CraigsList Lawn Business for sale scam

[Steve]

Wow that is very interesting! So for those who have gotten themselves caught up in a similar situation, what's your suggest what to do? When you feel like you are being scammed, where should you go and what recourse do you have?

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[LawnTard]

Lawn care business tips

If you get scammed it's a civil issue (which means nothing will be done) you're basically SOL. If a career criminal does it and he can't stop and you can find the other victims (that's a big if) then you might be lucky enough to get the Police involved.

[hawthornelawncare]

Originally Posted by LawnTard

I tried to buy a Lawn Care business from someone on CraigsList from a guy named Kevin Capps. Since then I found out he sold the business to 3 other people in the Denton and Dallas Texas area. He's also running the scam in Austin Texas. Charges were filed in the Denton courts for 4 counts of theft. Beware buying an existing business or you might lose big like me.

Criminal Case Records Search Results
Logout My Account Search Menu New Criminal Search Refine Search
Location : All Courts Help
Record Count: 4
Search By: Defendant Exact Name: on Party Search Mode: Name Last Name: capps First Name: kevin Middle Name: ray Case Status: All Sort By: Filed Date
Case Number Citation Number Defendant Info Filed/Location/Judicial Officer Type/Status Charge(s)
CR-90-00876-CC
Capps, Kevin Ray
12/21/1970
02/07/1990
Probate Court
Godfrey, Hollis
Adult Misdemeanor
Inactive: Disposed
SPEEDING (APPEAL FROM LOWER COURT)
CR-90-05176-AA
Capps, Kevin Ray
12/21/1970
10/09/1990
County Court At Law #1
Whitten, Darlene A
Adult Misdemeanor
Inactive: Disposed
SPEEDING (APPEAL FROM LOWER COURT)
CR-2010-07426-A
Capps, Kevin Ray
12/21/1970
11/09/2010
County Criminal Court #5
Podgorski, Richard S.
Adult Misdemeanor
Inactive: Disposed
DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED/OPEN ALCH CONTAINER(BT)
F-2011-1414-A
Capps, Kevin R.
12/21/1970
06/23/2011
16th Judicial District Court
Rivera-Worley, Carmen
Felony by Indictment
Active
THEFT PROP>=$1,500<$20K

[stevef1201]

Now I realise that this is somewhat shi**y, but when I see lawn care company for sale, I advertise inthe local newspaper "JOE BLOW lawn care is up for sale, so it looks like his customrs may need a new servicer. If you call me in the next two weeks at xxx-xxxx I will give you better service, and your first cut is free" . I have pick up a few customers, gotten a few phone calls about how this guy scammed customrs, friends, etc. Why should I pay you for your customers list, your old crappy equipment, etc when I can get your customers, and use my new equipment for just the price an advertisement. Makes no sense to me.

[Steve]

If you get scammed it's a civil issue (which means nothing will be done) you're basically SOL.

Could you hire an attorney to get your money back or maybe do something with small claims court?

when I see lawn care company for sale, I advertise inthe local newspaper "JOE BLOW lawn care is up for sale, so it looks like his customrs may need a new servicer.

I would think most businesses that are for sale, wouldn't advertise the business name, but maybe I am wrong about this? How often do you see local businesses up for sale that include the business name in the ad?

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by stevef1201

Now I realise that this is somewhat shi**y, but when I see lawn care company for sale, I advertise inthe local newspaper "JOE BLOW lawn care is up for sale, so it looks like his customrs may need a new servicer. If you call me in the next two weeks at xxx-xxxx I will give you better service, and your first cut is free" . I have pick up a few customers, gotten a few phone calls about how this guy scammed customrs, friends, etc. Why should I pay you for your customers list, your old crappy equipment, etc when I can get your customers, and use my new equipment for just the price an advertisement. Makes no sense to me.

interesting marketing strategy. What kind of success have you had with this? Do you think some of the calls are just interested in the free cut and are not associated with the other landscaper?

[Steve]

And how would you be able to confirm those that called were using this other lawn service?

[LawnTard]

Looks like he's gearing up another company to sell to someone.
These are the lawn businesses he claims to own.
Lawn Ventures Inc (is the newest one)
Lone Star Lawn and Landscaping
OC Lawn Care
Operation Cut Lawn and Tree Services

[dpld]

Originally Posted by stevef1201

Now I realise that this is somewhat shi**y, but when I see lawn care company for sale, I advertise inthe local newspaper "JOE BLOW lawn care is up for sale, so it looks like his customrs may need a new servicer. If you call me in the next two weeks at xxx-xxxx I will give you better service, and your first cut is free" . I have pick up a few customers, gotten a few phone calls about how this guy scammed customrs, friends, etc. Why should I pay you for your customers list, your old crappy equipment, etc when I can get your customers, and use my new equipment for just the price an advertisement. Makes no sense to me.

somewhere, somehow i could see that being a issue for you.
that would have to fall into a slander type of category and even though every business can say they are better or bigger then the next guy i do not believe you can actually list anothers name like that unless it were in regards to a poll like " 9 out of 10 women prefer sweet and fresh over masengil ".

the guy could have a good legitimate business for sale that he busted his tail for and is selling due to injury, age or even just greener pastures.
if it were a good business he would be entitled to compensation by selling it and in the right scenario the purchaser could be far better off and further along then if he started from scratch.

and even when " you get the custmers on your own " it is never free, as well as takes a lot longer and requires a much longer stretch of financial cash flow problems when the work is slow and minimal.

i don't believe in much hokus pokus crap but i do believe " what goes around, comes around " in everything you do in life and when the wheel comes full turn i just can't envision anything good waiting for me when i got there if i were to do a pitch scam like that.

[Steve]

if it were a good business he would be entitled to compensation by selling it and in the right scenario the purchaser could be far better off and further along then if he started from scratch.

If you were looking to buy a lawn care business from an online craigslist ad, what steps do you feel would be necessary to make sure you were getting what was being advertised and it was a good deal for you?