TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: craigslist

  • Bank robber uses craigslist to recruit decoys

    Bank car robber escapes on Skykomish River:

    A man who robbed a bank in Monroe, Washington used craigslist to set up an elaborate escape.

    He took out an employment ad on craigslist and told people who responded to it to all show up in the same clothes. They were all told to wear a safety vest, safety goggles, a respirator mask, and a blue shirt. That just happened to be what the bank robber wore.

    Police are investigating the craigslist link.

    However like I’ve said before it shows how unreliable even the paid job ads are.

  • Martin Guitar scam

    I received the following e-mail from Bluesboy who is another anti-scam advocate. This one involves craigslist and Martin Guitars…

    This appears Sept 27 in Vancouver BC Craigslist (and likely in other cities I bet)

    UPDATE – I notice a TON of vintage Martins in the Seattle CL, almost certainly the same guy! “Too good to be true” prices everywhere — I will bait one or two, but don’t dare use same email addies, as I dont want to alert him….

    1948 Martin D-28, $2700

    “This is a really nice example of the wonderful guitars that made Martin the ‘gold-standard’ of acoustic guitars. It’s a 1948 D-28 with Brazilian rosewood back and sides with the original finish. It still has the original keys, original ebony bridge, and original bone nut and saddle. This is a 60 year old guitar and is a wonderful investment piece while being as fine a guitar to enjoy playing as can be found. These old Martins just gain value every year. Their value doesn’t go up and down like alot of electric instruments do. This guitar hasn’t ever had a neck set or repitch done on it and plays great. I have it strung with a set of regular light guage (12-54) strings and the action is very comfortable, .060″ 1st string and .10″ 6th string at 12th fret, with no string buzz. It has been professionally refretted and set up.The bridge was reglued in the seventies and has stayed down. You can see in the pictures that the pick-guard pulled up around the edge in a couple of places and was reglued.There is one tiny chip of it missing. It has never had a strap button hole drilled and has about average wear on the back of the neck. It has one crack on the back close to the neck block that has been glued and cleated. It can been seen clearly in the pictures. There has been one about 3″piece of ivoroid binding replaced on the top on the treble side 2 inches from center. I got this guitar from the son of the original owner.”

    I faked interest, and got a reply from Steven Randy stevnrandy06@hotmail.com

    “Hi,

    The guitar is in great condition and the price I`m selling it for is $2700, which is including all shippings charges.

    I live in Vncouver but I`m currently working in the UK (London) and I`ll be staying here for the next approximately 7 months, anyway I`m using MoneyBookers services so I can sell this guitar without difficulty. I left it at their warehouse before leaving to the UK. They will take care of the delivery with a 14-day return policy so you will have the chance to inspect it before final decision.

    If you want to purchase it, let me know and I will explain you how MoneyBookers works and how we can move forward.

    I am waiting your email.

    Thanks”

    I told him I wanted details, he replied:

    “Hi again,

    the guitar is in Calgary (at MoneyBookers storage facility). If you want to purchase it, let me explain you how MoneyBookers works and how we can proceed:

    To start the official transaction, I need your full name and shipping address.

    As soon as I receive your info, I will forward it to MoneyBookers, they start the transaction and will notify you with all the instructions (payment, shipping, my account status etc.) One of their agents will be assigned to receive and handle the payment. You have to make the payment using the exact details they will provide you with and when the payment is complete, you have to send them the transfers information, they verify it and will take care of the delivery. You will have a 14-day return policy, so you will have the chance to inspect the guitar and decide either you keep it or not. If you decide to keep it, they will release me the funds, if not they will be responsible for the return shipping and you will have a complete refund within 3 days.

    Anyway, they will explain you detailed the entire process.

    I am waiting your email.

    Thanks”

    So, wow, how convenient… my “brother” is in Calgary, can he go view the guitar?

    I ask for the “MoneyBookers” phone number, of course he dodges it by:

    “OK,

    I have forwarded your info to MoneyBookers and they should get in touch with you soon with all the instructions.They do not offer a phone line for customer support, but they are eager to help in any way possible.

    Please let me know when you hear from them.

    Thanks”

    Ok, so can you spot the red flags?

