I had lunch with a friend today who told me a very troubling story. His boss found a car on Craig's list. This individual had purchased several cars over the years so he was used to what it takes to get the deal done.He emailed the seller a few times, negotiated a price. He and his son drive up a few hundred miles to view the car and complete the deal at the address given by the seller. When they arrived, they were accosted by 3 men with guns and robbed. Turns out the house had been in forclosure. The whole thing was a setup. They survived the ordeal physically intact.

I am not sure how one avoids this but it is certainly food for thought.

alan

Craig’s List - funny thing you should mention. For the first time I got something for sale on there. It's my old tires and wheels. I have never seen more flakes, scammers, rip-off artists and losers in my life. I can't believe some of the responses I am getting. They want to know where I live, if anyone is at the house, etc. A couple guys called and spoke such broken English that I had to hang up as I was unable to understand 9 out of 10 words. Also got emails telling me they want the wheels, asking me to send my personal info to them. They will pay me an additional $50 for taking the listing off right now and email my info to them. I was going to meet one guy in a parking lot today and convinced myself after talking to him that I needed to bring a gun with me. After thinking it through, I decided to simply email him back and tell him that I sold the wheels to someone else. Amazing...!!!

Sad, but neither of these stories surprise me. Sorry to hear what happened to him.
I've had decent luck selling items on there. But there are some "characters" that use it.

i sell and buy a lot of stuff on CL, i always get the:

"Hello Dear Kind Sir,

I am in need of 50 units of your item, and will be paying via western union. I will pay in the funds of 60,000 USD. I will need you to send the item first as I will be shipping the item to my son at school in Africa..."

LOL im usually just selling my cellphone because i get bored of them and go through them like other month! CL is dangerous, just be careful who you sell items too and who comes to your house, they might be there for your "wheels" but are eying the 69 in the garage.

Sad story, but it really doesnt matter if its craigslist or any other place!! Always use caution...any dealings with money that i do, i always have a gun with me!

Makes me sick that my kids have to grow up in a world like this.

Just can't understand why some people prey on others and want to hurt them for money.

Just doesn't make any sense to me.

MAn that is a bad story. I have sold many things on CL - but man you are right lots of crazy people. HAd one woman call me and say she was sent to me by a higher power and would I put her on a payment plan? I just hung up! Also had a guy come look at a Lexus LS 400 I was selling. Guy brought his whole family to look at it test drove it. Then beat me up on price and had the nerve to say -"Can you hold it for a few months while I get the money?" Sorry but sold it 45 minutes later to someone else.

Makes me sick that my kids have to grow up in a world like this.

Just can't understand why some people prey on others and want to hurt them for money.

Just doesn't make any sense to me.

its called lazyness!!! they dont want to work for it when they can just use a gun and take yours!!
scammers and con artists have been around for centuries but with the internet and tv you just hear more about it than you would have 100 yrs ago!!
I have gone to other states to look at cars/parts and usually only carry about 20 in cash and my debit card have never had any issues with people other than some wierdos that watch to much BJ auctions thinkin their rusted junk is solid gold!!
if i get close to where im supposed to meet a person and that area looks run down or depressed (crack lookin houses etc..) i usually keep on driving!!

i bought my 68 camaro from a guy (and his granny) near east st. louis (craigslist ad)
not a very nice area at all!!! i took a friend and cash and ended up getting the car for 9200 they were asking for 12000 so?? and the guy was very cool and my buddy ended up buying a 67 nova from them as well!??

I'm too lazy to read all the comments, but the reasons that so many low lifes hange there is obvious. NO FEES unlike eBay for selling things, craigslist doesn't usually go across the country unlike eBay. This is perfect for criminals to get a free and (unfortunatly easy) way of rape, murder, theft, etc. There are good people on there, but just don't ever say "I'll meet you there" or "I'll be at you house at (whatever time)" have them come to you.

Well, the thought I had was even if you had a weapon, 3 guys get the drop on you? And what if they decided to "leave no witnesses"? This could have been horrible. You could always ask to meet in a "public area" but if the car can't be moved?

Short of bringing a football team with you, not sure. No doubt the bad guys assume you are bringing a bag full of cash or they hold your partner hostage while you go to the bank?

We do live in scary times.

alan

Lazy and derranged I suppose.

its called lazyness!!! they dont want to work for it when they can just use a gun and take yours!!
scammers and con artists have been around for centuries but with the internet and tv you just hear more about it than you would have 100 yrs ago!!
I have gone to other states to look at cars/parts and usually only carry about 20 in cash and my debit card have never had any issues with people other than some wierdos that watch to much BJ auctions thinkin their rusted junk is solid gold!!
if i get close to where im supposed to meet a person and that area looks run down or depressed (crack lookin houses etc..) i usually keep on driving!!

I'm not trying to get political, but a lot of it has to do with the low value that a lot of our society puts on human life. Look at the TV shows that are on prime time - I have to be careful with even letting my 7-YO and 5-YO listen to the evening news! Yes, there was plenty of bad people and violence 50 years ago, but you didn't have it invading your living room every evening.

I think it is even worse than that. When I was a teenager, the worse things might end up in was a fistfight and in high school, that happened maybe once a year. Today, it seems all disputes teenagers have are immediately mediated at the end of a Glock. It is so disheartening to see how little value some people have for human life.

And I don't say this as a criticism of guns but rather the individual holding the gun.

alan

Sad story, but it really doesnt matter if its craigslist or any other place!! Always use caution...any dealings with money that i do, i always have a gun with me!


X2.

On my recent visit to Cincinnati, I had my .40 with me. The transaction went off without a hitch, and the seller never knew I had it (he may have had one too). Wife was in the truck until we knew (which took about 30 seconds) everything was fine.

Having the gun with me also helps me maintain the speed limit. No need to have the cops poking around in my truck. :)


Had it been in a bad part of town, or the guys looked like trouble, I would have simply driven off.

I've bought one car on C.L. and one one Ebay. been pretty lucky so far. ALWAYS gotta have your radar up though. If something seems fishy or out of place it probably is.

While the guys that pulled off the crime are scum, the buyer was not very smart. Why would you go to anyones house to buy a car? Have them meet you in a public place. If that's not possible you need to take pre-cautions before agreeing to go to the house. Taking a gun with you won;t really do much good unless you plan to have it out the minute you knock on the door or get out of the car. Remember they are waiting for you, their guns/weapons are already out and the plan is se. Sure you can get robbed in public, but, the chances are much higher if you go to a private residence and even higher if you go at night or alone.

ALWAYS MEET IN A PUBLIC PLACE!!

Wear a long lightweight car coat and have two sawed off to legal length double 12's hanging from your neck loaded w/ double 00 buck and go!!

He, He!!

And remember the deal here is to only have one STORY that YOU tell!!

pdq67