I'm likely a scam artist!

D2Cat

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Inquiring about an implement for sale on CL Marketplace. Have to start off with a text and hopefully proceed to a phone conversation to discuss any question, get location and good time to see the item. I initially asked 4/5 questions about the item, expressed interest, but got no response.

When my nephew set up my desktop so I could participate on FB I told him I only wanted to see items for sale and maybe sell some things. I do not have FB on my phone or any other device. I was going to be going in the direction the seller had listed on his account so I wanted to see if I could combine the trip to go see his item.

After a while of no response I texted him mentioning I'd be in his general area, I'd be leaving in an hour, I did not have FB on my phone, so I gave him my phone # to call me. I wrote three digits, double hyphen, one digit, spelled out next digit, entered a comma then four more digits. Right away I got a response asking why "Why you typing your phone number like that"? I responded, So the people who get phone numbers off of the internet (with software that picks up phone numbers) do not recognize it. It allow someone to communicate without someone else gleaning their phone number for scams.

His response was "I feel the same about blank profiles!"

This went back and forth for a while, but he never called the number or sent a text. Guess I need to have a picture of my dog, or a silo. or a bale of hay, and get some friends. Then I'd be more trustworthy!!
 
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Yooper

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Sadly, its the world we live in today. My dad had a business and when someone brought up the issue of trust, his reply was I don’t trust the pope why would I trust you
 
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Henro

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I trust myself to make the wrong decision...makes me feel better when I do.
 
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jimh406

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As we know, we can be harassed simply by random number generators. Email addresses are not the same.

I don’t believe there is any point in trying to make it hard for someone to read your phone number in text. Sure, the text system goes through email servers for the most part, but that’s not how people are finding phone numbers to harass.

Considering it’s easy to fake a profile, it’s also a bit silly for the other person to care how filled out your profile is. However, I do sometimes check out profiles of people before doing FB deals.

So, I call this a wash. However, I’d recommend typing your phone number normally in text, so it’s easy for the other person to call you by simply clicking on the number. ;)
 
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GeoHorn

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It’s also possible he sold the item to the next simple responder… and that’s why you never heard from him.

However, I also agree with you.…I never post my ph no in plain numerals…. (and I also activated my cell-phone’s “privacy” mode…..sending to VoiceMail any calls not in my contact list.…if they don’t leave a msg….they don’t hear back from me and I’m not answering robo-calls that never ”ring” my phone.). 😜

I NEVER do “FB”.… or bitcoin ….or other stoopid scammer stuff.
 
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skeets

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The only thing you can trust is steel, forged upon the Anvil of Crom.

"The Riddle... of Steel!"
"Crom is strong! If I die, I have to go before him, and he will ask me, 'What is the riddle of steel?' If I don't know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me."
 
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Henro

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"Crom is strong! If I die, I have to go before him, and he will ask me, 'What is the riddle of steel?' If I don't know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me."
I must be older than you Skeets. The IF doesn't work for me anymore...LOL
 
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PaulR

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OP: You're that "good guy" on my gun forum who's actually trustworthy, but you don't have a million posts or your profile isn't filled out so no one trusts you to do business with you! ;):geek:
 

motionclone

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There's a simple solution: don't do Facebook.

Problem solved.
If only things where this easy..lol. Its not a solution at all if one wants to buy/sell goods in the "CURRENT" modern times. Yes there have been lots of ways to buy and sell in the past and will be other options in the future. But right now, Marketplace (a facebook offshoot) is where 99% of local used items are bought and sold in the US.
 
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Mark_BX25D

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If only things where this easy..lol. Its not a solution at all if one wants to buy/sell goods in the "CURRENT" modern times. Yes there have been lots of ways to buy and sell in the past and will be other options in the future. But right now, Marketplace (a facebook offshoot) is where 99% of local used items are bought and sold in the US.
99% huh. Have you ever heard of "Craigslist"?

(I find it kind of nice to be able to buy and sell things without someone making money by tracking everything I do online.)
 

motionclone

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99% huh. Have you ever heard of "Craigslist"?

(I find it kind of nice to be able to buy and sell things without someone making money by tracking everything I do online.)
Of course ive heard of craigslsist and as of about 10 years ago, most people arent using it. Thats why you wont find much for sale there compared to marketplace. You also wont be able to move your goods very fast compared to marketplace and you wont get top dollar compared to marketplace. Oh and lol if you think you arent being tracked because you dont use marketplace but you do use a computer, a cell phone and craigslist.

Are you still using a dial up connection? Smoke signals?
 
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Mark_BX25D

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I'm using Craigslist with excellent results. I don't know where you are getting your information, but I suspect it's a long way from being accurate.
 

motionclone

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I'm using Craigslist with excellent results. I don't know where you are getting your information, but I suspect it's a long way from being accurate.
Wonder how much better your results would be if you stepped into modern times and used the same selling platform everyone else is?
You dont even realize what youre missing..lol
 
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Daren Todd

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I'm using Craigslist with excellent results. I don't know where you are getting your information, but I suspect it's a long way from being accurate.
I compared Craigslist and Facebook market place when selling a camper. Same photos, same description.

Craigslist replies and enquiries:
10 people wanting to sell it for me with a commission.

2 low ball offers without viewing.

A bunch of scammers.

Facebook market place:
6 serious enquiries. All six were sitting in my driveway 10 minutes after I arrived home from work the day after it listed.

2 had cash in hand.

Sold in one day on Facebook market place for full asking price.

I won't list anything on Craigslist ever again.
 
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motionclone

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I compared Craigslist and Facebook market place when selling a camper. Same photos, same description.

Craigslist replies and enquiries:
10 people wanting to sell it for me with a commission.

2 low ball offers without viewing.

A bunch of scammers.

Facebook market place:
6 serious enquiries. All six were sitting in my driveway 10 minutes after I arrived home from work the day after it listed.

2 had cash in hand.

Sold in one day on Facebook market place for full asking price.

I won't list anything on Craigslist ever again.
Some people are just stuck in the past for various reasons. apparently we are all going to be sorry we used marketplace