    1. Price cheaper than the item is worth.

    2. ‘Seller’ is overseas.

    3. Request to wire the money.

    4. Avoiding simple questions that any buyer would ask.

    From what I understand MoneyBookers is a legitimate money transfer site but it is highly preferred by scam artists.

    And now we also have another fake scammer name to add to the list.

  • Fertile craigslist pimp sentenced

    Everett man gets 26-year prison term for pimping:

    Do you remember Washington state pimp, Jerome Todd? He was the one who was pimping out women on craigslist so he could pay child support to 13 Children by 8 different mothers if my memory serves me correct.

    Now he’s got 3 more dependents. A judge ordered him to pay $70K to the three women he was pimping out. Plus a pesky 26 years behind bars.

  • Atlantic City craigslist pimp convicted

    Pleasantville man found guilty of prostituting underage teen girls from Allentown, Pa. in Atlantic City:

    27-year-old Kevin R. Mayfield of Pleasantville, NJ was convicted yesterday of pimping out minor girls on craigslist in Atlantic City.

    Mayfield also took nude pictures of the girls to use on the craigslist ad.

    Mayfield’s cohort was 25-year-old Casson L. Coward who pleaded guilty back in 2007 and was sentenced to 10 years for his part.

    Again I say who says there are no victims? Are two underage girls not victims enough for you?

  • Reader sends in apartment scam experience

    I got the following e-mail from Christa who was looking for an apartment on Craigslist…

    I’m 20 years old and this is the first time I began searching for apartments. When I saw an ad that looked too good to be true- I hesitated but gave the guy the benefit of the doubt and emailed him. This was his exact response:

    “Hello. We are so much excited. My name is Mcgrath Garrett the owner of the apartment and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my wife and little daughter to leave the apartment and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it while we are not at the state as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, we are here in West Africa, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for, since i am not residing there for now. I left behind some Facilities and electonics which include the rent, DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, my computer connected with Internet access also the keys and document of the apartment are right here with us in West Africa, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has been accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of $900 per month including utilities like hydro, water, gas, heat laundry facilities, air condition and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing, if you are really interested in renting this apartment get back to me so that i can forward you an application form for you to fill so that i can start all necesary arrangement asap.

    Here is the apartment address : (California address)

    …. Pls note that you will be viewing the apartment from outside only and 100 % sure that you would love to stay in the place because it is locatedin a very cool, quiet and safe neigbourhood. There was a man who want to rent my apartment his name was Mr Daniel called me about the apartment, i told him that I can’t give him the apartment because he loves smoking, drinking and dont want him to get drunked and damaged my property one day so If you are still interested, no extra fees. I will like you to give me a call at (foreign number) or (other foreign number) on this effect to know how serious you are. I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as our new tenant. Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issueing the receipt for you and contacting you. Awaiting your reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys of the apartment to you. “

    I soon googled the e-mail and the only response was for a rental fraud website. I want to make sure this story gets posted because it might help a stupid person from making an even more stupid decision of sending money.

    Thanks for your time 🙂

    Thank you, Christa, for sending this in. It gives one more fake scammer name to post.

  • We get letters (It’s a long one)

    I got some interesting e-mails and comments over the weekend about my stance that craigslist should eliminate its erotic services section. Let’s start with the long boring one from a male craigslist ‘escort’.

    Since your blog makes it perfectly clear you can do a better job of discerning what are “legal” or “illegal” services offered in the erotic services section of craigslist, I challenge you to the following test: I will provide you with the legal statue of the state in which I work, the content of my ad, and a synopsis of what is discussed with a client before

    services are delivered. Your task will be post that same information & then an explanation of how it qualifies under the state statute as illegal activity WITHOUT relying on conjecture and presumptions. Are you up to the challenge? We’ll see….

    1. STATE LAW: Prostitution is performing for hire, or offering or agreeing to perform for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: Sexual intercourse; sodomy; or manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another.

    2. CRAIGSLIST AD: Interactive, Sensual, Satisfying, Massage PLUS – m4m Much-deserved, much-needed, and completely satisfying sensual massage. Former USArmy – 5’8″ husky & masculine — tattooed/hairy arms & legs — Just a real guy for your very real pleasure. Interaction Welcome.

