This is a new one for me: craigslist scam

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
05/06/2019 at 13:33 • Filed to: scams

I’ve gotten two of these so far. Sellers beware.

Anyway, here is the thing they want to pick up.

DISCUSSION (19)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 13:40

Can you explain the scam a bit more? On one hand I am suspicious of everyone on craigslist, on the other that e-mail sums up about 90% of the responses I’ve ever had that turned out to be legit transactions.

Tristan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 13:46

I usually get about 30 of those for every 1 legitimate response.

“I saw ITEM and would like for to purchase ITEM. Please to be responding scamwow245784999984637@hotmail.com. Thak you responding .”

That’s a nice looking bike. What are the frame measurements?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 13:46

Doesn’t seem that fishy to me. They are interested in it but want to use their email for communication instead of Craigslist’s messaging system.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/06/2019 at 13:48

They are asking for your real e ma il address, which would then lead to additional questions, maybe more scams. I’ve gotten two of these identical so far, so it just immediately raised my suspicions.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Tristan
05/06/2019 at 13:48

It’s mis-labeled. It should be a GIANT.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
05/06/2019 at 13:48

I’ve received two identical emails like this for the same item. I didn’t think it was a scam until I got the second email.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tristan
05/06/2019 at 13:50

It’s a 61 cm seat tube by 60 cm top tube. It’s the biggest frame they make. I have an 85 cm seat height.

shop-teacher > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/06/2019 at 13:56

If they don’t mention what the specific item is, it is usually a robot sending you a generic response.

If you’re trying to buy something, be sure to mention what the actual item is, otherwise any seller with any experience will delete your email.

shop-teacher > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
05/06/2019 at 13:57

Notice their response doesn’t mention the specific item in any way, they just call the item “it” ... that’s your tip-off that a robot is sending you a generic response.

Tristan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 14:20

If you still have it in, like, August when I *might* be driving through MT... Aw, forget it. It’s perfect for my yuge 6'7" self, though.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tristan
05/06/2019 at 14:28

I can ship via bike flights for like $70. It’s a solid bike, I just upgraded to a full carbon BMC with disc brakes so I never have any reason to ride it. Currently it has a 400 mm seat post and a 130mm stem so a really tall dude like you would get it to work fine. The weird thing is the sticker on the frame says “63 cm” but it’s only 63 cm from the top of the seat collar to the CL of the bottom bracket. That’s not how I was taught to measure frames. It’s 61 cm from the CL of the bottom bracket to the top of top tube. This frame is STIFF.

I’ll also add that the wheel set is top notch for a big dude, 32 spoke 3x with chris king hubs. I break wheels that are usually designed for 155 lb dudes.

Here is the full post.

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/bik/d/whitefish-cannondale-road-bike/6882060499.html

Tristan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 14:47

That’s a beautiful bike. I wish I had $920 disposable dollars to throw your way, but I should probably just give my poor neglected road bike some love instead. :(

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tristan
05/06/2019 at 14:55

A refresh of an existing bike really helps. T ires, chain, cables, housing, and new bar tape and it will seem like a new bike.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/06/2019 at 15:00

Okay, that makes sense. Also, for some reason the first one didn’t load until now (my internet is crappy so this just happens sometimes), but I see the part about “I don’t check CL Reply mail” so I can see where that baits you in to giving your real e-mail address.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > shop-teacher
05/06/2019 at 15:02

Gotcha. I don’t CL too much but I will make sure I do that. Also, as I didn’t see the first pic (my internet is wonky sometimes ), but I see the added bit about “I don’t check CL Reply mail” so I can see where that baits you in to giving out your personal e-mail. Makes more sense now.

t0ast > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/06/2019 at 15:17

I replied to one of the provided emails once and they instantly sent me back a request to visit a sketchy-looking “VIN check” website that was clearly meant to harvest credit card info. I’m guessing the push to go outside of CL’s messaging is to avoid whatever oversight there might be and/or getting flagged as spam. Not that it stopped me from going back to their original message and flagging it...

In any case, I just ignore those sorts messages now. Unless I might be desperate to sell something, it doesn’t seem worth replying when it will be, at worst, spam, or at best, someone who can’t deal with CL’s extremely simple messaging system.

shop-teacher > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/06/2019 at 15:17

Yep, you got it.

BigBlock440 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
05/06/2019 at 16:03

But you can still use your email through craigslist. Every single email I’ve sent and received to/from buyers and sellers has been through my regular email to a generic craigslist email , no extra effort required.

NojustNo > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
05/07/2019 at 14:10

Its a way to avoid their email address getting reported /blocked through the Craigslist system and a way to get yo ur real email to spam /scam you in the future.