Advertising and attracting scammers and thieves

[W921]

So I know about the scammers wanting a vehicle history report off of some website but what about these other people wanting to know when we can meet? As soon as I say farm and I'm here all the time that ends it. I'm starting to wonder if they are trying to find out when I'm not around so they can rob me. Am I being paranoid?
Also I put my location in the ad so its not like its a surprise but I still also get people asking me where I'm at. I so basically I get three types of phone calls I get the vehicle Report scammers number two I get the win can we meet and number three I get the where are you located at calls

[W921]

Also and I don't know if it matters but I will say in ad to call but they won't. Will only text.

[Trochu]

Well, pretty tough for me to buy a used vehicle without seeing it first. So, scammer or legitimate, the easy way to put your fears to rest, is "I can meet you Thursday evening at the Esso along Highway 53". Then they don't know where you live, and they can only steal the vehicle.

My wife does, but I don't do the house thing anymore. You can meet me at my work, 8:00 to 5:00, Monday to Friday, to view or pickup the item. Someone is always there, not coming to my house in the evening, and I don't have to worry about maybe/maybe not showing up. I asked the boss, he don't mind, and quite a few guys here do it.

[TBark]

We give our addy out after 2 replies.
Second reply is them saying they are on their way, an hr notice.
This they are told in my first reply.

And even at that a few have my address with them being no-shows.

So I mostly direct them to Walmart or Can Tire parking lot now.

TBark

[waldedw]

I never ever give out my home address, I will meet you at the husky / Esso truck stop on the highway, have done lot's of deals in that parking lot

[-JR-]

Your looking at it the wrong way . When a guy reads your add in the local paper and then you say ,i'm am way out here on a farm ,your not local anymore.
Why would a guy drive an hour to look at at a car when he can drive a few mins to one in his local city

[W921]

She is going to get truck registered, insured and definitely insured for theft. Take it to town and put 4 sale sign in window with a phone number and price.
Thanks for your replies.

PS remember how easy and fun it used to be when this was all done in daily newspaper?
I used to look forward to morning paper with coffee. See a good deal on cool gun or truck and go buy it right away before someone else got there with cash.
I used to run cash paid for guns ads in local newspaper and have people coming and going all the time. Used to have fun and make money at it. Wasn't worried about getting robbed either although they would have been pretty dumb to try. Course now I would be one going to jail in any kind of someone trying to rob me now situation.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by W921

PS remember how easy and fun it used to be when this was all done in daily newspaper?

Yes I do. Can't remember what it was called, wasn't the Auto Trader, but I still have the classified rag I saw the ad in when I bought my first car. That thing was thick, and I could spent hours going through it.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Trochu

Yes I do. Can't remember what it was called, wasn't the Auto Trader, but I still have the classified rag I saw the ad in when I bought my first car. That thing was thick, and I could spent hours going through it.

Was that the Pennysaver? Or maybe the Bargain Finder?

[mooseknuckle]

I miss the old days of a $400 car, usually a hunk of junk but could always find a cheap pos to get you through the summer.

[BloodHound70]

I used to love grabbing the bargain finder. Went through it front to back every issue. Got some great deals. My 300WM I still use I bought from that paper. Basically stole the dam thing!!

BH

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Was that the Pennysaver? Or maybe the Bargain Finder?

Bargain Finder it was. Good memory.

[W921]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckle

I miss the old days of a $400 car, usually a hunk of junk but could always find a cheap pos to get you through the summer.

This was back 30 some years but I knew a guy who bought a 70s tran am for basically nothing. I'm trying to remember but probably $1500. Drove it from Newfoundland to Alberta. I used to go hunting with him.
With enough speed that car could hill climb and fly over large quantities of mud. Eventually wrecked it when someone stole his plug in cord at a motel in rocky mountain house and he cold started it very angry. Those cars actually worth money now if in good shape.
Another thing I miss was you used to be able to bring large quantities of things back from the States. If you did it right it would pay for your trip. Boy that day is gone.

[1hogfarmer]

I Never put exact location of farm, just general area, but say willing to meet halfway to town (a school)

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by waldedw

I never ever give out my home address, I will meet you at the husky / Esso truck stop on the highway, have done lot's of deals in that parking lot

I give them my address, no way I'm sitting at the gas station waiting for a no show. I just ask them for an approximate time when they will be showing up. In fact I'd be uncomfortable meeting someone to buy something if they wanted to meet in some wayward location. Would seem like they don't want you to know who they are because they are selling stolen goods or want to hold you up.

[zabbo]

I don't trust anybody these days! Way too many scammers, thieves, druggies and in general bad or desperate people out there! If I'm selling something, always meet the person away from home and virtually never give home address. What a world we live in today!

[edmsmith]

I used to give an address close to me. When they said they were on the way I'd pretend like I gave the wrong address by accident and then gave them my actual location.

A bit more difficult if your on a farm.. in that case send em to a location near you and when they get there give them your address to where your at.

[jungleboy]

I sold a lot of stuff on marketplace this spring and if someone says they are coming out that day I give em my address and don’t worry about it. If they say they are coming sometime during the week I say let me know when you’re on your way and I’ll give the address then.
Most scammers are working with larger big ticket items as they know those sellers are more eager and more apt to get sucked in. You can usually spot the automotive scammers before they can do any damage if you’re paying attn at all.
The idea of people collecting addresses in order to rob me seems a bit far fetched when the town or city is ripe with houses that don’t have a forewarning that someone might be coming.
80% of buyers aren’t coming regardless , I think most are just bored and like to strike up a conversation with random strangers on the internet.
As for getting an actual phone call, that’s a serious buyer but also rare as an honest Liberal.
Myself ,if I tell someone I am going to meet them at a specific time to purchase , I am there at said time and if something happens that I change my mind or cannot make it on time I let them know so they aren’t waiting around and wondering.

One thing that drives me nuts as a buyer is when I have to pry an address out of someone in order to go and get it. I wonder how they expect to sell anything when they are so reluctant to tell them where said item is located .

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

One thing that drives me nuts as a buyer is when I have to pry an address out of someone in order to go and get it. I wonder how they expect to sell anything when they are so reluctant to tell them where said item is located .

...Or when AO'ers forget to post their location on their buy and sell ads.

(Shameless plug for the mods here...)


Fixed it for you with Bold lettering

[TBark]

It’s not just the buyers who can be difficult. The sellers can be *****s too.

I had a deal with a fellow 2 hours east of Edmonton to buy a $1000 item last week. He had it listed for about $1200.
We settled on the price we were gonna meet about an hour apart on Sunday.

Three hours prior, he tells me somebody offered him more money and does not have to make the drive so he accepted the other offer.

I replied and said “so much for our handshake”
He was supposed to mark it sold for me.
We both didn’t feel a deposit was necessary the few days prior when we made the deal.

The wife was more upset than I was. I just shook my head and said all this fellow did was told us what kind of person he is.

TBark

[edmsmith]

I had some guys try to pass off fake money to my wife. Watched it go down on my camera at the front door. Had to yell at them to get lost.

Another time had a random buyer inquire about buying some items i had for sale. He had asked if I was the guy with the house full of such and such items.

Weirded me out as yes I was.... quickly shut things down at home at that point.