Ya know, it's almost impossible to sell a bike on any internet service except eBay, and you even have to be careful of that.

I advertised my bike on Cycle Trader and CraigsList. NOTHING but scammers.

Oh, there was one dude that offered me 1/2 of my asking price. He was legit, albeit ridiculously low ball offer. I'd buy my bike too for 1/2 of my asking price. :)

Anyway, so many text messages from scammers.  Must have had about 20 in the last few weeks.

Here is my advice.

Create a Yahoo phantom email account with something that does NOT connect you to your personal ID.  Like x2d33ds@yahoo.com (anything that is anonymous)  Do NOT put your name in it. Just your Initials.  If you name is Jim Baker - First name: J  Last name: B  That's it.  Or anything you want. Heck, call yourself Mighty Mouse if you want. Remember, you are not doing anything wrong. You are protecting yourself and your bike from scammers.

Create a GOOGLE VOICE account. This is a phantom number that rings your cell (if you wish). Only publish the Google Voice Number.  When a Scammer texts you it goes to google voice, and you get an email.  If you are not sure, reply with your Yahoo anonymous account.  Type the following if you even want to respond.

Thanks for responding.  Yes, the bike is still available.  Let me save you some time if you are a scammer.

I will NOT take Paypal.  I will ONLY take CASH.  No Checks, no Money Orders.

I will NOT ship the bike, unless you pay cash up front and we agree upon a certified and reliable shipper.

Still interested?  Let me know if you legitimately want to proceed.  If not, stop scamming and get a real job.


Don't sign it.  They have no idea who you are.  If they are legit you will know soon enough, but 99.9 percent they are scammers and you just called them out.  

Never give a scammer your real name, your real email (especially if it is used for banking and paypal), or your true address.  

Scammers suck!  I will probably just keep my bike.  

I got a similar message first from Cheryl Turner, and now on a new ad in Cycletrader from a guy called Bill More, nr 208 712 8560.That nr is in Idaho Same MO though. Buying a bike for a cousin, surprise, and send money to Paypal, fake e-mails and Oh I remitted too much , can you wire money to Western Union c/o so and so. Vultures !!!

Received exact same texts as previous people: "Do you still have this Motorcycle on Cycle Trader for sale?" 24h later: "I hope the Motorcycle is good and what is your final asking price???" 24h later: "I am ready to pay your asking price besides do you have a verified paypal account to receive money?"
The number that was texting me was 949-383-5929.

Yup, same deal - I got a few txts from someone @ 910-236-9156 wanting to buy the bike I have listed on CycleTrader, something about a b-day gift for his/her dad.  Then an inquiry as to whether I have a PayPal account to receive money.  That is as far as it has gone so far.  Nothing about coming to actually SEE the merchandise, or about how to transport it hundreds of miles, etc.  Am sure glad I googled the number and found these reports!  What a bummer!!  Thanks to all who posted before me!  Stupid ppl out for free money - get a damn job already!!!!  :(

Glad I googled Valeria Campbell...I got the same exact story.  Will be reporting to paypal.  Wanted shipping paid upfront.  Thanks for this forum!!

How can we alert CycleTrader, because they seem to troll heavily there?!

Ditto Same Exact thing----I don't get why someone can't track them down???

Just happened to us.  We were told we had to pay the shipping fees first.  Yeah right.  Same address and name.  These people are ridiculous.

I don't think it is just a Cycle trader thing--mine were through Craigslist.

They used the name Jordan Keller and used Valerie.

It sickens me to think of the people who lost money with something like this.

Yes, same scammer contacted me about a bike for sale.  Idiots.
That is exactly what they told me.

The same initial text from 2 different numbers have come to me---they want the bike for their son and it's a surprise....if I say the condition is good, then they believe me....etc.

I also reported him to paypal.  He went by the name of Jordan Keller.  The shipping company they said was Auto Shippers Int'l.  Even had a picture of all their employees.

Got text message to buy motorcycle, they claim to put money into paypal acccount for bike.  After you wire transfer money to them, then they would release the pay pal account.  After you sent them the money they disappear.

Same just occured to me, thanks for the posts people.

Yep. This is the 3rd different number that's txt me about selling my bike. Listed it on several sites, including Cycletrader, that require the phone number or email to be posted. Got one from KY and the other from NY. The english is really bad. Almost like it's a computer program that's just sending the txt. Mainly b/c it's the same message with the website name changed. And like some of you have said, takes a long time to reply and they don't answer your questions. Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!!

Be alert you will see many of these messages. If they are non specific, take long periods of time to reply, and give no detailed information, do not give out any info. Always check numbers via goolge to verify and just use common sense. Go with your gut. It is usually right in instincts.

L.E.O.

I received same series of texts for this number for a M/C listed on cycle trader. No questions about bike, no details provided about "shipper" or plan for title transfer.

Same story with the name Cheryl Turner. Wanted me to send $1150 to this address:
Name:      

Mark Collamore
Address:    723 Greeley Ave, Salina, Kansas, 67401.
Country:    United States

Via western unionCaller: 7752358545
Call Type: SMS

I googled Mark and he has been arrested a few times in Kansas.  

Reported it to paypal 8-12-13

I got the same thing today from a number 1 910 236 9156:

Dear gembeme@msn.com,


This email confirms that Valerie Campbell has sent you the total sum of $3,850.00 USD



View the details of this transaction below:



Payment Details

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transaction Date: 08/13/2013




valleriecampbell@gmail.com is PayPal Verified











Transaction ID:03B15247598221109

PayPal Charges/Fee: PAID















   Item #

       Item Title

Quantity

Price

Subtotal



......................


