Don't understand this scam on craigslist.org

[mikeschn]

What's the scam?

I went to sell one of my bikes on craigslist.org today, and I got a couple of these messages...


Amazingly close by your location reply back to me here - [email protected]

I don't understand this scam. Anyone have any ideas?

Mike...

[Fenlason]

Yeah reply to it and it'll be a sex ad coming back to you

Is the sex any good?

[Fenlason]

Nope as it was a reply from my ex-wife

[Fenlason]

What's the scam?

I went to sell one of my bikes on craigslist.org today, and I got a couple of these messages...


Amazingly close by your location reply back to me here - [email protected]

I don't understand this scam. Anyone have any ideas?

Mike...

Selling a bike to get another??

[wagondude]

They aren't giving you much to go on. If you reply to them they will strike up a deal to pay you, but they only have a money order for a lot more than your asking price. They will sign over the (fake) money order for you to deposit then you give them the difference in cash (they claim to not have any bank accounts). They leave with cash and your bike and the bank takes the full value of the money order out of your account leaving you short of funds when you go to pay your bills. Don't reply to anything that does not give you at least as much information as you have already given them. Better yet, make them call and talk on the phone. No deals by email. If they block their number, consider that a scam as well (that can be faked too). Even better than CL is the local paper. It just limits your market.

[jstrubberg]

At best, they are harvesting emails.

When someone responds to your craigslist ad, all they get is a generic craigslist email. When they send you an email and you respond, they get your email.

I've gotten those ridiculously short emails every time I have listed an item on Craigslist. After you reply, the response back will be the scam email.

[mikeschn]

Okay, that makes sense.

Thanks for the info!

Mike...