Craigslist scammer David Jack Fofana

[rickandcindy23]

Has anyone gotten contacted by this guy? He asked vague questions; has really terrible spelling and grammar; and he didn't like my response back to him when I tried to call him on the scam.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Has anyone gotten contacted by this guy? He asked vague questions; has really terrible spelling and grammar; and he didn't like my response back to him when I tried to call him on the scam.

Poor grammar and terrible spelling could be a strong indication that this is coming from someone who is trying to do a scam so do be careful.

If you tried to call him on the scam then you likely won't hear from him again, nor do you really want to.




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[ronparise]

Has anyone gotten contacted by this guy? He asked vague questions; has really terrible spelling and grammar; and he didn't like my response back to him when I tried to call him on the scam.

terrible grammer and spelling?? that could have been me

 

[rickandcindy23]

To me, anyone who asks, "Is your place available?" is a scammer because I have dates listed and prices listed, and there is no specific question about the resort. It's a vague question with no dates or anything to give me the impression this person really wants to rent anything.

 

[Ty1on]

To me, anyone who asks, "Is your place available?" is a scammer because I have dates listed and prices listed, and there is no specific question about the resort. It's a vague question with no dates or anything to give me the impression this person really wants to rent anything.

They also like to use three word names. The reason escapes me.

 

[vacationhopeful]

They also like to use three word names. The reason escapes me.

I think it is a foreigner thing ... we tend to use as full names: first (full), I(nitial only) and last (full). They are making themselves "Important people" with the 3 full names.

 

[raygo123]

I think it is a foreigner thing ... we tend to use as full names: first (full), I(nitial only) and last (full). They are making themselves "Important people" with the 3 full names.

It's funny, we met Jon Oliver Punderson the third, in St Thomas the beginning of the month. A 22 year old working to get a captain's license. Thought it funny he gave full name.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[RLS50]

No doubt Craigslist is potluck. Met some very nice people on Craigslist, but also many oddballs that are either scammers or barely literate.

But in fairness, I think the question "is this still available" is valid, and the question I always ask myself.

In my experience, there are many that will leave up a For Sale or For Rent ad until the deal actually closes and money is in hand. This is true not only on Craigslist but also on Redweek and TUG classifieds.

So personally I have found I can never assume something is available even if the ad is still up.

 

[DaveNV]

For those of us old enough to remember the "Name Game" song, that last name sounds suspect, too:

Banana Nana Fofana... Fi Fie FoFana... Fana.


Dave, feeling his age.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

For those of us old enough to remember the "Name Game" song, that last name sounds suspect, too:

Banana Nana Fofana... Fi Fie FoFana... Fana.


Dave, feeling his age.

I was thinking the exact same thing

 

[PamMo]

Does this date us? I thought the same thing!

I often ask if something is still available, because there are a lot of lazy advertisers who leave their listings up, even after their item has been sold/rented.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I think it is a foreigner thing ... we tend to use as full names: first (full), I(nitial only) and last (full). They are making themselves "Important people" with the 3 full names.

This is a bunny trail from the thread, but "making yourself important" by using three names is not at all the case in many foreign cultures. To take Latin American culture, for example, typically the middle name is the fathers name and the last name is the mothers name (often the mother's name is preceded by "de".) Using three names isn't a statement of importance; it's a statement of giving respect to your parents and grandparents. You can be at the bottom of the social totem pole, but by using three names you express respect for your antecedents. Has nothing to do with making yourself important.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

You can be at the bottom of the social totem pole, but by using three names you express respect for your antecedents. Has nothing to do with making yourself important.

Wow, Never know what you will learn around here!

 

[rickandcindy23]

David Jack Fofana's "client" emailed me a few days ago to see what price they could pay for my real estate property for sale and that D."Fofa" had emailed me previously, so he is prepared to offer "good prices for it." No specifics. I said I was not selling anything, and I am well aware of the scam.

