Why do people keep showing up for this couch? Scam or just messing with me?

Online Scams Forum
1

Over the last couple of days, six people have shown up at my door asking about a couch. Luckily, everyone’s been nice when I tell them I don’t have one. One guy even came with a moving truck.

He showed me a Facebook ad for the couch, along with their messages. My address is in the chat, not in the ad, so it looks like the scammer copied it there. Everything else is in Spanish, which isn’t too weird because I live in Florida.

I have the guy’s profile name but can’t find him on Facebook. I’ve looked through every couch ad but no luck. I put up a sign on my door saying it’s a scam, and one more person still showed up. Nobody has been back today though, so maybe it’s finally over.

Why would someone do this? It’s stressing out my wife.

edit - Nobody’s given any money, it just seems like a time-wasting thing.

2

Just a heads up, new users here… watch out for scammers sending you private messages claiming they can help you recover money. These folks are recovery scammers. Keep all conversations here in the forum so others can watch out for you.

Also, a reminder to not post any personal information here. Be respectful and no name-calling. Let’s keep this place civil.

3

I’ve seen another person talk about this happening. It seems like the scammer tries to get people to send a deposit, and if they refuse, he just sends them to a random address out of spite.

4

ProtectorB said:
I’ve seen another person talk about this happening. It seems like the scammer tries to get people to send a deposit, and if they refuse, he just sends them to a random address out of spite.

Yeah, that makes sense. Probably what’s going on.

5

You said you couldn’t find the profile? It’s possible the guy blocked you. Try making a new account with a fake email and some random profile pics, and then search for him again. I bet you’ll find him that way.

6

@Luchivya
Thanks for the tip! I’ll do that if more people keep coming.

7

Here’s how the scam might work:

  1. People send money for the couch.
  2. Scammer gives them a random address (yours).
  3. Scammer pockets the cash, and the buyer gets nothing.
8

LyamGenesis said:
Here’s how the scam might work:

  1. People send money for the couch.
  2. Scammer gives them a random address (yours).
  3. Scammer pockets the cash, and the buyer gets nothing.

I’ll update my post - nobody I talked to has actually paid anything. That was the first thing I asked.

9

@Ethan
Sounds like these people didn’t fall for the scam, so they just got a fake address. But I bet there are others who paid and then got blocked by the scammer.

10

Brian said:
@Ethan
Sounds like these people didn’t fall for the scam, so they just got a fake address. But I bet there are others who paid and then got blocked by the scammer.

That makes sense. Nobody’s shown up today, so maybe the scammer found a new target.

11

Here’s a video about a similar scam. Although, why they’re using your address is still a mystery. https://youtu.be/GUYUmtdWHhk?si=si00StCa5rz-g6VQ

12

DavisH said:
Here’s a video about a similar scam. Although, why they’re using your address is still a mystery. https://youtu.be/GUYUmtdWHhk?si=si00StCa5rz-g6VQ

Oh, I love Pleasant Green. I didn’t catch this video, though. Thanks for sharing! That staged robbery was genius.

13

DavisH said:
Here’s a video about a similar scam. Although, why they’re using your address is still a mystery. https://youtu.be/GUYUmtdWHhk?si=si00StCa5rz-g6VQ

This seems a bit different though, since no money’s been involved yet. But thanks for the video reminder, I rewatched it!

14

Maybe they pay upfront, then when they show up, there’s no couch.

15

Sounds like someone’s mad at you. Maybe you sold something to someone else after they were interested and they’re pulling a prank by sending random people to your house.

16

Yeah, you’ve definitely annoyed someone. They’re either scamming people or just trying to waste your time.

17

DavidHazel4 said:
Yeah, you’ve definitely annoyed someone. They’re either scamming people or just trying to waste your time.

Honestly, this feels like something people would post in those ‘unethical life tips’ sections of the forum.

18

The good old ‘fake couch for sale’ scam.

19

Have you asked anyone for the number they were texting the scammer with?

20

Are all the people being contacted by the same Facebook account? And were they encouraged to use a delivery service?