How does this craigslist "scam" work?

Quote from dealgate : Wow holy shit dude! You really can't see that this is a scam? You are incredibly naive (borderlining on stupid, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt)! We are talking close to $500 in value they want to "pre-pay". They don't care about lessons, just the payment for it. It is classic Nigerian scam.

I would've hoped you would clarify how it's a scam instead of being called retarded, so I did some reading and the idea is that instead of sending you a check for $500, they send you a check for much more (to cover travel, nanny fees, etc.) and then ask to wire them back $. This is NOT the classic Nigerian scam but a modified version since they send you a check first and ask for $ back as opposed to asking for $ first.

I always relish the opportunity to add more jackasses to my ignore list, so thanks for obliging!

Quote from RUsum1 : Oh okay. The only thing I could think of was if responding to a text with "yes" I might be unknowingly opting into some sort of paid subscription to something similar to when a company has you text them with a certain response to enter a contest.

Naw, when you say yes, they send you some lame message saying he's out of town can't be there, can you mail it to me, my wife's in the hospital, my child is in labor, I'm a slave in nigeria. all that goods tuff.

Not to go off topic...

What is the safest way to sell on CL? I've never sold anything on CL before and I want to sell a camera.

Are there any tips i should know about?

So far I plan on using a spam email addy, meet in a public place (i.e. parking lot), and obviously take cash.

Anything else I should be aware of?

TIA

agree to the price beforehand.
had lots of buyers try to negotiate me down after handling the product. pisses me off to no end.

unless you are free to negotiating the price.

I prefer a set price. it's just plain easier to deal with.

Quote from gabe23111 : Not to go off topic... What is the safest way to sell on CL? I've never sold anything on CL before and I want to sell a camera. Are there any tips i should know about? So far I plan on using a spam email addy, meet in a public place (i.e. parking lot), and obviously take cash. Anything else I should be aware of? TIA

Sounds good. Also make sure its a parking lot that is busy at the time of the meeting, and don't bring much or any cash with you.

Quote from gabe23111 : Not to go off topic... What is the safest way to sell on CL? I've never sold anything on CL before and I want to sell a camera. Are there any tips i should know about? So far I plan on using a spam email addy, meet in a public place (i.e. parking lot), and obviously take cash. Anything else I should be aware of? TIA

Make sure you see that they have the money before handing over the item. Don't hand it to them and have them say "okay let me get the money out of the car". And don't be shy about counting it in front of them if they hand you multiple bills. I'm sure they would do the same if you were the buyer.

Hopefully you can make the exchange in the daylight. If the item is expensive, try to set up a meeting at a time of day where you can deposit the cash in the bank right after making the exchange. Hell, if you can, try to meet in a bank's parking lot. They should have cameras all over the place I would imagine. Just because it's a parking lot doesn't mean it's safe if there are no cameras and not a lot of traffic nearby.

search for your item on craigslist before posting yours so you see what others are selling it for. That will give you an idea of what to ask. You'll get zero REAL inquiries if you are selling an item for $200 and there are three other listings for $150. check ebay also as a comparison. also use check stores as their prices are likely to be higher which you can use to justify your own pricing if you wish.

if your item doesn't sell right away, don't panic and lower the price too soon. you should realize, do you check craigslist every day when you are looking for something? or do you check one day, forget about it, then maybe check several days later...then if you don't see it listed you may not check again for weeks thinking "no one is selling my item so i'll have to check actual stores now". I guess this part really only matters if you can be patient with your item.

If it's a new item that is sealed and they want to open it, I would probably tell them that if they open it, they have to take it unless it's a box of rocks and an obvious scam. it hasn't happened to me yet but I would hate for someone to want to open the item and then say "nah nevermind i don't want this" because it's going to be difficult to sell a "new" item to the next person if it has already been opened for inspection by the previous person.

Quote from fyu : agree to the price beforehand. had lots of buyers try to negotiate me down after handling the product. pisses me off to no end. unless you are free to negotiating the price. I prefer a set price. it's just plain easier to deal with.

Yeah I had a guy contact me about an item and set up a time and place to meet and everything. Not until we are making the exchange does he offer $25 less. I am like, "uh no, I had the price on the ad". He tried to tell me that the item was on sale at two places for my stated price (which I knew it wasn't because it was removed from one store's website completely before I even posted it) so I ended up taking $10 less than my ad since I was still making double what I spent.

p.s. - surprise surprise, this douche is a mechanic at a local tire place. I was even planning on chatting this guy up to see what kind of person he was because I want to find a trustworthy mechanic. Not likely him. The only thing I liked about this guy was that he fanned the money out so I could clearly see that it was the correct amount and didn't have to sit there and count it. I hate when a person folds it three times and hands it to me.

I know this is probably against Target policies, but I meet in the Target food court.
Multiple cameras when entering Target, I can grab some food, and there are tables and chairs so you can sit down and inspect the item and count the money. But I many sell and buy small stuff.

A couple of scammers from today:

"the you still have it for sales in good condition"
"DO YOU STILL HAVE YOU ITEM STILL FOR SALE I HOPE IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION"

Both ask about condition on an ad that says 3 times that the item is brand new in unopened box.

A buddy of mine makes all of these scammers go through the trouble of sending their fake money orders/checks to him because it costs them printing and mailing expenses.

Just because someone here mentioned that "is this item still avilable" is supposedly a standard reply you can pick from a menu, I replied to one "is this item still available" question this morning regarding a $700 item for sale just to see what would come back. Here is what I received:

"Thanks for the prompt response to my email and i really appreciate it.
My name is Mr Steven M Bucks and my wife name is Mr Roseline
Bucks.thanks for responding to our email and for accepting the
offer...I have contacted my wife concerning the job and for other
purpose which she might need you for,which she told me is okay by her
,i believe you are fit for this position in as much as you will prove
yourself a reliable and good person Our arrival date should be April
2nd We are coming from Germany to the state for a honey moon but we
are currently in UK with a family friend for a party. So we need to
have a nice time in the states Moreso,she should have done this her
self but i won't want to stress herself up because she is new to me we
just got married.Lol..We will prefer you have your car available and
if dont have any, you're still welcome we will provide you one. ,I am
offering you $300 weekly and you will make yourself available every
day to our schedule from Mon-Fri, Noon-4PM. each day. Also iwant you
to know that my client who is in USA will be sending you a check/Money
order of your payment and every other necessary bills.

Get back to me with the following details of yours,

1.your full name

2. address,city/state,postal code(Pls no POBOX)

3.your phone number.

If you are okay with the offer so that the paycheck can be forwarded
to you as soon as possible and i will appreciate quick
response from you,.

Thanks and please get back to me asap
Bucks"

I am guessing that instead of a fake check for $300, they would send a fake chek for more and want me to wire them the excess or after I deposit their fake check they would claim that their travel plans have changed and ask me to wire them the money back.

Quote from fyu : agree to the price beforehand. had lots of buyers try to negotiate me down after handling the product. pisses me off to no end. unless you are free to negotiating the price. I prefer a set price. it's just plain easier to deal with.

Fully agree. I don't buy/sell much, but when buying, negotiate *BEFORE* buying (on the condition the item is as stated), stating I want a seamless transaction, etc. Has worked well. When selling, I try to ensure they have no further questions before coming to buy it... still get pushed for a lower price though.