I knew this Fofana was a scammer from the beginning, and when I called him on it after another vague email later on, he was very abusive and said people like me shouldn't exist in this world. I told him his grammar and spelling were surefire ways of telling he was not legitimate. That made him angry. Oh well. I find out he really is not trying to rent anything and has no client, either, just a generic email he sends to everyone.

Fortunately, I rarely get these emails anymore, and when I do, it's so blatant.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't think any good can come of engaging scammers - they aren't the kind of person that you want focused on you.

 

[geekette]

...In my experience, there are many that will leave up a For Sale or For Rent ad until the deal actually closes and money is in hand. This is true not only on Craigslist but also on Redweek and TUG classifieds....

agree, I don't think the question screams SCAM! I also know a lot of people that cannot spell well (my own mother, for example) or have bad grammar for whatever reason.

I'd dig deeper than these superficial elements to declare scam.

 

[geekette]

This is a bunny trail from the thread, but "making yourself important" by using three names is not at all the case in many foreign cultures. To take Latin American culture, for example, typically the middle name is the fathers name and the last name is the mothers name (often the mother's name is preceded by "de".) Using three names isn't a statement of importance; it's a statement of giving respect to your parents and grandparents. You can be at the bottom of the social totem pole, but by using three names you express respect for your antecedents. Has nothing to do with making yourself important.

Also might be led into it based on profession. In ASCAP, for example, there can be only one John Smith. Every other John Smith will have to register otherwise: John Eric Smith, Jonathan Smith, John A. Smith ... SAG I believe is same, which is why you find so many actors using middle name.

My mother always called my sister by her first and middle names, while I only got that when yelled because I was naughty (yes, hard to imagine).

This is another element that simply does not indicate scam to me.

 

[Ty1on]

I often ask if something is still available, because there are a lot of lazy advertisers who leave their listings up, even after their item has been sold/rented.

The red flag isn't that they ask if it is available, but that the ask in very general terms.

"I am interested to purchasing the item of which you sell."
"Is the car still available?"
"I am interested in purchase this real estate. Is still available?"

Instead of, "Is this 1971 Mach I still for sale?" or "have you found a buyer for Westin St John yet?"

 

[DeniseM]

Is your house still for sale/rent?

Is your cabin still for sale/rent?

When the Ad is CLEARLY for a timeshare/condo.

*I have found that even if they aren't scammers, would-be-renters who cannot spell or write, usually cannot read or comprehend well either. They are more likely to be problem renters, because they don't comprehend what you have told them, and they are unlikely to actually read things like rental terms.

I have a lady like this who has actually rented from me several times, but she doesn't read or follow directions very well, and then she shoots off terse emails to me, because she is mad or confused.

It's kind of funny in an irritating way, because she keeps coming back to me for rentals, but then when she is confused, she accuses me of doing something wrong.

"I trusted you, and I can't believe that you blah, blah, blah..."

"This invoice is just supposed to be for the deposit, why is it for the full amount???"

 

[rickandcindy23]

When they say, "Is your place available?" I ask them first, "What dates do you need?" They don't answer the question. Instead they reply something like, "I will take your place for [this amount] and will send funds via certified cheque." Blah, blah, blah.

I don't answer most of them back. I decide not to engage them further...usually. But this guy was more vague than even that. I just picture people falling for this and would like to shame them a little bit, but Denise is right, I should just ignore those emails that are obviously scammers.

 

[Ty1on]

When they say, "Is your place available?" I ask them first, "What dates do you need?" They don't answer the question. Instead they reply something like, "I will take your place for [this amount] and will send funds via certified cheque." Blah, blah, blah.

I don't answer most of them back. I decide not to engage them further...usually. But this guy was more vague than even that. I just picture people falling for this and would like to shame them a little bit, but Denise is right, I should just ignore those emails that are obviously scammers.

You speak as if they would actually have any shame.