Stolen bike horror story.

[Cuban Spyder]

The wife and I were in a cycle shop in St Louis yesterday. A man came in to leave some fliers about a stolen motorcycle. He said he had listed it on Craigslist and a potential buyer came to his house to see the bike. The "buyer" drove up in a new F150 Ford truck and asked for a test ride. The "seller" thought, "Well, his truck is here." So, allowed him to ride the bike. The bike and rider never returned. It turned out that the Ford truck was stolen from western Missouri and the Illinois plates were also stolen. Just goes to show, you can't be too careful.:yikes::banghead:

 

[Bob Denman]

I keep hearing all of these horor stories that involve Craigslist... What is it (if anything) about them that attracts this sort of behavior? :shocked:

 

[ctpaddler2000]

Another good tactic is ask for a $500 deposit to allow a test drive. I have done that and they buyer wanted to buy the bike so did not have a problem with that. In Connecticut we have had several armed robberies involving vehicles for sale on Craigslist.

 

[dannymax]

I keep hearing all of these horor stories that involve Craigslist... What is it (if anything) about them that attracts this sort of behavior? :shocked:

I've listed a couple things on C/L and had people call me saying 'I am very interested in your item, where can I see it?' I'd tell them I had two items for sale, which one are they interested in.....click! They'd be gone!

Just seems there is a ton of scammers around C/L, I don't do any more dealing there.


This guy stealing the bike tho.....man, some nerve to do that! :yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Well hopefully they got some prints off of the stolen truck and it lead them to the culprits...

 

[dannymax]

I wonder if they stole the truck & plates to grab the bike or figured it was time to dump a stolen truck when they came across the bike. :dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

Maybe THEY didn't even know... Hopefully they'll get lots of time to sort it all out courtesy of the Prison System... :shocked:

 

[dannymax]

Sure hope they gets lots of meaningful 'Bubba Time'....I can't stand these folks who figure they're entitled to the things the honest people worked hard to get. :lecturef_smilie:

 

[Firefly]

Best thing to do when selling or buying something on Craigslist is to meet somewhere public--- never have them come to your home to see the item! Most people are still very honest. Just takes a few to spoil it.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Bob it is free to list on Craigslist unlike Ebay which charges a commission.

 

[boborgera]

When ever i sold a bike i would take the plates off before the buyer came to look at it, Then if he wanted to test ride it i would just say no plates can't ride , But the last 3 bikes i had i traded them in for a new one, I won't deal with people on my driveway any more, I don't need bargain hunters looking at my stuff and wasting my time, So i don't get as much from the dealer, Money isn't my God.
People that ''get'' scammed sometimes have a little larceny in ''their'' heart also.!

 

[jmcbow]

I have a pair of stock front wheels from my RT, a stock seat with Utopia back rest also from my RT and a stock seat from a RS. I was planning on listing it all on CL. Will definetly take precautions after reading this post.

 

[Littlebadwolf]

I totally stopped placing items on Craig's list...All I got were phone calls from people who wanted me to privately finance a deal for them, lots of agencies who wanted to promote my sale for me...at a huge percentage for them of course and people who wanted to trade something or tryed to lowball the sale where it got to the point where it was insulting. Ebay is much better and have controls in place to protect both the seller and buyer.

 

[350 HRSS]

Thanks for posting this. Scams are getting sneakier every day. I am not sure I would let anyone test drive a bike I had for sale if I didn't know them. People trust way too much. I am sorry for that guy I hope he had insurance.

 

[Bob Denman]

Bob it is free to list on Craigslist unlike Ebay which charges a commission.

Thanks! :thumbup: I didn't know that. So, I guess that you're going to get exactly what you've paid for then... :gaah:

 

[Firefly]

I also wouldn't list a phone number---- set up something like a gmail account only for craigslist selling... and list that email in the ad..... then YOU can filter through who you think is a serious potential buyer... contact them and ask for THEIR phone number.....

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for the warning. That was a pretty good scam to steal the bike. I am afraid I would hae also been taken in by it. Not any more though. If they want a test ride, I guess you take them along as a passenger and you drive.

I have heard so much bad stuff about Craigslist that a red flag goes up every time I hear it. I was going to sell some of my guitars through the list and received replies from nothing but scammers. I took my ad off after a couple days.

It is a sad state of affairs when the dealer is the only "safe" place to try and trade or sell a vehicle.

 

[Firefly]

Well.. I still contend that most people are honest and good. I personally wouldn't buy any motorcycle without riding it first... nor would I buy a car without driving it.

I've let complete strangers take my Spyder for a ride..... just told them to bring it back in one piece and to have fun. But realize those were chance meetings... not someone looking for something.. an opportunity to steal....

Just be smart.....