I Was Nearly Scammed on Craiglist, But Was Saved by a Doubting David.

I'm in the market for a new MacBook computer. Too expensive new, so I check Craiglist.

(Hmmm, this looks good)... 320 Gg, (umhum)... bought in December with 3 year Apple Care (awesome... that's $350 right there) He's in school in Italy but the pute is configured for US.. (K)... Wrong pute for his engineering class in Milan (yeah, a rich kid, probably Mommy bought it for him... maybe he doesn't know the value), $1300 - (wow, $1200 cheap.. this guys so naive).. umhum... it has all the software I need PRELOADED, with the backup discs and key numbers (OK I'm scoring here.... this is $3200 worth of stuff. I got him by the hook, now just reel him in). But how to get it and is this legit?....

He'll set it up with TNT shipping ... delivery in 2 days, I pay them, I have 5 days to check it out before I authorize releasing the funds to him. (that's cool... better check them out) Yep, got a great website... and they do this sort of thing (Man, I've scored, what could go wrong?) Call apple "Yes you can transfer the warranty". (This is my lucky day... probably everyone else was put off by Italy, the bozos, but I know we live in a Flat World - this is awesome!) Email back.. "We got a deal! Here's my address...."

WooHoo, honey... I scored. Listen to what I'm getting in 2 days... blah, blah,blah. Idnthatgreat!

Doubtful David (what a party pooper) says "Have you checked this out, sounds like a scam to me"? Are you flippin kidding, of course I did. I've been to TNT's website, I checked for the shool he goes to, I called Apple... I got it covered, baby.... what turnip truck do you think I just fell of of?... HMMMM?

"Well anyone can set up a website... I'd check out a disinterested 3rd party's opinion" You are soooo negative, but I'll humor you...sheesh.

Fast forward 5 minutes... googling "TNT shipping opinions"... "Scam... Better Business Bureau... Washington Post... class action...avoid this scam... product from Europe... 2 day delivery... U.S. configuration... this is a scam... lose your money..."

Crap. Doubting David was right. I would have been contacted by a phony TNT (not the real one), and given my check to them, although I am sure I would have been suspicious when it wasn't in exchange for the actual product - they supposedly then arrange delivery to you. But you trust them because they have a legit web site, right? But you guessed it... the product never arrives, because it doesn't exist. And the real TNT is not involved. They just got their name jacked by some cretin with an email address.

So I'm now sad and back on Craigslist looking for a local owner who I can meet eyeball to eyeball.... I won't get my $1300 deal on the $3200 computer.... dang. But what a valuable lesson.

Doubting David turned into De-savior David.

Flickr photos by JePoirrier & ToastyKen