Craigslist Scam?

[Dbix]

I'm selling my MacBook on Craigslist and I got this sketchy message. The lack of proper grammar as well as dealing with a check scares me.

"Thanks for the quick response... Am satisfied with the price and
condition of the item. I will like to make an outright purchase of the
item. I am out of town on a business trip, so i will like to proceed
in issuing out a certified check to you and upon the confirmation and
clearance of payment my shipper will come for the pick-up at your
location. So get back to me with your full name, address, zip code and
phone number so that payment can be mail out asap. hope to read from
you soon."

[rgs-]

I'm selling my MacBook on Craigslist and I got this sketchy message. The lack of proper grammar kinda scares me.

"Thanks for the quick response... Am satisfied with the price and
condition of the item. I will like to make an outright purchase of the
item. I am out of town on a business trip, so i will like to proceed
in issuing out a certified check to you and upon the confirmation and
clearance of payment my shipper will come for the pick-up at your
location. So get back to me with your full name, address, zip code and
phone number so that payment can be mail out asap. hope to read from
you soon."

scam

[-MasterChief-]

run away, the Nigerians are coming!!

[Dbix]

Haha thanks guys, just as i suspected.

[DozerLYP]

I am too trying to sale something on craigslist and just received this email, even know I had put my phone number in the add.

Hello.
Am larry rowye, i was going through the classified ads today, when i
came across the advert
listed for sale, am quite satisfied with the condition of the item
and price.Am very much interested in buying the item from you and and
i would like to make an outright purchase immediately so i will advice
that you withdraw the
advert from the web.I will be paying with a certified check in us
dollars with shipping bill so if you have any item try to
send the item pic to my e-mail . pls let me
have the following so that the payment can be made to you .I will need
the following information details to make payment arrangement
1,Your full name to be on the check.
2,Your postal address.
3,Your mobile phone number.
4,Your postal code.
Get me the following information as soon as possible.
Thanks in Advance
Regards,
rowye

[Darsk47]

Scam.
This is a good read through from the pages of Wikipedia on just a few of the dozens of scam types.

The really ballsy one if the "follow-up scam" where the scammer shows up a second time on the scammed - representing himself as law enforcement who can get the scammed money back for a fee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud

[TempExp]

I'm selling my MacBook on Craigslist and I got this sketchy message. The lack of proper grammar as well as dealing with a check scares me.

"Thanks for the quick response... Am satisfied with the price and
condition of the item. I will like to make an outright purchase of the
item. I am out of town on a business trip, so i will like to proceed
in issuing out a certified check to you and upon the confirmation and
clearance of payment my shipper will come for the pick-up at your
location. So get back to me with your full name, address, zip code and
phone number so that payment can be mail out asap. hope to read from
you soon."

Got that exact one yesterday. Anything I've put on craigslist, no matter what, seems to get scam replies.

[WRCfan]

Those largely used sites attract the Nigerian scammers like nothing else. Within the forums here would be safer, or any other forums you browse which has trustworthy members such as this one would see a easier sell I think.

[mlucek]

Yup, have gotten a number of those via Craigslist and the Recycler in the past.

Indicators to look out for :

person is on a "business" trip, out of the country, on travel, etc.
paying by certified check, money order, 3rd party check
will have their own "shipper" pick it up.
send pictures (even if you have them in the ad)
buying item sight unseen.
offering more then you're asking
long diatribe about their life and history, asking about spouse, kids, how your day was, etc. - nobody asks that kinda crud when buying something and has nothing whatsoever to do with your ad

Those are the basic indicators of scam emails, I always put "cash only, local pickup" in my Craigslist ads :)

Mike

[OwensSi]

If you are selling on craigslist do nothing but local people with cash. So you don't have to worry about scams.

[SteveBrown]

I have to ask, why would you even ask if this was a scam? I mean if you even have a question about it, you need to seriously ask yourself if you are the target of these people. And re-adjust your mind set, your an easy mark.

[The Moose]

Copy and paste a part of it and google it. Every time someone has said "is this a scam?" it has come up with many results saying "this is a scam!" and I have to laugh at the scammers that think they can get away with things. One of the worst ideas and uses for the internet.