How the heII do this scam work?

Question

I posted on craiglist looking for a roommate. I got few exactly same emails from various names. Many emails have some similaries such as born in same city, study at same college, etc...

They're so quick to ask for phone number and address.

From what I see, I definitely know it's a scam. However I'm wondering how do this scam work? What are they trying to gain?

Hope someone can help, thank you.

Answer 1

I happened to me also when I advertised a vehicle in our local paper. I had people from other countries trying to demand that I give them my address so they could send me a bank "cheque" for the amount of the vehicle.....blah blah blah. I got about 40 of them within about a 2 mon. span. What they are probably trying to do is get you to repsond, mind you they are very demanding, and then they will want you to cash a certified "cheque" (probably for the security deposit or first month's rent) from some out of country bank when all along it's probably counterfeit. Just ignore them and mark as spam. That's all you can really do. They are soooo annoying!!!

Answer 2

Sometimes those programs are e-mail harvestors. (You send it to everyone on your address book ... who will curse you because of the 10,000 spam messages they will now get because you were trying to help some little girl who died 8 years ago) Other times they set up call lists for telemarketing companies. Then there is the odd time they try to get enough personal information from you to steal your identity or even your cash.

Answer 3

The only thing I can think of is the address is to send you stuff in the mail and phone number to call and sell you stuff.

Answer 4

Names, phone numbers and addresses for mailing/calling lists that they will sell your name/number/address for some loot

Answer 5

Identity theft, perhaps?