funny craigslist post

[Funny Craigslist post]

%%% AMTRAK OR GREYHOUND TICKETS, REALLY CHEAP GOING ANYWHERE %%%

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[DATE AND EMAIL REDACTED]

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HELLOW, I WORK FOR AMTRAK, AND I CAN GET ANY1 REALLY CHEAP TICKETS GOING ANYWHERE EVEN ON GREYHOUND, THE DISCOUNT RANGES FROM 30-60% OFF THE PRICE THE STATION IS SELLING, SO UR BUYING IT FROM ME FOR DIRT CHEAP, WE WILL MEET I WILL HAVE UR TICKET AND YOU CAN VERIFY, ALSO I CAN GET A 45 DAY UNLIMIT PASS ON AMTRAK. IF INTERESTED EMAIL ME ASAP................. DAVE

Location: [LOCATION REDACTED]

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

 

[MrEd]

I would think the Ad is real but likely to be a scam.

Let me know if you get tickets from it though.

 

[jackal]

Probably using the Amtrak equivalent of airline buddy passes or a "friends and family"-type discount (intended only for people you actually know). This is the kind of thing where if he is discovered selling off his benefits like this, he can (and probably will) be terminated.

 

[Anthony]

Amtrak employees don't get buddy passes, and there is no such thing as a "45-day" unlimited pass or friends-and-family discount available to employees for free, so I'm pretty sure this guy is just pushing a big scam or hoax. Unless this guy works in management (specifically, Marketing or some other group where they deal in complimentary tickets for promotional purposes) or has access to the reservation system and thinks he can get away with manually pricing a discounted fare (which will certainly get him audited), there is really a very small chance this guy is for real. Amtrak employee pass holders only get discounted travel for themselves, their spouses and dependents, and their identities are all verified through the employee's tax forms.

Now, potentially this fellow is simply selling a discount code -- this certainly wouldn't be some employee privilege, but in fact a privilege to anyone who is aware of the code itself. I certainly wouldn't pay a craigslist scammer for it.

 

[Rafi]

Agreed. Scam written all over it.

 

[sky12065]

%%% AMTRAK OR GREYHOUND TICKETS, REALLY CHEAP GOING ANYWHERE %%%
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[DATE AND EMAIL REDACTED]

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HELLOW, I WORK FOR AMTRAK, AND I CAN GET ANY1 REALLY CHEAP TICKETS GOING ANYWHERE EVEN ON GREYHOUND, THE DISCOUNT RANGES FROM 30-60% OFF THE PRICE THE STATION IS SELLING, SO UR BUYING IT FROM ME FOR DIRT CHEAP, WE WILL MEET I WILL HAVE UR TICKET AND YOU CAN VERIFY, ALSO I CAN GET A 45 DAY UNLIMIT PASS ON AMTRAK. IF INTERESTED EMAIL ME ASAP................. DAVE

Location: [LOCATION REDACTED]

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

RED FLAG - RED FLAG - Sounds like another scam on Craigs List that wound up with the victom being found dead. Not worth the risk even if it's legit!

 

[transit54]

%%% AMTRAK OR GREYHOUND TICKETS, REALLY CHEAP GOING ANYWHERE %%%
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[DATE AND EMAIL REDACTED]

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HELLOW, I WORK FOR AMTRAK, AND I CAN GET ANY1 REALLY CHEAP TICKETS GOING ANYWHERE EVEN ON GREYHOUND, THE DISCOUNT RANGES FROM 30-60% OFF THE PRICE THE STATION IS SELLING, SO UR BUYING IT FROM ME FOR DIRT CHEAP, WE WILL MEET I WILL HAVE UR TICKET AND YOU CAN VERIFY, ALSO I CAN GET A 45 DAY UNLIMIT PASS ON AMTRAK. IF INTERESTED EMAIL ME ASAP................. DAVE

Location: [LOCATION REDACTED]

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

RED FLAG - RED FLAG - Sounds like another scam on Craigs List that wound up with the victom being found dead. Not worth the risk even if it's legit!

I absolutely agree it sounds like a scam, but I disagree that its an attempt to lure someone in to kill them...they're just trying to scam someone out of their money. If you're looking to abduct or kill someone, baiting them with discounted Amtrak tickets probably isn't the most effective way. Unless, of course, they're looking to abduct AU members...

 

[frj1983]

"Unless, of course, they're looking to abduct AU members..."

I think I'm being followed! h34r:

But I'll fix 'em, I'll hop on the LSL in 7 weeks and lose 'em!

