Craigslist buyers asking for addresses
 

Should I be worried? Got 2 of these today. They're asking me for address stating check will be sent and pickup arranged once fund clears.

Asking for an address is OK if a buyer wants to come see something BUT sending a check and arranging a pickup is a well known scam.
The phone number cant hurt can it? Maybe someone really wants to see your car or whatever you are selling I would just remind them you need cash only.
The scam usually involves someone working on an oil rig or deployed and they are going to send a check for full amount and someone to pick up your car because they cant get there themselves. Cash only usually ends it

Thanks for the quick reply. Also asking for phone number. I guess I need to block these mofos.

James Medcoff, Corbin Ketcham. These names ring bells?

Who the hell accepts a check for a CL purchase? If you do, please PM me your address and whatever you're selling. I'll take it and will even pay more than asking price plus shipping.

I gladly give them my work address and phone #. They can call me when they are coming over and I will meet them in the lobby.

11000 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 477-6565

asking for an address connects a physical site with your cell phone or email address. Then enterprising folks can monitor social networking for hints that you are out of town or otherwise vulnerable.

I meet at the local police station to do CL deals.

Thanks for this info. I need to upgrade my alarm system and warn my irresponsible house mates (leaves doirs unlockked etc...)


Proposal was he sends the check. Once cleared pickup will be arranged.

This is standard check fraud MO and it is never ok. Face to face, cash and carry only.

Meet in a public parking lot someplace. I've done this several times. People don't need to know where I live. No good can come of it.

Nobody from craigslist comes to my house.

Last vehicle I sold, we met in my bank's parking lot. The buyer knew Jeeps well, knew he wanted mine, and was bringing cash.

I don't want anybody knowing, or even thinking I've got that much cash in my house! We signed the title, he handed me the cash, so I could step right in the bank and deposit it.

I just listed a folding guitar rack on CL, had it sold two hours later. Buyer emailed me about his weight problem and lack of a/c in his car. Unreal.

Yeah no a.c. Is a deal breaker. ^^
I wouldn't even condsider check, or trade from craigslist. I'm even kinda iffy taking cash from sketchy people.

If your selling something you have to give them a address to pick it up from. So what's the big deal about giving out your home address? If your worried about being robbed it could happen without giving out your address. It's in the phone book.

As to a cheque take it to the branch of the bank it's drawn on and cash it there.

You guys worried about giving out your address, all realize it's public record right? Give me your name and I bet I can find it somewhere online in under a minute.

That's not the point. If someone really is motivated and wants to stalk you, do some digging and research, etc. yes you're right - there's not much you can do about that. However the odds of that are pretty low - there are easier and better targets. More likely a potential problem would come from having an opportunist - exactly the type created by having a total stranger (who could very well be a dirtbag / lowlife) come to one's home and in the matter of a few short minutes, be able to see entry / exit points, assess vulnerability for later entry, possibly identify a few nice things he or she might want and where they are, identify the presence of kids, significant others, etc. that could be possible targets for all kinds of awful things, etc. There are some seriously messed-up people out there and until someone earns my trust (which takes a lot of effort) I'm not going to volunteer up any information to them that very well could be used against me later. Tell me what good can come of proffering up that sort of information about your home, way of life, family, etc. to total strangers?

Yes, I have ways to deal with threats if they ever arise but I'd (1) rather not have to and (2) rather not invite them. I'm not always here. Some really bad things could happen simply because someone decided to show up while I wasn't around that day or at that time. You can't be stupid in this day and age and frankly inviting total strangers into your home qualifies as stupid. I offer nothing and deliberately hold back anything I can from anyone who doesn't really need it. There's no upside and lots of potential downside.

I always respond that thier shipping agent needs to bring the correct amount of non-sequential large bills with him if he expects to leave with the car or item i'm selling because I don't take money orders or checks. It usually starts out with some iteration of these words "I very much would like to purchase your item".

I've done a couple of these..."I'm a retired investigator, meet me in the parking lot of xyz station."

YMMV, but I just bought a '77 911S off of Craigslist, with a cashier's check, and I picked the car up from the guy's house.

After meeting and talking cars for a while, we both thought the other guy was on the up and up.

Correct. But if a guy comers to buy a used Jeep, I don't want his eyeballs wandering around what other stuff I have in the garage. A set of 7 & 9 x 16 Fuchs, or a set of 17" Fikse wheels would give him a couple bucks at the scrap aluminum dealer.

I'm not bringing a complete stranger into my house to sign the title for the same reason. He's probably an honest guy, but why take the chance?

Paranoia runs deep with far too many people . I don't know how some people even conduct business.
What the heck ever happened to a face to face cash transaction. That is the only way I roll with craigslist, and I have never had any problems, with hundreds of buyers, and sellers Meet them in your driveway, dont have to let them in your house, or show them around. Keep your garage door closed, be smart.
Don't be a pinhead, and blindly give out your address, situational awareness, and use your good old fashioned common senses.
My partner is like this. He thinks everybody has an angle and he is always trying to figure it out to avoid being screwed. Maybe the guy just wants to by the farking car... Take his cash, give him the title, and move on to the next..
No checks, money orders, or anything other than cold hard cash for craigslist transactions. If you want to ship, and deal with that stuff, use e bay .
I figure if someone is going to rob my home, they are going to rob my home. Not much you can do about it.
I hate it when I want to come buy something you are selling, and wont call me, give me your #, or tell me how to get together with you to complete the transaction . I like to make contact, and then talk in person, and then I show up with a pocket full of cash, or have the potential buyer do the same
If I am selling something, I make myself available. How the heck am I supposed to sell a car if I wont answer the phone, or be willing to meet ?

Being safe is being smart. We have met people in well lit parking lots to exchange cash for items. There is no reason to ever let someone in your house, and if they can't come up with the cash, find someone else.

Always willing to meet. My house is hard to find, but everybody knows where the grocery store parking lot is.
Far more convenient for a buyer if I come towards the freeway instead of having somebody who is unfamiliar with our goofy roads try to find our house.

I've had people at my house ask how they find their way out when leaving.