Have I harmed myself electronically?

October 7, 2008 5:59 PM

I've just done something that was probably really stupid and am trying to figure out how to fix it.

A high school acquaintance called me. I haven't spoken to this guy in 15 years. Says, "Look, is there a way you could help me out?"

He is staying in a hotel. Asks if I can let him use my cell phone number to get a message. The message is from Craigslist, which supplies a security code he needs. I say OK. (I am stupid and trusting.) He asks me to send the security code by email, which I do, after I receive the recorded message.

He is down on his luck and apparently has this idea that he is going to use Craigslist to do astrology for people. Or perhaps that is just a cover story.

Does this sound even remotely legit? What sort of horrific consequences have I let myself in for here?

P.S. He just called back and gave me a hard luck story and asked me for money.

posted by Mr. Justice to computers & internet (16 comments total)

I don't know what he's trying to do. I've never had my phone number involved with a Craigslist posting unless I put it in the ad. I would be reluctant to participate or give money. CL scam info here.
posted by Frank Grimes at 6:08 PM on October 7, 2008

He's got an account that's got a cell phone (yours) confirmed on it as a contact of some kind. If he's going to scam or steal something, they'll be coming for you first.

I'd notify Craigslist and, if it's a scam of some sort, the police.
posted by scabrous at 6:22 PM on October 7, 2008

Some areas of CL require an account. This requires an email, password and cell phone. You set up the account and they send a number to the cell phone to validate the account.
posted by milarepa at 6:22 PM on October 7, 2008

Craigslist sometimes requires phone verification to set up an account. An account is not required to use craigslist, but it makes it easier to post ads, and therefore easier to post ads in larger volumes. Phone verification prevents spammers from using a large number of accounts per person (because you can have one account per phone number).

If you google for "craigslist account code" you'll find spammers offering to buy account codes in bulk.
posted by winston at 6:26 PM on October 7, 2008

How to fix it:
Don't call him back?
Tell him you need the code to set up your own account (remember, one account per phone number)
posted by winston at 6:29 PM on October 7, 2008

No, that doesn't sound even remotely legit.
posted by box at 6:47 PM on October 7, 2008

Sounds fishy. He can't afford a cheap cell phone himself?
posted by camworld at 6:59 PM on October 7, 2008

He hasn't spoken to you in 15 years and now your the only person who can help? Sounds dodgy for sure, I'd stay way.

If you feel bad and want to get rid of him, give him a $100 and say you want it back in a month. Hopefully you'll never see him again as he'll be avoiding you so he won't have to pay you back ....
posted by zaphod at 7:02 PM on October 7, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

duh ... that should read "I'd stay away".
posted by zaphod at 7:05 PM on October 7, 2008

I'd doubt that you've harmed yourself electronically too much. Maybe consider a new sim unless it's a major inconvenience.

Other than that, if you're not feeling comfortable helping out – stop helping, because it's starting to look like a process of escalation. Small favour » $100 » ?
posted by mandal at 7:17 PM on October 7, 2008

You're dealing with a person who has conducted his life such that (a) he is totally broke with no permanent address; and (b) he is calling people he hasn't spoken to in a decade and a half in order to get them to do him "favors," and to ask for money.

This doesn't necessarily mean he's dishonest. It does, however, raise a whole thicket of red flags. Given that, do you really want to be associated with this guy's Craigslist endeavors?

I didn't think so.

Here is a form that you can use to contact the Craigslist help desk. As you will see, the message can be directed specifically to "Tech support (phone authentication)." I'd contact Craigslist about this directly. Explain exactly what happened and see what they recommend.

If you're dead set on helping this person, buy him a disposable cell phone so that he can be self-sufficient in his sketchiness.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 7:32 PM on October 7, 2008

Are you sure he's even that actual person? What if he just has a copy of your yearbook or something?
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 7:42 PM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Only a few sections of craigslist require phone numbers to post... one of those sections is the erotic services section. If he's down on his luck, he might be doing anything for money and you don't want your number associated with that.
posted by lockle at 7:56 PM on October 7, 2008

Pretty much what others have said: he almost certainly lied to you in order to use your cell number for phone verification with Craigslist. I agree that you should contact Craigslist to have the verification canceled, but it probably won't have any effect on you. The beneficiary of the account is probably an "erotic services" provider who wants a lot of accounts so that s/he can keep reposting his/her ad multiple times and thereby keep it at the top of the list. The phone verification is intended to stop this sort of spamming by making it (a bit) harder to have many multiple accounts. The beneficiary of the account probably doesn't know or care about you, and there probably will be no transactions that will use your phone number as such. That being said, I do recommend that you contact Craigslist and have the verification canceled.

Oh, and as [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] said, the guy who contacted you is very possibly a stranger. If he isn't, he's using you precisely because he wants to abuse your distant sense of obligation. Don't let him get away with it.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:05 PM on October 7, 2008

Change your phone number right now. RIGHT NOW. Call your phone provider, tell them you've been scammed, and you need to change your phone number.

Do not take any calls from the "acquaintence".

The level of scams being perpetrated on CL right now boggles the mind. My brother, who is not a stupid man, almost fell for a scam, something that read so much like a scam I didn't even have to research it to know it was (and once I did research it, saw what a huge scam it was).

It's frightening.

Change the phone number right now.
posted by micawber at 9:11 AM on October 8, 2008

If this is the first time he's tried to get a hold of you in fifteen years - when he needs something - then that means every person he's known since then probably fucking hates him, and probably with reason. Don't talk to him anymore, don't give him money, don't let yourself be used for his probably illegal endeavors.

What a piece of shit.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:13 AM on October 8, 2008