What's the catch here?

frankmcr · #1 08-13-2022, 04:36 PM

Because I'm sure there is one. But what?

The complete text of a response received just now to a craigslist ad I posted an hour ago:

I saw your ad on cl. I can give you cash. I'm free all day today and tomorrow. I am near to you,where are you now? My email is [redacted]

The ad is for a niche musical instrument of some value ($500 ish) but with issues. A serious potential buyer would have questions.

RP · #2 08-13-2022, 04:56 PM

They're collecting email addresses of people who fall for scams and ostensibly selling them...

H165 · #3 08-13-2022, 05:09 PM

Quote:

I am near to you,where are you now?

LOL..........

The Bard Rocks · #4 08-13-2022, 05:14 PM

How does he know he is near to you if he doesn't know where you are?

Jamolay · #5 08-13-2022, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

How does he know he is near to you if he doesn't know where you are?

Craigslist gives a general area of the seller, like within a mile or something.

frankmcr · #6 08-13-2022, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamolay

Craigslist gives a general area of the seller, like within a mile or something.

Right, CL asks for the seller's zip code & then generates a not very detailed map of the general area, which accompanies the ad.

Godfather · #7 08-13-2022, 06:40 PM

My standard reply to scams like this is through CL only so they do not get my email…. “Lets meet at the State Police Post (with the actual address) I get off work at 4:30”. That is usually the end of any communication.

YamahaGuy · #8 08-13-2022, 07:00 PM

Seems like an anxious cash buyer to me. Nothing more. Direct and not beating around the bush. Your description of the instrument in question seems suspect to me. Maybe the potential buyer is familiar with the instrument and knows how to handle the known "issues" with it.

Paleolith54 · #9 08-13-2022, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RP

They're collecting email addresses of people who fall for scams and ostensibly selling them...

But this isn't an issue with Craigslist, the seller's email is anonymous. Based only on what's presented in the OP, sounds like a buyer to me. But like any CL transaction, you don't really know.

b1j · #10 08-13-2022, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paleolith54

But this isn't an issue with Craigslist, the seller's email is anonymous. Based only on what's presented in the OP, sounds like a buyer to me. But like any CL transaction, you don't really know.

If you reply to his email, he gets your address.

If you ask me, the “catch” is Craigslist. Yech. I’ll stay off it and keep it uncrowded for everyone else.

Paleolith54 · #11 08-13-2022, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1j

If you reply to his email, he gets your address.

If you ask me, the “catch” is Craigslist. Yech. I’ll stay off it and keep it uncrowded for everyone else.

That’s not correct. As long as I reply via the Craigslist system, my (seller) email address is still hidden. I can see who is replying, but they can’t see me. In fact, I’m engaged in exactly such a conversation right now. If the guy I responded to hadn’t told me who he is, I wouldn’t know. I get no info on him.

frankmcr · #12 08-13-2022, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RP

They're collecting email addresses of people who fall for scams and ostensibly selling them...

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1j

If you reply to his email, he gets your address.

If you ask me, the “catch” is Craigslist. Yech. I’ll stay off it and keep it uncrowded for everyone else.

Yeah, the part where he gives his email address, he wants the seller to reply to that, which would give him the seller's personal address. Legit CL inquiries go via CL itself, no need for the "buyer" to provide his address that way.

By the way, it's interesting that so many people advertising apartment sublets on CL work on offshore oil rigs and can't actually show the apartment in person but will send you the keys as soon as your check for 1st & last month rent + security deposit clears.

JackC1 · #13 08-13-2022, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Because I'm sure there is one. But what?

The wording is strange, but nothing to scam with a email reply. However, normally a buy would just send me his phone number, especially if he's urgently wanting to make contact. Anyway, I don't see any harm in replying via Craigslist (no need to reply outside of Craigslist anonymous emails).

Gas · #14 08-14-2022, 09:00 AM

Scam...delete it

blindboyjimi · #15 08-14-2022, 09:35 AM

Sounds totally fine to me. I always meet in a bank or police department parking lot and I ask for any reply to include the buyer’s phone number.