    Special Attention given to Mature Men, but all ages (18+) welcome. Older? – Fully Appreciated & Respected Bearish, Hairy or Chubby? – All body types accepted Straight/Curious? – Your Limits Completely Respected Married? – DDF, Safe, Clean & Absolutely Discreet

    ###-###-#### – EMAIL, TXTMSG or CALL for APPT

    Available MOST WEEKDAYS after 5PM….or ANYTIME Saturdays & Sundays

    INCALL: $60.00/hr; Home or Hotel Outcall: $80.00

    3. UPON CLIENT ARRIVAL: There is never any discussion of sex or sexual acts of any kind for payment.

    Client is asked whether he agrees to the “Terms of Service” presented in large-type which read, “This is not an offer of prostitution and no fees will ever be solicited or accepted for illegal activity. I AGREE that money exchanged in legal adult recreational services if only for time,

    companionship, and general/non-therapeutic massage. I AGREE that anything else that may or may not happen is a matter of personal choice and personal preference between two or more consenting adults of legal age and is not expected or included in the services provided for fee. I AGREE that the services provided for fee do not in any way include or relate to performing for hire, or offering or agreesing to perform for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: sexual intercourse; sodomy; or manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of that person or

    another.”

    4. SERVICES DELIVERED: As stated in the ad….massage.

    5. SESSION ENDED: Clients pays (and hopefully tips).

    FROM THE ABOVE INFORMATION ONLY can you explain how anything illegal has been offered or has taken place?? If you can’t, I bet you won’t have the guts to post it on your blog. Have fun!

    You’re right. I can’t say with 100% certainty whether or not your services are illegal or not without actually using your services, which I wouldn’t but that’s just my personal preference.

    However, if I were law enforcement in your community your ad would definitely draw my attention.

    Buzzwords like Massage PLUS are a tip-off. The fact that you posted the typical escort ‘this is not prostitution..blah blah blah, would lead me to believe that’s exactly what it is. Not to mention when you posted I AGREE that anything else that may or may not happen is a matter of personal choice and personal preference between two or more consenting adults of legal age and is not expected or included in the services provided for a fee also leads me to believe you’re offering an illegal service. You know that argument never holds up in court right?

    If your massages are so legitimate then why are they posted in the erotic services section? Do you have a professional massage license in your state? Have you ever been arrested for your ‘massages’?

    The next I received as a comment on my post about Jon who was harassed by the ‘hobbyists’ of the erotic services section for flagging ads…

    So you’ve got nothing better to do than this, huh? I have no problem with you having your own religious morals. Just don’t try and force them down my throat!

    If you go back and read that post you’ll notice that religion is never mentioned anywhere. It’s got nothing to do with religious morals but everything to do with prostitution being illegal. I’ll stop when one of two things happens, when prostitution is made legal in the other 49 states, or when craigslist eliminates the erotic services section.

    This next one is from a repeat customer who I’ve ignored up until now. I figured since I was addressing hobbyists and escorts I might as well address a comment from the cult of craig. I received it as a comment on my post about the journalist who took out craigslist escorts on actual dates.

    So you are a judge and jury and human expert?

    What is the objective of this website?

    You need to provide a page telling your tale,

    or you ware just a whiney person, who looks

    a the world and complians,,,but has NO SOLUTION,,,

    what is your purpaose?

    First I’d recommend that you switch to the Firefox browser. It comes with a spell checker. Secondly, I thought the objective of this site was pretty obvious. It says so in the tagline, “The craigslist crime blotter“. Do you know what a crime blotter is? A lot of local newspapers in the US have a section that’s called the police blotter which mentions calls that the police have had. That’s sort of what I do except all the crimes here deal with craigslist or other classified sites. And I have three basic solutions that I’ve mentioned repeatedly that would go a long way to reducing crime on craigslist. 1. Make users have a public profile on craigslist. 2. Eliminate the erotic services section. 3. Don’t do business on craigslist.

    Hell, craigslist should be paying me a consulting fee.

