FB Marketplace ads for $1,200 RVs? (trailer, cheap, rail, info)

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

While shopping for a used RV to live in while we sell our house, I keep running across ads for $1,200 travel trailers. Invariably, the descriptions claim that the ad is posted for a mother-in-law, aunt, etc. and to contact them directly via this or that email address.

Seems shady.

What's the deal here?

How does this scam work?

[grampaTom]

caveat emptor

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by grampaTom

caveat emptor

Indeed, this buyer is beware.

But what is the scam here?

Do they convince suckers to give them $1,200 and then never produce the trailer?

Why always $1,200? Why not $1,500? Or $1,100?

[StealthRabbit]

Email / Contact harvesting.

Getting a reply and selling your info to 3rd party.
Let the slam begin.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

Indeed, this buyer is beware.

But what is the scam here?

Do they convince suckers to give them $1,200 and then never produce the trailer?

Why always $1,200? Why not $1,500? Or $1,100?

Why always a travel trailer? Why not a used car? Why not an outdoor shed?

Because you searched for a travel trailer.. They're taking advantage of FB's algorithms.



Why always $1200? Copy and paste saves a few seconds. But another reason, $1200 is a value that many people can rapidly come up with and is so cheap that it will get people to override their good senses. I've seen them for $2400 and other values.

How does the scam work? Like this


https://www.seehafernews.com/2020/09...etplace-scams/


You send them the money.. If you question how you're sending the money, they'll probably act nonchalant about it.. "Not a problem, I've got many others interested, they'll get this great deal and you'll lose out." You want to pay via credit card, they'll come up with an excuse as to why you can't. They'll also try to convince you of something you should know better.. Like "Western Union is the safest way to send money" or "I can't do anything with just all the numbers off a prepaid credit card, I need the actual card in hand to get the money".. Something most people should know better than, but, again.. It's such a deal!

You send the money. You never hear from them again.


They don't need everyone to be a sucker. Just a few people.


The $99 outdoor shed is a variation of this that is.. Kinda particularly evil. They advertise a $1600 shed, free shipping, for $99. You can pay via Paypal! Paypal is safe and secure.

You get a box of paper. You dispute with Paypal.. Paypal contacts the seller, seller provides proof of delivery to Paypal.. Paypal closes dispute in favor of seller. You bought a box of paper for $99. If you're lucky. You could get someone who'll take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed.

[SD4020]

It’s a scam. Keep reporting them to the Zuckerberg bots.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

There are cheap travel trailers. Available for a couple hundred dollars. You wouldn't want to live in one.

They are used for hunting camp. If it snows and the snow is too deep to get the trailer out of the mountains, it is abandoned with little financial loss.