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West Suburban Man Can't Believe He Fell For Craigslist Scam

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A west suburban man says he was scammed by an ad on Craigslist, and he says he cannot believe he fell for it since he's not a typical victim.

"I never thought that it could happen to me," said Andrew Kearns.

As WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, Kearns says he doesn't consider himself a typical victim of on-line scams.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports

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"They usually prey on people that have just lost their jobs and are desperate, or especially elderly people that don't quite understand the rules of the Internet," he said.

But Kearns is only 26. And he works.

The Craigslist ad he answered was for a forklift operator. But he was told by email that the position was filled.

What was open was a job for somebody to receive money orders, and transfer money by Western Union.

But the money orders were bogus.

"I'm going to have to work twice as hard just to pay the bank back now," he said, adding that he is now out just over $1,900.

Craigslist advises that you deal locally with people you can meet in person.

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