Is this for real?

[OkAdiza]

First, I do not want another tortoise, we are good for now trying to care for the ones we have. I’m just curious. I just saw this on Craigslist and I’m wondering is it realistic? Shouldn’t it be more expensive?
https://lynchburg.craigslist.org/pet/d/lynchburg-aldabra-tortoise-for-sale/7117130367.html

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Idk.. but im on my way to VA lol

 

[2turtletom]

For months now, scammers are running these Aldabra tortoise ads nationwide. It's 100% a scam. You contact them, you send them money, you never get a tortoise. That's how the scam works. The ads utilize a few different photos. There are other similar ads that are more difficult to catch also run nationwide offering Leopards and Sulcatas for sale.

I search craigslist nationwide to find hingeback tortoises using Searchtempest. It's quite a tool if you'd like to search other cities' Craigslist sites.

 

[OkAdiza]

For months now, scammers are running these Aldabra tortoise ads nationwide. It's 100% a scam. You contact them, you send them money, you never get a tortoise. That's how the scam works. The ads utilize a few different photos. There are other similar ads that are more difficult to catch also run nationwide offering Leopards and Sulcatas for sale.

I search craigslist nationwide to find hingeback tortoises using Searchtempest. It's quite a tool if you'd like to search other cities' Craigslist sites.

Ok, that’s what I thought. I had seen someone post something similar on the forum. But wouldn’t a buyer want to see it in person first? I don’t understand how you would give money without seeing it off a Craigslist ad.

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

I would never have a tortoise shipped from a craigslist poster

 

[2turtletom]

Ok, that’s what I thought. I had seen someone post something similar on the forum. But wouldn’t a buyer want to see it in person first? I don’t understand how you would give money without seeing it off a Craigslist ad.

These scammers are pros at taking advantage of human psychology. The ads would have stopped long ago if they weren't working, unfortunately.

 

[2turtletom]

I would never have a tortoise shipped from a craigslist poster

I've done it before. I had to be incredibly diligent, but I have had success. Craigslist is full of scammers, and the scammers somehow have happened upon unsuspecting tortoise people.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

100% scam

 

[Tom]

50 pounds at 9 inches??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

50 pounds at 9 inches??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

That’s what she said. ?

 

[KarenSoCal]

The scam is bad enough, but frequently the scammers have stolen the pictures belonging to our very own @ALDABRAMAN ! They use his pics to false advertise...and there's nothing he can do about it! ?

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

50 pounds at 9 inches??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

Me when i was 10 years old lmao

 

[Warren]

50 pounds at 9 inches??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

I was thinking about the same thing. No way!

 

[jsheffield - In Memoriam]

That language is identical to an ad for an aldabra listed near me... Scam.

Jamie

 

[herpivore]

Definitely a scam - check out this ad near me...

Aldabra Tortoise ready to go - pets

We have a 4year old Aldabra Tortoise that we would like to rehome. She is 50pound and 17”long.I...

southbend.craigslist.org

I corresponded just to mess with the person(s) (pretty sure at least 2 since the writing style changed).
I ran a "Google image search" when I first saw the ad (that easy step reveals a lot of scams), and the scammer sent other photos that had been cropped/stretched/squeezed but still matched other photos online.
The person who responded said they had moved to Waco, TX and worked as a nurse so had no time to meet to show the tortoise.
Also, the map location did not match the posting's location or stated location.
Don't tell these people what they're doing wrong - we don't want them learning and improving their scams!
Keep spreading the word & help others avoid these thieves!

 

[ZenHerper]

50 pounds at 9 inches??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

Well, they live on Venus...




BTW: the shipping price is the gottcha.

 

[nandusnandus]

I have noticed a couple of Aldabra scams on CL in Arizona. This is undoubtedly the same.

 

[silverbird]

Total scam. I was offered a pair for only $1,000, they just needed to be "shipped" from Hong Kong.

 

[silverbird]

There is a website, that is very fancy and has several videos and a shopping cart; that will sell you baby Aldabras for $600 and baby Radiateds for $400. Its called Aldabra and Radiated Wholesale, and they will deliver them to your doorstep in 5 hours from overseas. There are several other sites like that also, under different names.

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Ok, that’s what I thought. I had seen someone post something similar on the forum. But wouldn’t a buyer want to see it in person first? I don’t understand how you would give money without seeing it off a Craigslist ad.

Since you're in VA all you have to do is say you want to drop by to look and decide.. If they balk that says it all.