How does this scam work?

Advertised on my local Gumtree this caught my eye '"Free 32" Plasma TV - in top woking condition, leaveing for home in a week must get rid of asap, first caller"

Someone offering a free plasma TV, sounds too good to be true. Probably is as the exact same advert is also on the Stoke, Bradford, Essex and several other sites. I'm familiar with the bait and switch for temptingly cheap laptops/mp3 etc but how does this scam work if no money's involved?

Or is it a simple case of mugging when you go to pick it up?

only one way to find out

it's a plasma tv AND a wok?

i really want to know how this works!

maybe bait and switch.

I thought so too, but then where's the gain to the scammer? Plus it's a 32" tv, not something you can hide by a bit of sleight of hand.

I think the scam part probably comes in when they start requesting personal details, phone number, that sort of thing.

you turn up but the tv has "just gone" but we have x at a great price.

or something else.

I'm guessing what happens is that once you show up, they gag you with chloroform, throw you into the back of a sinister black van, and two days later you wind up drugged in the bedroom of a very rich man's yacht, licking his toes while he watches 30 Rock on his 32" plasma TV.

ˆˆˆÎ fell for this at least 20 times just because the experience is so damn fun.

Free big screen plasma TV

Hello,

I want to make a reservation in your facility for Six (6) newly ordained priest from Greece they will be visiting your country for a seven (7) days religious program in the month of February 2009.

Arrival Date : 29th February.2009
Departure Date: 8th March.2009
Number of guest:6
Number of rooms:3

Kindly confirm availability and get back to me with the cost, so that we can pay a deposit for the rooms to be reserved for them, am waiting for your swift response.

Regards
Mr. Harry Johnson

well okay. 1. I'm not a hotel, 2. that's in the past, 3. huh?

(unrelated, I'm also enjoying the recent spam name 'Kirk Maraghhhhhhhhhh'

the scam is when 6 priests show up and steal ur car i think

I want to know if these 6 priests in 3 rooms want double beds

urgh I just blew up at my friend for falling for yet another internet shopping scam.

This one on Gumtree, the seller reportedly asks for something called a UKASH voucher. You buy this at a local shop, which affectively pays for the product they are selling. Then they ask you to email it to them and they will arrange a Parcelforce delivery for free. The common ploy is that they tell you that their business uses parcelforce all the time and they can deliver for free.

The whole things a scam and my mate just got filched out of fifty quid.

This link explains more, and also has some fairly good advice about scams in general:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3591725

1: Engage brain.