Woohoo!  I love it when people mess with these scamming Yahoozees!  Bravo!

Him: My name is John, What is your firm price ?

Me:  Hey John... Well I was thinking $2800 was firm. I could maybe one down a little. What were you thinking?

Him: Good morning Shawn, I am pleased to read back from you. I did go through your advert and I am satisfied with it. I am okay with your asking price and would love to go ahead with the deal right away. I am contacting you via email because that works best for me as I am hearing impaired. Presently, I am on duty and coming to your residence for inspection won't be possible, so you have to assure me that its in condition described. You may now consider me a favorite buyer and if possible withdraw the posting from the site immediately so that I can be rest assured that it is all mine . I don't mind adding an extra $20.00 for you just to take down the posting.

Like I said earlier, I'm very busy with my job as I currently work as a geophysical investigator in the mountains until February 28th, so I will be paying you online via my PayPal account which is attached to my bank account because it is the only form of payment that I have access to right now and also because of its good security nature. If you are interested in selling it please provide me  with the following information:
1)Your full name
2) Paypal email address,
3)Address for pick up
4) Your mobile #
Kindly get back to me ASAP with the requested information so that I can initiate the deal through PayPal immediately. If you do not have a PayPal account, visit www.paypal.com to create an account. It is very simple to set up and highly secure to deal with.
You will not be responsible for the shipping as my mover will come over to your address for the pick up after I  have made the payment and you have received the confirmation of Payment from PayPal.
If you need to reach me send me an email or text message (617) 863-7289 (Text only because I am hearing impaired). I drive in range every 3 hours to check correspondence and respond at that time. Waiting to read back from you with the requested information.
Best Regards,
John.
*At this point I knew this guy was a scum bag so I Googled his name and found this post. I figured I would just f*** with him at this point and he kept coming back for more.

Me: Wow! That's amazing and what a coicidence. My uncle in law Paul Spudis is supervisor over at the geology and geophysics program for NASA. Surely he would know you or maybe you have heard of him and/or worked under him at some point in your career. What mountain range are you surveying if you don't mind me asking?
Also, if you are hard of hearing why would you want a guitar amplifier? Especially one where you actually need hearing to hear the delicate overtones that this incredible amplifier creates. Wouldn't you want to play the amp before you purchased it? It wouldn't bother me that you are mostly deaf. I studied sign language at the Perkins School in Boston for years. We could hang out, jam on our sweet guitars, get to know each other and who knows where this will go. John Costa, sounds sexy;) Please respond as I'm very anxious to meet you! xoxo

Him: Good morning Shawn, Yes i have heard Paul Spudis and wow it was nice to hear that he is your Uncle, that is good and i feel more safe to deal with you, I am surveying at Gwich'in Athabaskan Gwazha? if you know that, I am now getting better from my hearing issues, Also i want the guitar amplifier because a friend of loves it so much and he will be coming down to live with me soon, I can play and listen, my hearing issues is not that bad, just that if you are far away from me, I will find ti hard to hear you but i listen and hear what is closer to me.
Shawn do you have a paypal account ? let me know as soon as possible, Thanks
John

Me: Dear John, yes!!! up there in Northern Alaska! Its so beautiful up there in the Spring. Golly, you must get lonely up there all alone in the wilderness. Oh how I long to be with you right now. I can keep you warm with Eskimo snuggles and kisses. Is your guitarist friend your lover? I hope not because I'm really feeling a special connection between us;) So Johnny, would you please email me a pic of your junk? I'd like see what your packing before I head up there to deliver this amp.
Ill have to bring it personally for my PayPal account is defunked. I got in over my head buying old Liberace records and Vaseline products Lol!!!! By the way, do you like gerbils?
So please send me your address and ill start heading that way and don't worry about the money, you can pay me with sweet kisses!!
Please respond and don't forget that pic of your junk. You are so hot!
Xoxoxo

Him: Please can you send me a pic of yourself, I am starting not to believe what you are telling me, you dont even know me that much but i appreciate the feelings if its real.

Me: Dear Johnny, you better believe it you silly a**. (lol!) You, never met anyone who can deliver the goods like me. I may not have PayPal but I can be your Pal you don't have to pay if you know what I mean. (wink wink) So johnny boy tell me something. What color are your eyes? please say brown! Please say brown! I'm little shy about my junk, but I can assure you it's not all bumpy and red, though I am overdue for a check up. Never you mind hot stuff. Do you like Nascar?

Him: My name is John, What is your firm price ? I will like to be your pal also Shawn, but are you saying you are willing to give it to me for free ? Shawn do you really want me to believe that ? i am 5'8 tall and i am 200 lbs and i eyes color is brown, Yes i like Nascar and Shawn if you really want to be my good pal then give me your number so i can text you, I just hope you are not deceiving me because i am being real with you Shawn and yes i want to be your pal Shawn.
-John

Me: Oooh, Don't get testy there Johnny. Though, I like a man who gets to the point. My firm price is $2,800. I already told you that though. What do you have man sauce stuck in your ears?
Golly Gee Willickers! So you gonna buy this amp from me or what? I need your address so I can come drop it off and take you to PF Changs for some delicious dumplings!

