How To Avoid The Three Worst Craigslist Scams - Podcast

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
12/03/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

We all know that Craigslist is Satan’s Playground. Sure, it looks inviting, but before you know it your money, your car and your dignity are all gone. Here’s how to avoid the three most common bad things that can happen to you on Craigslist.

Craigslist, like every other aspect of the internet, has its pros and its cons. And in this case, cons means people who will try and con you out of something. (And yes, pros might have a different meaning here too, but we’ll deal with that later.)

Selling a car? You’ll get people trying to rip you off. Shopping on Craigslist? There are people who will try and rip you off. Sure, many of our savvy readers here are hip to these things but it seems the scams are as pervasive today as they were when Gutenberg first offered to let his friends advertise their used blacksmith tools on JohannesList . “Ye Olde Anvil. Only struck lightly for the past score years. Interesting barter welcome.”

So, here is the audio:

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And the video.

And the top shot is of the most common road sign in Michigan. If you have ever driven in Michigan, you already know this.

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DISCUSSION (98)

sagekilz > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:28

Title should be just “Avoid Craigslist”.

SteveLehto > sagekilz
12/03/2015 at 09:31

To a degree, yes. Many people really shouldn’t go near it.

shadowx360 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:35

Scams will just cost you your money, safety is the #1 concern about using CL. Meet them in front of a police station or bank; or if you can carry in your state, bring a few toys along with a few friends that can use them.

jimz > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:36

I treat Craigslist like I do eBay. Primarily a place to buy something. I’ve never sold anything on CL, but out of all of the things I’ve done on eBay the past decade+, any hassles I’ve had with other parties have practically always been when I was the seller, and almost always over something that was clearly described in the listing.

The couple of times I’ve bought things via CL, they’ve gone fine. I got a motorcycle last may from a guy, and all I did was make sure I had someone come along with me just in case. Made him an offer the following day, he accepted, and that was it.

albo > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:38

“And the top shot is of the most common road sign in Michigan”

From my travel in the state, I thought that was "Correctional Facility Area: Do not pick up hitchhikers"

SteveLehto > albo
12/03/2015 at 09:40

A close second.

Family Truxster 3000 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:42

If it is to good to be true, then odds are it is. I managed a retail bank in Ohio and had a couple of young guys get burned on the money order scam. The reason why the money orders come out of Canada, the US Postal Inspector, which would be the lead investigator since it came though the US Mail, does not have jurisdiction in Canada. The big thing we have going on in Ohio now is title lending scams.

http://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer…

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:42

Goes to craigslist and looses all faith in humanity.

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/5343075582…

Garrett Davis > sagekilz
12/03/2015 at 09:44

For some people, oh yes they definitely should. I personally have bought and sold 10+ cars on Craigslist, lots of musical equipment, random stuff, etc over the years and haven’t really had any problems. I love Craigslist, you just have to know what you’re doing.

Clown Shoe Pilot > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:45

I’ve got an opposite experience. I know that one story is in no way a refutation of your advice, and I don’t mean it to be one.

I had a 1991 Honda CRX HF. It was bone stock and everything worked. I bought it from a guy on Craigslist. I kept it for 9 months or so, and even made improvements to it (fixed stuff and renewed parts, no mods). When I sold it, I put it back on Craigslist and got a ton of scammers contacting me. I also put it on Auto Trader.

Soon after advertising it on AutoTrader, I got a call from a guy in Hawaii. I live in Texas. The guy in Hawaii REALLY wanted a bone stock CRX HF and they’re kind of a unicorn so it makes sense that he’d have to look on the mainland to find one. We talked for probably 45 minutes about the car, and then I emailed him some more pictures. The next day, he decided to buy it.

Now, this is where I started thinking “Hmmm... better be on the lookout for a scam.” What we ended up doing was using the US Mail for the whole thing. I specified that he would send me payment in US Postal Service Money Orders, and he would send them to me via USPS Certified Letter. Upon receipt of the funds, I would send him the title via Certified Letter and agree to release the car to a shipping company that he arranged and paid for.

But, one might say, how do you know you’re not getting scammed? The cool thing about USPS is that you can trade in a USPS Money Order for CASH MONEY at the post office. Also, you’ve now got the big federal law enforcement gun pointed at both parties.

