Spam/phishing emails in reply to online ads
 

I recently posted a couple of for-sale ads on craigslist.com and recycler.com. Started getting these really bizzare emails clearly related to the listings. Has anybody encountered this before, and is it some kind of known scam?

Note that my ad was very detailed/clear, included pics, and stated the item was for local pickup only, no shipping.

A few examples:

-----

HELLO,
AM SMITH FROM OHIO.

AM INTRESTED IN BUYING YOUR FURNITURE ", .. NOW,
AM PAYING WITH BANK CERTIFIES CASHIER CHECK OR MONEY ORDER .
I WANT YOU TO TELL ME MORE CONDITIONS ABOUT ITS AND THEN SEND ME
THE
PICTURES ALSO?

SO I NEED YOUR INFO BELOW?
1. FULL NAME ----------------------
2. ADDRESS--------------------------
3. PHONE NUMBER -------------
4. LAST PRICE-----------------------
NOW
SO THAT I CAN ISSUE OUT THE PAYMNET FOR YOU THROUGH POST OFFICE.
AM READY TO PAY FOR THE FURNITURE NOW.
DO GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR DETAILS NOW,SO THAT I CAN SEND THE
PAYMENT
FOR YOU BY MONDAY MORNING.
THANKS

-----

Good Day, I'm Kevin Brown, i would like to if your FURNITURE advertised on the NET is still available for sale.

Do write me back with your last offer, condition and the reason for selling it.

You can email me more picture if available...respond immediately you do receive this message.
Sincerely
Kevin Brown

-----

Hello,
How are you doing,How was you day, I am interested in the item you have up there in your posting....I would want to know if this goods is still
available for sales and i would love you to get back asap.

-----

Hello,Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase i will be posting a Money order to cover the cost of the goods while you hold on my behalf. Once you have this, my mover will come pickup at you place.I will be needing the following information to issue out the payment . . .
1.Name to be on the money order
2.Home address
3.Telephone
4.Your zip code
** Pls not that the payment for the good will be overnight to your address asap. I have taken a close look at the advert and am completely satisfied i really need this and i want you to take the advert away from the site and will appreciates that you help save this for me till the payment arrives as it will save me some extra cost*

The first one, at least, smells srangely like a computer generated response.

notice how every one features grammatical errors or poor use of the English language

One of the ways that spam gets through is by using deliberate misspelling of key words that can, in that way, get past spam filters. "Viagra" might be "Vegria".

The bad grammar makes me think that they are all examples of the typical Nigerian scammers. If you've ever placed a car for sale on craigslist or the like, you know what I'm talking about. After three or four responses, they'll swoop in for the kill -- "I'm am being sending for your likelidness a good bankk chek for $17000 for your $10000 car. yOU 'll need jsut to give a cheek baock to the transsporter driver in the for $5000 and keep the better other $2000 for your helpingness."

What happens is that they send you a bogus check that you deposit. You think that you're making an extra $2000 when in reality you just gave them a check for $5000 to steal your car. It's amazing, but this scam has been going on for years. You're most likely just getting a different version.

Just for kicks, play along and see what they end up asking for. You can have fun with these guys from time to time -- if you keep them occupied you just might save someone else from getting burned.

I even got one when I put some warehouse space for rent up on Craig's list.

Why would you need your agent to handle the money from a distance? You decide to store your stuff a few thousand miles away from home?

You should always use an alternative email address for craigslist, etc.

Not your regular email.