weirdness with the sale of my bongo

[RobertB]

Geez, that's the last time I list something on craigslist - it's always like this. Guy contacted me, wants the bass, is out of town on an "assignment", so will send me a money order for the bass, sight unseen, and then make arrangements to pick it up a little later. I indicate I don't have a major problem with that, and then I get this:

"How is your day going?the money order will be from the bank I have made an agreement with a shipping company to come pickup the item as soon as you receive the payment.I would like you to do a little act of kindness for me.I want the item to be shipped to Benin cos am presenting it as a gift to an old time friend.I will be sending you money orders for $2850;this includes the shipping cost and extra fixed cost by the shipping company.All you have to do is to cash the money orders at your bank,get your required amount for the item, and send the balance to the shipping company. It is the policy of the shipping company to receive payment before going for any pickup.You have to please stand with me, as it is the best I can do in this transaction. The shipping company will contact you in good time.Please feel free to ask me questions."

My price for the bass was $1050, so ... $1800 for shipping? WTF, over? Needless to say, I bailed on this one.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Sounds like a scam to me.

 

[midopa]

scaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[maddog]

scam

 

[pearlredburst]

i recently listed my bongo on craisglist and have recieved well over 10 of the EXACT same responses. What I just don't understand (yes, it is DEFINITELY a scam) is how the scam works. I'm guessing it has something to do with the shippers fee's, but who knows.

 

[RobertB]

What I just don't understand (yes, it is DEFINITELY a scam) is how the scam works.

Maybe a laundering type thing. Something you don't stand to take a financial loss on (because once you've converted the money order to cash, PRIOR to shipping, you're covered, right?) yet is illegal, and is something you don't want to be associated with/part of.

 

[RobertB]

BTW pearlredburst, interesting to know you've gotten the exact same type of responses. Thanks for the info.

Also, I checked out your band's myspace profile. Really good sounding stuff.

 

[silverburst]

Common scam. It takes a month for the bank check to bounce. You are out: the bass, the excess funds you sent to the shipping company, and whatever your bank charges you for a bounced check.

 

[pearlredburst]

BTW pearlredburst, interesting to know you've gotten the exact same type of responses. Thanks for the info.

Also, I checked out your band's myspace profile. Really good sounding stuff.

thanks...thats actually me on drums, my main instrument. glad you enjoyed it.

 

[the unrepentant]

I've had people try this on me before (i wasn't stupid enough), as silverburst says, foreign check clears, then bounces a few weeks later after you've sent the $1800 to the imaginary shipping company. They're $1800 up and you're $1800 down, simple.

So yes, it is a scam.

 

[RobertB]

Common scam. It takes a month for the bank check to bounce. You are out: the bass, the excess funds you sent to the shipping company, and whatever your bank charges you for a bounced check.

Wow. First time I've seen it. First time I've listed a bass on craigslist. Never had any problems on ebay - always perfectly smooth (as I knock on my wooden desk).

 

[RobertB]

They're $1800 up and you're $1800 down, simple.

Yeah, that was the part that made it most clear it was fishy. First off ... an individual in the US can ship a bass via USPS pretty much anywhere in the world for around $125 (plus customs fees/import tax, but I'm talking just the shipping charge). Secondly ... why send the money for the shipping costs to me? If you claim you're going to be dealing with them anyway, to make all the arrangements, etc... you pay 'em directly & leave me out of it. And that's what a person with non-malicious intentions would do. So just before I posted this thread, I replied to that ridicuous email, saying "get fisted ... and happy new year".

 

[Old_Guy]

Common scam. It takes a month for the bank check to bounce. You are out: the bass, the excess funds you sent to the shipping company, and whatever your bank charges you for a bounced check.

Laughing..yes...and were there any exiled Princes or ex-presidents of Nigeria involved...?

 

[PzoLover]

the world we live in

even at my advanced age, it's getting more difficult every day to become surprised by tales of the "Human Condition" ... now, does anyone no longer believe there is an "evil one" and a place called "Hell"
I mean,these clowns gotta burn forever-somewhere Eh?
ATB"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "Merry Christmas
/PL

 

[phat5]

I had a similar experience last year when I sold my GK 1001 RB. The dude stated that he wanted to buy my GK bass guitar as a gift for a friend.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Geez, that's the last time I list something on craigslist -

It doesn't matter where you list them. Any classified listing that involves email response (basically all of them) is going to get scam traffic like this. You just have to get used to identifying the lame spam scams, which is easy because they're always worded funny like a robot talking...."greetings I saw your advert" And I'll just hit delete, nobody around here talks like that. Real buyers sound just like your next door neighbor talking to you.
And any international transaction involving some 'cheque', simply delete.

 

[the unrepentant]

It doesn't matter where you list them. Any classified listing that involves email response (basically all of them) is going to get scam traffic like this. You just have to get used to identifying the lame spam scams, which is easy because they're always worded funny like a robot talking...."greetings I saw your advert" And I'll just hit delete, nobody around here talks like that. Real buyers sound just like your next door neighbor talking to you.
And any international transaction involving some 'cheque', simply delete.

That or some foreign mug that can't type properly (I realise some foreigners that may not have the best grasp of english may be genuine, but every time i've come accross this scam (about 3 times) i was greeted by some form of 'engrish' as i like to call it)

A good way to avoid this sort of thing is to actually have them pick the bass up in person, or no deal.

 

[r goldsmith]

Someone tried to scam me a few years ago on ebay on a bass, an overseas address involving some foreign country, ridiculous requests involving payment and delivery etc. Can't recall the precise details now, but I let him know straight up I knew he was a crook and that I wasn't biting. This led to a brief email exchange where he called me "asshole" and "I will call police on you". I asked him how he managed to sleep at night, told him he was no better than a child molester and not to bother, because I'd already contacted the police. That shut him up.

 

[Caca de Kick]

That or some foreign mug that can't type properly...

A good way to avoid this sort of thing is to actually have them pick the bass up in person, or no deal.

Well yeah there is some truth to that. But for the most part, any classified responses I'm deleting 80% of emails.

I did have one unusual deal. I listed a tabletop bass, and a Turkish fella was all over it, offering goofy payment, but didn't seem like a scammer. He said he has a relative that lived in the State I'm in. I said the only way I'll sell is if your 'relative' meets me at XX shopping mall on sunday with cash in-hand. And this smoking hot chick-cousin of his indeed showed up.
Did I mention she was smoking hot!?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Did I mention she was smoking hot!?

No pics, no smoking hot!