 

[sky12065]

%%% AMTRAK OR GREYHOUND TICKETS, REALLY CHEAP GOING ANYWHERE %%%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[DATE AND EMAIL REDACTED]

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HELLOW, I WORK FOR AMTRAK, AND I CAN GET ANY1 REALLY CHEAP TICKETS GOING ANYWHERE EVEN ON GREYHOUND, THE DISCOUNT RANGES FROM 30-60% OFF THE PRICE THE STATION IS SELLING, SO UR BUYING IT FROM ME FOR DIRT CHEAP, WE WILL MEET I WILL HAVE UR TICKET AND YOU CAN VERIFY, ALSO I CAN GET A 45 DAY UNLIMIT PASS ON AMTRAK. IF INTERESTED EMAIL ME ASAP................. DAVE

Location: [LOCATION REDACTED]

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

RED FLAG - RED FLAG - Sounds like another scam on Craigs List that wound up with the victom being found dead. Not worth the risk even if it's legit!

I absolutely agree it sounds like a scam, but I disagree that its an attempt to lure someone in to kill them...they're just trying to scam someone out of their money. If you're looking to abduct or kill someone, baiting them with discounted Amtrak tickets probably isn't the most effective way. Unless, of course, they're looking to abduct AU members...

You're disagreeing with something I didn't even say, being... "that its an attempt to lure." I never said that it IS an attempt. I'm merely speaking of the words "we will meet" being a red flag and caution should be taken!

With that being said, you are probably right in that it's not an attempt to lure, but I would certainly take caution and wouldn't bet my life on the probably part of it!

 

[sky12065]

"Unless, of course, they're looking to abduct AU members..."

I think I'm being followed! h34r:

But I'll fix 'em, I'll hop on the LSL in 7 weeks and lose 'em!

I hopped on the LSL twice within the past 30 days, and if they couldn't find me then I have all confidence that you'll lose 'em without a problem! :lol:

 

[the_traveler]

IF INTERESTED EMAIL ME ASAP................. DAVE

RED FLAG - RED FLAG

Unless, of course, they're looking to abduct AU members...

HEY!!! It wasn't me!!! :lol:

Dave

(Now if it said something about SDL loophole tickets, it just might have been me - but I would never give them up! )

 

[amtrakwolverine]

also they guy can't spell. spells you are UR etc.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I have had very limited experience with Craigslist, but found it reeks of shady people; both buyers and sellers.

I tried to sell something on Craiglist, and got several calls from people all claiming they really, really wanted to buy, but only had a check. I told them all, no problem, just stop at your bank on your way over, and cash it first. They never showed up or called back.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

I have had very limited experience with Craigslist, but found it reeks of shady people; both buyers and sellers.
I tried to sell something on Craiglist, and got several calls from people all claiming they really, really wanted to buy, but only had a check. I told them all, no problem, just stop at your bank on your way over, and cash it first. They never showed up or called back.

yep get that all the time. i had some women screw me over twice. i had a chess set i was selling she said she would show up the next day never came. then a couple weeks later she calls again saying she was in the hospital she gave berth and wanted to come get the chess set. she would come by around 4PM. she never shows yet again. that's beyond rude right there.

 

[Donctor]

Agreed. Scam written all over it.

New term: Amscam

 

[Long Train Runnin']

OF course this could be simpler then all of this. This guy could be sitting there with his ink-jet printer, and will charge you $100 for your discount ticket. Then faking the ticket and selling you a perfectly worthless piece of paper. He could even be printing on blank amtrak ticket stock, I've seen it for sale on Ebay before. Either way its sick, and should be flagged.

 

[Upstate]

OF course this could be simpler then all of this. This guy could be sitting there with his ink-jet printer, and will charge you $100 for your discount ticket. Then faking the ticket and selling you a perfectly worthless piece of paper. He could even be printing on blank amtrak ticket stock, I've seen it for sale on Ebay before. Either way its sick, and should be flagged.

Bingo, we have a winner. That is what I think it is anyway.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

OF course this could be simpler then all of this. This guy could be sitting there with his ink-jet printer, and will charge you $100 for your discount ticket. Then faking the ticket and selling you a perfectly worthless piece of paper. He could even be printing on blank amtrak ticket stock, I've seen it for sale on Ebay before. Either way its sick, and should be flagged.

OK... I'll be darning enough to ask the question.

Can a conductor identify such a counterfeit coach ticket, especially if printed on real ticket stock?

 

[AlanB]

OF course this could be simpler then all of this. This guy could be sitting there with his ink-jet printer, and will charge you $100 for your discount ticket. Then faking the ticket and selling you a perfectly worthless piece of paper. He could even be printing on blank amtrak ticket stock, I've seen it for sale on Ebay before. Either way its sick, and should be flagged.

OK... I'll be darning enough to ask the question.

Can a conductor identify such a counterfeit coach ticket, especially if printed on real ticket stock?

