Vanity: Was it a scam?

Self | 2/1/2018 | Snowybear

[MD Expat in PA]

Most definitely a scam. One of the tip offs was that the check was for more than what you were asking and the other thing is that you were being asked to pay the movers from the extra amount of the check.

Likely the check was from out of state bank and or forged on a fraudulent account, sometimes on a washed & reused check. But you won’t, and often even your bank won’t know this for several days and up to a week or more. It might even show as being “clear” by your bank if there are sufficient funds, that is until the legitimate owner of the bank account sees a check they didn’t write clear their bank and contacts their bank and in turn your bank about the fraud. You say you tore it up, but I hope you took a picture of it first.

Meanwhile you are out the cash for and the item you sold and out the money you paid to have the movers pick it up, and sometimes the movers may be out the money if the check you wrote them bounces and they will hold you accountable if you wrote them a check from your account. And sometimes if there is money over the amount of the shipping/moving costs, the buyer may ask you to send the difference via a money gram so you are out that amount of money too before you realize their check eventually bounces.

Craig’s List is horrible for these types and all sorts of other cams like job and rental scams were the scammer gets real estate listings and posts the details of the property along with pictures from the listing and often a very low amount of rent but gets you to fill out an application, thus getting your personal information and then an application fee or even a deposit and first month’s rent, which because they are a military member serving overseas or sum such other sob story, asks you to send the deposit and first month’s rent via a money gram.

I’ve bought and sold some items on the Facebook Marketplace but it is local, I can somewhat better trace the buyer as opposed to Craig’s List and I insist on cash and either bring my nephew with his CCL or meet them in a public place like the parking lot of the local police station. I’ve also listed a few items on E-Bay over the years and shipped out of state, but the payment is always via PayPal and it has to clear and be successfully deposited into my PayPal account which I then transfer to my personal banking account and which is not known to the buyer.

[NEMDF]

Yes, this is ABSOLUTELY a scam. Hopefully you are not out anything but pride, at this point.

[Robert DeLong]

When you deposit it if you tell them that you want the funds verified as clearing they will put a 30 day hold on it.

[Phlap]

SCAM!

[HotHunt]

Of course it's a scam. The kind of film-flam you describe is a regular scam on CL and they even warn you about it if you read their website.

My wife and I buy and sell on Craigslist regularly because we live on a farm and it's easier to find what we need by bartering on CL than driving to the big city to spend all day looking for the same thing.

CL is a cash business. No cash, no sale. No checks. There is no layaway or holding items for someone. It's first come, first serve. Items are sold as is. If buyer can't haul item away, they don't get it.

I've received the same kind of messages about the buyer sending a check and they are sending movers to pick up the item. It's usually a high ticket item where there's some money involved. I've always just ignored them because they are trying to scam you.

Just stop and think, why would some stranger send you $2000 extra to pay the mover? It doesn't sound right because it's not.

My advice for someone who needs the input of Facebook or FR to figure out if they are being scammed or not, is to stick with shopping at the retails stores and donating items like this adjustable bed, to Goodwill or a church.

Sorry to say, but the scammers out there are looking for folks just like you.

[Don W]

I see at least 4-10 free pianos/organs/other keyboards per month on "used(yourcityname).com". You can try kijiji, CL, and the like too. Finding a decent piano shouldn't be too hard.

HERE is what I got for Victoria BC Canada at noon Feb 1.

[weezel]

Absolutely a scam. I used to get them all the time when I was on Craigslist. They always start out the same, I will be buying your item, please remove it from Craigslist. I will be sending a certified check by FedEx or some other than the post office.

[right way right]

Clicked on the headline thinking it’s about Q or the MEMO!!!!

[MoochPooch]

My advice for someone who needs the input of Facebook or FR to figure out if they are being scammed or not, is to stick with shopping at the retails stores and donating items like this adjustable bed, to Goodwill or a church.

That's why I avoid CL altogether. I need to buy a couch (& get rid of the old one), but will instead go to a retail store. They can also arrange removal of the old couch, as well as bring in the new one.

(Also, I can pay with a credit card, thus add Frequent Flier miles!)

I was always afraid of CL for other reasons, maybe reading about murderers & predators.

[HotHunt]

Well, I hope you don't drive because I've heard of a lot of people dying in auto accidents out on the roads.

Why bought an almost new leather couch on CL and a week later got rid of the old one on CL.

It's like the classifieds without the cost.

We use it all the time out here in the country. Just bought a John Deere 60-inch zero turn mower on CL for less than half the retail price. It's just like new.

[al baby]

I was saved by an acute bank employee

Can you describe her ?

[Retvet]

Definitely a scam.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

I have bought and sold many things on Craigslist. CASH ONLY, NO CHECKS.

[elteemike]

My wife”s uncle advertised an SUV for sale on craigslist, and a woman called to arrange a look-see-test drive...

A very attractive and sharp-dressed young woman arrived, and after looking the car over and a drive around, bought it, full asking...She offered a personal check to “hold” the sale and would return later that day with a cashier’s check for full amount...

She returned later with a cashier’s check drawn on a local bank, and he handed her title and keys...

Check was a high quality forgery, made on a laser printer, and included embossed amount...Cops were able to recover the SUV, but no arrest ever made...

Somebody wants to purchase a high $ item can meet me at their bank, withdraw the cash in my presence...No deal otherwise...

[Sawdring]

Someone bought a 3800 camera with my credit card, the bank calls me, cancels the transaction, and the camera gets shipped to my home two days later, the wife signs for it and i told her not to open it. So what is the scam if it is sent to me?

[MayflowerMadam]

Common scam.

(Steer clear of Craigslist!)

[Intolerant in NJ]

Never heard this one before - thanks for posting....

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Scam.

(Seriously! $2000 to move a bed when you can hire a truck from Home Depot for about $40 and a couple of college kids for another $50?)

If you still have the check pieces take it to the police. Let them know the scammer has your address. They may be able to reach out and touch him.

(It might have been fun for the police to deposit the "check" in a zero balance new bank account and see if the money actually showed up. (It wouldn't!) As you correctly surmised they would immediately follow up with requests to debit your account dry and start using information to see if they could find more information to use against you.)

That said, get in your hot tub, have a cup of cocoa with marshmellows and relax!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

S.B.

I replied to your 2018 post! See my PM!

[Mr. K]

Was it a cashiers check?

Despite what people think those DO bounce. (They’re not real they just look real- A real one will not bounce)

On the remote possibility that it’s legit, I would still make them wait until two weeks and the bank confirms the check is good.