Tales of Craigslist: Fun With Scammers

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars) 04/04/2016 at 00:50 • Filed to: None

6

42

On Craigslist, there’s always been a scam; a scam so universal that it is practically ‘The Scam”. For someone selling one car, you might get this text maybe once or twice a week. I get these texts about 4 to 5 times a day now. Lucky me.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

You can read !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and more on our new site, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , a site for car enthusiasts who actually drive cars before forming opinions.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

“The Scam” works in 6 parts

The scammer uses a non-local phone number

The scammer uses your ad’s title verbatim

The scammer agrees to buy in full price, sometimes more.

The scammer is buying for someone else

The scammer will be using check/PayPal.

The scammer will have shipping arranged for you.

Normally, I just ignore these texts. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered there was an actual person behind the messages and not an some sort of automated system. So lately, I’ve decided to have a bit of fun and played along.

As it turns out, these scammers have no knowledge of American pop culture, so my test now is to see how absurd I can make the lies. I’ll have more to update coming soon.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:04

7

Next time I sell a car, I’m buying a prepaid disposable phone. The people that weren’t Nigerian princes were also insane. Where did all the normal people go?

RonnyPStiggs > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/04/2016 at 01:10

0

you can just use Google voice to make a temporary phone number instead of a whole new phone

E92M3 > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:10

5

We should all start doing this. Maybe they’ll get tired of paying to mail checks out overnight, and get a job.

DanZman > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:13

8

Sometimes I like to imagine all the conversations that must happen when both sides of a CL deal are scammers.

My bird IS the word > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:16

0

Scammers use paypal? how? check I get but I assume they use your paypal details for nefarious ends?

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:19

2

Had a seizure trying to read that awful grammar

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/04/2016 at 01:27

9

Burner app on Iphone/Android

New numbers cost $2.

Always the way to go for CL.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:29

4

You’re a wizard, Harry.

Birddog > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 01:42

3

Kevin Spacey? That’s friggin beautiful..

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 02:48

13

Hi.. Still available for sale? 1963 Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe w/flying enchantment, $1000 Galleons?

KatzManDu > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 04:21

17

Find the name of an FBI agent in your area who handles scams.

Tell scammer his/her name/address as the local FBI office.

FBI office will now directly receive fake checks.

It’s more fun if you don’t tell the FBI agent about this, first.

Hot Takes Salesman > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 06:49

2

That's gonna leave a mark! > KatzManDu 04/04/2016 at 07:20

2

Was going to suggest 1600 Pennsylvania ave DC. but that sounds like a better idea.

That's gonna leave a mark! > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 04/04/2016 at 07:24

4

Unfortunately anymore that won’t distinguish whether the scammer is in the US or some country.

shop-teacher > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 07:28

1

Awesome. I look forward to more updates.

The Dummy Gummy > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 07:57

1

It's been a while since I've had a fake check sent. Is it still true that a check can clear and then will bounce weeks later and funds will disappear from your account?

scoob > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/04/2016 at 08:20

3

BUT I’M YOUR BROTHER

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 08:46

0

Remind me how this scam works again?

Dru > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 08:49

0

Let's talk about you having 97 unread text messages...

Jay Lauer > Dru 04/04/2016 at 09:57

0

I get a lot of these messages. A lot.

Jay Lauer > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 04/04/2016 at 09:59

0

Basically they agree to purchase the vehicle sight unseen. They send a check that most likely may clear then bounce later or will straight up bounce later. At which point, you’ll have already shipped your car away and be left with nothing.

I’ll make a follow up article to clarify. I have an massive archive of these messages.

Jay Lauer > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/04/2016 at 10:06

0

The an awful steep price for an Auror sitting on Triwizard Championship money. How about $400 galleons and some Bertie’s Beans?

Jay Lauer > The Dummy Gummy 04/04/2016 at 10:29

0

I’ve heard of that happening before.

I haven’t gone any further than just screwing with them by text message. It would be interesting to find out though.

Jay Lauer > KatzManDu 04/04/2016 at 10:30

0

I’ll definitely do that to another one. I’ve got plenty of the messages coming in.