If you send me several thousand dollars’ worth of bogus USPS money orders via a USPS certified letter, that’s mail fraud and the Post Office will prosecute the shit out of that. Also, if I receive several thousand dollars’ worth of legitimate USPS money orders via a USPS certified letter, cash them, and then stiff you on the merchandise, that’s also mail fraud and I can be prosecuted. Mutually Assured Destruction! It works!

So, it’s possible to do a sight-unseen deal with someone thousands of miles and an ocean away where everybody gets what they want. I know it’s exceedingly rare, but it can happen.

High Road > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 09:46

I shop craiglist’s everyday and I’ve purchased dozens of car, bikes boats and trucks over the past 10+ years, (christ, I even bought a 9 unit apartment building). Fortunately, like most people with a modicum of intelligence, I’m smarter than the dumbasses trying to scam me. I actually feel sorry for the people who are afraid to use such an invaluable tool.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/03/2015 at 09:52

I read your comment and though the link was going to be a typical CL spelling and grammatical nightmare. However, the linked ad has less usage problems than your post.

It’s still a pretty major screwup, with the photo being completely unrelated to the ad copy. However, everything IS spelled correctly.

SteveLehto > Family Truxster 3000
12/03/2015 at 09:59

They also come Fedex which probably insulates them to some degree on that.

SteveLehto > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/03/2015 at 10:00

Bait and Switch!

SteveLehto > Clown Shoe Pilot
12/03/2015 at 10:01

It’s possible. You could also win the lottery or do dental surgery on yourself without pain killers. All POSSIBLE things.

Thanks for the note.

SteveLehto > High Road
12/03/2015 at 10:02

Sometimes, fear is an evolutionary necessity. It keeps some people from getting into trouble.

MonkeePuzzle > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 10:03

the best response I’ve seen to a CL issue (from reddit’s r/funny)

Kinja'd!!!

Tohru > shadowx360
12/03/2015 at 10:07

Bringing along friends and guns turns a Craigslist transaction into looking like the showdown at the OK Corral.

Hooperdink > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 10:22

My rules for Craigslist transactions:

- No shipping, you pick up locally.
- Meet at a well traveled and well lit area and never at my house.
- Pay in cash only. No checks, money orders, etc. Complicated transactions, nope.
- Use a secondary email account for transactions, and a Google Voice number for the phone number. Most ads I place these days have just email for the initial contact.
- Ignore any phone call or email that sounds like BS. This will approach 90% for cars and motorcycles, especially the “we’ll help you sell your vehicle” calls. Um, no.

I’ve sold household stuff this way as well as cars and motorcycles, and I’ve never had a problem.

albo > Tohru
12/03/2015 at 10:27

1. Trust, but verify.

2. Remember, when seconds count, the police are minutes away.

Vic788 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 10:35

if it sounds too good to be true then it is. As soon a stroy happens walk away.

Tohru > albo
12/03/2015 at 10:38

A corrolary to #2:

The average response time by police is 15 minutes. The average response time of .45ACP is 1500ft/sec.

I am a gun owner, and I understand where you’re coming from.

I’m just picturing 4 armed guys on each side like a Columbian drug deal, but it’s exchanging $50 for a pink Barbie Power Wheels Jeep.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Clown Shoe Pilot
12/03/2015 at 10:48

Look at the vehicle identification on the right side bar.

1. Photo: GMC Denali or whatever

2. Ad copy: 1957 Bel Air

3. Vehicle details: 2004 Jeep Wrangler.

How can you post an ad for three different vehicles without doing it on purpose?

EvilSuperMonkey > Tohru
12/03/2015 at 10:50

And could also be misconstrued as intent.

ateamfan42 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 10:53

Another approach if you are concerned a check might be no good: I’ve done this one when receiving a personal check for a small claims judgement in my favor. Being a local dispute, I went to a branch of the bank issuing the check and cashed it, rather than depositing in my own bank and worring if the check would bounce for lack of funds or something.

The funny part was the young bank teller who had to consult with her manager to find out if she could cash a check to someone who didn’t have an account with them. It says “Pay to the order of “, it better be okay!

ateamfan42 > Tohru
12/03/2015 at 10:53

I’m just picturing 4 armed guys on each side like a Columbian drug deal, but it’s exchanging $50 for a pink Barbie Power Wheels Jeep.

Now that is a funny visual!

albo > ateamfan42
12/03/2015 at 10:56

“Show me the Power Wheels, dude!”

