Craigslist Scams: A Real-Life Story of Caution

Have you ever had a tingle in the back of your neck when engaging in online sales? Many of us have, especially when navigating platforms like Craigslist, which offer a mix of convenience and danger. In my recent encounter, I almost became a victim of a clever scam. Let me share a peculiar story from a time I tried to sell a used van on the local version of Craigslist, Gumtree.

Step 1: The Broken Van

My van, a 15-year-old workhorse, was technically sound despite needing a minor MOT (Motor Vehicle Test). The asking price was 600 quid, a competitive rate on the Gumtree marketplace. One potential buyer, whom I’ll call the ‘first buyer,’ showed interest right away. But the deal had a twist: he insisted on meeting through his email account and demanded the sale without an MOT. Adding to the oddness, his companion, who was supposed to collect the van, was listed as ‘for his daughter.’

Red Flags Unfolded

I had my doubts about the first buyer, but in this market, one may need to go the extra mile to clear shelves. After a series of back-and-forth messages, the first buyer suggested a method that felt even more dubious—he wanted to pay by cash. However, I was more willing to stick to the safety of PayPal. His response was to tell me that PayPal is as good as cash and a useful service to have. While financially comfortable, I decided not to be on the wrong end of a scam, so I chose to move forward with another prospect.

Second Buyer’s Suspicion

The second buyer was a phone caller who made things even murkier. This second buyer was also aiming for the asking price, had someone to help with collection, and intended to pay via PayPal. However, his burner phone number mysteriously vanished after I expressed a slight hesitation. The second buyer’s profile was eerily similar to that of the first, and both seemed to vanish as soon as my guard went up.

Surprising Offers and Hidden Intentions

Within a few days, I received several offers from buyers with identical demands: ‘is it sold?’ or those who asked how much the MOT was despite my clear advertisement specifying no MOT. There was a pattern in the messages—tyre kickers offering sums much lower than the asking price. As it turned out, these were attempts to gauge the veracity of my ad.

The Scoop on the Scam

Further research revealed that this was a common scam. The scammers would get an item, then claim to PayPal that it was not as described. They would pull the money out of the buyer’s PayPal account and return it to themselves. The scammers would then have the item, all the documents, and a bill of sale. In my case, a Romanian family purchased the van from me.

Disastrous Aftermath

A few short days after the sale, I received a letter: my van had been impounded and was being kept in a compound in Coventry, 90 miles away. I was supposed to pay various fees and gather documents to reclaim it. The letter arrived months after the sale, well beyond the time the Romani family had been warned to sell the van to recoup recovery and storage costs.

Clue: A Letter and a Late Arrival

The letter arrived via second-class mail with a three-day-old postmark. Either the postal service took an unusually long time to deliver, or whoever sent the letter was counting on the van being valuable enough to delay notification. The family, without insurance, was likely to be caught in a similar situation, leading to the van being taken.

Concluding Observations

Since then, I’ve learned that this scam is still circulating, with almost all potential buyers using an Indian accent. However, some revert to messaging or email to mask their accents. This high-risk environment teaches us a valuable lesson: buyer beware, and always exercise caution when dealing with unfamiliar parties through online marketplaces like Craigslist.

Key Takeaways:

When dealing with online sales, be wary of requests from email or other unusual contact methods. Favor PayPal and other reliable payment methods over cash. Be cautious of buyers who dispute your claims about the item’s condition. Always verify all details and ensure that you’re dealing with legitimate buyers.

Remember, staying alert can save you from ending up as a victim of online scams. Happy selling!