A bit OT but it has to do with selling on CL. I have a Jeep for sale right now and I got an email from a Rose Santiago. The 1st couple of emails seemed normal, but then she started asking questions that were clearly listed in the CL ad. Then I get an email stating that she would like to buy the Jeep, but ONLY if I have a VIN# report run for her using a link she provided. She says it's only $20 and then claims she would pay me back for the report. I investigated the link to find out it is a scam for personal information and credit card theft. I nicely replied that I had already ran a Carfax report and that I would gladly forward it to her. The next email I get is her(or whatever Rose is)stating that her mechanic does not trust Carfax and he also insists that I use the link she gave me. I then reply back that all of my credit cards have been shut off because I spent too much on Xmas presents and that is why I have to sell the Jeep. I then suggest how about I send her the VIN# and she could pay for the report herself and she wouldn't have to owe me anything. I lastly asked what time she would be here to buy the Jeep. I still haven't heard back.

I've got those too. I tell them they are welcome to come see it and pay for their own report.

Better to just use the report scam link CL includes with every email through their system.

Some scammers give you the account number of an escrow service where you should wire the funds. But it's just their own account number and not a legitimate escrow service!

You should always assume it is.

That's the number one rule!

Do not wire money! Use escrow.com

Another one popped up:

providence.craigslist.org link

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And just for fun, their response when I asked what town they were in, and what their asking prices were:

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Identical format to what the OP posted.

And again:

boston.craigslist.org link

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Those prices aren't even that good to get someone thinking they're getting a good deal. Are they even trying?

Heh, yeah, I wouldn't really be tempted on any of those either.

If the prices are too good, people will think it's a scam.

It has to be just real enough that someone looking for one of those titles will send money.

When buying pinballs, there are only 2 ways I will ever pay. A credit card or cash during pick up.

I bought SS and TAF off this guy for $5k total, and they were delivered yesterday!

All jokes aside, thanks to the OP for taking the time to post all that info, and in such a nice flowing format. While I did throw out a joke, these guys are total scumbags. I have no idea how they haven't been caught at this point. I wonder if anybody that was either victimized by them, or almost was, has followed through with any formal complaints, reports or statements to the police, etc. I almost want to find them, make some deal and then take everything they have.

Under the Consumer Fraud Act, in the event of gross misrepresentation and/or intentional collusive acts aimed to deceive a consumer that results in economic loss to that party, the perpetrator of the fraud is subjected to "treble damages" (which is 3 times the amount of the actual economic loss suffered). I need to get this guy's actual ID, hire one of my firm's PI's to find his entire family (for security) and then do a deal for $20k with him. Then I'll sue him the following week for $60k + counsel fees and costs. That'll teach him a lesson. And if he can't pay it, I'll lien his real estate, and evict his family. And as they are walking out guided by the sheriff, I'll be moving a ton of pinball machines in at the same time, and tell him I'm just going to use the house for pinball storage.

Sidebar - I was contacted last year at my pin biz by some guy saying that he was the actual Italian guy that reimported the games. Sent me an actual Excel spreadsheet with descriptions and pricing, said he had over 200 games. Similar language to what the OP and ForceFlow posted, and he also sent me a ton of detailed photos. It actually did seem legit at first, but the emails started to get weird once I asked him to take a video, and asked if he could fill out tax forms that I would need for the company (which I made up), including a W-9. He stopped responding right after that.

Has anybody ever dealt with the "actual Italian guy" that does supposedly reimport games in bulk, or is this whole thing just a scam in it's entirety?

Glad you didn't get burned OP....good pick up on the photoshopped label. I am going to email his Boston post right now and just send this repeatedly....

games (resized).jpg

Sadly, even when you have his actual ID, and know where he and his entire family live, and he lives in the USA, nothing happens after $$$$$ in lawyer and court costs.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-official-pinside-skit-b-predator-discussion

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jpop-update-thread%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6mg-raza-and-aiw%e2%80%a6

Sometimes...but that's the benefit of being a member of the profession. I can do it all myself free of charge, give or take roughly $200 in court costs

Excellent!

I say you buy someone's interest in their Jpoop & Scat-ball games and start evicting those sonsobitches....

I had a brief run in with these guys. There was an ad posted in Scottsbluff Nebraska, about a 4 hour drive from Denver. I reply to the ad asking for details. When he tells me the games are in Los Angeles I stop all communication.....Obvious fraud at that point.......

Yes -- documented on here in several different threads I think.. I have one from him and there is a nw group that just was delivered a container and is ordering another.. apparently there are still a few euro pins out there ready to come home

You would recognize those pics immediately as being ripped from him, as well as the monthly excel sheet with pricing and brief explanations.

Would love to know how to do this. I use Firefox but don't see an option to search for the image. Thanks.

I've been using it for so long, I forgot that it was an extension.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/google-similar-images/

After its installed:

Right click on the image > Google this image

look man, all this "too good to be true madness" just gives more merit to
1. call a guy about his ad, talk about the game, set up a time to come by, play and look it over , decide and purchase or leave
2. when banks and transfers and the likes get involved I turn and walk - END of discussion
3. be patient, the right game from the right person at the right time will show up and it will be THE RIGHT DEAL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Agreed, with craigslist I assume everything is a scam until I prove to myself otherwise. And I never deal with a transaction I cannot do in person with eyes on the merchandise and cash in hand, period.

Craigslist tells you on every page that any transaction involving shipping is a scam.

They are at it again...

providence.craigslist.org link

Another one, this one on the Roswell CL.
roswell.craigslist.org link

Just got this email today...

"WELL I GOT MINE FORM NEIGHBOR WHO PASSED 15 YEARS A GO AND I HAVE ANOTHER ARCADE GAME , IF I AM WILLING TO SELL THEY ,IT WILL BE AS A PAIR AND I WILL SET A PRICE ,OK I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY SELL FROM 5OO- 4000 SO I HAVE A PRICE IN MIND, I REALLY HAVNT EVER USED THE GAMES MUCH ,I HAD FEW THINGS DONE IN 2002 AND ITS SITTING IN OUR POOL TABLE ROOM, UN USED AND NOT TO DUSTY EITHER, HAVE GREAT DAY ,GO PAC-OR COWBOYS , I AM KEEPING YOUR NUMBER SO THIS SPRING WHEN WE EMPTY OUT THE HOUSE I WILL CALL YOU OK ,,,,"

Haha, yea that is hilarious. Got to love the misspelled subject line of the email - "I HVAE ONE PARAGON".

"I am street performer. I work with one cobra."

I saw this add recently in vegas. This time the games were in MN. The phone call was weird. The game I inquired about was "sold" but check out this list!!!! Total scam, and I hope the FBI catches them.

Scam: newyork.craigslist.org link

Stolen From: https://www.facebook.com/Pinballmachine1/posts/pfbid02G1rVdkGzzAMLBrVxNpPk8b3dYjWJtZnEnU3p52C6iwoLsphhyZ9k7J7eQZeyGiupl

Wholly thread resurrection batman!