[DebGoen]

I received the exact same reply and sent my address and phone number in reply after an exchange of several emails. I won’t be so accepting again.

[noslices1]

Originally Posted by Sportster

Have an ad here to sell a bike. Received an email expressing interest and asked about availability. I replied that the bike was available and here's the email I received:

Thanks for your quick reply. I'm glad it is available. Do you accept Certified checks as your mode of payment ? If yes, kindly provide me with your name,address and working cell phone number for the payment,because I'm purchasing it for my son in law as a surprise gift for his birthday.
I would also like to restate clearly that i will make arrangements for pick up which will be after the check clears.Awaiting your info.

Sent from: pertusnicholas1967@gmail.com (name in the header: Nicholas Petrus)

Smells like the certified check scam where a check exceeding the payment with a request to kick back the excess amount.

I guess these guys are everywhere these days.

--SP--

Scam, tell them to send a postal money order instead of a certified check and then go to the post office to cash it.

[bowlingal]

THIS IS A SCAM!!!! do you have to ask? Jeez people wake up!

[PoolBrews]

This is a scam - I got the same message two days ago for an item - same email. Report the email to Crimes against Seniors.

[Sarahhayden]

Its a scam. Ive received the exact same message a dozen times. I simply tell people in my add that i accept cash and cash only now. It seems to have stoped a lot of the scams but not all. Scam are everywhere. Rather sad- WE just can't trust people like we use to.

Originally Posted by Sportster

Have an ad here to sell a bike. Received an email expressing interest and asked about availability. I replied that the bike was available and here's the email I received:

Thanks for your quick reply. I'm glad it is available. Do you accept Certified checks as your mode of payment ? If yes, kindly provide me with your name,address and working cell phone number for the payment,because I'm purchasing it for my son in law as a surprise gift for his birthday.
I would also like to restate clearly that i will make arrangements for pick up which will be after the check clears.Awaiting your info.

Sent from: pertusnicholas1967@gmail.com (name in the header: Nicholas Petrus)

Smells like the certified check scam where a check exceeding the payment with a request to kick back the excess amount.

I guess these guys are everywhere these days.

--SP--

[MaryAnne28]

I, too, received the same message from the same person. My reply ... cash, only. Never heard from him again.

[christine J Toft]

Originally Posted by DAVES

Sadly WE tend to trust no one. I would ask your bank. As I understand it, a certified check means the money is frozen in his account against this issued check. He cannot stop payment, nor can it bounce. If, he agrees to send you the check PRIORITY MAIL,
you will have it in two days. Payment of more and requesting you cash his CERTIFIED check. I don't see any such request in your summary of his contact.

Just how I read it. Perhaps, like any advice I take no responsibility if, it goes wrong.
You can choose to simply reject his offer. You can choose to just not answer his e-mail.

Certified checks can and are kicked back all the time. The Certified check scam is one that's been around forever. I only sell locally and request cash.

[tombpot]

I wonder why they don’t ban this person I received one the other day

[lindaelane]

Originally Posted by DAVES

As I understand it, a certified check means the money is frozen in his account against this issued check.

This is a misunderstanding but sadly, one that has seen many victims.

The information below is for both certified and cashier's checks.

(a) Certified checks can be cancelled so they are not really "good" until they clear.

But...***more important****

(b) Forgeries of certified checks abound. They look like the genuine article, though they often lack the perforated edge a real certified check would have.

Very important:

Banks will put a freeze on your ability to move any funds electronically for six months or more if you deposit such a check.

People have deposited them, thinking they would wait days to see if they cleared or not. **** Big mistake *** You get in a lot of trouble with your bank if you deposit a forged check, and they do not care one bit whether you knew it was forged or not. They also do not care one bit whether your wrote other checks against it or left it in the account to clear before trying to access the funds.

What to do?

Never deposit a check where you are supposed to pass part of the money on. Example: Check will be over the amount and you should pay the overage to the company that is going to pick up the object.

Probably best to just ask for cash for anything sold to those claiming to be Villagers.

You could call the bank issuing the check, or supposedly issuing the check, to verify that the check is genuine.

[dhayward@att.net]

Originally Posted by Sportster

Have an ad here to sell a bike. Received an email expressing interest and asked about availability. I replied that the bike was available and here's the email I received:

Thanks for your quick reply. I'm glad it is available. Do you accept Certified checks as your mode of payment ? If yes, kindly provide me with your name,address and working cell phone number for the payment,because I'm purchasing it for my son in law as a surprise gift for his birthday.
I would also like to restate clearly that i will make arrangements for pick up which will be after the check clears.Awaiting your info.

Sent from: pertusnicholas1967@gmail.com (name in the header: Nicholas Petrus)

Smells like the certified check scam where a check exceeding the payment with a request to kick back the excess amount.

I guess these guys are everywhere these days.

--SP--

It's not only a scam, It's one of the oldest out there. They will try it with boats, cars, anything. They often will add they are a deployed American serviceman. Disgusting! Be careful, be smart.

[threefootputt]

Originally Posted by Sportster

Have an ad here to sell a bike. Received an email expressing interest and asked about availability. I replied that the bike was available and here's the email I received:

Thanks for your quick reply. I'm glad it is available. Do you accept Certified checks as your mode of payment ? If yes, kindly provide me with your name,address and working cell phone number for the payment,because I'm purchasing it for my son in law as a surprise gift for his birthday.
I would also like to restate clearly that i will make arrangements for pick up which will be after the check clears.Awaiting your info.

Sent from: pertusnicholas1967@gmail.com (name in the header: Nicholas Petrus)

Smells like the certified check scam where a check exceeding the payment with a request to kick back the excess amount.

I guess these guys are everywhere these days.

--SP--

Same experience this week with same buyer on pictures I have listed on TOTV. Insisted on cash and potential buyer said certified check only. No sale.

[RoadToad]

No check is coming.
What they want is your name, address, phone#, and email address.
This info alone is 90% of your online "credentials" and is sellable on the Dark Web.
Any response at all is useful to ascertaining your identity and compromising your Web presence.
Just delete the msg or forward it to a Scam notification Site and then delete it.

[ping]

I got the same request to buy my table with a certified check as a birthday gift for his son-in-law. Was practically word for word. I responded that I only accept cash since there are so many scams! Needless to say, no further response!

[OhioBuckeye]

Yea, I agree, don’t know why all the extra details for buying a bike. If it were me I would say cash. How much could your bike cost anyway, I’m sure your bike won’t break the bank. Or if you’re really worried about getting scammed just say you sold it already. Personally if I was in your shoes I would think you were right, it’s a scam! Why chance it’s!

[Bobbie291]

I got one of those when I was selling my golf cart. Smelled bad, so I ignored it.