  • Nashville rental scam

    I received an e-mail from Michael who was looking for a condo in Nashville and found one that was too good to be true. When he e-mailed the ‘seller’ this was the response he got.

    Hello,

    Thanks for your response regarding your interest in having my apartment for rent.The apartment is much available for now.I want you to know that I amthe owner of this building .But right now i am in africa on a Christain mission with my wife and we have the keys right here with us.I will like toinform you that it was due to my transfer that makes us to leave the apartment and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a resposible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,We are here in West Africa,NIGERIA our new house and also with the keys of the house,we are trying to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as dont want our house to be used any how in our absent that is why we took it along with us here.We are only willing to give the apartment out to a lovely and caring family only, so if you know you cannot give the apartment the neatness it deserves please don’t contact me.But if you promise to always take good

    care of apartment,get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home.Hope you are okay with the price of $650 with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air-condition and so on.i look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application to fill out and discuss on how to get the apartment for rent,also are you ready to rent it now or when?

    Thanks,

    Marcie anderson.

    So we can add Marcie Anderson to the list of fake scammer names.

    Michael e-mailed Mrs. ‘Anderson’ back and then ‘she’ requested the usual personal information for identity theft purposes. Michael did not e-mail her back of course and he notes that the ad was removed the day after.

    Let’s go over the red flags again…

    • Broken English: The apartment is much available for now.

     

    • Christian Mission: If there were as many Christian missionaries as they claim to be on craigslist the entire continent of Africa would be Christian.

     

     

    • Africa: Especially Nigeria, the birthplace of internet scams.

     

     

    • Asking for money sight unseen: It doesn’t matter how desperate you are for a place, never rent without seeing the inside of the place first.

     

    And remember the old saying applies true even more with craigslist, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.

  • Texas craigslist kidnapping

    Kidnapped girl to return to Austin Thursday:

    33-year-old David Snyder of Pflugerville, Texas was arrested in New Jersey on kidnapping charges for taking a 15-year-old girl from Austin he met on craigslist to the Garden State.

    The girl’s mother claimed that the pair met over craigslist and began text messaging each other. When her mother found out she took away the girl’s cell phone. However, as kids are want to do the girl would use a friend’s cell phone or internet.

    Snyder was arrested in Newark while the pair were trying to board a bus to New York. The girl went willingly with Snyder but due to her age, it is considered kidnapping.

    Snyder also has a previous arrest record for aggravated sexual assault of a child on an unrelated case.

    So by craigslist’s philosophy shouldn’t Snyder’s ad, which I’m assuming he posted, have been flagged by craigslist’s legendary policing community? Oh, that’s right, guys like Snyder are craigslist’s community and wouldn’t flag anything related to sex whether it’s illegal or not.

  • Shooting victim sues craigslist

    Victim sues Craigslist, says shooter got gun through site:

    50-year-old Calvin Gibson of New York was shot by local resident lunatic, Jesus Ortiz, back in July. Luckily Mr. Gibson survived even though he was shot six times.

    Ortiz, who suffers from schizophrenia, confessed to police that he purchased the gun on craigslist. I’m going to assume that this was not what you would call a ‘legal’ purchase.

    So now Mr. Gibson is suing craigslist for $10 Million.

    “Defendant owed a duty to the public at large to monitor and supervise what may be bought and sold and by whom, with respect to its Internet ads,” attorney Paul Dalnoky wrote in the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court.

    Wait a minute. According to craigslist their users flag ads for illegal sales and that it’s a bastion of users with good moral character. It was hard to type that without busting out into fits of laughter.

    craigslist had their usual response…

    Craiglist did not respond to a request for comment.

    Quelle surprise.

  • Handyman ad gets response from pedophile

    Michael Berk
    Michael Berk

    Police: Man Solicited Sex From Child Online:

    The headline is a little misleading.

    A Maine father of four placed an ad on craigslist advertising his services as a handyman so he could feed his kids.

    Instead, 28-year-old Michael Berk emailed the man saying he would pay the man if he could have sex with one of his children. Being a decent father the man called the police on Berk.

    This should show you the type of people who are trolling craigslist. Even when you’re trying to feed your children you still have to worry about scumbags like this.