Got Ripped Off on Craigslist for a Computer

[Agodeveryman321]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas


So I bought a laptop on craigslist 3 days ago, it was advertised as an Intel i7 and the guy showed me the specs when I met up with him and I even checked myself, then when I get home and restarted the computer a few times, it changes to an AMD A-8 processor. I paid $250 for this so called intel i7 and now apparently I bought a AMD A-8 for the same price, I contacted the guy, he told me that "you got to look at the specs before you bought it" and I told him he scammed me and made it show fake specs but then he said " I dont know what you did with the laptop after it left my possesion" which I guess is true and refuses to give me the money back, I got his name and phone # but the police sounded apathetic over the phone.

Is there anything else that can be done or will the police pretty much not care at all? I mean $250 is not that much, and all the other specs of the PC were correct and it was an i7 when I saw it then got home and saw the processor changed.

Will anything happen? I feel the police were super apathetic and did not care and the girl on the phone even said it was basically my fault for not checking the laptop more throughougly. Am I screwed? The guy I bought it from is saying I took it home, switched out the high end processor and exchanged it with a lower end one and now want my money back..

What will honestly happen, do I have any luck? be honest.

[Dogmatique]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas


So I bought a laptop on craigslist 3 days ago, it was advertised as an Intel i7 and the guy showed me the specs when I met up with him and I even checked myself, then when I get home and restarted the computer a few times, it changes to an AMD A-8 processor. I paid $250 for this so called intel i7 and now apparently I bought a AMD A-8 for the same price, I contacted the guy, he told me that "you got to look at the specs before you bought it" and I told him he scammed me and made it show fake specs but then he said " I dont know what you did with the laptop after it left my possesion" which I guess is true and refuses to give me the money back, I got his name and phone # but the police sounded apathetic over the phone.

Is there anything else that can be done or will the police pretty much not care at all? I mean $250 is not that much, and all the other specs of the PC were correct and it was an i7 when I saw it then got home and saw the processor changed.

Will anything happen? I feel the police were super apathetic and did not care and the girl on the phone even said it was basically my fault for not checking the laptop more throughougly. Am I screwed? The guy I bought it from is saying I took it home, switched out the high end processor and exchanged it with a lower end one and now want my money back..

What will honestly happen, do I have any luck? be honest.

Sorry hon, this is an expensive lesson for you. Don't buy anything off of Craigslist you can't fully verify yourself first. I know, I know, it sounds like a pain in the backside to have to double-check everything but if it's worth your hand-earned cash, it's worth checking it out first. Y'know?

[Agodeveryman321]

For sure thanks for replying. Do you think the cops will do anything? All the rest of the computer is in the condition he said but he said it was a higher end processor and its not. They said for $250 is such a small amount and that I had the time to look at the laptop, it was basically my fault. Is that true that they wont do anything? Was a crime commited?

[geek]

You should do better research in the future. Walmart sells off-lease laptops and they have refurbished Lenovo thinkpads and Dells with the i7 processor and other decent features for under 250 dollars.

The police are not likely going to do much about your complaint.

You could try small claims court, but as you and others have indicated, you looked at it and failed to notice the discrepancy before you bought it, so there's a good chance you won't prevail.

[Agodeveryman321]

So i am pretty much screwed? even if i find his real name?

[Dogmatique]

So i am pretty much screwed? even if i find his real name?

Here's the thing. If you can find him, and you sue him, and you get a judgment ... you can't garnish his wages (not in Texas, anyway), and the court won't help you collect. Unfortunately most small claims judgments go uncollected.

Move on a wiser, if less wealthy for now, person.

[geek]

I thought you said you had his real name.

Like I said, you could pony up the fees for small claims court, and try your luck there. Hope you still have a copy of the Craigslist ad and any texts or emails.

Chances aren't all that good.

Here's the thing. If you can find him, and you sue him, and you get a judgment ... you can't garnish his wages (not in Texas, anyway), and the court won't help you collect. Unfortunately most small claims judgments go uncollected.

Move on a wiser, if less wealthy for now, person.

If I had a nickel for every scam on Craigslist, I'd be able to retire to Tahiti. And BUY Tahiti outright.

It's a lot of fun to peruse but I never buy, sell or do any business on it

[Dogmatique]

I thought you said you had his real name.

Like I said, you could pony up the fees for small claims court, and try your luck there. Hope you still have a copy of the Craigslist ad and any texts or emails.

Chances aren't all that good.



If I had a nickel for every scam on Craigslist, I'd be able to retire to Tahiti. And BUY Tahiti outright.

It's a lot of fun to peruse but I never buy, sell or do any business on it

I make it a personal rule to never set virtual foot on Craigslist. It's one rule I've been pretty successful at enforcing and maintaining (perhaps surprisingly).

Also, I have a nice bridge for that island you just bought ...

[Taxing Matters]

Given what you say, you might get something from a lawsuit based on fraud. But it won't be the whole $250 you spent. What is the difference in value between what you bought and the same used computer with an Intel I-7. I'm going to guess it’s not much, but that difference is what you are looking at should you sue.

[Agodeveryman321]

What if I dont know his real name i was given like 3 different names by him? would they fingerprint the laptop? I do not have the original craigslist ad as it was taken down. would they go far enough to try to find his name in the actual computer? he said he wiped everything clean on the hard drive for me