[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by Melmab

This is the 3rd time someone’s tried to scam me. I’ve listed an item for sale at$1000, they send me a certified check for 5 times that amount and then want me to give the remainder to the ‘pickup’ people. Do they think I’m an idiot! Anyone else had this problem?

That's been going on for a very long time, and folks keep falling for this scam. They offer double the asking price. Doesn't that raise the antennas? They prey on your greed and gullibility to rip you off. It's still working. I reply that cash is king and only king. They stop.

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Cash is king. Would never sell anything from someone who doesnt live in TV

Cash is king and only king. They can come from Timbuktu for all I care. Just bring the Benjamins.

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by noslices1

Tell them they will have to wait 60 days for the check to clear before you part with any cash and there is a $1000.00 fee for doing that service.

That's good.

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

As John Maynard Keynes used to say "There aint no free lunch".

If people have no reason to send you money there is usually a catch.

Also "if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is" Just bring the Benjamins, the Grants, the Washington's and the Lincolns.

[banjobob]

Originally Posted by Melmab

This is the 3rd time someone’s tried to scam me. I’ve listed an item for sale at$1000, they send me a certified check for 5 times that amount and then want me to give the remainder to the ‘pickup’ people. Do they think I’m an idiot! Anyone else had this problem?

That has happened to me and others that list for sale pricey things , you know it is BS .

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

It is interesting that this scammer sent the check using the USPS. Smart scammers know that you should never do that because, if you are caught, it is a Federal mail fraud crime. When scamming, always use a private carrier, like FedEx. You will also have a better chance of having it delivered.

Wow you sure know a lot about how to get away with a scam! HAHA

[Dilligas]

Originally Posted by noslices1

Tell them they will have to wait 60 days for the check to clear before you part with any cash and there is a $1000.00 fee for doing that service.

They won’t care, the check is bogus anyway.

[FredJacobs]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Apparently, there are people who fall for this common scam. But, what I don't understand is, why couldn't your bank scan the check and immediately verify with the issuing bank that the check is bogus? I think local banks are complicit in allowing this scam to succeed. They should be more helpful in preventing their customers from being scammed.

This is a scam that Craig's List warns about. The scam doesn't work as well as it used to because banks clear checks quicker than they before. The scam works by telling you that they will have someone pick-up the items in a few days. You are supposed to deposit the check and withdraw what is needed to refund the difference. The merchandise is picked up, you refund the difference and then bank notifies you that the check bounced.

There are two clues that it is a scam.

One, although you listed the item locally, the response comes from way out of town. I listed furniture for sale when I lived in Baton Rouge and the response came from New York City - a fictitious person at the United Nations.

Two, they are ready to purchase without inspecting the items. As I said, I listed furniture and they were sending a truck to for pick up.

[tsmall22204]

Actually, they do. You would be surprised at how many people fall for that. It has been around for years because it works sadly to say.

[Jane L]

I unfortunately have had problems with scammers on Craigslist. Beware.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by noslices1

Tell them they will have to wait 60 days for the check to clear before you part with any cash and there is a $1000.00 fee for doing that service.

Why 60 days? How do you even know when the check has "cleared"? Apparently, the bank can charge you for a bogus check at any time. I don't know if there is a time limit on the bank. You present the check to the bank and they give you the money. A logical person could wrongly assume that the check has already cleared. That's why I think the banks are complicit in this scam.

[Byte1]

Advertised on Florida 4Sale and received an email from a "nice old lady" in phoenix. She said she was sending a certified check from a well known bank for a bit more since I was asking "cash only." I replied that I would only take cash, but she said she already sent the check. I knew it to be a scam but didn't say anything. It was over night delivery on Sat, FedEx. I opened it and called the bank and they immediately told me it was a fake, a scam. I knew it but wanted the verification. I went on line and reported it to the Feds. Can't remember the web address now, but it was an on line form. Then I sent an email to the "nice old lady" and asked her if she would try to get off a quick email when the Feds knocked on her door. I laughed at what I knew would be the reaction, and laughed even more knowing how much FedEx over night Sat delivery probably cost "her."

Years ago, when telephone soliciting used to be a real person and not a recording, they always seemed to call at dinner time. Pain in the posterior, for sure. I liked messing with them, though. Some times I would ask them if they would give me their call back number so that I could call them when they were eating dinner with their family. Some times I would ask them in a real sleazy voice, "what are you wearing? You sound real sexy." My wife used to die laughing too. Funny how they hang up real fast. Too bad it has been replaced with computerized recordings. Now, it's irritating even if you don't answer the phone. Some of the calls get filtered as spam, some don't.

We will always suffer with scammers until or unless they institute harsh penalties.

[DianaS]

This happened to me a couple of years ago with an item on Craig’s List. I took the “certified” check to Citizens and they called the bank in Texas to verify it was indeed bogus.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Advertised on Florida 4Sale and received an email from a "nice old lady" in phoenix. She said she was sending a certified check from a well known bank for a bit more since I was asking "cash only." I replied that I would only take cash, but she said she already sent the check. I knew it to be a scam but didn't say anything. It was over night delivery on Sat, FedEx. I opened it and called the bank and they immediately told me it was a fake, a scam. I knew it but wanted the verification. I went on line and reported it to the Feds. Can't remember the web address now, but it was an on line form. Then I sent an email to the "nice old lady" and asked her if she would try to get off a quick email when the Feds knocked on her door. I laughed at what I knew would be the reaction, and laughed even more knowing how much FedEx over night Sat delivery probably cost "her."

Years ago, when telephone soliciting used to be a real person and not a recording, they always seemed to call at dinner time. Pain in the posterior, for sure. I liked messing with them, though. Some times I would ask them if they would give me their call back number so that I could call them when they were eating dinner with their family. Some times I would ask them in a real sleazy voice, "what are you wearing? You sound real sexy." My wife used to die laughing too. Funny how they hang up real fast. Too bad it has been replaced with computerized recordings. Now, it's irritating even if you don't answer the phone. Some of the calls get filtered as spam, some don't.

We will always suffer with scammers until or unless they institute harsh penalties.

Why do little old ladies still write paper checks at the grocery store? Are they running the same scam, or just trying to hold up the line?

[Sskip]

Yes, I did. I took the check to the bank it was apparently from. They agreed it was fraudulent, took a picture of it so the company on it would be notified and be aware. There were 2 men who seemed to be "team tagging" me and they became quite adamant that I cash it! I blocked there calls/texts and learned a valuable lesson.