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Scam?

#62
It was a scam 20 years ago and it's still one today. You and 78000 other people received that email about your "item".

Back when I'd put my phone # in ads I'd get obvious scam texts, kinda like this email. If you respond to the first one or two automated ones you'd get a real person and I'd try to chat them up. Some were cautiously chatty, located in west Africa apparently, although god only knows where the real operation was based. It's an industry...

Anyway, don't respond to that email.
 
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#63
kmon said:
It was a scam 20 years ago and it's still one today. You and 78000 other people received that email about your "item".

Back when I'd put my phone # in ads I'd get obvious scam texts, kinda like this email. If you respond to the first one or two automated ones you'd get a real person and I'd try to chat them up. Some were cautiously chatty, both in west Africa apparently, although god only knows where the real operation was based. It's an industry...

Anyway, don't respond to that email.
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I have seen many scams but honestly this is the first scam worded like this that I’ve seen. Not to say others haven’t seen this exact email 20 years ago, it’s just that I have not.

I’ve had real life musicians that I’ve met in person offer me similar payment, because they were just in the area for the weekend or whatnot, the key difference is that I knew they were real people that I actually met in real life before they made the offer.
 
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#65
85160295-1475935152.jpg
 
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#67
707GK said:
Pretty sure this is a scam, but I'm not sure. Posting some gear for sale on CL. I've ALWAYS met with people in person prior to selling, as I'm pretty hip to the scammers.

"Thank you so much for your response, I've been working really long weeks at work so I won't be able to meet with you before purchase, but am ok with the price and condition as shown on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a check to you and when you receive the payment and it clears, I will make arrangement for pickup. So get back to me with below details asap.

Full name :
Physical Address (Only,not po box):
City, State, Zip:
Your cell Phone Number:
Deal Price:

As soon as this is provided, payment will be overnight to you through UPS next day delivery and I will let you know then tracking number of the package. I will also add an additional $50 for keeping other buyers off till my check gets to you, also please delete the posting or mark as sold."

I've not responded and I likely won't as I'm 99% sure it's a scam....but I kinda need cash (filed my taxes wrong in first year of marriage) so if it's real, I do want to pursue it.

Thanks in advance TB'ers.
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When it’s Craigslist selling, I observe one rule only: Cash only, in person only.
 
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#71
Could be a scam but doesn’t have to be. I’m skeptical of all strangers. I don’t see anything in your favor. I’d shy away from it unless better plans can be made. I’d suggest PayPal as an option plus any that you could think of.
 
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#76
Carl Hillman said:
If you can physically take the check to the issuer's bank and cash it on the spot, I don't see a problem. That should be the first thing you do when you get his check.

Barring that, if you deposit it into your account, you should wait (sometimes it takes several days) to make sure the cash is actually in your account before letting someone take the merchandise. The "deposit availability" time of a deposited check is not indicative of when the money from the issuers account is actually credited to you.

And whatever you do, if he calls the next day and says he's changed his mind and wants you to wire the amount back to him, don't do it until you are absolutely sure you have received his funds into your account.
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Don't do this. Many times they will clear and then return weeks later. They use real accounts and routing numbers on their fake checks.
 
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#77
Carl Hillman said:
If you can physically take the check to the issuer's bank and cash it on the spot, I don't see a problem.
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Maybe. Depends on the bank. Some won’t cash a check for a non-customer even if it’s drawn on their own bank. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for them to refuse.

Most banks where I am will only honor a teller or certified check from their own bank for non-customers. And depending on the amount, not always then.
 
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#78
707GK said:
Pretty sure this is a scam, but I'm not sure. Posting some gear for sale on CL. I've ALWAYS met with people in person prior to selling, as I'm pretty hip to the scammers.

"Thank you so much for your response, I've been working really long weeks at work so I won't be able to meet with you before purchase, but am ok with the price and condition as shown on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a check to you and when you receive the payment and it clears, I will make arrangement for pickup. So get back to me with below details asap.

Full name :
Physical Address (Only,not po box):
City, State, Zip:
Your cell Phone Number:
Deal Price:

As soon as this is provided, payment will be overnight to you through UPS next day delivery and I will let you know then tracking number of the package. I will also add an additional $50 for keeping other buyers off till my check gets to you, also please delete the posting or mark as sold."

I've not responded and I likely won't as I'm 99% sure it's a scam....but I kinda need cash (filed my taxes wrong in first year of marriage) so if it's real, I do want to pursue it.

Thanks in advance TB'ers.
Click to expand...

Had a buddy get this same "deal" on CL, including the $50 to hold it. He held it and the check arrived, printed crooked on regular printer paper. BUT, the routing and account number were good and it may have gotten past some bank tellers. It was a school's account that it was drawn on.

Years and years ago we had someone at my company run a scam with checks where they ordered "replacement" checks online with our payroll account on them. It took a while, but eventually they caught up and called back the funds.

Nothing about this is legit.
 
#79
707GK said:
Pretty sure this is a scam, but I'm not sure. Posting some gear for sale on CL. I've ALWAYS met with people in person prior to selling, as I'm pretty hip to the scammers.

"Thank you so much for your response, I've been working really long weeks at work so I won't be able to meet with you before purchase, but am ok with the price and condition as shown on the advert, I'll proceed in issuing a check to you and when you receive the payment and it clears, I will make arrangement for pickup. So get back to me with below details asap.

Full name :
Physical Address (Only,not po box):
City, State, Zip:
Your cell Phone Number:
Deal Price:

As soon as this is provided, payment will be overnight to you through UPS next day delivery and I will let you know then tracking number of the package. I will also add an additional $50 for keeping other buyers off till my check gets to you, also please delete the posting or mark as sold."

I've not responded and I likely won't as I'm 99% sure it's a scam....but I kinda need cash (filed my taxes wrong in first year of marriage) so if it's real, I do want to pursue it.

Thanks in advance TB'ers.
Click to expand...
i've got the same response before too. it's a scam
 
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#80
40Hz said:
Maybe. Depends on the bank. Some won’t cash a check for a non-customer even if it’s drawn on their own bank. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for them to refuse.

Most banks where I am will only honor a teller or certified check from their own bank for non-customers. And depending on the amount, not always then.
Click to expand...

Usually Banks won't cash a cheque unless it was written out to Mr "C.ash".
 

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