had beneath the cut. )
theoldwolf: (Default)
Put a couple of items up for sale on my local Craigslist tonight. It didn't take more than an hour to get this email:

"hi there is this item still available? my sister will be moving in to her new home and would love her to have this item besides her birthday is around the corner please get back at me about the price and let me know
God Bless


Well, that sounded fine, so I wrote back with the price and availability, including my phone number for contact. 30 minutes later I get this:

"Oh i see,well that is ok.Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase,so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigs list,i dont mind adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from Criags list,i want to be rest assured that nobody else gets a hold of the item.I will also like you to know that i will be paying via company certified cashier check,and it will be over night payment due to the distance.i will take care of that.So i will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the cheque
1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address
3.Your phone number.
I am located in WV . I
just want to purchase the item for her as a surprise birthday present as this day is around the corner. I would also like to pay a.s.a.p I will be sending my mover to come pick up the item. but i hope that it is still in a very good condition. Bye"


Oh, brother. This is like one of those "how many things can you find wrong with the picture" exercises. I feel just like Tootle - red flags waving at me from everywhere!

Shall we count them? Consider this an exercise in what not to fall for on Craigslist, if you've never experienced this kind of thing.

1) The English is hideous.
2) An offer to pay more than the advertised price.
3) Paying with "company certified cashier check"
4) Wants my personal information
5) Claims they need to take care of this by mail 'because of the distance' - "WV" is "West Valley", about 20 minutes from where I live.
6) Sending "my mover" to come pick up the item.
7) I had already provided my phone number.

This spells "N I G E R I A N" with a capital Moron. My response back was a one-liner: "Dem no born you reach." That's Nigerian pidgin for "Don't even think about it." I resisted the temptation to throw in various insults as well>

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