Community Forums

diandtom · 05-30-2012, 01:29 PM

Advertised our rv for sale here and on Craig's List,this is an email I just got from the Craig's List ad,something about it just doesn't sound right to me. Your opinions please!!

Thanks for the reply,i will appreciate more picture and what is the present condition and your price.Am satisfied with your advert price,as am requesting this transaction should be done via PayPal so the PayPal charges is on me,If my offer is acceptable kindly send me your PayPal email and your name including your phone# or send me money request so i can pay you right away.I am busy at work and do not have much time around me, but no worries as i am willing to handle the pick up with my mover agent cause i will like it to be picked at your location,Kindly get back to me immediately, So no Shipping and get back to me with the following questions below:

1) What is the condition?
2) Are you the Owner?
3) Pick up Location?
4) Your PayPal Email ID to effect the payment

Jeff_28602 · 05-30-2012, 01:33 PM

It is a scam... I received almost the same email when I sold my boat on Craigslist a few months ago. Reply and tell them that you will not create a Pay Pal account soley to accept payment and that you will only take cash or a cashiers check. I guarantee you won't hear back from them.

87Rockwood · 05-30-2012, 01:33 PM

scam

TN Bill · 05-30-2012, 01:35 PM

I would run from that. If you wrote exactly what the reply was then it looks like someone that is not good with english and it came from some african scammer.

steelheadbluesman · 05-30-2012, 01:38 PM

"... do not have much time around me?..." "kindly send me your PayPal email?"....

Send NO personal info! This is a sham, IMO.... Ask them to send a check for a down payment to hold it, say $200. You won't hear back....

Ramblin · 05-30-2012, 01:39 PM

100% of craigslist scams like this one can be avoided by following one simple rule:

"Face to face, cash transaction, handshake, no electronic money transfer, no checks, no exceptions."

A previous poster suggested that you may safely accept a cashiers check. No, never, not any time. Cashiers checks are a favorite counterfeit item for these guys.

diandtom · 05-30-2012, 01:39 PM

Thanks guys,we do have paypal but wouldn't feel comfortable accepting that much money,so not willing to give her our paypal info,and she is willing to pay sight unseen?? Just didn't feel right to me.

Dianne

lenjen · 05-30-2012, 02:06 PM

Scam, Scam, Scam...........

diandtom · 05-30-2012, 02:17 PM

Yep,usually if it smells like a fish and looks like a fish,its a fish! Haven't had a reply since I told her I wouldn't take paypal and don't expect to. Thanks again!

Dianne

TLGPE · 05-30-2012, 03:41 PM

Definite scam. I got a similar response when I was selling a boat. They wanted me to have PAYPAL accept their payment, but send them the shipping amount by Western Union.

When I didn't answer, they wrote that I was in breech of contract and that they would take legal action.

I ignored them and they went away.

I agree with the other posters; face to face, cash only.

Tom

RickO · 05-30-2012, 04:23 PM

Sure sounds fishy to me too and I agree it's almost certainly a scam.

But, can someone explain how they run this scam via PayPal? I know how they do it with counterfeit checks but with PayPal how do they deposit the funds and then retract them?

Also, do most really insist on cash when the transaction could be well over $100,000? I remember selling a muscle car via the newspaper classifieds years ago. Some very (very) shady characters showed up at my house late on a Friday night before a three day weekend and laid out $10,000 cash to buy it. All I could think about all weekend was that these guys knew I had that much cash in the house all weekend.

Rick

Rick Long · 05-30-2012, 04:34 PM

Very popular scam.... They pay with paypal, pick up you RV then they tell paypal they never received it and paypal gives them their money back which of course they take back from you. you're out your RV and your money.

jzick · 05-30-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

do most really insist on cash when the transaction could be well over $100,000? I remember selling a muscle car via the newspaper classifieds years ago. Some very (very) shady characters showed up at my house late on a Friday night before a three day weekend and laid out $10,000 cash to buy it

When I sell a large dollar item cash I insist the transaction take place in the bank - every bank I have asked will let you use an office to do so. When the money is safely deposited in my account the transaction is finalized. No way would I ever accept cash at my house. Most of the people I know who use CL meet buyers in public parking lots even for smaller items.

The email scam listed by the OP is a duplicate of some I get even for things as small as a riding lawn mower. I either ignore or write back and say no shipping, face to face at the bank only. Emails stop.

Ramblin · 05-30-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO

Also, do most really insist on cash when the transaction could be well over $100,000?
Rick

I bought my coach from a seller on Craigslist. We went to MY bank, withdrew the cash, then went to HIS bank and deposited it, transferred the title, shook hands and parted ways.