I listed a car for sale on Craigslist this weekend, which is a website that offers free classified ads, if you aren’t familiar with it. “Why didn’t you list it in your own paper’s classifieds?” you might say. It’s a new world man and I wanted to sell it that afternoon.

About 23 responses came in within the next two hours after I listed it. Either there is an untapped demand for a 20-year-old Lexus, or I listed it too cheap. Probably both. I was also trying to sell a 1995 Dodge minivan, and no one was interested in that. Even the people who were desperate for a car that day held out for the Lexus.

Mixed in with the car buyers were a few scammers which is common. Two of the callers claimed to be very interested in my car, and left voice mails saying, “Please call me back at 504-493-xxxx, extension 123”. Uh huh. Those are telemarketers who are trying to get you to pay for an ad in their “exclusive” car buyers magazine which will expose you to thousands of people who want to buy your car. Fine, except I’m already listed on the No. 10 website in the country, exposing my car to millions of people. For free.

Because the site is free it tends to invite a number of different scams. The most popular one is someone trying to sell a car that doesn’t exist, which is listed for an unbelievably low price, so that you’ll pay for the car before it is shipped to you.

I ran across one of these ads on Saturday for a newer Honda minivan that was listed for under $3,000. So, I decided to have a little fun with “Linda Harrison” via e-mail (this is paraphrased from a much longer conversation and nine different emails).

ME: Hi, I’m interested in your van. Are there any mechanical issues?

LINDA: This Honda has been well taken care of with no damage or accidents. I recently moved back to Canada and I am not able to travel back in the U.S. to manage the sale, therefore this transaction will be managed only through eBay since they offer the highest rate of safety and reliability during online transactions, and only after you will receive the Honda, I will receive the payment, this way we are both 100 percent protected.

ME: Oh, that’s great, because I’m in Canada now. What town are you in?

LINDA: The Honda is in Edmonton, Canada, but the shipping is already paid, as I explained, my buyer couldn’t take the loan after I made the arrangements to ship the minivan and the shipping company won’t refund me. The minivan is now packed and sealed in a container ready for shipping.

ME: Edmonton is fine. I will be in Devon on Tuesday and can pick it up there. Your shipper can unpack it from the container since we can’t cross the border in a container. How much will you knock off the price since you don’t have to ship it?

LINDA: Ryals, I’m sorry but I can’t lower the price because the shipping company won’t refund me anyway. Thank you, Marie.

Yes, “Linda” signed it as Marie this time. You’d think the scammer could remember her name. Anyway, Linda/Marie refused to keep playing after the last one. I think I tipped my hand too soon by pretending to be in Canada.

There is no shortage of scammers trying to get you to part with your money. The sad part is that these scams are working. If they weren’t, the scammers would move on to something that’s more profitable and successful.

They’re getting bolder, too, and have recently purchased robo-call equipment to call me and say, “There is a problem with your Washington Mutual credit card/bank account. Please call us immediately at 1-877…”. Omigosh, that bank closed down over two years ago, but there’s a problem with my account!

If you do get suckered in to call them, they’ll ask for your Social Security number and bank account information, and then clean you out within an hour.

After that, they’ll sell that information to someone else.

There’s not enough room in this paper to cover all of today’s scams, but, I hope you’ll remember a few tips:

1) Don’t give out financial information over the phone. If you must, then get the phone number of your bank or credit card company from your statement and call them directly. Don’t use the number they give you.

2) Don’t give out your Social Security number over the phone. Ever.

3) Don’t buy a car sight-unseen no matter how cheap it seems. The car doesn’t exist.

And if Linda or Marie tries to sell you a van out of Canada, tell her I said hello.