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Craigslist scam?

#21
steveksux said:
The certified check is a phony. Its good enough to get through the first round of checking, so your bank cashes the check in a few days to a week, your bank thinks its good, so you think its good. You give them the merchandise.

Meanwhile the check winds its way back to the issuing bank in a couple of weeks to a month, which detects the fraud, and the transaction rolls back at your bank, the check bounces, meanwhile you've given them the merchandise because you thought the check cleared already.

Randy
Click to expand...

Were I inclined towards cynicism, I'd suspect that the bank knows it's no good, and takes it because they collect a fee when it bounces.
 
#22
Yeah I had a somewhat similar scam a while back when I was trying to sell an amp on there, they gave me the same crap about their "Shipping agent" coming to pick it up, that alone raises a red flag... plus his wanting to pay an extra amount to get your ad off CL, that's just weird, nobody does that.... anyway good looking out and good luck.
 
#24
I'd mess with them. Go along with it. Get the check, and throw it away. Tell them you never got it, what are they trying to pull? They'll send another one. Oh, so sorry--this time I got in a fight with my girlfriend and she stole my mail, can you stop payment on that one and mail another one? This time it'll go through for sure! See how much of their time and how many of their fake checks you can waste. The bigger the pain in the butt and more expense they go to, the less worth it running these scams will be.
 
#25
panama said:
people still fall for this?
Click to expand...

But that doesn't mean they've stopped trying. I mean in the past they were quite obvious, seems they try different approaches sometimes, not so obvious. I can tell some on the first glance, this second one seemed like an interested buyer as he asked to come check out cab, when and where.

I've never had em do that before. And of course he was not gonna show up or follow thru on any other of his offers, i.e. sending payment, attempt to pick up cab lest I allowed him to continue a transaction. But again it becomes obvious they are not local, interested buyers.

I'm familiar with the whole overpayment, third party pickup, bogus checks that clear banks temporarily. There's been plenty of TV programs and internet stories that well document the entire sherrade they use. I wouldn't have let it get so far because at some point they always foul up and show their hand, making it obvious to me at least, they're just scammin. Its just when I see a vague request to purchase something of mine, one wants to be sure they are not ignoring a possible true buyer.

Unfortunatley, lately these seem to be some of the first responses I get to my ads, idiots. :spit: Just have to be headsup on these things and read the obvious sings of scammin. :)
 
#28
ErikW said:
Heck, it's not much better on TB! Had five different people in a row say they were going to buy my pbass and none of them could come through. Last guy even said he mailed a money order. Then he disappeared from TB. Even had some good feedback. What the heck is wrong with people?!!
Click to expand...

Avoid this being a hassle by adopting the policy that you will not hold the bass for anyone...money talks and you-know-what walks.

Accepting paypal also reduces nonsense since there is no lag time waiting for a payment that is supposedly in the mail. So what if it costs a couple bucks to accept the payment, peace of mind is not free.
 
#29
steveksux said:
Meanwhile the check winds its way back to the issuing bank in a couple of weeks to a month, which detects the fraud, and the transaction rolls back at your bank, the check bounces, meanwhile you've given them the merchandise because you thought the check cleared already.
Click to expand...

Because of Check21 and the near universal use of electronic cash letter with banks, float between banks is non-existant. The return of a bogus check now takes at most a couple of days, not weeks or a month. Most banks train tellers to identify bogus instruments (negotiable instruments, not the kind with strings) because even though they get their bounce check fee, they don't want to have to hassle with it. Depending on how much the check was for, they may even have to file a SAR with the Fed.

It is a scam, and I have no idea how the scammers haven't caught on to the idea that it's technically near impossible to pull off this sort of kiting scam now.
 
#30
I'm also selling a cab on CL and got the same scam response. I didn't reply. Total garbage. First clue is the broken english trying to look official. Second clue is the confusing transfer of money and items. Delete the email, don't respond and leave the add up for some other scammer to troll. Eventually someone will buy it.
 
#32
Last month I was selling $40 dollar computer speakers on craigslist and you would never believe my luck, Prince Ndeke Mbono himself contacted me! He wanted to pay immediately, but due to political obligations, he needed me to send him $100,000 first, and then he would send me a check for $200,000 to double my investment, and then 40 bucks for my computer speakers.

I couldnt believe my luck! I had the opportunity to double my investment, meet the Prince himself, AND sell my $40 computer speakers! It was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Unfortunately, my wife found out and for some reason she took my checkbook away from me and wont give it back. Shes just not fiscally responsible like I am.


[/scam]
 
#33
On topic but not bass related i'm selling a bike on Gumtree (UK version of Craigslist) asking for £400, and received this email:

Thanks for the response,i will take it for £500 including PayPal surcharges since i am interested in the immediate
purchase.I just moved to the Turkey,where this is needed and i will be making use of a shipping company to have this picked up from you and have it delivered to me.Further arrangements will be made with you in regards to the pick up once i have paid you.

I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available)too since i won't be be able to see this in person,what's the PayPal email to send funds to in order for me to pay you ASAP.
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My gut says scam but the fact that it'll be via paypal lends it slightly more legitimacy than your usual money-order fraud...
 
#34
I sell a lot on craigslist, b ut I ask that if you are serious, send me your phone number and I'll call you. I pretty much ignore all the spam messages, as there are many. Trouble is, the inexperienced people, like senior citizens are preyed upon by these spammers.
Lately I have been getting lots of messages asking if I will trade for something. They send a link for me to open. Many people are just too trusting or curious and will open the link. I just DELETE.
If someone is truly interested they will eventually send me a phone number.
 
#36
I got almost exactly the same email a couple weeks ago when I was selling an old cab.
I think it's funny to string them along. I'll send them pictures of the amp. Say I want to be sure it's going to be taken care of etc.
It may sound xenophobic but I find it way too easy to pick these out just by their comman dof the english language.
Waht is annoying though is that they are all over the apt section of CL. And teh apt section of all the local papers has been gutted by CL! So its the only option.
 
#37
I sell most of my gear on craigslist. I have 3 criteria:

I only accept cash
They must pick it up
I must talk with them on the phone

I get countless responses, usually as soon as I post post, that have within the phrase, "still available?" Often it's just, "still available?". I don't respond any more.

I'm amazed that with all the technology we have no task force has been set up to put all these a-holes in jail. These scams work on some people. I have a friend who lost $2000, but I think he was a colossal idiot. What would it take to put some sort of tracking device on a check or envelope and just follow it?
 
#39
Flogger said:
On topic but not bass related i'm selling a bike on Gumtree (UK version of Craigslist) asking for £400, and received this email:

[text]

My gut says scam but the fact that it'll be via paypal lends it slightly more legitimacy than your usual money-order fraud...
Click to expand...

Paypal can be scammed quite easily. Forget it.


I wish there was a sticky posted on Craigslist with a big red-lettered warning about avoiding scams, that mentioned something about this scam...

Oh wait, there is...
 

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