Probably depends on if the person printing the ticket knows what info goes where and why.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

If you are careful, Craigslist can be a viable, local, CHEAPER alternative to eBay. I bought a Brother HL2070N networked laser printer that works just fine, and some used theatrical stage lighting equipment for the church. My wife sold a treadle sewing machine (for the church), and I bought a really magnificent 1982-vintage Yamaha grand piano (7'6") all on Craigslist. The items were local, no shipping, was able to check out the item before paying for them, I met with the owners at their homes, got documentation, etc., and for the piano the seller met me at my stockbroker's office where they cut her a check on the broker's account for the purchase and I got a Bill of Sale. I've been burned on eBay, although I've also been successful quite a few times, but have had no bad Craigslist experiences so far. But it's definitely caveat emptor - let the buyer beware, everywhere these days. I agree that the specific "deal" under discussion smells like three-day-old dead fish.

Because of the economic downturn, there is a truly remarkable (and somewhat sad) variety and volume of good stuff at cheap prices available on Craigslist, so I recommend to everybody that they do at least check it out occasionally if they are looking for something specific. There are local Craigslist sites all over the place, and nothing beats actually being able to physically check out something you are interested in buying, buy it, pay for it, and take it home, no shipping involved and no pig-in-a-poke where you are relying (eBay) on somebody's written description and what may or may not be a picture of the actual item. Always use caution, maybe go with a couple of friends (I took three fellow musicians along to look at, listen to, and play the grand piano, which was about a $15,000 purchase), but my experience with Craigslist has been good.

 

[tricky coyote]

I agree with Engineer that CL can be a great place for transactions and you just have to caveat emptor.

I was interested in this Amtrak discount post that I see in all sorts of Craigslist boards. I texted the number ((832) xxx-xxxx).A friendly guy named David called me back with family noises in the background. I asked how he could sell tickets so cheap. He said they worked inside Amtrak. He asked for my travel itinerary and said he'd make me a reservation, asked me how much the fare was online (I told him $360) and said that he could get it for $200, that he'd get the reservation then I could pay them with a MoneyPak. I said great. We texted a couple more times and then I got an email with the e-ticket. I looked up the reservation number on my amtrak android app and plugged in the email address that I had recieved the e-ticket from ("Daniel French" <removed>) and everything looked good. Except the fact that it showed the ticket had been purchased with a credit card (also gave the cc holder's name and address in Camden, NJ) for $432.

Here's the our text exchange (we also had a couple phone calls):

Me: Hi, saw your ad for 60% off amtrak. How do I do that? thanks 12:47 AM
Amtrakker: What day and from where to where 8:27 AM
Me: Tomorrow, two adults, coach, from lax to dem , returning next tuesday 8:33 AM
Me: Names: [xxx] and [xxy]. round trip from LAX to DEM dep wednesday feb 20, ret tue feb 27 8:49 AM
Amtrakker: Spell the city your going to 8:59 AM
Amtrakker: Hello 9:03 AM
Amtrakker: Spell the city sir 9:03 AM
Amtrakker: Hello 9:04 AM
Me: Deming, new mexico 9:04 AM
Amtrakker: Ok 9:05 AM
Amtrakker: Ok 9:05 AM
Amtrakker: U want the cheaper one 9:58 AM
Amtrakker: One was 3. Per roundtrip 9:58 AM
Me: I just called to check the reservation and decided that tuesday works better for us to return, so I changed it. Hope that works for you guys? On my way to get the money order. 12:34 PM
Amtrakker: Moneypak 12:48 PM
Me: I just looked up the ticket online and saw that you paid $432 for it. How can you pay that much and only charge me $200? 2:01 PM
Amtrakker: That's the vaule of the ticket I had credit. Yes 200 2:03 PM

Amtrakker: Let me know because I have to have it by 3 clock or else its getting canceled 2:03 PM
Me: I'm sorry, it Seems like a scam, even though you seem like a nice guy on the phone. I can tell what you paid for the ticket from my receipt and it shows that it charged your card that much, no credit. Also, the fact that you want a moneypak, and moneypak says all over their website to beware of scams and not to do what you're asking me to do seems very risky. People who travel by amtrak and greyhound are usually pretty poor folks, not the kind of people who can afford to lose a couple hundred bucks and end up stranded. That's bad karma, man. I don't know if that's what you're doing, but it sure seems like it. I'd love to be wrong, and if I am, please accept my apology. If it is what you're doing, please realize that it's a ultimately a losing game. I mean, I have (Removed) address for crying out loud. It ain't worth it man. There's gotta be a better way to feed the family. Peace.

Amtrakker: Just buy from amtrak because I am cancleing 2:10 PM

If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[JoeBas]

Sounds to me like he's got some skimmed credit card numbers and/or stolen cards, and is turning and burning those into quick cash.

Actual cardholder eventually disputes the charge, the ticket gets cancelled, and the buyer is left holding the bag.

Especially given that 832 is a Houston area code, and the cardholder was from Camden.

 

[the_traveler]

[Moderator's Note]

This thread is almost 4 years old, so it is being locked. I'm leaving the most recent posts as a warning, but I removed the personal information.