Bandits posing as interested clients for classified ads

[disciple]

BEWARE of that classified advertisement you may be responding to, it may lead straight to a robbery.

In the past two weeks, at least three people have fallen victim to a group of bandits who posed as a landlord for apartments along the East-West corridor.

The Express classified department yesterday confirmed it had received reports from people responding to advertisements which led to bandits who robbed them of cash.

One of the victims, speaking to the Express under the condition of anonymity, said she responded to an ad concerning an apartment in Barataria, expecting to find an affordable dwelling, instead three armed bandits relieved her of $3,000.

She stated a University of the West Indies student who also responded to the post was robbed of $2,600.

Last year, the scam, then perpetuated through car sales and escort services, lured three Tobagonian youngsters, Elroy Quashie, 17, Hensyl Collette, 27, and Clint Ambrose, 25, to their deaths while several others were robbed of cash.

In a reverse of a scam, a businessman was robbed of a laptop and a webcam by a pretend customer to one of his classified advertisements in Grand Bazaar, Valsayn, in October last year.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161483614


oddly enough, was speaking to a friend of mine, and she told me an interesting story.. she was selling a ps3 a couple weeks aback, and put an ad in the papers. this guy said he would buy it , and came to her apt , ith his g/f.
while she was makin out the bill, the g/f GRABS the ps3 and jumps into the car, and they sped off..


i don't think we have anything to worry about with our trading zone.. but for those of us who use the classifieds in the papers, be very careful, as the article says

[woodyear99]

Yeah this is one of my greatest fears when trying to get stuff sold. Some people so damn nasty eh.

[Nephilim]

this is exactly why i does only buy from a few men here and only men who i know here a while.

if you hadda meet ppl yuh eh know ala certain spammed forums, walk with a paddna and a man who somewhere else watching the events. preferable 'PC paddna'

[Nephilim]

that and you does meet ppl is rel public place

[PapaSmurf]

This is not the first time I have heard of these schemes. I am currently selling my Nintendo Wii and a "customer" (who i shall call Momma's bwoy) answered my ad in the express. Momma's bwoy met me in movietowne to examine the unit b4 trade. My friend Andrew was with me at the time and we were in Long John Silvers awaiting Momma's bwoy. When he came, a woman was in the red almera with him, who took his place behind the wheel. He was quite polite, and examined the console and games. When came time to pay, he confessed he had no cash on him and said he was going to the ATM for cash. he disappeared and 30 mins later, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to call his cell, we left.

While we were leaving, a police crusier was driving by and I went to speak to the officer. At that time, the red Almera Momma's bwoy arrived in sped off from the other side of the parking lot, and we never heard or saw them again. Another example of a crime averted, for I had no doubt that Momma's bwoy was up to no good. So a warning to all those selling merchandise... these forums aren't safe, the newspapers aren't safe, as long as its in T&T: it's not safe... so take measures to protect yourself. Never go alone, never hand over your mechandise b4 payment, never meet in a secluded place... and always walk with a weapon.

[Crixx_Creww]

i suggest men start to meet in police station by de water cooler or something from now on yes

[Arcmanov]

^^^ Damn...its sad that we should have to resort to all that when trying to sell/buy something from a third party eh.
I remember when I was reallll tusty for a Sony Ericsson P800, and some 'Joker' (actual forum name) from a 'known car site' *wink*
try to scam me with one that wasn't even working properly.  When I met him in Arima, the man brought the phone in a CHURCH'S CHICKEN
BAG WITH CHICKEN GREASE ALL UP INSIDE THE BAG!!!  No lie.  I was like 'WTF dude, you SERIOUS!!?'  Parts like the detachable numpad,
a stylus, headset, and others were missing.  The jog-dial at the side wasn't working, and a host of other lil things was wrong with it.
This Joker had the audacity to try to sell me that for $2500, when clearly it wasn't worth HALF that.

I tell you...if you don't keep your head on in this place, people will bend you over and *censored*...

[woodyear99]

Yeah boy and an online system like ebay/amazon wouldn't work here cuz it would not get the volumes necessary to cover all the scams/fraud. I sure Amazon gets it's fair share of disputes from third party sellers/buyers...
Not too mention TTPost would probably steal the items in transit.

[W1nTry]

Or stand by the dooe with a shotgun, whilst you have padnas outside by the car with likewise... geez T&T.... but yeah, open public places with security present is a recommendation.