“Not until you show me the money, ese!”

albo > shadowx360
12/03/2015 at 10:58

And do your car transaction at the DMV.

ateamfan42 > Clown Shoe Pilot
12/03/2015 at 10:58

Prosecution does require the authorities to first be able to find the transgressing party, so it isn’t totally fool proof if someone knows how to hide from the law. But I agree this is a better plan than blindly trusting counterfeit casheir’s checks.

xenol > Hooperdink
12/03/2015 at 11:00

Inspect the item for sale, especially electronics. Make sure it isn’t broken or isn’t in too worse of a shape than what the seller said. And if the seller did mention something abou the item, check for that anyway.

If they refuse to show you the item before handing the cash, I’d just walk out.

Lunatic the Grouch > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:02

Another excellent podcast, Steve!

I never have issues selling on Craigslist because:

1.) I always do face-to-face transactions at my home

2.) I always carry my sidearm fully loaded and safely holstered

That tells them everything they need to know before they even step out of their vehicle.

SteveLehto > Lunatic the Grouch
12/03/2015 at 11:06

It CAN be done, but preparation and knowledge is key.

Thanks for the note.

Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead. > Lunatic the Grouch
12/03/2015 at 11:08

Never at my home, but always armed.

That's gonna leave a mark! > Garrett Davis
12/03/2015 at 11:13

I have also sold many things on Craigslist, Autotrader & EBay all with good results. Sold a 2002 Honda on Craigslist in 6 hours just a few months ago. CL is good for smaller /less expensive / non ship-able items. The reason you sell a car on EBay or CL is that you sell for more money than using it as a trade in. That’s not to say you can’t get screwed. I am actually more cautious now. Cash only, only,only and don’t meet by myself.

Love Steve’s podcasts. He could spiff up that room though with a little fresh paint.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:20

Good stuff as always, Steve. You have a great face for radio. Voice , I meant voice! =)

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:41

Steve, you look a bit more agitated/pissed-off than you usually do in your videos. I know you often say “I see this happen all the time ”, but I’m getting the sense that you receive a frustratingly significant amount of calls regarding bad Craigslist transactions.

Ducky > shadowx360
12/03/2015 at 11:45

If I show up to sell my car and I see a guy and his friends carrying... there is no fucking way that transaction is happening, I’m leaving. Public location I can do, anything involving guns can only end in tears. Jesus.

SteveLehto > Urambo Tauro
12/03/2015 at 11:46

Yes, and it is frutrating me that the problem is getting worse, not better!

cognitivedissident > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:48

CL gets a bad rap, but it’s just another classified ads page. Before the internet, there was a case here in CT where a kid posted a car for sale in the classifieds of the Hartford Courant. He got shot on the test ride by a couple of gang-bangers posing as buyers.

I don’t recall anyone blaming the newspaper.

GLiddy > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:49

I guess I live a charmed life. A long time ago my brother abandoned his broken Audi at my mom’s house (though it was actually in her name) so I fixed it and put it on Autotrader for $2200. Some guy calls me and says he is driving from about 300 miles away to see it and buy it. I say sure, just bring cash. So of course he shows up with a personal check. (He also came up with his wife and kids). So while I did call his bank to verify funds, I let him go with car but said I’d have to mail him the title.

Fortunately the check cleared, but he could have easily closed the account or taken the money out. I still would have lost the car. Still, if you are unsure of the deal, at least hang onto the title until the funds clear. (And then worry that the guy you sold the car to is not a flipper or never bothers to retitle it and then commits crimes that put you on the hook since the law thinks the car is still yours.)

Maybe I’ll just sell my car to Carmax next time.

SteveLehto > cognitivedissident
12/03/2015 at 11:53

And I’m not blaming Craigslist. I am just pointing out that people need to be careful using it.

N@tedog > shadowx360
12/03/2015 at 11:54

This is a terrible idea. Do not do this.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 11:59

It’s definitely better to identify and avoid these scams, rather than fix them. But when they do happen, how often are these scams un-rectifiable (in your experience)? I imagine things just get more complicated when the deal crosses state lines...

GLiddy > ateamfan42
12/03/2015 at 12:00

Credit unions will not do this. I’ve actually had people bounce checks given to me to pay for my kids’ scouting fundraisers. I quickly found that taking the checks to the issuing banks and cashing them avoided bounced check fees on the part of my bank. I ended up opening free checking accounts at all the major banks in my area so I could avoid non-customer fees when engaging in these activities.

