# This smells like a scam. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334 "2012-08-13T02:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/21 "2012-08-15T11:43:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I put my boat on Craigslist, and I got this email: > > > [@](#): > > > > … > > i will love to buy this item > > … > > Scam? Just this phrase is enough to identify it as a scam, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/22 "2012-08-15T11:57:28Z")
How does one not have internet banking but have paypal? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/23 "2012-08-15T12:29:33Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The multiple reference to “the item” is a dead giveaway. The whole thing screams scam. > ETA: also, the pickup agent. Also, the first lesson in Craigslist Scamming 101 is the fine technique of how to randomly decapitalize the word _I_. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/24 "2012-08-15T13:07:25Z")
I have the same scam going on right now for a motorcycle I was trying to sell on Craigslist. It’s weird, because he changes from Paypal to sending a check randomly. When he asked me for my name and addess to send the check to, I gave him the contact info for my state’s attorney general. Ha! The other funny thing is that it is a pretty basic scam: he sends me the purchase amount, plus more for shipping, but I am to send the shipping money directly to the shipper (who is him, clearly). But the language is so absolutely garbled that if I were falling for the scam, I would have absolutely no idea what to do. > [@](#): > > How is your day going? Just writing to let you know that I have sent you the check with the shipping fund included and will be delivered to you via ups the amount on check is $2890 and the tracking number is J22254274915 Once you have the check, deposit it and when it clears (which shouldn’t take more than a day according to my bank), you will be sending the shipper the added funds on the check to enable them come over for pick up and take care of other delivery process you are to send it via western union (same day service) and when it has been sent you will provide me the transfer information (Money transfer control number) Will be waiting to read from you. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/25 "2012-08-15T13:40:31Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > How is your day going? Just writing to let you know that I have sent you the check with the shipping fund included and will be delivered to you via ups the amount on check is $2890 and the tracking number is J22254274915 Once you have the check, deposit it and when it clears (which shouldn’t take more than a day according to my bank), you will be sending the shipper the added funds on the check to enable them come over for pick up and take care of other delivery process you are to send it via western union (same day service) and when it has been sent you will provide me the transfer information (Money transfer control number) Will be waiting to read from you. Tell him no problem, but you will be out of town for two weeks after depositing the check. When you get back, you will ship him the item immediately. That should be quite sufficient to clear. Or tell him you have to deposit in a Swiss bank and it takes extra time to clear (the mountains and all). Would he mind waiting a month? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/26 "2012-08-15T13:50:40Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > When he asked me for my name and addess to send the check to, I gave him the contact info for my state’s attorney general. Ha! I like the way you think! ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/27 "2012-08-15T15:18:31Z")
Just earlier this week I referred to Craig’s List as the Mos Eisley of the internet. I don’t think I’m far wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/28 "2012-08-15T17:48:06Z")
> [@newme](#): > > If you are selling a\*\* boat\*\*, a legit buyer will say he likes your\*\* boat\*\*. A scammer will nearly always say he likes your\*\* item\*\*. I call this a dead giveaway. The guy is a phony. Reason being they can copy and past the same bait across a wide range of listings with minimal effort - or can perhaps sub out the initial contacts to someone who doesn’t even need to speak.English ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/29 "2012-08-15T20:19:36Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Just this phrase is enough to identify it as a scam, IMO. You some sort of half-grapist? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334/30 "2012-08-16T13:51:09Z")
A guy bought the boat last night. It hadn’t been started in three years, and it started on the second pull. 🙂 And now to get the Triumph running for sale… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-smells-like-a-scam/631334.md?page=1)