Suspicious Craigslist response

Josh220 · Jun 24, 2009

Hey guys, I just ordered a new camera body (Nikon D300) and I am selling my D60 on Craigslist. Now, this is the response I got. It's obviously BS, but if it goes through Paypal, it will either work or it wont. How can a scam like this work if it's through paypal, unless they ask you to ship it before payment is sent?

Here's the response:

"Thanks for your response, I would have come to pick it up myself but am out of town at the moment, am buying the item as a birthday gift for my neice who is in west africa she works with the W.H.O there, i will like you to help me deliver it to her before her birthday, and will be adding $120 for shipment expenses through postal service (USPS).Payment will be through paypal,just send me paypal money request to (removed e-mail) so i can make payment immediately and if you dont have an account go to paypal website and sign up, its free.

Mrs Chatter"

What do you guys think?

musicaleCA · Jun 24, 2009

Scam, or not worth bothering...

A scammer on PayPal. Hope you reported it to them.

Josh220 · Jun 24, 2009

musicaleCA said:
Scam, or not worth bothering...

A scammer on PayPal. Hope you reported it to them.

Yeah, I am just curious how something like this could work. It's too bad that even PayPal can't provide secure transactions anymore. I googled Paypal Scams and apparently it's very easy through sites like eBay to get your money back, and not have to return the item.

I never did anything after I received the e-mail, because if I send them any type of money request via PayPal, they can view my address.

K_Pugh · Jun 24, 2009

What they do is send you an fake invoice (very very similar to a PayPal one) but they state that payment wont be released until you send them a tracking number for the delivery package (meaning that you've already sent your camera away without receiving money - some also just say that the money has been paid in already and jsut hope that you dont log in to your account to check)... then you wont hear a thing from them is my bet.

Jaszek · Jun 24, 2009

What I learned when shopping/selling/anything to do with money on the internet: If it has anything to do with Africa or a Kenyan Prince, its a scam. BTW its on craigslist so why would you look at postings from places that you are not in at the moment?

harrison · Jun 24, 2009

I have gotten that same scam. I agreed at first, but ended up not sending it because I had to email him the tracking number before the money was put into my account. So within a few hours I get an obviously fake email from the FBI saying that my payment is required within 4 hours of receiving this message. So that was the end of it, I still get the same scammer every time I sell something over $300 on craigslist. I normally complement him on his creativity and ask him to move on :lol:

Sachphotography · Jun 24, 2009

I have gotten that as well. Mine was almost identical. lol sad day

PhotoXopher · Jun 24, 2009

Any time the phrase 'the item' is used I delete the email. If they can't name what I have for sale then I move on.

Josh220 · Jun 24, 2009

Jaszek said:
What I learned when shopping/selling/anything to do with money on the internet: If it has anything to do with Africa or a Kenyan Prince, its a scam. BTW its on craigslist so why would you look at postings from places that you are not in at the moment?

As stated in the original post, I am selling my D60. Why would I be looking for a D60 from Africa when I already have one and just ordered a D300? :lol:

That was the response they sent to MY listing.

kundalini · Jun 24, 2009

The whole point of craigslist is local buy/sell or trade IMO. Anything over an hours drive is not local and is to be ignored, again IMO.

itznfb · Jun 24, 2009

i had that scam pulled on me a while ago... i think i found a loophole in their scam though. i ordered a check instead of transering funds, cashed the check then sent the item. they tried to return the item but luckily i posted an ALL SALES FINAL NO REFUNDS message in my original ebay post.

Joves · Jun 24, 2009

Josh220 said:
musicaleCA said:

Scam, or not worth bothering...

A scammer on PayPal. Hope you reported it to them.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I am just curious how something like this could work. It's too bad that even PayPal can't provide secure transactions anymore. I googled Paypal Scams and apparently it's very easy through sites like eBay to get your money back, and not have to return the item.

I never did anything after I received the e-mail, because if I send them any type of money request via PayPal, they can view my address.

This is the reason I never use Ebay or, Paypal which they own as well. I have heard of many people getting scammed on both. On Craigs I put down local only or, will meet with in reasonable distance.