But as I said, a credit union check will not be honored if you are not a member and try to present it for payment at the branch. (Which is a bit odd to me anyway, as a check is a promise to pay from that institution. I’m not showing up asking to cash a third party check.)

maristgrad > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 12:00

I’ve sold a ton of cars on Craigslist. I meet people at my house primarily because I live in a gated property with guard dogs and it puts the buyer at ease, they realize I wouldn’t have them meet me at my house if there was something wrong with the car. Next thing is to fully explain everything I know about the car, leaving out absolutely no detail too small, complete transparency. Finally, I only deal with cash. If the amount is over $5k I usually just go with them to the bank. I’ve never felt threatened. I’ve never had someone come back to return a car or call with complaints for that matter. However I rarely buy cars from Craigslist, too many unprofessional assholes, it isn’t worth the trouble half the time.

N@tedog > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 12:00

If selling items that are heavy like stereos, TV, furniture...

DO NOT OFFER TO HELP CARRY IT TO THEIR CAR

Leave the item in your car or porch or wherever. As soon as cash trades hands, it is now their property.

IF THEY DROP IT ON THE WAY TO THE CAR ANY DAMAGE IS ON THEM

I’ve sold TVs a few times and it was a pleasant transaction. I refused to help one man to his car with the item strictly for this reason. He understood and called his son to come and help. They arrived and managed to get the TV in the van then shattered the tube when they closed the trunk on it.

I had no liability at that point but could have if I had helped him. I did give him a few bucks back since I felt bad but do not help with transport. You’re just putting yourself in harm’s way.

RobG-ADV > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 12:01

I’ve had to give up on eBay because of their ridiculous fees. I sold my Mac Mini on there a couple months ago... it sold at the Buy It Now price, and I paid 11% of that to eBay in their fees and another $30 to Paypal for getting paid. So in the end, I should have just sold it on Craigslist for $100 less and would have still made more.

I’ve bought and sold on Craigslist for years. I know all the scams and tricks. I don’t use my phone; only email. Sometimes that costs me sales; I’ll post something for sale and get a reply of, “call me.” Sorry, not gonna do it. If you reply and ask about my “item” for sale, you won’t get an answer. That sort of thing.

GLiddy > RobG-ADV
12/03/2015 at 12:10

The Ebay/Paypal double dipping really ticks me off. Only on super rare occasions will I sell on Ebay now. I sold a phone last month for $125 and ended up with about $100.

SteveLehto > Urambo Tauro
12/03/2015 at 12:10

They’re usually a mess and almost impossible to do anything about. Taht’s why it’s better to avoid being ripped off in the first place.

SteveLehto > maristgrad
12/03/2015 at 12:10

How often do you get calls that you think must be from scammers? It has to happen if you run a lot of ads.

SteveLehto > N@tedog
12/03/2015 at 12:12

I had a guy at Best Buy tell me that the extended warrranty would be needed if their guys dropped the set while delivering it my house!

downward spiraling pigtail > albo
12/03/2015 at 12:32

Kinja'd!!!

the dude > ateamfan42
12/03/2015 at 12:55

Mail fraud gets the Feds involved, this won't be some underpaid sheriff deputy doing the investigation if fake USPS money orders are mailed.

N@tedog > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 12:55

And you told him that was total baloney, right?

SteveLehto > N@tedog
12/03/2015 at 12:57

I replied with an expletive-laced tirade and walked out. I bought the TV elsewhere.

ateamfan42 > GLiddy
12/03/2015 at 13:28

Which is a bit odd to me anyway, as a check is a promise to pay from that institution. I’m not showing up asking to cash a third party check

Exactly as you said. If any financial institution declined to pay from THEMSELVES I would be pretty upset, and probably demand to see the manager on the spot. It isn’t like they can’t check to see if the funds are available in the drawn upon account.

ateamfan42 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/03/2015 at 13:31

How can you post an ad for three different vehicles without doing it on purpose?

Never underestimate the power of dumb.

ateamfan42 > GLiddy
12/03/2015 at 13:34

The Ebay/Paypal double dipping really ticks me off.

Double dipping AND providing no REAL protection to your transaction, even though they love to say how much they’ll protect you. I’ve lost money on a “safe protected” PayPal transaction when the buyer just never shipped the item and cleaned out their PayPal account. PayPal will “investigate” and even find in your favor, and promise to return your money— just as soon as the scammer decides to put some money back in their account. Ha!

maristgrad > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 13:35

Yea I get calls from people who want me to accept PayPal, travellers checks and one guy even tried a personal check. I have a counterfiet money pen to check bills too. The issue I deal with the most is people trying to low ball me on the price. One thing that’s also surprising is scammers are upgrading to use local google voice phone numbers instead of email, so there’s times where I get into a texting conversation with someone who turns out to be a scammer.

