Bike scam - Parcel Force - Craigslist

Triathlon Forum
1

This is my first post in slow twitch, but I ran into a scam on craigslist when looking to buy a tri bike and when I searched online I haven’t seen any other recording of this particular scam being used with bikes specifically.

Here is the link on craigslist - http://houston.craigslist.org/spo/2636812585.html

It looks fairly legit, so I started communicating with the seller. It turns out he had recently moved from Houston to the UK for work and would have to ship the bike to me - a little different but not too concerning. We would use an escrow service so that I would receive the bike before he received the money, and then once I was satisfied with the bike I would release the funds to him.

I started doing a few searches on the company he wanted to use (Parcel Force), which is actually a company based in the UK. In searching I found some other scams using craigslist or similar sites for laptops and other merchandise, where they set up fake escrow companies and end up just taking your money. I asked a few more questions (wanted to to talk on the phone, wanted an additional picture of the bike), and it became obvious that it was a scam.

Usually these schemes are obvious and it’s someone’s rich uncle in Nigeria who has left you $2 million dollars, but this time it was a bike offering on craigslist complete with pictures and specs on the bike, so it took me a while to figure this one out.

Hope it saves someone else some time and hassle, and maybe even losing some $$ at the end of the day.

2

I honestly believe I saw that same bike for sale on ST.

David

3

Surprised you didn’t find anything in your search. This is pretty standard.

I have found that if there is any kind of long story, with inane details, involved in the sale it’s likely a scam.

When the dude said the bike was in the UK just tell him you’re going to be there for vacation in a couple of days and can pick it up.

You’ll never hear from him again.

Or just ignore it.

C-list is loaded with scammers in the bike section.

BTW that P4 Dura Ace with Zipp wheels for $3100, totally legit.

4

“It looks fairly legit,”

Hi,
Welcome to ST! I think the price and the wrong spelling of dura-ace should have had your scam-sensors tingling…and at the mere mention of shipping/escrow you run away fast. I would never buy anything on Craigslist if I couldn’t do the transaction in person.

Good luck!

Kyle

5

“I honestly believe I saw that same bike for sale on ST.”

I think the stem/spacers/cabling would have gotten it banned from the ST classifieds.

6

This is my first post in slow twitch, but I ran into a scam on craigslist when looking to buy a tri bike and when I searched online I haven’t seen any other recording of this particular scam being used with bikes specifically.

Here is the link on craigslist - http://houston.craigslist.org/spo/2636812585.html

It looks fairly legit,

LMAO! A Cervelo P3 with Zipp 404s for $1100! That looks legitimate to you??

As the crew on Monday Night Football would say: C’MON MAN!!

7

Yeah, the old adage if it looks too good to be true . . .

Your better off using paypal so at least you have buyer’s protection if the item doesn’t arrive or is not as described - even is purchased outside of ebay.