How do you know for sure its a scam? Price too low? Won’t ever leave you a contact number through e-mail? Etc etc.. How do they scam you by just having your email? Any thoughts guys how these people work?
They work on greed and the adage of “a fool and his money will soon part”. 
How do you know for sure its a scam? Price too low? Won’t ever leave you a contact number through e-mail? Etc etc.. How do they scam you by just having your email? Any thoughts guys how these people work?
Could you be a little more clear what kind of scams you are talking about?? You mean a Craigslist ad?? Possible you could give an example.
I’m wondering the same thing-what type of scammer are you talking about? WCCO just had a story last night on scams that spike during tax season of people claiming to be IRS and that you still owe money. The amount of money and people these scammers get every year is unsettling.
Then there’s the scammers who get your number somehow and are pleased to offer you an extended warranty on your new truck. They’re pushy and have a million reasons why you should buy their warranty, then they’ll hang up when you say no, only to have a different rep call later in the week. Eventually I always try and have some fun with these people when I know it’s a scam and turn the tables.
Last time they called I said “wow, this is great information and I’m feeling interested. I’m on my cell phone so in case we get disconnected could I get your number please?”
Their response “Um, we don’t really have a phone number.”
Me: “Huh, that’s weird, ya don’t have a phone number huh?”
Them: “Yeeeahhh….well, we DO have a number for our existing customers, but nothing for the general public.”
Me: “Wow, that is really weird.”
Them: CLICK.
Caller ID can be fun. I get calls asking for donations to our local law enforcement agency. These calls come from Texas most often and the guy talking has a deeeep southern drawl. I just tell these people that they don’t sound like they are from Minnesota, don’cha ya know or uff da sounding.
One of these guys said he just moved and why he has the drawl. That’s when I said his call shows as coming from Texas. Nice try, don’t call again.
I’m a bit of a skeptic. Everything is a scam. 
On the extended warranties… I mess with them all the time. They call and I tell them, their timing couldn’t be better, my engine just started knocking and the transmission smells and doesn’t always want to move at first… then silence and I need to transfer you to a supervisor… click 
Say what??? Scams???
I’m going to meet a guy in behind the Wal-Store later tonight. He told me I have 2.5 million waiting for me all I have to do is give him $700 !!!! Who’s the sucker now ?!?!?!?! 
A buddy of mine just got scammed out of $2 grand trying to buy a dog. He said all the online reviews were great so he thought it was safe. Good initial phone conversations, money sent and then no call backs nor an actual dog.
There are many types of scams.
Some use email lists to contact you with no prior contact by you at all…and you should obviously delete the email. Sometimes they contact you by phone after picking your number up via the web. One buddy (whom I thought was far smarter) was contacted by a Pakistani or Indian and was told he was sending malicious emails. The guy remotely connected to my friend’s computer, cleaned his machine and told him the service was X number of dollars. My friend told him to pound sand. What my friend did not realize is that this person also installed some very malicious malware…and it took me a good while to clean his machine remotely. I’ve done 100’s of them and his was the worst.
When it comes to internet purchases…always be very skeptical because perps love taking advantage of anyone they can. View any purchase cautiously. ALWAYS use US Postal MO’s and never ship them to anyplace other than a physical address. Never send to a PO box and NEVER send them blank (honest, people do it if they want something bad enough at an unbelievable deal). Postal MO’s protect both the buyer and the seller because US Postal Inspectors will intervene if any fraud takes place on either side. When you get a Postal Money order, you can verify the validity of the MO via the post office before you ship something you are selling. DO NOT use bank drafts, bank checks or personal checks unless you like getting your tail thumped.
I am not a fan of using PayPal unless the buyer/seller has a VERIFIED account. PayPal transactions can scam you at the speed of light. NEVER send funds via Wells Fargo…unless you like your tail thumped.
Always get tracking numbers for shipments either way…..
Those are basics anyway…
I found a UTV for sale on ATV.com and it’s way below what it’s worth. The only contact info is through email. I told him to send me a pic of the title so I know it’s a clean title… I bet I don’t here from him again! It’s also out in Washington and he said the price includes shipping. Sounds like a scam to me!
“A buddy of mine just got scammed out of $2 grand trying to buy a dog. He said all the online reviews were great so he thought it was safe. Good initial phone conversations, money sent and then no call backs nor an actual dog. ”
tell us more, plz.
I don’t buy on-line period. From nobody. If we can’t meet face to face for the transaction there will be no transaction.
I have received a couple emails from banks that look real, except they are sent from say bankofamericaa.com or something like that, then the email and website both look 100% legit.
If something is too good to be true, then it probably is.
Look up reviews on the business or person. Look up the address in google maps and see what type of building your supposed product may be getting shipped out of. If it’s a crappy house rather than a nice wearhouse, probably not legit.
When dealing on craigslist, you set the terms, times, and locations, not them. Don’t meet at houses, meet somewhere that’s in a high traffic area.
Never agree to anything without seeing it in person, or some other way of verifying.
Anything that uses money transfers, western unions, etc. should be avoided.
Purchasing dogs on line is a real bummer because the criminals play on buyers emotions (mostly women). Next to adopting kids, this is one purchase that really makes people drop their guard. I know 2 people that got taken and one was warned in advance not to do it.
The ritual used to be that they would request funds be wired to a Western Union office. Once the funds arrived, the funds would be forwarded to another Western Union. The perp would secure the funds and disappear. Untraceable loss.
if it to good to be true it is a scam.
i was selling something on Craigslist and the scammer want something out of the ordinary. So to toy with him a said i have some ocean front property in Arizona would you like to buy that too. his reaction was how much. i about fill off my chair with laughter.
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