Bytemite > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 13:39

We should have a car marketplace for Oppos. I would love to list my car up for sale to just members. It would be great for both parties, since there will be contact with the previous owner, the car will have been taken care of by an enthusiast and will continue to be taken care of, and at the very least, it will be an honest transaction.

Ultraman > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 13:58

It is pretty simple. I buy and sell a lot of stuff on Craigslist.

If selling:

I require a photo copy of ID showing an address before I agree to meet.

I meet in the parking lot of the local Police department

I accept only cash for payment

If buying:

I demand we meet at a local Police department

I advise seller I will NOT have cash in hand upon meeting. If I like what I see a 3rd party will bring me the cash within 5 minutes (usually my wife or son who is parked nearby). But I NEVER take cash to a viewing.

KMarino > Bytemite
12/03/2015 at 14:31

oppomarket

Elvisisdead > GLiddy
12/03/2015 at 14:44

I did the same thing - Sold a ‘90 Honda accord in around 2001. I think for maybe $3500 or so. Guy showed up with $1,700 in cash and a check for the rest. It was a Sunday, and that’s all the cash he could scrape together out of a half dozen friends maxing the ATM limit for the day. I let him have it, and even signed the title over before they left. Check cashed the next day. I could have possibly lost the funds, but it was a small leap of faith in what seemed to be a good guy. Maybe he paid it forward, maybe he screwed somebody over. Never know.

AeroStang > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 14:46

Article, sir?

M42 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 15:12

We (a business) recently were targeted by (probably Nigerian) scammers who did the “work from home and make $$$$$” scam. The cashier’s checks they sent out had everything correct except for the check number. The issuing bank would have said the checks were good.

Bottom line, if you can’t get cash, then wait until the funds have actually cleared. The same cashier’s check that the issuing bank says is good will eventually come back as fraudulent.

Like Steve says, if someone is buying something from you or hiring you to work for them, you should never, ever need to send them any money.

Milkman's Son > Hooperdink
12/03/2015 at 15:22

Give somebody 20 grand (or whatever) in cash? Uhhh.

KMarino > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 15:28

Was looking at trucks last weekend and contacted someone about a tocoma that sounded a little too good to be true. The email exchange told verified it was a scam, but not sure what direction they were planning.

Text message from them:

Hello, if you still want to buy my 1996 Toyota Tacoma LX, please leave me your email for more details and pics because my phone will be down.Thanks

First Email from them:

Hello, this is Carrie Dunne, and I’m emailing you about 1996 Toyota Tacoma LX, with an gasoline engine, automatic transmission and only 89,256 miles. Never had or need any paint/body work done, garaged keep always, without any mechanical problems, tires and wheels are in great shape as well, electric is working perfectly. The engine 3.4L V6, runs very good and the automatic transmission shifts perfectly. Has a clean and clear US title in my name and there are no liens or loans on it. This vehicle was used by my husband who died 4 month ago. The price was reduced at $1800 because I’m in a hurry to find a buyer. I need to sell the vehicle before the 20 of the next month, when I will be leaving on military duty with my medical team out of the country for a year and do not want to store my vehicle. Hate to sell it but its not worth keeping insurance and paying storage fees for a year. Also, is to big for my daughter so there’s no use on keeping it.If you interested i can send you more pics

I asked for the VIN and some more pictures also asked if it was used for towing regularly or not.

Second Email:

Right now I’m in a military base. We are training, getting ready for leaving the country. The delivery process will be managed by me. I think I can have it there at your home address within 2-3 working days. It will come with a clear title and reg. I am a member of the eBay buyer protection program and using this service you will get a 7 days testing period after delivery. During that 7 days testing period I will not be getting any money.I need to know if you are interested so I can ask eBay to send you the details on this deal. If interested please include in your next email your contact info for eBay (full name, shipping address and phone number), so we can get the ball rolling.

