Warning

[cbavier]

I wanted to warn anybody buying boats or whatever on Craig's list. There have been numerous reports on our local news of fraud against people buying from Craig's list. Cars as well as boats lately. So BEWARE! DON"T SEND MONEY WITHOUT SEEING what your buying in PERSON ONE COUPLE IN TRAVERSE CITY GOT RIPPED OFF $3,000 ON A SUPPOSED PURCHASE OF A Jeep Grand Cherokee. Another couple $1,000 for a boat. Both when they went to pick up the items they bought the addresses did not exist.

Too bad you can't trust anybody anymore. I was always taught a Man was as good as his word. Now days you have to read the fine print of that which is even in writing because of trickery and theives.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Warning

Why would someone pay money for a car or boat they had not seen?

 

[cbavier]

Re: Warning

Why would someone pay money for a car or boat they had not seen?

That is exactly what I thought too. Obviously some will, or else the whole story isn't being told. Never the less the news is warning people to be extrememly careful shopping on Craig's list and Craig's list has supposedly launched it's own investigation as well as the Police.

 

[Tuna Van]

Re: Warning

There are definitely a lot of scammers out there, but I was able to get a heck of a deal from the Sultan of Dubai. My boat should be getting here by May.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Warning

These scams have been around forever. I have seen them attached to every form of vehicle and now apartments and condos. It amazes me people are still hearing about these things as "new". It also amazes me, people will pay for something before ever setting eyes on it. I do feel bad for those who have been scammed by one of these people, and the best thing to do is spread the word to family and friends to avoid any transactions not taking place after seeing and testing the product out.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Warning

Bernie, did it for years, and is now in Jail.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Warning

there simply isnt anything you can do to prevent these things from happening. I mean, really, there are people that still send money to Nigeria in hopes of getting a few million of the King's fortune...

 

[Rowroy]

Re: Warning

there simply isnt anything you can do to prevent these things from happening. I mean, really, there are people that still send money to Nigeria in hopes of getting a few million of the King's fortune...

My check should be here any day now!

 

[QC]

Re: Warning

I have noticed a little something on these fraudulent boats (and cars) the registration numbers are almost always missing or from the wrong state when you take a good look at the pics . . .

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Warning

Well, Craigslist does warn people about scams.

Here is one that I got when I listed my boat.

Hello,


Glad to read from you. I'm really interested in the unit but i'm so sorry as i won't be able to come for a look as i'm the busy type. Well, i'll keep in touch with my financier to mail a check for the amount you're requesting and will have a shipping company to come for the pick up as soon as you confirm to me that you receive the check and it clears your bank.


If this arrangement is acceptable, pls get back to me with your name as it will appear on the check and your contact address that the check will be mail to along with your cell #. Please write back as soon as possible so we can proceed.



Thanks.

Needless to say, I didn't reply.

 

[thepotroast]

Re: Warning

Yes the scams go both ways on Craigslist...for both buyers and sellers. For a buyer, you can get scammed into buying something sight unseen, that doesn't exist...and for a seller...you get emails from people that are willing to pay you by Paypal or check first without seeing the merchandise, and either having you ship it or having their "agent" come pick it up.

Case in point, I have 2 laptops for sale on Craigslist right now, and out of the dozen or so emails I have gotten in 2 days on them, 8 of those emails were obvious scammers...2 wanted me to send the laptops to Africa, Overnight Express, COD (cash on delivery)...and various other ones wanted to send me a check for $100 more than my asking price to send it out as soon as the check arrived.

So it goes both ways, there will always be scammers...and people fall for it everyday.

But just because it's an online deal certainly doesn't mean it's a bad deal. There are numerous bad deals and scams that happen in person every day. Remember, selling on the internet has only been around as long as the internet...scammers have been around since the dawn of time.

Be careful out there...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Warning

I won't sell or buy if it cannot be seen, touched, smelled, or test driven period. People would not get scammed if they followed these rules. I bought my bucket truck on ebay only because the ad was placed by a reputable dealer. I doubled check the phone number with the listing in the white pages. So far it has only been an item that I bought sight unseen, but then I had only sent them a deposit on it until I accepted the truck. It did have a couple of problems when I picked it up, but the company was very generous with getting their mechanics to fix the problems before I left with it without any additional charges.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Warning

That is exactly what I thought too. Obviously some will, or else the whole story isn't being told. Never the less the news is warning people to be extrememly careful shopping on Craig's list and Craig's list has supposedly launched it's own investigation as well as the Police.

Those types are the same that will not pay attention to your post... Heck, even craigslist has a big warning about it... You can't fix stupid...

 

[sportsmanphil]

Re: Warning

I would guess that those amounts were deposits to hold the items. If paypal is used, they have fraud protection. Just as long as there have been scammers, people have been educated enough not to send checks and cash before hand.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Warning

Just saw one today on CL. I think it was like a 2000 triton bass boat w/ 150 or 200 mercury outboard. The asking price was $4500 but there was no number on the ad. Just came on the market this morning. I try to find it to post but must have been flagged and removed. I mean come on...

 

[rolmops]

Re: Warning

Bernie, did it for years, and is now in Jail.

Now don't you say anything bad about my uncle Bernie,he gave me a great deal on a boat just a few weeks ago.I'll be getting the boat by next month.

 

[rjwoodrome]

Re: Warning

As everyone knows let the buyer beware!!! But you can still find honest people on craigslist. found a great dining room table and chairs $50.00 as they say "clean one owner"

 

[FlyinGuy1017]

Re: Warning

It does go both ways. CL is great, I'm a huge supporter. I've bought things from appliances to my current boat. I got the boat so cheap, I thought it was stolen! I did ask to see the guy's ID and checked it against the registration of the boat and trailer. On the other hand, I've also sold a business on CL.

It is a great tool for anyone with half an ear for caution. There are way too many scammers out there, but its benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

 

[thepotroast]

Re: Warning

Just saw one today on CL. I think it was like a 2000 triton bass boat w/ 150 or 200 mercury outboard. The asking price was $4500 but there was no number on the ad. Just came on the market this morning. I try to find it to post but must have been flagged and removed. I mean come on...

In retrospect, the Triton in my signature I just purchased off Craigslist (drove to another state to pick it up), the seller had it listed for 1/4 of the NADA value. He also did not have a phone # listed in the ad. I emailed him about it 5 minutes after it was posted...I was the first to email him, and had the cash in his hand the same day. All titles clean, already registered in my state. So the prices aren't always indicative of a scam...there are good deals to be had.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Warning

If paypal is used, they have fraud protection.

Paypal protection is a joke!!!!! I still am $120.00 down from a processor I bought and they did nothing...