Vote: Stolen, scam or super deal?

[Critter7r]

I would, but I don't even have that kind of cash lying around to make me sound credible.

[rockymtbiker]

Here is the reply to the email inquiry...

Hello,

Thank you for your email. I am glad that you want to buy my 2012 Cannondale Scalpel 29er Carbon 1 Bike and the price I am asking is US $2,000.00. From the start I want to inform you that I left the USA a couple of days ago (next day after I listed this for sale) and I came in United Kingdom with my work (I am a member of the "Save The Children Foundation"). If you still want to buy it, we can do it in a very safe way using an escrow company. They will handle the delivery and will offer you a number of days of Inspection so you can test and see that the merchandise is exactly as described by me. I will pay all shipping/escrow fees.

Thanks,
Adam

[dauber76]

Here is the reply to the email inquiry...

Hello,

Thank you for your email. I am glad that you want to buy my 2012 Cannondale Scalpel 29er Carbon 1 Bike and the price I am asking is US $2,000.00. From the start I want to inform you that I left the USA a couple of days ago (next day after I listed this for sale) and I came in United Kingdom with my work (I am a member of the "Save The Children Foundation"). If you still want to buy it, we can do it in a very safe way using an escrow company. They will handle the delivery and will offer you a number of days of Inspection so you can test and see that the merchandise is exactly as described by me. I will pay all shipping/escrow fees.

Thanks,
Adam

He works for the "Save the Children Foundation" so he has to be a good guy right? Wait, didn't he say he was about to be deployed with the military? Maybe he saves the children by using military force. Yeah, that's it.

[ihateplaindave]

He forgot which scam he's currently running!

[TenSpeed]

I guess this answers my question from earlier. Sounded way too much like a scam.

[pfox90]

That's what they did with a car. My monte carlo engine blew. Looking for a new car. He said he had already deployed and I could send the funds and they would deal with the shipping at a later date. LOL

[rockymtbiker]

my question is, do people fall for this stuff?

[acidtattoo]

Here is another ad:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/bik/3112903938.html
What do you think?

[bh357]

Here is another ad:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/bik/3112903938.html
What do you think?

Detroit Metro Craigslist... Macomb County... Outdoors... Palm trees

hmmmmmm...

[black2003ss]

my question is, do people fall for this stuff?

Unfortunately, yes. It's a numbers game for them, just like sales is. They will sift through hundreds of emails to find one sucker. Unfortunately, it often times is the elderly who fall victim to it. It never amazes me the scams people run out there. My father almost fell victim to one last summer. He got a call from a person who said they were an Oakland Country Sheriff Deputy and that I was in jail. They told him he needed to send $1,000 for bail money so I could be released. Fortunately, he called my cell phone first and found out I was at work. Of course, they wanted him to send it via Western Union. We called the police and filed a report on it. It was not the first time they had heard about it and said they had dozens of elderly people who did send the money and would never get it back.

There are scams out there everywhere with everything. Sometimes all it takes is even for an intelligent and aware person to let their guard down, buy with emotion instead of facts, etc...and wham...taken advantage of. Another not so well known one is with auto dealerships, at least the more sleazy ones. For example, say they have two Ford Fusions sitting on the lot. They might steer you towards one of them, which very well may have a bad carfax history. What they will do is show you a carfax, but for the other Fusion on the lot, which is clean with no accident history. 99% of the people will not even check to see if the VINs match up. You end up with a vehicle with a history and the dealer profits from selling a bad vehicle for excellent condition market price.

[utabintarbo]

My father almost fell victim to one last summer. He got a call from a person who said they were an Oakland Country Sheriff Deputy and that I was in jail. They told him he needed to send $1,000 for bail money so I could be released.

It was only because the bolded part was totally believable that the scam had any chance of success.

[acidtattoo]

Here is another ad:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/bik/3112903938.html
What do you think?

Here is the response I got:
Hi,

Thanks for being interested in buying my  Niner RIP9 Medium Full Sram XX Medium Rip 9  !
I will start my email by telling you that I'm currently out of country so pick up isn't an option. Right now I'm in Italy, just arrived here 3 days ago.
Before I left I found a buyer and I had everything arranged. I paid for the shipping and almost sent it to him. But yesterday the buyer that I had asked me to wait another 4 weeks because he suddenly had other priorities and he is out of money for the moment.
I can't wait this long as I arrive in Italy 3 days ago, and i really need the money, I am in the moving process, changing the work place and everything. A major issue is that if you want to buy my item you really need to have the money ready for it.
The item is as described, in perfect condition and if you accept the deal, it will be delivered at your home address (the item remained in the custody of UPS, only waiting for a new receiver).
Total price, with shipping included, will be $900 and the transaction will be made only through eBay because i am not in the country anymore and this way it's safer for both (the transaction will be handled by the eBay Buyer Protection Program).
This purchase protection guarantees that the item is exactly as I described; basically, once delivered, you'll have 10 working days to inspect it at your home and if you decide not to keep it you will get refunded in no time and they will charge me with the return costs. If the item meets your expectations and you want to keep it you will have to tell them to release the payment to me. If you are interested in this purchase please reply me with your full name and shipping address. After that i will pass your details to eBay and you will receive an invoice and further instructions as how you will be able to get possession of the item .