Him: No response

Me: Dear Johnny, I just googled your name to see if you were on "plentyofgayfish.com" and you're name came up as a Craigslist scammer and to BEWARE of John Costa! He will take your paypal info and steal your money!!! Is this right "Mr Costa" or whatever your name is???  I'm sobbing right now! You're breaking my heart you big jerkie jerk! I believed you when you said you like NASCAR! Heart is BREAKING right now (tears...)
Are you really a fraudulent man? Shame on you. Shame shame shame!!!!

Me again: Dear Mr. A***ole. Unbeknownst to you I have been f****ng with you the whole time. I am not gay.  I knew you were a scammer from the beginning and I was just having fun. I showed all my friends and they said it was the funniest s*** they had read. Some of them were crying from laughter.
So basically your a f****ng idiot and deserve being toyed with. What you do is reprehensible and you really should be ashamed of yourself.  I can't even believe that your scam even works! Someone would have to be seriously retarded to fall for you obvious ploy. Why don't you get a f****ng life and stop trying to be the such an a***ole. If I knew you you really were I'd be so inclined to come give you a big ol' asswhoopin'.  10/4 Good buddy?  F*** you!

Him: No reply.

I received an email from "John Costa."

Tell him you'll let him have it for free if he would just jump in!

It really pisses me off when the scammers pretend to be U.S. military personnel.
This fake sergeant is clearly a Nigerian, for he says "by name" when introducing himself.
And he only wants you to text instead of call, so you won't hear his real voice.

Damn I got the same message haha

Hi, I'm most grateful for your reply, I will offer you $3,000.00 USD, am Staff Sgt. John Costa by name and a teaching officer in the Marines,We are up in Middle East serving, Am sending it down to my new house with the aid of a shipping company/movers. So you see, You won't undergo any shipping hassles at all throughout this transaction, pick up arrangement will be made after you receive money. I am at service so the best way for me to pay is paypal.

My number is 617-863-7289 only text me please, i have to keep the rules while serving.

Let me know what you think ?


Regards,
Sgt John

Still at it. Different number to text:

Hi, I'm most grateful for your reply, I will offer you $5,500.00 USD, am Staff Sgt. John Costa by name and a teaching officer in the Marines,We are up in Middle East serving, Am sending it down to my new house with the aid of a shipping company/movers. So you see, You won't undergo any shipping hassles at all throughout this transaction, pick up arrangement will be made after you receive money. I am at service so the best way for me to pay is paypal.

My number is 617-863-7289 only text me please, i have to keep the rules while serving.

Let me know what you think ?

Regards,
Sgt John

Trying to sell a cemetery plot on Craigslist; John costa is still at it. :-(
You'd think he'd at least use a new name.

I got the exact same message for some machinery I have for sale.
So what can this guy do from getting an email linked to your paypal account?
He can't pull money out of the paypal account w/ out someone sending it to his account.
Whats his scam?

I also got an email from "John Costa."  The only difference in the email is the phone number listed...401-288-1772

We are trying to sell a Matco toolbox and tools ($3000) on craigslist.  The poor grammar and spelling were a red flag....also, the fact that the first email I received...the "From" was listed as John Costa.  When I replied stating that they were still available...the second email I received said "From - Sgt. John Costa."

This website confirmed everything....Thanks!

323-677-9288  Was the number that this same guy used for us too.

I want to report this same incident regarding one of our Haas Rotary Tables on Craigslist:


From: "Sgt John Costa" <john.costa12@att.net>
Date: Oct 1, 2012 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: Haas HRT-210 - $6500 (ventura)


Thanks so much for getting back to me, My name is Sgt. John Costa and i am 39 years old, am a marine officer,a Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMarCor) and i regularly works in the issuing and receiving section and often teaches the newest members what they hold in their hands, am currently at sea for now but i am sending it to my new house in Alabama, i will offer you $6,500 and i will make arrangement for pick up after you have received money, i will be paying you through PayPal because it's attached to my bank account its the only way for me to pay, i have premium account and most of my funds are in my account and i can assure you it is safe and secure, i will make arrangement for pick up at your convenient time after you have received the money, If my offer is accepted send me your email link to your PayPal as that is what i need to transfer the money to you.I do not have much time on  me to come and view it but i believe in honesty and i have buy things this way before if seller/buyer is honest moreover i will make arrangement for the pick up after you have received payment.

My question is, why are you selling it and are you the first owner and where is it located ?
You can text me at 323-677-9288 as i cannot receive call for now due to i am at sea at the moment so we only text if we want to talk to people outside of the sea so you can text me anytime.

You may check paypal out at www.paypal.com and sign up if you do not have an account it is safe and secure but if you already have an account let me have the email link to your paypal account so i can transfer the money, am ready to make proceed if you are in for the deal, Thanks

Kind Regards
John