Here you have some pictures with the car

Asked for the Ebay listing and for the VIN. 99.999% positive it is a scam at this point

Third Email:

Sorry but i don`t have any papers really didn’t cross my mind to note the VIN # of my vehicle on a piece of paper and and all the documents are in the glovebox. I have removed the listing from from ebay because I thought I found a buyer but it turned out he wasn’t serious and didn’t have all the money. But because i had the listing on eBay web site for 5 days and i take it down because are may usurious bids and buyers and now i can use they protection program for more then 20 days

My last email informed her I bought a different truck.

I’m assuming this would have resulted in a money order or something, but she offered to send the truck. I’m guessing it would have been delayed for some reason.

Any other thoughts how this scam could have gone?

flubuk > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 15:29

I have little sympathy for the guy who is “buying” a late-model Mercedes on craigslist for 1/3 it’s blue-book and goes willingly to the “bad part of Oakland” to pick it up with !Cash! in hand. Idiot.

OzarkTroutBum > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 15:54

When you get that reply asking where they should send their fake money order or check supply them with info for your state attorney general and demand a tracking number so they have more than a stamp invested.
In just the past few weeks I’ve had 3 delivered to our states attorney general. My goal is to use as much of their resources as possible.
I only wish I had fake moneygram info to give them so I could get them to make the trip down to the store to pick that up a few times only to find there’s no cash to be had.

they-will-know-my-velocity > MonkeePuzzle
12/03/2015 at 17:02

Yep, just did this to a dude that was an asshat. Hope he gets some fun texts.

icantremembermylastname > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 18:05

The worst craigslist scam is anything in W4M. If not a prostitute ad it will be someone who tries to blackmail you later.

iceman > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 19:39

I’ve sold a lot and bought a lot on CL. my strategy for selling...be as brutally honest as possible about what you have for sale and let the buyer know what he’s getting. Good, bad and ugly. Don’t waste people’s time. I’ve been duped. Drove 2 hours to look at a “clean” se-r for my first car. Looked great in the pics. Get there...the other side of the car was a different color....as far as buying...ask everything you want to know. If they won’t answer it straight ...move on. Public places. Day time.

TomMikele > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 19:51

My favorite was the guy on Craig’s List who wanted to buy my new builder special refrigerator and was going to send me a bank cheque and then have his “truck” pick it up 24-hours later. He even offered to up the price by $50 if I promised to hold on to it the extra day until his “truckers” could get it. After sending him a response that said, bank cheque would be fine, but he couldn’t pick it up until my bank said the check could no longer be returned by his “bank” or send his truckers with cash, he launched into an explanation of why a bank cheque was as good as cash. I replied asking him if this scam was successful often enough for him to make a living. You know how you can see someone beginning to respond to your text? Well I saw the three dots like he was responding for about 15 seconds. Then they disappeared and I never heard from him again. I couldn’t resist dialing the number and I got a message about the number being unable to receive calls or texts. Three days later I sold it to a very nice young couple who had just closed on their first house. They showed up with 10 crisp benjamins. My refrigerator found a good home!

I am still amazed there are enough morons out there for people like these scammers to make a living. W.C. Fields was right.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/03/2015 at 19:54

I’m not saying it’s not a shit show. I’m just saying everything was spelled correctly, which is super rare on CL ads. Your original comment has more spelling errors than the CL ad.

TomMikele > ateamfan42
12/03/2015 at 19:56

Actually, the bank the check is drawn on has no legal responsibility to cash the check for you if you don’t have an account with them. Most banks, except maybe some small town banks where they know everybody alive within 100 miles, established that policy as fraud protection many years back.

Your comment makes me ask where do you live that a court judgement (small claims or not) can be paid with a personal cheque? Highly unusual.

Spazburn1966 > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 20:09

Thanks for the Info.

shadowx360 > Ducky
12/03/2015 at 20:20

Concealed carry means no one sees anything unless my life is immediate danger.

shadowx360 > Tohru
12/03/2015 at 20:21

Concealed carry means no one sees anything unless my life is immediate danger. Obviously I don’t act shady and most of the time when I meet people I’m in a shirt and tie with a nice car but it’s always helpful for the “if shit hits the fan” scenario.

George McNally > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 21:29

We drive our cars into the ground before we go shopping for a new one. I just donated a 2000 Saturn SL2 to Goodwill. Like most Saturns of this age, it looks fantasic, but it’s on it’s last leg mechanically. It’s got a blown motor, I hope the new owner is good with tools :-)

Tohru > shadowx360
12/03/2015 at 21:44

It's a false feeling of security, man. 21 foot rule. Bad guy could wait until you're pulling money out and by the time you get your gun out of holster he's added 3 new drain holes to your kidneys with a knife.

