Sorry, this is a little long to explain....

Okay, so I have been dealing with this person on Craigslist regarding his Ball Python he has for sale. Well, he sent me and other phone # a group text photo of his snake this morning, and I replied inquiring of the hatch date. The other mystery number replied to me, confused why he got a text from me. I replied that it was a group text and we both must've gotten the pic *xx* sent and that I was a potential buyer and was I quoting about the hatch date of the snake. He then said 'good luck dealing with him...' to which I asked what he meant. He asked me to call him, and I did. This 'gentleman' and fellow breeder named John warned me that the guy I was dealing with was a scammer, a shady individual, and a liar with no documentation on his snake that he claimed to have purchased from a big name breeder. He said that he had washed his hands of the individual the evening before, and wasn't going to deal with such a shady person, and warned that I not possibly get scammed by him too. I thanked him for the heads up and got off the phone. Something told me to contact the seller and ask for a pic of the documentation that he claimed he had, which he then provided a legitimate, clear receipt from the breeder to him for said snake! We agreed that I would purchase the snake from him, and shortly afterward I got a text from him (seller) saying 'no I've sold the snake to another individual who is picking up soon.' I sent ?? back, and he said 'oh sorry, that was meant for someone else who was asking for the snake, not you.' Curious, I said 'would it, by chance be John?' And he said 'yes, how do you know him?'

So John told me that the seller was a scammer and a dishonest, untrustworthy person just to get me out of the picture so that he could get the snake, for less. He said he wasn't going to deal with him because he was a scammer and then clearly inquired about buying the snake after speaking to me! Am I totally naive - is this how people work?? Is honesty not the best policy anymore, and is me being nice and fair only going to get me back-doored in this industry? I don't know, I just would never do something like that!! Am I the only one?!