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Am I getting scammed?
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Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Am I getting scammed?
No - this has nothing to do with a watch sale, so breathe easy on that count. I'm trying to sell a table that is taking up a ridiculous amount of room in my house and needs to go. So I listed it locally on Craigslist and PennySaver. I got an interested buyer last week who said he would send a cashier's check that would cover both the sale price plus shipping, at which time I would wire the remainder to the moving company this seller deals with and arrange for pick up of the table. The buyer provided no name or contact information, aside from the e-mail from which he sent the message. I smelled a rat: I would deposit a bogus cashier's check, see the amount reflected in my bank balance, then immediately wire the funds, only to find out a few days later the check was no good. By that time, I'd be cooked. But I figured if I waited to confirm the funds had actually cleared, rather than wire the moving costs immediately, I'd guard against any malfeasance. So I said OK, seeing as how it was the only offer I'd received on the thing up to that time.

Well, the check arrived today. The asking price for the table was $250. The check is for $1950! Who in their right mind would pay $1700 in moving costs on a table that costs $250? It's issued by an out-of-state credit union, in the name of an out-of-state company. The buyer's name appears nowhere on the check. I googled both the credit union and the company and find they do actually exist, but that doesn't reassure me much. Now I really smell a rat. This would appear to have 'scam' written all over it. What do you guys think? Is this a type of scam you've heard of before?
Author:  jnelson3097 [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
The whole situation sounds weird, I'd send the check back.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
That's what I'm planning on doing. I was contacted by another interested buyer last night who's still interested today; he's local and sounds above board. It's just that I was floored when I saw the check today, and wanted to know if anybody has heard of this.
Author:  msa6712 [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
It's a scam, a twist on ones I've experienced associated with the selling of cars. I was selling a 67 Firebird several years ago through an online collector's car site and was contacted by a potential "buyer" in Germany who wanted to send "certified funds" well over the amount of the price of the vehicle (similar scenario to the one you described) which would be plenty to make arrangements to ship the car to Germany and have several thousand left over for profit. Curiosity led me to contact the bank where I was advised by their fraud department that this was indeed a scam and to accept the check and turn it over to them for further investigation. I took the check to the bank, advised the "buyer" of my intent and never heard form him again. Sold the car a few days later for the asking price to a local car enthusiast.
As a side note, with all the crap you read regarding Craigslist ads of home robberies, murders and (hookers :wowzers )...I'm almost tempted to stay away and not have anyone come to my home to buy anything.

Good Luck,
Mark
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
msa6712 wrote:
As a side note, with all the crap you read regarding Craigslist ads of home robberies, murders and (hookers :wowzers )...I'm almost tempted to stay away and not have anyone come to my home to buy anything.

I'm planning on having my Kimber on me (concealed, of course) at the time of the move. Unfortunately, in order to unload this table, someone has to come over to my house to get it. It's too big for me to haul somewhere else.

Thanks for the word on the scam. I was just going to send the check back to the buyer, but now I will contact the credit union and see what they say.
Author:  MacApple [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
It's a scam all day long. Avoid any money orders or wires on Cl. Cash and buyer on hand are how CL transactions work. Just remember if there is a story they are full of shit.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
MacApple wrote:
It's a scam all day long. Avoid any money orders or wires on Cl. Cash and buyer on hand are how CL transactions work. Just remember if there is a story they are full of shit.

Yeah, I feel a bit naive. I was suspicious of it from the get-go, but I guess I was gullible in thinking there was even a possibility it might have been legit. Lesson learned. Fortunately it didn't cost me anything, other than a little bit of time.
Author:  sharkman [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
This is a scam used in many contexts - including the legal profession.

Lawyer gets contacted by a "former spouse" who needs to collect a large back-spousal maintainence judgment and the ex-husband is ready to pay and lives in lawyer's town. Ex-wife lives out of state. They claim that the funds have to go through a lawer's trust account. All you have to do is take the husband's $250,000 "cashier's check," take a big ass fee, and wire funds to the wife from your client trust account. Lawyer's bank gives full available balance on the phoney cashiers check, lawyer wires $200K to wife. Then the cashier's check turns out to be a fake. Trust account overdrawn, Bar gets involved, other client's checks bounce. Mutliple Bar Complaints.