Publius > SteveLehto
12/03/2015 at 22:02

Gat advice as always, Steve. Just posting for any noobs: you’ll see similar scams on (supposedly) more reputable sites such as autotrader.com, too. Once posted my car, and all 7 responses were trying to pull the money order scam.

Vic788 > Vic788
12/03/2015 at 22:18

Just ask them how is the Nigerian lotto doing for them..............

I think I can finally buy that Island in the Caribbean from all of my Lotto winnings of Nigeria..............

Publius > Publius
12/04/2015 at 00:58

Meant “Great advice.” Stupid autocorrect.

Coalman > MonkeePuzzle
12/04/2015 at 00:58

In the flip side of this convo, really hate it when someone posts an ad but is then unavailable to either reply or sell the item. Worst I had was one guy that didn’t get back to me for 10 days and then wanted me to look at his car right away. By that point I had forgotten what I even txted him about.

ateamfan42 > TomMikele
12/04/2015 at 08:10

How is fraud an issue in this scenario? If I’m standing at the issuing bank, holding a check made out to me, where is the fraud? The bank is welcome to ask for ID if they don’t believe I am who I say I am.

I don’t know how it works everywhere, but here the court judgement just documents what the court has ordered the judgement debtor to pay. It is up to them to decide how to get the payment to the judgement creditor— and up to the creditor to take the next legal steps with the court if the debtor doesn’t pony up the money. That’s why just winning a small claims case isn’t always the end of things— you still need to get the money out of the debtor who lost their case.

LumberJunk > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 11:20

“I’m scared of people with guns. So I’m going to be a person with guns”. Americans: Scared of themselves.

Ducky > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 11:23

If I were selling you my car and we’re in a public location (police station, bank, in front of a mall), in what scenario would your life ever be in immediate danger that would be solved with a gun?

Or for that matter, in what situation period, would you be better off with a gun? If someone pointed a gun at you to rob you, would you make the situation better by A) Giving him the keys to your car, a large object which is fairly easy to track and letting him go or B) Pulling out your concealed gun, whereby guaranteeing that you’re going to get shot first? The only scenario where you would ever have the upper hand is if you have cat-like reflexes, or you pull out your gun before the other guy.

And bringing your friends along? Yeah, that de-escalates what should be a easy transaction really fast.

shadowx360 > LumberJunk
12/04/2015 at 11:43

I’m definitely not a gun owner because I am scared of people with guns. In fact, my local shooting range is about the only place where I don’t feel the need to carry. When gun sales spike after shootings, it’s not because everyone is scared of terrorists. It’s because everyone’s afraid of more gun regulations.

shadowx360 > Ducky
12/04/2015 at 11:47

When I do CL deals with cars or high value goods I have a friend follow me in their car. If someone points a gun at me he’s about to find out real quick the accuracy of the FBI standard issue precision rifle (“sniper rifle”). Nothing needs de-escalating if the buyer I’m dealing with has no malicious intentions.

shadowx360 > Tohru
12/04/2015 at 11:52

21 foot rule only applies if they’re running towards you with a knife. And this is why when I sell high value goods I have a friend tail me in their car with a 1000 yard FBI standard issue precision rifle. I feel bad for anyone that brings a knife to a sniper fight.

Ducky > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 11:53

Yeah. This is why I don’t do CL. What state are you in?

LumberJunk > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 11:59

Why do you feel the need to carry?

LumberJunk > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 12:01

My god... Do people not realize that this kind of “I have a personal army” behaviour is going to be the downfall of your country?

shadowx360 > Ducky
12/04/2015 at 12:13

Florida. Nearly everyone I know that goes on CL carries here. Probably because of pretty lax gun laws and castle doctrine.

Ducky > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 12:25

OK, that explains a lot. Thanks and I agree, you might want a gun in Florida, if only because everyone else is nuts.

Tohru > shadowx360
12/04/2015 at 16:11

Remind me never to shoplift in the mall you work security at. I’d hate to tangle with serious operators like you and your friends. Say “Hi” to /k/ for me!

Hooperdink > Milkman's Son
12/07/2015 at 07:59

I sold a BMW moto for 16 grand to a guy from Canada. He showed up with a trailer and a box full of hundreds. It’s not that big a problem.

Milkman's Son > Hooperdink
12/08/2015 at 04:27

I said give. Taking cash isn’t quite as risky.