One way they work is they want send you a bank check for the amount of the purchase plus the fee they have to pay the pick-up agent. They say just cash the check at your local bank and give the difference to their guy when he shows up to get the merchandise. Every body is happy, you get your price for whatever you are selling, the buyer gets the stuff you don’t want anymore and the agent gets paid for his services.
What really happens is that you cash the check at your local bank, give the difference to the agent, who is really part of the scam, he leaves with the cash and the stuff. Then 3-4 days later you get a call from the bank that the check did not clear and you have to pay back the cash you took out, plus overdraft fees. You just paid someone a bunch of money to come take your stuff away.
My daughter had this happen with a rental. They sent a check for more and wanted the overage sent back.
I called the company on the check and talked to the accountant. She said it was a real check at a real company with a real account. The scam was a former employee left with all the numbers from the account and had new checks printed up and sent to her. My daughter was supposed to deposit the check, it would clear and months later, when the accountant reconciled the accounts they would find the scam check and go get the money back. Thus, my daughter would be out the several hundred for the overage.
Calling the bank wouldn’t reveal the scam as it was a real account with plenty of money in the bank. Talking to the accountant was the only way to find it.
At least they were out the cost of FeEx. BTW, they don’t use mail as then they are liable for mail fraud, and the post office (i.e. feds) go after them.
That is a CLASSIC scam.
Oh, sorry, here is an additional "payment" that you didn't ask for.
NO. I DIDN'T.
Now I won't accept your bogus check.
Appear in person, with the money, or no deal.