Dodged a bullet on a convincing Craigslist scam!

[DLagent]

A couple months ago I was selling a blue-face Milgauss. I had posted it on TRF and also on Craigslist (yeah yeah, I know). I wasn't really in a hurry to sell the watch or in dire need of the cash, so I really wanted an easy, stress-free transaction either face-to-face or with a reputable TRF member.

I got a call from a woman in the Dallas area who offered me $7,750, which was more than anyone else had offered. She said she wanted the watch quickly to give it to her husband for his birthday in two days. She claimed that her husband had been screwed on buying a watch online in the past, so she wanted to be ultra careful about it. She insisted on making COD payment arrangements where I would ship it to a FedEx Office location and they would collect a cashier's check from her to be shipped to me before turning over the package. I called FedEx and they told me that was possible, so I went with it.

I brought the watch to FedEx Office intending to grill the employee there about exactly how safe this process would be, but before I could even get into that, they told me that they only insured jewelry up to some low number (can't remember what), so I said never mind and walked out.

I called the woman and apologized but said that I couldn't ship it via FedEx and that I honestly wasn't willing to jump through any more hoops to try to sell her the watch. She texted me later and asked me if I would maybe buy a watch on her behalf on TRF and she'd pay me for it, and I said no way, I wasn't willing to spend any more time on the matter.

....Fast forward to today, I get a call from a detective in the Dallas area from a local PD's fraud and financial crimes division. Apparently someone else fell for the same exact story, sent her a watch, and never got paid. The detective was going through their phone records, found my number, and called me. I told him my story and forwarded him our email correspondence and screenshots of our text correspondence.

I'm usually pretty damn good at assessing people's trustworthiness, and this one didn't set off any alarm bells. Luckily, I avoided a scam that would've cost me over $7,000. Phew!

[locutus49]

Congrats on dodging a bullet. Her story sounded good so I can see how it would fool people. Very smart script that she used. Thanks for posting.

[DLagent]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Her story sounded good

She crafted it perfectly. Throughout the whole process she made it seem like SHE was so afraid of being scammed. Seems like the best way for a scammer to lull someone into a false sense of security.

[crowncollection]

Good work

[Zoran]

That is a very disturbing story, but with a positive ending!
I'm happy you didn't go through with it and risk losing money

Great news

[JohnBaker3]

WOW...nice job sir!

I had the same experience at FEDEX when I tried to ship a watch; they sent me to a different branch that handled "high value items"....

When I got there, they were under a re-model and couldn't accept any packages...

Go figure....

[DLagent]

Originally Posted by JohnBaker3

I had the same experience at FEDEX when I tried to ship a watch; they sent me to a different branch that handled "high value items"....

When I got there, they were under a re-model and couldn't accept any packages...

It would be nice if retail shipping locations had security protocols in place for when people ask to ship jewelry or high-value items.

"Sir, just for security and fraud prevention purposes, do you know the person to whom you are sending this item? If you've sold it, have you received cleared funds?"

It might cause some people to second-guess what they're doing and avoid being scammed at the last minute. The shipping places may lose some revenue, but would gain lots of credibility and public trust. Imagine if my story ended with FedEx encouraging me NOT to ship the watch, and then me getting the call from the detective about how I almost lost $7,000. I'd be singing FedEx's praises!

[subtona]

It is certainly a challenge to see through all of the trickery and guile that is out there.

Sometimes it just comes down to listening to that little voice inside you that says something's not right.

Always good to hear a story with a happy ending.

[DLagent]

Originally Posted by subtona

Sometimes it just comes down to listening to that little voice inside you that says something's not right.

I am usually VERY good at this. I've done things that most other people would consider very risky (i.e. buy watches on TRF by wiring money to a stranger before receiving the watch) because my gut tells me I can trust the person and that it will turn out fine.

That's what's so crazy about this scenario - no alarm bells at all.

Originally Posted by subtona

Always good to hear a story with a happy ending.

For me, at least. The detective was calling me because someone else did get scammed.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by DLagent

I am usually VERY good at this. I've done things that most other people would consider very risky (i.e. buy watches on TRF by wiring money to a stranger before receiving the watch) because my gut tells me I can trust the person and that it will turn out fine.

That's what's so crazy about this scenario - no alarm bells at all.



For me, at least. The detective was calling me because someone else did get scammed.

For me the alarm bell was the "~I need it right away" with a story.

It is comforting to know the police have taken an interest in the case and you were able to lend supporting documentation to assist the victim.

[Silvio Mosiello]

What a pos n:


Sent from my Motorola Razor

[Lgear080]

COD is always f r a u d

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

COD is always f r a u d

This.. Would never even consider COD.....

[southtexas]

Hate to say it, but I have a hard time believing anything a FedEx employee says at a store. I've been told one thing at one store, driven to another fedex store and been told something completely different. Then I called the 800 number and was told both stores were wrong. And yes, I'm referring to Fedex stores, not mailboxes etc or some place that receives fedex drops.


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