I have a craigslist ad up on my local services, and the following is one of a few interesting email conversations that I had that were all pretty much identical.
The number of laptops and the order of the listed services changed, but each one wanted me to repair laptops that were to be sent to me. They each wanted to send me a check for services and S&H, after cashing contact and pay their courier .
Needless to say I have now inserted my phone number and remove the contact me by email option, and this change led to a lucrative position with a local company that I am very happy with.
So, reversing the chain that I ended up with, here is the complete conversation from top to bottom. Now you have to understand, my prices are listed on my ad, and he still asks my prices 0_0! After my last reply he got the message LOCAL ONLY!
(sorry for the code tags, this isn't my usual forum type):
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:48 PM
Subject: YOUR SERVICE IS NEEDED
Good Day Tech.
There are thousands of choices but very few are trustworthy and
effective...I have 3Pentium M HP laptops they are all located in Texas,
Below is a list of work needed to be done on each Pc.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Instal Win Xp with Service Pack 2
3 Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
5 Adobe Acrobat
6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, cdrom, floppy, etc.
Get back to me with your total cost for the services of 3units.
I will pay you with a check.
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sorry I don't deal long distance, only face to face. Besides your note is
word for word like another message I got, so I'm wary.
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: Jonathan Crawford <xxxxx@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:10 PM
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT
Hello Jonathan,
Thanks for your email, I do appreciate it.
I don't really understand what you meant by word for word. If you are ready
to help with the repair of the laptops, let me know and they will be shipped
out to you. You don't have to be wary as there is no harm about your
repairing the laptops. Let me know the price if you are interested about the
repair.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
I just meant that your original email to me looked almost exactly like
another email I received from someone in Hawaii. As to the cost, it would be
$25 per laptop, ($75 total for the 3).
However, I only deal face to face and I can only accept cash for
payment at this time. I do not have a brick and mortar location, a store, this
is a side job I run out of my apartment. I don't have the space to host
clientele, so I usually come to you, therefore you would have to be local..
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: Jonathan Crawford <xxxx@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:37 PM
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT
Hello Jon,
Thanks for your prompt response, I do appreciate it.
I am okay with the service charge of 75$ and I will be paying you with a
check that will clear your bank. My shipping company will be handling the
shipment of the laptops and they will be the one to bring the laptops to your
address and they will be the one to collect it. I will need your full name and
address including phone number inorder to proceed with the payment and
the shipment of the laptops. I hope you are going to sort them out perfectly
for me?
I look forward to hearing from you/
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 14, 2013 at 9:45 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sorry I only deal locally. Why would you send off computers to a stranger?
Especially a free lance worker not with a big company?
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
Now do you think I was stupid to let these types of jobs slip through my fingers, or was I correct in being suspicious? I think my last reply asked some good questions. Makes me wonder if the PCs were hot or if the check would be bad. Opinions?
The number of laptops and the order of the listed services changed, but each one wanted me to repair laptops that were to be sent to me. They each wanted to send me a check for services and S&H, after cashing contact and pay their courier .
Needless to say I have now inserted my phone number and remove the contact me by email option, and this change led to a lucrative position with a local company that I am very happy with.
So, reversing the chain that I ended up with, here is the complete conversation from top to bottom. Now you have to understand, my prices are listed on my ad, and he still asks my prices 0_0! After my last reply he got the message LOCAL ONLY!
(sorry for the code tags, this isn't my usual forum type):
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:48 PM
Subject: YOUR SERVICE IS NEEDED
Good Day Tech.
There are thousands of choices but very few are trustworthy and
effective...I have 3Pentium M HP laptops they are all located in Texas,
Below is a list of work needed to be done on each Pc.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Instal Win Xp with Service Pack 2
3 Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
5 Adobe Acrobat
6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, cdrom, floppy, etc.
Get back to me with your total cost for the services of 3units.
I will pay you with a check.
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sorry I don't deal long distance, only face to face. Besides your note is
word for word like another message I got, so I'm wary.
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: Jonathan Crawford <xxxxx@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:10 PM
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT
Hello Jonathan,
Thanks for your email, I do appreciate it.
I don't really understand what you meant by word for word. If you are ready
to help with the repair of the laptops, let me know and they will be shipped
out to you. You don't have to be wary as there is no harm about your
repairing the laptops. Let me know the price if you are interested about the
repair.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
I just meant that your original email to me looked almost exactly like
another email I received from someone in Hawaii. As to the cost, it would be
$25 per laptop, ($75 total for the 3).
However, I only deal face to face and I can only accept cash for
payment at this time. I do not have a brick and mortar location, a store, this
is a side job I run out of my apartment. I don't have the space to host
clientele, so I usually come to you, therefore you would have to be local..
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
From: GENE DEAN <geneadean@gmail.com>
To: Jonathan Crawford <xxxx@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:37 PM
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT
Hello Jon,
Thanks for your prompt response, I do appreciate it.
I am okay with the service charge of 75$ and I will be paying you with a
check that will clear your bank. My shipping company will be handling the
shipment of the laptops and they will be the one to bring the laptops to your
address and they will be the one to collect it. I will need your full name and
address including phone number inorder to proceed with the payment and
the shipment of the laptops. I hope you are going to sort them out perfectly
for me?
I look forward to hearing from you/
Gene.
On Wed, Feb 14, 2013 at 9:45 AM, Jonathan Crawford
<xxxx@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sorry I only deal locally. Why would you send off computers to a stranger?
Especially a free lance worker not with a big company?
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
-Jon
Now do you think I was stupid to let these types of jobs slip through my fingers, or was I correct in being suspicious? I think my last reply asked some good questions. Makes me wonder if the PCs were hot or if the check would be bad. Opinions?