I think I just avoid a craiglist scam...

Sooo I am selling my 70-200L ii and a buyer contacted me. Dude seems to be very interested, but weirdly, keep asking about my method of payment. First he ask if I am ok with paypal, then proceed to get me to agree to personal check, then even ask why cash only. Seriously, scammer flag raise soooo hard. I insist on cash, and haven't heard back from him since. what do you guys think?

Haven't heard back? You apparently aren't low-hanging fruit.

I tend to agree. And, for the record, even "certified" checks can be phony.

Now another guy ask me if I could meet at 1am... what... lol. What are these people trying to do, seriously.

what's wrong with paypal?

Here is a "how to scam with paypal" from BBB:

http://www.bbb.org …-sellers-with-paypal-con/

Honestly, what raised my "scammer alert flag" is the guy keeps mentioning methods of payment (suggesting paypal to me), then asked me if I am open for personal check, and even ask why I am against using check...

Ok. Thanks for that info. Well, the easy way to avoid that PayPal scam is to confirm payment by opening your PayPal account instead of relying on an email confirmation.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #18079337
Ok. Thanks for that info. Well, the easy way to avoid that PayPal scam is to confirm payment by opening your PayPal account instead of relying on an email confirmation.

Wow...seriously. Those aren't even difficult ploys to spot; but yeah, if you put cash only in your ad and someone starts trying to negotiate around that, it's time to walk from the sale and wait for someone that can follow along.

Are you still selling your 70 200?

I am still selling, but a potential buyer meeting me this coming Saturday locally. I prefer this over shipping it else where :\

So the guy email back. Basically he said he doesnt feel safe carry cash around, no tracability with cash. And paypal and other type of transaction like check is safe, plus if the check bounce it 's not on the recipients end, it's on the payer's end and their institution (wth?). He also want the buyer (me in this case) to be held accountable if the lens is not true as advertised or product's history is false...

what a strange tale o_o

Never do a Craigslist transaction long distance. It's always in person, always a cash transaction. No checks, no cashiers checks, no money orders, no gift cards. And always meet in a Starbucks or somethin where there are 20 other people all around. No parking lot transactions.

The latest goofiness I had to deal with when I was selling my 7D was a guy trying to offer me 500 bucks in Best Buy gift cards. He even offered to meet me in the store so he could get me the gift cards. I told him that I don't need BB gift cards and I only do cash. I ended up selling the camera for less but at least, I didn't end up with a bunch of expired gift cards lol...

lenka wrote in post #18120698
What's wrong with paypal?

Lots.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18121141

Hosted photo: posted by Scrumhalf in
./showthread.php?p=181​21141&i=i173054223
forum: The Lounge

^^^^THIS.