# Possible Scam: "Free Firewood" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247 "2017-02-07T17:34:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247/21 "2017-02-09T01:42:03Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Not a bad idea but remember: they only tell you where the address of the wood is after they know “where are you from”. > > In other words, if you bring a cop with you, maybe it will just be a house with no one home and no wood in the yard… and a van that starts up and drives off down the street when you park. > Meanwhile, back at your place, a white van pulls up… someone pops the lock on one of the doors, and “workers” start to tag team pull valuables out of you house. > “Isn’t that nice! The neighbors are having some work done…” :smack: > > I’m pretty sure that this isn’t these Grifters first rodeo… Do they want your address? That’s a bit much. And anyway, you’re meeting your buddy at the station when his shift’s over, so you’ll be coming from there. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247/22 "2017-02-09T03:04:26Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Do they want your address? That’s a bit much. And anyway, you’re meeting your buddy at the station when his shift’s over, so you’ll be coming from there. I like that. One of the reasons I hate FB is that there is just WAY too much personal info about you out there. They know your name, possibly your profile pic. Sometimes (most times?) it lists what town you live in. If they start phishing around your friends they find what part of town… maybe that you have kids… maybe where your kids go to school, etc. Craigslist gives you all the options you listed above that you need so you can just “be there at 4”, conduct your business, and be on your way. I only like FB listings when they list a garage/yard sale that’s between this time and that time. Cash deal & done. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247/23 "2017-02-09T09:27:47Z")
A common “scam” I see in my area is FREE BRICKS/CINDER BLOCKS Then you look at the image and they’re stained decade old or older bricks that have plant matter growing on them in an abandoned part of their yard. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247/24 "2017-02-13T14:49:51Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Not a bad idea but remember: they only tell you where the address of the wood is after they know “where are you from”. > > In other words, if you bring a cop with you, maybe it will just be a house with no one home and no wood in the yard… and a van that starts up and drives off down the street when you park. > Meanwhile, back at your place, a white van pulls up… someone pops the lock on one of the doors, and “workers” start to tag team pull valuables out of you house. > “Isn’t that nice! The neighbors are having some work done…” :smack: > > I’m pretty sure that this isn’t these Grifters first rodeo… Answering "where are you from " with your mailing address is a bit of a stretch… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247/25 "2017-02-13T22:39:15Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I’d say that in the interest in science, it’s your duty to go through with it and report back to us on how this scam works. But you’re a valuable poster and I don’t wish any harm to befall you, so don’t do it. He’ll probably be OK if he brings his chainsaw with him. Oo, and he can wear a leather mask, you know, to protect his face from splinters. Not scary at all. For him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-scam-free-firewood/779247.md?page=1)