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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

I sell some thing's on craigslist. Almost everytime I have something up for sale, some guy email's me with a ridiculous amount of money in a cheque. Most of the time, i tell them to screw off. But then a buddy told me about this website, and I think its pretty cool what you guy's do Smile

! Here is the most recent email I got, what should I say back to get him going?

Hello Ma/Sir,

Let me know if you would be accepting CASHIER'S CHECK as a mode of payment.If you are willing to accept this,pls contact me asap with your FULLNAME,ADDRESS,CITY,STATE,ZIPCODE,COUNTRY AND CONTACT TEL PHONE #.and the total of available for sale and your asking prize. NOTE:You are to get back to me with your EMAIL ADDRESS also.

Regards.
Mr Johnson.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:24 am

Quote:

I think its pretty cool what you guy's do

Thanks! We like it.

As to your question - what kind of real life details of yours does the scammer have? If any at all, you need to first open a completely different email address and send him a very generic response from there - something not tied to your ad in any way. Just say "Yes, it's still available, and I am happy to take a check. It's also got the 2 gigawatt flux capacitor installed, did you want that?"

The chances are very good that the scammer just skimmed over your ad, and grabbed the email address and sent you a pre-worded response. He probably has no idea what you are actually selling - just read his response! He then proceeded to send the same thing to dozens (or hundreds) of other craigslist advertisers, so if you respond from a new email address without reference to your original ad he will be completely unable to track down who you are. Nice, huh?

I think Mugato will be along before long to say "read the stickies and bait safe", so I'll leave that part for him except to say that you should read the stickies before considering sending a response - they are chock full o' information on baiting safely.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

I am reading up on the stickie's as we speak... thanks for the insight!

I have read through some threads and it is all very very funny!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:31 am

Welcome to Eater, tmetz. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:08 am

Welcome to Eaterland tmetz.

This is standard overpayment scam. The scumbag sends you a cheque for more than the selling price. You then wire the difference via Western Union/Money Gram. Some considerable time later the check subsequently bounces and you are left up the Orinoco without a paddle. Although you probably know that already right?

As said above get yourself a gmail/fastmail safe addy and new character and bait this scumbag. If you find you like this baiting lark and stick around, get yourself Premium Membership which gives you access to drop boxes around the world, amongst other things. In the meantime just give a fictitious address.

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3193

Welcome to eater.

Just to dot a few T's and cross a few I's...

Unbeknown to 99% of people, cheques take a long time to actually clear (and the term is ambiguous.) In the USA, it can take two weeks for a cheque to actually go through the system, and that is if it is drawn on a US bank. Other complications can lead to the funds being withdrawn six months or more later.

The banks make funds available within four days, but they leave you with all the risk and can withdraw the funds at any time. If you have sent 90% of the money to Africa you will then be left with a big overdraft and maybe a policeman accusing you of "Uttering a Forged Instrument", which is a third degree felony.