Stupid Craigslist scam - Fender Limited Ed American Standard Strat (Houston)

[scriptphase]

Today I had a buddy who lives in Houston ask me if I thought a Craigslist ad on for a Fender Strat was legit.

He sent the link and the title had "$400" in it, so I told him no. Nobody is selling a legit guitar at one-third or one-fourth it's value in this day and age with easy access to market prices.

Got even more ridiculous when I clicked on the link:

https://houston.craigslist.org/msg/d/houston-fender-limited-edition-american/7516432357.html
I'm sure it will be taken down, so I saved some pictures.

First image didn't pop up on a reverse image search, so I'm starting to think maybe this is either a typo in the price or stolen, but then I see there's a separate image of a "serial number" on the back of the headstock. This is when I lost it:

 

[TX6Strings]

I’m in Houston and saw that. Yeah…can’t be legit.

 

[scriptphase]

I’m in Houston and saw that. Yeah…can’t be legit.

Love the mixture of real and fake serial numbers. if someone was going to try to fake a serial number, why do it partially?

 

[japetus]

That is pretty common of how Fender serial numbers look recently. Usually it's the first couple numbers and the other numbers look a little different. Not saying it's not a scam though.

 

[scriptphase]

That is pretty common of how Fender serial numbers look recently. Usually it's the first couple numbers and the other numbers look a little different. Not saying it's not a scam though.

Wow. I had no idea. All the way back to 2014?

Edit: I looked it up and it’s been happening awhile that way. Font for the year and font for the rest of the serial is different. What a strange way of doing a serial number.

 

[scriptphase]

Yeah, this is a scam. Seller contacted my buddy. Gave him an address in Odessa, Texas to meet for pickup. 500 miles away from Houston.

 

[guitarnate2000]

I live here in the Houston area aslo. I inquired about the Strat and he wanted me to go to Odessa as well. I told him good luck.

 

[trey85stang]

Rosewood neck in the picture looks like maple neck with the serial number I don’t recall any rosewood neck strat with a skunk stripe I could be wrong about that but I doubt it. Someone’s going to get raped and robbed over that

 

[scriptphase]

When my buddy asked him why use Houston’s craigslist if he was so far away, he got this reply:

“Oh.. Sorry but I had some business in Houston, I just noticed that my location changed when I was traveling. Unless you want to me ship it. I can mail it for $40 if you can pay via paypal as friends. I can mail it asap and provide tracking number."

 

[mooncobra]

When my buddy asked him why use Houston’s craigslist if he was so far away, he got this reply:

“Oh.. Sorry but I had some business in Houston, I just noticed that my location changed when I was traveling. Unless you want to me ship it. I can mail it for $40 if you can pay via paypal as friends. I can mail it asap and provide tracking number."

Amazing.