How gullible can people be

[strupgolf]

On the local news tonight. A young guy, 20, see's a truck on Craigs list advertised in Oregon, Chevy 4x4, with a unreal low price, $12,000. He sends e-mails, lots of them, and he agrees to buy it. He says he felt good about the seller because he said he was military and ended all the e-mails with God Bless. He goes to his bank, has them transfer the money to another bank, and then can't get an answer from the seller. This story is so sad because he has no truck and has no idea who the seller is. Will people not learn. Don't send ANY money to anyone at anytime for anything, (you get the point)

[masraum]

In some cases, it's naivete and ignorance. In most of these cases, it's greed.
Most scams work because the folks getting scammed are wanting something that they should realize is too good to be true. I'm not saying that's the case with the truck guy.


Men duped in 'money-doubling scam' | Money | News.com.au

PROMISES that special chemicals could duplicate money have allegedly duped three Victorian businesses.

Police said the businesses gave about $160,000 in cash to two men in the belief their money would double when soaked in chemicals, the Stonnington Leader reported.

[gtc]

How do people continue to fall for this? Craigslist even warns you at the top of EVERY for sale ad!

Edit: the money doubling scheme is pretty funny.

[strupgolf]

The kid was really amazed on the low price. He kept saying it over and over.

[nostatic]

Did you know that the word "gullible" isn't in the dictionary?

[Monza_dh]

Originally Posted by masraum

In some cases, it's naivete and ignorance. In most of these cases, it's greed.
Most scams work because the folks getting scammed are wanting something that they should realize is too good to be true.

The police use this ploy all the time for people with outstanding warrants. They send them fake notices that they won a prize (or Ozzy tickets as in the link below) and to come to a hotel or DAV to claim it. The perps walk in and are arrested for the warrant.

36 Arrested in Fargo Sting Operation | KXNet.com North Dakota News

As BT Barnum always said......




.

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by Monza_dh

The police use this ploy all the time for people with outstanding warrants. They send them fake notices that they won a prize (or Ozzy tickets as in the link below) and to come to a hotel or DAV to claim it. The perps walk in and are arrested for the warrant.




.

WHOA

I guess I wont be going to the concert, thanks for the heads up

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

he said he was military and ended all the e-mails with God Bless.

I actually thought about adding "god bless" to my spam filter, it seems to be a signature that every spammer uses. How many legitimate email have you ever received with "god bless" as a closing?

[KNS]

Good one Nostatic (no, I didn't look)!

[strupgolf]

Well, I was "gullible" for that one. I'm reading the dictionary now for the word "richardcraneum".

[jyl]

An expensive lesson but apparently one that he needed. Better to learn at 20 with $12K than later with his life savings.