The first thing you have to realize is that all scammers are game players. They think they are smarter than you are and can beat you at whatever game they are playing. The winner’s prize being money. Your money.
A scam doesn’t usually appear to be a scam in the beginning. It appears to be a legitimate response to an ad for something you are selling. It isn’t until somewhere down the line that something appears feels fishy, and you start to wonder.
Scammers are sociopaths who love to lie. The more lies they are able to suck you into the better the game is for them, and the worse it is for you.
It’s almost impossible to sense a scam from the very beginning because these people (?) come across so enthusiastically. They make you believe that what you have to sell is something that they just have to acquire. Bull, they couldn’t care less for it other than to get something for free, or at least for as little work as possible.
The reason why scams are so bad is that your sub-conscious is screaming like mad to get you to realize something ain’t right, and you’re ignoring it because you’ve started something and want to finish it. Greed may have a little bit to do with all this as well, but mainly you’ve made up your mind to do something after probably many agonizing hours of thought. Once that decision was made and you placed that ad, you immediately became prey.
The main thing about a scam is that while it is being conducted, it is unbelievably tiring. It drains you. It makes you wonder why you ever decided to sell your car. It is almost always going to leave you with a big question. Was this whole thing really a scam or did I over-react to a legitimate buyer? The only way of knowing for sure is to be scammed, and I know no one wants that except for the scammers.
I’m sure that most of you know the main warning signs of a scam. Offering more money than you asked, willing to pay for everything like shipping and all extra expenses without being asked. Well, here are a few more: not actually wanting to talk on the phone but strictly by email, changing their tune, for instance wire payment ending up being a personal check, and one of the biggest is trying to make you feel like a fool for not agreeing to something ridiculous.
Don’t let scammers succeed. These people (?) are the dregs of society and are trying to bring everyone else down to their level. Just say, “No, I’m not interested.”
Mike
