David Stone Imaging wrote:
I told a friend about it in passing conversation...and they said they lost $5000 on the same scam...and refused to talk about it any more.  I didn't want to ask how it was they would fall for something like this?

Despite many, many, many warnings by PayPal, Craigslist, MM, and other entities regarding these types of scams, MANY people still fall for it.

Sometimes it's naivety, sometimes it's greed.  Sometimes it's an ego thing (where the victim want's to show that they're a "know it all" and just refuses to accept the warnings). 

I often feel bad for the naive people, not so much when it's a 'know it all' or greedy pig.
(On several occasions I've seen people in a bank with a fake check from a Nigerian scam.  After a bank officer tells them it's a scam the greedy victim will put his mind to work trying to figure out any way to get it cashed.  They'll ask the banker "what if I do this", or "what if I do that".  At that point the victim is no longer a victim but turns into a criminal themself.)

MicMar Photography wrote:
I was selling a riding lawnmower recently and got a similar email from someone in the YUKON wanted to buy it and I ship it to them lol....UH NO!!! 3000 miles for a 12 year old lawnmower that's funny. All through Pay Pal

Wow, that is weird, some poor scammer was desperately looking for a lawn mower?

GPS Studio Services wrote:
I get a half dozen of those offers every time I list something.

THIS

Just got about 60-70 emails since yesterday. One was legit. Bah......

Stephen Fletcher wrote:
I wish I had saved it but I never could figure out why the guy needed:

My name and address
Date of Birth
Social Security Number
Bank Account Number
Drivers License Number
etc.

To send me an "Official Cashiers Check" to ship him a generator full of gas and oil.

I can't figure it out either. 

GPS Studio Services wrote:
I get a half dozen of those offers every time I list something.

+1

Schlake wrote:
Typically the packages are shipped to an address that the scammer knows won't be home.  They just wait there to accept the package and depart.

Even better the cops won't need to waste a lot of time, just have a cop dress up as a UPS driver and give the package to him and arrest him on the spot.

MC Seoul Photography wrote:

Even better the cops won't need to waste a lot of time, just have a cop dress up as a UPS driver and give the package to him and arrest him on the spot.

+1  Sweet!

Sandra Vixen wrote:

+1  Sweet!

It's a pretty easy thing. If they arrest him and he claims he doesn't know what's in the box, ask him what he was doing accepting a package at a residence that isn't his own. You either nail him on the scam or attempting to "steal" from the owners.

He's done either way.

MicMar Photography wrote:
I was selling a riding lawnmower recently and got a similar email from someone in the YUKON wanted to buy it and I ship it to them lol....UH NO!!! 3000 miles for a 12 year old lawnmower that's funny. All through Pay Pal

Sandra Vixen wrote:
Wow, that is weird, some poor scammer was desperately looking for a lawn mower?

Heck yes. They make great snow blowers, provided the snow is less than 3 inches deep. Perfect for Alaska. You just have to "mow" your driveway every 15 minutes starting in September.

David Stone Imaging wrote:
...I recently advertised an expensive lens for sale...

Now possibly you may understand why retailers need a significant margin to remain viable in the marketplace...  As a competitor to that market segment unless you are savvy in the latest a.k.a current cons you're likely in harms way...

I'm a commercial shooter, not an equipment dealer to this end I've established an enduring commercial relationship for several entities who broker photo equipment... They found me through my affiliation with ASMP and have proven to be an asset by providing far more reasonable recompense than major brokers such as B&H, Adorama, KEH and the like...

Those who shoot commercially typically consider becoming affiliated with a professional i.e. commercial photographer's organization... Keep in mind that the majority of your revenues must come from photography... 

All the best on your journey...

Thomas

MC Seoul Photography wrote:
Even better the cops won't need to waste a lot of time, just have a cop dress up as a UPS driver and give the package to him and arrest him on the spot.

MC Seoul Photography wrote:
It's a pretty easy thing. If they arrest him and he claims he doesn't know what's in the box, ask him what he was doing accepting a package at a residence that isn't his own. You either nail him on the scam or attempting to "steal" from the owners.

He's done either way.

i tried that once. the cops didn't want to be bothered.

somebody used my credit card to buy a gps thing from a merchant in NC. i caught it on my online account right after they made the purchase... after it was shipped, but before it got there. called the merchant they ordered it from. they weren't very helpful, even though i saved them a $300 loss. got a tracking number for UPS, though. UPS gave me the address where it was going. the bronx. i called the bronx police and they told me to call my local PD.

local police told me i had to wait a few days, or until i got my statement, to report it, and they couldn't do anything anyway. they all could have cared less.

BeautybyGod wrote:

MC Seoul Photography wrote:
Even better the cops won't need to waste a lot of time, just have a cop dress up as a UPS driver and give the package to him and arrest him on the spot.

i tried that once. the cops didn't want to be bothered.

somebody used my credit card to buy a gps thing from a merchant in NC. i caught it on my online account right after they made the purchase... after it was shipped, but before it got there. called the merchant they ordered it from. they weren't very helpful, even though i saved them a $300 loss. got a tracking number for UPS, though. UPS gave me the address where it was going. the bronx. i called the bronx police and they told me to call my local PD.

local police told me i had to wait a few days, or until i got my statement, to report it, and they couldn't do anything anyway. they all could have cared less.

I had a debit card stolen from my office desk drawer.  Called the police and told them where and when it was used.  All they had to do was check the security tapes at a convenience store for a photo of who used it but to my knowledge they never did.