       Auto


1


$2,800.00  
      USD


$2,800.00  
USD








Shipping & Handling

(includes any seller handling fees)


$950.00 USD




Western Union Charges :

$100.00 USD
















Total:



$3,850.00 USD




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This is to inform you that you are required to send the sum of $950.00 USD to the address below via Western Union Money Transfer and get back to us with the relevant information which you will be provided with after the money has been sent, You are requested to email us the MTCN Number (10 Digits MTCN Number),sender's full name and address used in making the transfer .As soon as we have received these information from you, your PayPal account will be credited with the sum of $3,850.00 USD. Below is the address where the money will be sent to using Western Union Money Transfer.You have an extra $100.00 USD tagged as the Western Union Transfer fee.




Transporter's Info:




Name:      Mark Collamore
Address:  723 Greeley Ave,
City:         Salina,
State:      Kansas,
Postal Code: 67401.
Country: United State.

 



Address Status:



Confirmed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Please note:
We wish to inform you that Valerie Campbell has made her intentions known to PayPal that she will like $950.00 USD to be sent to the recipient's address above via Western Union Money Transfer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note:As this transaction was done via our e-mail payments service, any inquiries and necessary information should be sent to us by directly replying to this message, because of the status of this transaction, it has not been passed on to our customer care phone service section,and all inquiries should be directed to this e-mail address as it is the one monitored for your transaction.
 

This payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been " APPROVED" but will not be credited into your account until the Western Union Receipt/Details is sent to us for verification, so as to secure both the buyer and the seller. Below are the relevant information required before your account will be credited:




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


All you have to do is to reply directly to this mail with the MTCN 10 Digits number, sender's name and address used when sending the money. Once it has been verified and the details above sent to us, you will receive a "CONFIRMATION E-mail" from PayPal® Service informing you that your account has been credited with $3,850.00 USD.

Please, understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect both the Buyer and the Seller.We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused you.

For more security measures,you are advised to send the Western Union Receipt/Details to PayPal first and wait until your account has been credited before disclosing it to the buyer and make sure you have received your total money before releasing the item bought by the buyer.




Because of the inconvenience this causes we are giving you the next two incoming transfers for free! You will pay no fees for your next two incoming transfers*.



If you have any question regarding this transaction,you can easily reply to this message directly or write back to us at our  account funds verifier email address section at Cashonlinecenter@contactoffice.net and you will receive an instant reply to your question.




Thank You For Using PayPal !

PayPal Security.






PayPal Email ID PP1525




David Marcus
President
PayPal, Inc.

Phone number: (336) 283-3973

Using the name Valerie Campbell
Asking to western union to Mark Collamore the "mover" at 723 Greeley Ave, Salina, Kansas, 67401

Same story. Wanted a bike posted on auto trader, wanted to pay thru PayPal. Sent emails via fake PayPal saying money was transferred but it wasn't. Then asked for money through western union. No thanks. I'd like to keep my $1050 but thanks a** hat for taking hard working people's money.

Oh and I called the number this person is using. It's a google account not a phone. He sends texts through his computer.

scamming peice of s***. tryed on a cycle trader listing today, same questioins. wanted paypal account. told them cash or cashiers check, they went away.

I just received the same message, asking if I have a paypal account, no questions on the bike.  Saying they are serious about the purchase.  I am glad I looked up the phone number

Same scam tried on me from this number!

Yep, As soon as I listed my motcycle on cycle trader I received a text. Also phony paypal emails saying they would release the money when I sent the $1450.00 for shipping charges. Via western union.
Scammer is Cheryl Turner phone number is 646-926-1825 . She wanted me to Send cash to Mark Collamore Salina Kansas. I reported this to paypal. You would think after all the same scammers paypal would shut these people down with legal action and press charges. Bunch of scumbags/dirtbags.

Same here.  Bike on cycle trader and also happened with an ad on Craigslist a few months ago.

I received this message via text regarding a bike I also have listed for sale. When they send me a message and I reply back this is what I receive from them:  "Thanks for your response, I am ready to pay your asking price. Do you have a verified paypal account to receive money?"  I have turned this number into the fraud department through the website.

Same story with the name Cheryl Turner. Wanted me to send $1150 to this address:
Name:      

Mark Collamore
Address:    723 Greeley Ave, Salina, Kansas, 67401.
Country:    United States

Via western union

Text messages to purchase my bike...deleted the message when "I hope Motorcycle is good and what is your final asking price" Really? It's a Harley Davidson with detailed information in the ad....READ IT!!

got the same exact message about my bike on cycle trader.  didnt come across as legit so i quit talking once he started texting about paypal at 1am eastern.  

on another note, i have gotten only spam while listed on cycle trader, seems like its not a good place to sell my bike.  glad i only registered for the free 2 weeks.

I have gotten nothing but scammers also...!!!!!!! I think it Is a commonplace thing now when you advertise something online...  rediculous..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This person wants to buy my bike posted on cycle trader. He wants to use paypal. I sense he is a scammer so I look online. Thanks to the internet and this site, along with all these other posts. My suspicions are confirmed. I will be blocking this number.

Same thing happened to me today and I also live in AZ.  I reported them to Paypal.

I have gotten nothing but scammers contacting me about my bike on Cycle Trader.  Not one legitimate offer - and I paid for the premium ad!  Is this a commonplace thing now when you advertise something online?

Person contacted me regarding my motorcycle ad in Cycle Trader.  He wanted to go through Paypal, but he tried to scam me into paying for freight up front.  Somehow Western Union was involved in the money that was to be sent to my Paypal account - he said I wouldn't be able to get my money until I paid the freight via Western Union. I reported him to Paypal.