As always, I’ll keep pushing the bar on crazy names and addresses.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 10:34

0

OK got it, missed the part about the bouncing. How the hell do they have a check that bounces later? I have never seen that, checks have always cleared in a few days or not...

Jay Lauer > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 04/04/2016 at 11:06

0

I’m really not positive on how it bouces later. I’ve never gone that far with a scammer. I’ll have to do some digging and get back to you.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that these are scam messages. Otherwise, I’ll my cars would be solid within 15 minutes of hitting Craigslist. Either that or the exporter has never heard of Harry Potter.

jasmits > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 11:12

0

I’m too lazy to ship a car anyway so I’d never fall for this. I guess I’ve finally found something good laziness does for me.

Jay Lauer > E92M3 04/04/2016 at 11:12

1

#TrollScammers2016

Jay Lauer > jasmits 04/04/2016 at 11:13

0

Normally they say that they’ll handle the shipping. This one was kind of an anomaly.

jasmits > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 11:22

0

I’ve literally ignored people offering to handle shipping because I didn’t feel like dealing with it more so than that I thought it was a scam. I guess part of it was probably that I felt a bit fishy about it too because I’ve never sold a car that would be worth anyone’s time to ship. Also I like seeing who buys my cars because of sentimental reasons I guess.

Full disclosure I’ve only ever sold one car, I’m 21 years old and only on my second one. First one went to another kid buying his first car, made me happy because maybe my little Volvo could turn another 16 year old into a petrolhead.

Jay Lauer > jasmits 04/04/2016 at 11:31

0

You’re completely justified. It’s most definitely a scam. I’m just trolling these people because I get so many of their messages.

I don’t expect everyone to have the same amount of scam schilled their way that I do. I’m just sharing my experiences.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 11:50

0

Oh yeah, I know they’re scams. Just seems like a poor one that only morons would fall for (although I suppose that is true of most scams...)

Jay Lauer > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 04/04/2016 at 12:11

0

Well if you think about it, the payoff is so large that even if 1 out of every 5000 people fall for it, then it’s still viable.

The only thing it costs them it texting fee and the occasional postage to send checks.

I’ll probably do a more informative follow up for everyone.

Meatcoma > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 14:52

0

Now I’m tempted to jump in and text you.

Jay Lauer > Meatcoma 04/04/2016 at 14:57

0

You’ll get your dollar’s worth in entertainment.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 19:01

0

lol why are you haggling lower? you’re the one trying to sell it.

(also Harry gave his triwizard money to Fred and George to start their joke shop, cause he was already baller. That and the whole Cedric Diggory thing)

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 19:10

0

it’s not the cheque that’s the scam, the pay system they’re using is irrelevant. How they get you is that they send you an official looking email or letter saying the payment won’t clear until YOU pay the shipping company.. usually asking to use Western Union.

You car never gets picked up, that would be too easy to trace.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 04/04/2016 at 19:12

0

the scam is when they ask you to pay for shipping up front, your car never gets picked up and you lose the money you payed to the non-existent shipping company.

Jay Lauer > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/04/2016 at 22:56

1

oh. duh. forgot I’m the Harry Potter in this scenario. And duh again, he did give the money to Fred & George.

Brain fart x2.

Price is 5000 galleons. I need money for James, Albus & Lily’s schooling.

Jay Lauer > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/04/2016 at 22:59

0

I’d believe that.

I’ve also heard of the instance that the check will clear and then the funds will be withdrawn when the buyer ‘disputes’ the check. Therefore, the check bounces after two weeks or so and is reported fraudulent. Granted this is just hearsay, I’ve never gone that far.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jay Lauer 04/04/2016 at 23:38

0

that could happen, but I’ve never heard of one where they go so far as actually picking the car up.. my sister in law got all the way to the part where they wanted her to Western Union the freight company before she backed out.

I refuse to sell to anyone who doesn’t eyeball the car.

Jay Lauer > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/04/2016 at 23:50

0

Yeah, I haven’t really heard of it either. Just doing some Google searching after getting questions about how the scam works. I never let it get any further than just trolling them.