What's the big advantage in spelling out your phone number on the Craiglist ads? Or sometimes putting in something goofy like Oh for a zero? Am I missing something? Is it easier to read? What is it? Example: Eight Six Seven Five Three Oh Nine. I don't get it. Anybody have any ideas?
Disclaimer: Not my number and Jenny no longer lives there.
Scammers with Skype.
Automated email scamming machines apparently can't read words, just numbers?
I started doing it myself in my CL ads and noticed I don't get spam phone calls anymore. I doubt it's a coincidence...
I assume the scammers search ads for phone numbers in the traditional format so if you type it out their search won't work.
I have done it for the same reason that many of us spell out our email address so as to avoid spam and lists.
Very timely. I have just learned this does not work.
I currently have a CL listing. Merely moments ago, i just got a call soliciting to me the services of www. onestopmotors. com (never heard of them) who offered to list my vehicle, till sold on this and 30 some other sites for $499.00. Yeah, sure.
I asked them to email their info but he admitted he could not send it through the CL email link because it was against CL's terms of service to solicit.
What we did not talk about, but I know is that soliciting me over my cellphone line is a FCC violation. Therefore, I just finished the online FCC violation report.
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
If you don't want scammers calling you... just don't list your number at all? Craigslist potential buyers can be just as bad.
I refuse to communicate with buyers on CL in any manner other than email. Once a time/date/etc. is arranged I will give out my number or address.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
But now you've spelled out one stop motors dot com's site in your post, the forum software has turned it into a link, and is now bumping their Google stats 
I'm quickly headed for standing on the front porch shaking my cane, but I have the FCC complaints page bookmarked...
ransom wrote: But now you've spelled out one stop motors dot com's site in your post, the forum software has turned it into a link, and is now bumping their Google stats
Good to know, I have edited to add spaces thereby breaking the link and the bumping.
ransom wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: I'm quickly headed for standing on the front porch shaking my cane, but I have the FCC complaints page bookmarked...
You have enough energy to shake your cane? What have you been taking, Canealis?
It's also harder for you to trace scamers if you looking to buy something too. If a deal looks good i'll google a number in an add to see what else the guy has sold etc many times i see same item listed in difrent section of the counrty with same number bingo scammer
I google the name, number and any other info I have on almost everybody I do (private) business with.
Another option is use google voice,it gives you a number you can have ring through to your other phone with its own voicemail etc. You can also tell it to block people or have people in different access lists so if you wanted to set all unknowns direct to voicemail for example
Ok then, that explains that. Thanks.
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