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Customer Engagement & Retention

Beware of Craiglist Emails Like This

craigslistorgCan people really make money on Craigslist.org?

I’ve heard of so many scams online.  Isn’t Craigslist just another?

What are things new users on Craigslist need to be aware of?

Good questions!  Craigslist is a “practically” FREE classified ad website where I can list and sell products, services, resumes, etc.  Personally I think Craigslist is AMAZING for people looking to start an online business: it gives them a taste of how easily they can connect with buyers and move products they deemed as junk.

Recently I listed a car to sell on Craigslist.org.  I’ve received quite a few calls, multiple legitimate emails, and finally this email, which I thought you all should be aware of:

Have you received emails like this when listing on Craigslist?

From: jimmy ralph <jimmyreal001@gmail.com>

Hello,
Good Morning I saw the advert of your item on the website and i decided to make enquiries about the item , the present condition is ok by me , and i will like to know if it needs any adjustment,.i will like you to get back to me with your full details where the check will be mailed out to such as follow.

Full name that will be on the check.
Your full address okay not p.o.box.
And your state and city and zipcode
Telephone number.

i will like you to get back to me with all this information so that you can get the check this week without any delay and i will like you to know that the payment will also comprise of the shipping fund and when the check clears in your bank then my shipping company will come for the pick up  okay.

Thanks .

Now the red-flags:

  • Order by check: can you say “BOUNCE” or “Counterfeit”? As Craigslist recommends in it’s terms –

NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service – anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.(source)

  • Never mentions the actual product: “…I saw the advert of your item on the website…i decided to make enquiries about the item…” – What did this client really want to purchase from me, that’s the question.  If, in the email, they don’t ask questions, talk about specifics, etc., it’s probably an automated or form letter.
  • Shipping: Craigslist warns of this multiple times too –

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON – follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.

AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL “GUARANTEE” YOUR TRANSACTION.

Here’s an example of a legit Craigslist email:

We are interested in looking at your car, if it is still available. Please email us and give us more details, or a phone number and we’ll give you a call. Our number is 801-xxx-xxxx.
Thank you!
(their first and last names)

Craigslist is a great way to make quick money online.  It’s local, no shipping fees, no listing fees, free for practically everything.

How have you seen success with Craigslist?

21 replies on “Beware of Craiglist Emails Like This”

Check out this one I got:

Dear Friend,
Let me start by introducing myself,I am Mr Tony George the Bill and Exchange Manager of Bank of Africa Burkina faso.

I am writting you this letter based on the latest development at my Department which I will like to bring to your personal edification.($18.5million transfer claims).

This is a legitimate transaction and I agreed to offer you 40% of this money as my foreign partner after confirmation of the fund in your bank account, If you are interested,get back to me immediately for more details,

Best Regards,

Mr Tony George

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Jordan

Watch for these people..they almost got me..found them on the rip off report when it sounded too good to be true……………………….The amount on the check is $1800 am using the excess on the payment to offset the cost of the various shipments my mover has under taken on my behalf.Now you have the check with you take it to your Bank and have it cashed,you then deduct your own money and also a extra $50 for your running around expenses so you will be sending the rest to the shipper via western union today so pick up can be schedule as soon as email gbolike103@gmail.com..mind you, if u cash the check YOU pay it back

Just got one written EXACTLY like that today. I felt it was like those ‘second chance’ emails you’d get from scammers on Ebay. They’re everywhere, with the economy the way it is and people desperate for cash and using resources other than local newspapers, I think there’ll be another round of people posting and warning about them. I just take it for what it is and focus on selling to legit users, they’re out there, just getting harder to find or get the cash when supply outweighs demand…

I received a letter offering a job online, with the same kind of format. I’m glad I read this article first!
Thanks.

I have got an article for sale on Ebay Australia at the moment and I have had 2 emails where people have said can you drop it somewhere and having read your experiences I now think they could have been scammers cos they never got back to me via my Ebay message inbox and ebay also sent me an email stating that I could not sell it in that way that it was against their policy and I couldnt work out why. Now I know why

Hi my name is Claude and I am in Australia. Is Craigslist open to international customers? I would say from what you have told your students as I am one of them and have been a part of the programe for just 1 day so far, it is not possible for me to use Craigslist, or is it?

