Fraud Alert, Don't be scammed

[FlintFredstone]

There is an individual or group who has been attempting to scam people who place items for sale in the classifieds. I have a friend who had a Lowry organ for sale and received a text message from 773-644-5103. The individual asks if the item is still for sale and agrees on the asking price. He immediately asks my friend to remove the ad and he will send a certified bank check for the asking price. He says once the check clears he will use a shipper to pickup the organ. He sends a fraudulent check to my friend for $500 above the asking price to cover the shipping cost. (My friends bank examined and confirmed the check was fraudulent). He is then re-contacted by the scammer indicating he has found someone to pickup the item for free. He now wants you to write him a personal check from your bank refunding him the $500 for shipping. This occurred last year. Low and behold I received the same text when I placed my golf cart for sale recently.

[Stu from NYC]

There is an individual or group who has been attempting to scam people who place items for sale in the classifieds. I have a friend who had a Lowry organ for sale and received a text message from 773-644-5103. The individual asks if the item is still for sale and agrees on the asking price. He immediately asks my friend to remove the ad and he will send a certified bank check for the asking price. He says once the check clears he will use a shipper to pickup the organ. He sends a fraudulent check to my friend for $500 above the asking price to cover the shipping cost. (My friends bank examined and confirmed the check was fraudulent). He is then re-contacted by the scammer indicating he has found someone to pickup the item for free. He now wants you to write him a personal check from your bank refunding him the $500 for shipping. This occurred last year. Low and behold I received the same text when I placed my golf cart for sale recently.

When something seems too good to be true it often is.

Glad your friend was smart enough to check on the check.

[John_W]

Google the phone number 773-644-5103 and it will tell you it's a scammer.

773-644-5103 - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?q=773-644-5103&oq=773-644-5103&aqs=chrome..69i57.902j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)

[Mike1]

There is an individual or group who has been attempting to scam people who place items for sale in the classifieds. I have a friend who had a Lowry organ for sale and received a text message from 773-644-5103. The individual asks if the item is still for sale and agrees on the asking price. He immediately asks my friend to remove the ad and he will send a certified bank check for the asking price. He says once the check clears he will use a shipper to pickup the organ. He sends a fraudulent check to my friend for $500 above the asking price to cover the shipping cost. (My friends bank examined and confirmed the check was fraudulent). He is then re-contacted by the scammer indicating he has found someone to pickup the item for free. He now wants you to write him a personal check from your bank refunding him the $500 for shipping. This occurred last year. Low and behold I received the same text when I placed my golf cart for sale recently.
This just happened to us today!

[claricecolin]

A very common and old scam. I had this happen often when selling items for clients. As I would tell my clients no one legitimate will offer to pay extra, that's the tell.

[hubblecat]

Got the same "purchase" offer today. Told him USPS Money Order only and only for the agreed upon sale amount. I guess crooks are really that dumb.:bigbow:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I put two pairs of recurve bow limbs and unfletched 28 arrows up for sale somewhere and sometimes still get texts to my cell phone asking me how much is my firm offer (It's the same $100 I said it was in my ad). They'll send me a check and then pay to have it shipped to them.

Except my ad specifies: cash and carry only.

I don't answer those texts, I just block the number. But I still get them once in awhile.

[dhdallas]

There is an individual or group who has been attempting to scam people who place items for sale in the classifieds. I have a friend who had a Lowry organ for sale and received a text message from 773-644-5103. The individual asks if the item is still for sale and agrees on the asking price. He immediately asks my friend to remove the ad and he will send a certified bank check for the asking price. He says once the check clears he will use a shipper to pickup the organ. He sends a fraudulent check to my friend for $500 above the asking price to cover the shipping cost. (My friends bank examined and confirmed the check was fraudulent). He is then re-contacted by the scammer indicating he has found someone to pickup the item for free. He now wants you to write him a personal check from your bank refunding him the $500 for shipping. This occurred last year. Low and behold I received the same text when I placed my golf cart for sale recently.

This a common scam I have seen many times when selling on craigslist and Facebook. If you want to have some fun, play along for awhile. The checks look pretty real (to me anyway). Its fun to string them along and waste their time.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

This is a very common scam and has been going on for years. I'm surprised that people aren't aware of it and still fall for it.