Thursday, January 3, 2013

A Little Honesty, Please

Honesty is the best policy.
-English proverb

I found a couple of brand new Creative Memories scrapbooks in a box during the holidays, along with unopened packages of extra pages and page sleeves.  I decided to put them on Craig's List, because I no longer had a use for them.  I set up my ad, set my price, and waited for the return emails.

The first email that I received asked if the item was still available.  When I indicated that it was, I received an email back, very oddly worded, that said the person was being transferred and couldn't come buy to look, but would send me a check if I gave him my full name, complete address, cell phone number, etc., etc., etc. 

The next email that I received also asked if the item was still available.  When I verified that it was, this person, supposedly a female, said that she was going to London for business but would send a certified check (with $20 extra for my trouble), if I would just send her all my personal information.  Believe it or not, I received a third, very similar inquiry asking for my information so that a check could be sent.

I am assuming that all of these requests for information are for identity theft purpose.  By politely responding to the first inquiry, they have my name.  If I supply everything else that they ask for, they have enough information to run with it.  Craig's List is rife with this kind of blatant dishonesty, and the trap that is set can be very easy to fall in to.   

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