What’s Your Preference?

ArmySoldier777 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 03:45 PM

Anybody can be ripped off, and I wasn't any exception for somebody to try it on today.

I put my 450D on craigslist last night, just to see if I would get any hits on it because I'm upgrading to the T2i sometime in the near future. I figured if I could sell it for a reasonable price, then I wouldn't lose out on the move up. I threw it on there for $550, not expecting to actually get anybody to offer $550 for it. You always set the price for more than you're looking to receive, that's how internet bartering goes. Well, within a couple hours I received an email from somebody who said they were interested and they even asked a lot of questions about the camera to find out what condition it was in.

The guy said he was USAF, so I figured he must be alright, a lot of times military guys just tend to have a little more trust in each other. But it turns out the whole thing was a scam. And that really pissed me off, because that's something you don't just pretend to be. He said he was interested in purchasing the camera and asked for me to send him an invoice from my paypal in his following email.
"Sounds good, i am in the U.S. Air Force currently on duty right now. I am getting it for my son as a surprise gift. I accept your price and will be paying total sum of $650 for item cost & shipping fee. I will provide you with his shipping info for shipment as soon as the payment is done. I can only pay through PayPal so send me request invoice to this address for the payment."

That should have been a red flag right there, "total sum of $650 for item cost&shipping", because you can order one online used for around $500+shipping. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt and figured he hadn't done his research and that if he was overseas, that the shipping and handling was going to run me pretty close to that anyway. So first thing this morning, I check my email and there's a "Paypal Confirmation of Payment" from "service@paypal.com", and this thing looks completely legit with links going back to PayPal, a receipt number, and everything. I've seen a TON of scam emails, but this one almost had Me. ALMOST. Everything about this email seemed to be legitimate, except for one thing. While the name said "service@paypal.com," the email address hidden behind it in it's half transparent greyish letters said "service@paypail.com."

So the first thing I did when I read this email was to call PayPal customer service to confirm my suspicions and they had me send it in to them so they could warn other people about that specific scam.

If you read through all that, the main point is, always be alert and aware of what's going on. Pay attention to detail, because it might save your ass.

CheaperKings · #2 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 04:00 PM

That sux, bro - glad you caught it! Thanx for the info.

dlambert · #3 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 04:21 PM

Nice catch. I don't know about you guys, but I used to kind of chuckle at the stories of people getting sucked into "Nigerian Prince" schemes. Some of the scams out there today are getting pretty sophisticated, though -- it's pretty easy to see how people get caught on some of these.

bigben6 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 04:34 PM

MAN are you lucky.... glad you made that call arent ya?!?! Shoot I'M glad you made that call!

ArmySoldier777 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheaperKings

That sux, bro - glad you caught it! Thanx for the info.

Me too man, I would've been out more than I could afford right now. And no problem, I wanted to share so other people could be aware just how real these scams can seem sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlambert

Nice catch. I don't know about you guys, but I used to kind of chuckle at the stories of people getting sucked into "Nigerian Prince" schemes. Some of the scams out there today are getting pretty sophisticated, though -- it's pretty easy to see how people get caught on some of these.

I used to be the same way. Especially about those scams where people want you to transfer money to bank accounts saying you'll get paid thousands, if not millions, of dollars for helping them out. I've gotten a few of those emails and laughed at them.

Yes they are unfortunately. If I wasn't already paranoid I might've not caught this one. I bet people have already gotten caught up in it though. Hopefully reporting it to paypal will help somebody else out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigben6

MAN are you lucky.... glad you made that call arent ya?!?! Shoot I'M glad you made that call!

I sure am. The guy's waiting for me to reply to him and tell him I shipped the package. I'm seriously considering messing with him after this.

#6 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 05:50 PM

Don't get mad, get even

The Powerbook Prank: He wanted a Powerbook. We gave him a P-P-P-Powerbook!

gptwins · #7 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 06:01 PM

That is a classic CL scam. They always offer you more than you are asking. This is usually accompanied by some sob story about why they cannot pick it up.

These scams work because the play to an individual's sympathy or greed.

ArmySoldier777 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-23-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

Don't get mad, get even

The Powerbook Prank: He wanted a Powerbook. We gave him a P-P-P-Powerbook!

Love it. If I could shell out the $70 for shipping, I'd do this. I already have the address and phone number. I love the idea of posting a huge value on the package too, that's awesome. I'd love to be able to screw him over like that. But even in that guy's case, it almost backfired on him. Still great though.