I responded to this via text yesterday and they texted me back from another number. I asked whether it was the same person as the number in the ad and they said “Yes my new number”
They sent me a google verification code to text back to them and were very insistent when I didn’t respond right away.
Their English is odd, “Give me the code & it’s prove that you are real ? not a Fake Man” and “Thank you so much SIR/MAM … You are a real Person I’ll call you Later. I’m in work”
That’s obviously what’s going on here… but I’m not really clear what advantage the scammer has now gained by setting up an account using OP’s phone number?
I haven’t seen it set up that way, but as explained in the link, that person can now do whatever they want on craigslist and if something goes south, the only real contact craigslist, buyers, sellers, police etc have, is the OPs phone number.
Now, if the person happens to have your gmail address, they can use that verification code to reset your password and they now effectively have control over everything under the google/gmail umbrella.
Go to Gmail (not logged in or use a private window), hit the ‘forgot my email’ button, punch in your phone number and see if it’ll give you your address.
Also, if you have an android phone, your gmail account and phone number are almost certainly linked.
Craigslist scammers are getting lazier, it seems. I put some antique china up for sale and got two responses of: "Are you the original owner (no, stupid, they’re antiques), followed by “I don’t check CL email, so text me at (number)”, or “I don’t check CL mail, so here is my personal email.” Sure thing, moron.