Thanks for the advise. I am sure to run into scammers.
I don’t even open e-mails anymore unless I know who they are from.
Colette

Listed several items and as you said there are alot of scammers. Have had 5 ligit people who leave there names and have sold 3 items. Am listing more today.

Thanks for the article.

While looking for work I found a shopping site that sounded good. After giving them my name and address they sent me a check for the $1800.00 more than they promised and asked me to cash the check and send them the $1800.00 via western union back. The letter was stamped Canada and I reported them to the Canadian postal officials, the us post office, the state and the us attorney generals office and the bbb.
Never never send money via western union.

I received this Email from two different people and they were identical other than changing the names of the husband and wife. This is ridiculous. I am seeking real employment. I guess I will have to do it the old fashioned way and post an add in the paper, requesting to clean homes in my area. These people are heartless!

Hello,
Am sorry for responding late to your mail, Am David and My wife’s
name is Anny, she’s 8 months pregnant and this is her first baby. We
are relocating to the City from CANADA, I will be coming there to work
on contract basis work. So i need someone who could help in cleaning
my apartment at least 3 times in a week . So the Bedrooms Size is as
follows: One of the bedrooms is approximately 11′ X 11′ and the other
one is 12′ x12′, but not a perfect square, so probably closer to 100
square feet; it comfortably fits a full size bed, desk,Armour and
chest of drawers…. The apartment is large (approximately 1,300+sf)
and features the following: —Full Kitchen with Dishwasher, Oven,
Microwave.etc.–Washer/Dryer –1 full bath / 1 half bath –central air
and heat. The apartment occupies the entire floor of the building with
direct access via the elevator,i will be needing your services for 3
hours at any suitable time of yours throughout for at least 3 days in
a week i hope two hours is enough in cleaning a 3 bedroom house with
one master bedroom and two standard size rooms, with One Living room
and a kitchen as well. I believe you are fit for this position in as
much you will prove yourself to be a reliable and hard working person,
Our arrival date would be April 15th. You will help us to clean the
apartment in the morning of our arrival date, I will tell the estate
agent to mail the keys to the apartment to you so that you can be able
to clean it before we arrive. Also i would like you to know that all
Tools and materials needed for the job to make it perfectly ok will be
provided, I will be spending about 8months for the contract job, so i
will be needing your services for that time as well am satisfied with
the services you rendered. We have a financier that is based in the
states and he will be handling the payment and some other expenses, so
he will be the one that will be taking care of your payment, I will
instruct him to pay $500 advance payment before my arrival so as to
secure your service, actually i should have paid for more weeks but i
will extend the payment if am satisfy with your service after the two
weeks. So my financier would be needing the following Information to
make out the check: Your Full Name: Your physical address not
(P.O.BOX):

Full Name,
Full Physical Address,
City:
State:
zip code:
home Phone #:
Cel Phone # :
Age:
Sex :
Presently Occupation:
Email address:

Hope to hear from you sooner and kindly let me know if you have
accepted my offer so that i can forward your info to the financial to
issue out the check as soon as possible Thanks so much for your
sincerity, till then have a nice day with
your family.David

Hi Claude,Glad you ask the Q? about being able to use craiglist from Australia as I was thinking,oh what a buggar we can’t use it.scrolled down and there was the answer from your Q??

Harry Cane just tried to scam me. Wanted to mail me a check for concert ticket. No one on earth does that. Instant red flag. Not a good scammer at all. Here is the email: tidynator@gmail.com. I told him to put a bullet in his own head.

I am so glad I found this. I have been dealing with someone by the name of hurricane via email. He contacted me and is sending me a check. Just today a few minutes ago this hurricane confirm the check will be coming to gave me directions on how to cash it. I just so happen to think maybe I’ll look up his email and this is what I found all these comments! I am so glad I saw this before I got scanned.

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