I know at least 100 lawyers who got this email, including me. I know of one poor sap who fell for it. It effectively cost him his practice.

DON'T DO IT!!
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
sharkman wrote:
DON'T DO IT!!

Wow, that's a scary story. Don't worry, I'm not doing it. Like I said, I was suspicious even at the beginning; I should have listened to my gut and said no right then. But the insane overage on the actual check made it clear something was amiss. Evidently I've been living under a rock, not having heard of this before.

I've already contacted the (supposedly) issuing bank and reported the check. I'm waiting on a call back from their fraud department. As for the "paying" company, I don't know if they're a legitimate company whose name is being used without their permission, or if they're a front for the actual fraudsters. Their name comes up in a Google search only as a white pages listing; they don't have their own website. I thought of calling them, but I'm not sure I want to use my phone line to call what may be a bogus outfit. I probably ought to let the bank's investigator handle it.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
Speaking of phone lines, the buyer wanted a contact telephone number, which I provided. Should I be worried about bogus charges on my phone?
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
I just heard from the fraud investigator. It's a counterfeit check. The issued amount is identical to other counterfeits they've seen, and the check number is right in line with the sequence the counterfeiters are using. I'll send the check to the bank this week. He's warned me I can expect threats from the "buying" party, claiming I've stolen their money, threatening to call the police, etc. He said just stand up to them and they'll back down after a few days. It's unlikely they'll use my phone number for anything, though, except maybe to call me. I always screen my calls, though, so it's unlikely to bother me too much.

What a business. I knew there was a reason I don't like trying to sell things. Unfortunately, that avoidance has also left me inexperienced. Oh well - live and learn.
Author:  sharkman [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
JacksonStone wrote:
I just heard from the fraud investigator. It's a counterfeit check. The issued amount is identical to other counterfeits they've seen, and the check number is right in line with the sequence the counterfeiters are using. I'll send the check to the bank this week. He's warned me I can expect threats from the "buying" party, claiming I've stolen their money, threatening to call the police, etc. He said just stand up to them and they'll back down after a few days. It's unlikely they'll use my phone number for anything, though, except maybe to call me. I always screen my calls, though, so it's unlikely to bother me too much.

What a business. I knew there was a reason I don't like trying to sell things. Unfortunately, that avoidance has also left me inexperienced. Oh well - live and learn.



So maybe someone is trying to tell you the correct course is call a charity and let them pick it up??????
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
sharkman wrote:
So maybe someone is trying to tell you the correct course is call a charity and let them pick it up??????

I thought about that, but I did pay a bit for the table. I thought getting a little cash for it might not be a bad thing. This other buyer has already paid and is coming tomorrow to get the table. If you never hear from me again, you'll know the deal went bad. Why do I suddenly feel like I'm in an episode of Miami Vice?
Author:  sharkman [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
JacksonStone wrote:
sharkman wrote:
So maybe someone is trying to tell you the correct course is call a charity and let them pick it up??????

I thought about that, but I did pay a bit for the table. I thought getting a little cash for it might not be a bad thing. This other buyer has already paid and is coming tomorrow to get the table. If you never hear from me again, you'll know the deal went bad. Why do I suddenly feel like I'm in an episode of Miami Vice?




Somewhere in Appalachia right now, kids are sitting in the dirt eating squirrel belly stew, dreaming not of a PlayStation, but simply how wonderful life would be with a table....a real table. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:


My personal charity, Tables For Appalachia, stands by to take it off your hands. I'll send you a cashier's check and you can pay my non-profit - We Move Yo Stuff. They'll be right over.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Am I getting scammed?
sharkman wrote:
Somewhere in Appalachia right now, kids are sitting in the dirt eating squirrel belly stew, dreaming not of a PlayStation, but simply how wonderful life would be with a table....a real table. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Yeah, I'm sure a two-feet high, six-feet seven-inches long, avant-garde, bamboo console table is just what they need.

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