I posted this in the "buy tv from craigslist" thread, but I need help on this ASAP. Summary: HDTV for sale. Buyer offered $100 more than asking price. I said it was his to pick up. this is a direct copy and paste of the potential buyer's response: "I will like to proceed with the transaction asap and my mode of payment will be via bank check drawn on my bank (Bank Of America) as there are too many scams on internet with bogus money orders and personal checks,i am purchasing this item for my brother in abroad for his birthday coming up next three weeks so you're to ship the item to my brother via Global Express Mail (USPS) after you must have confirmed and cashed the check i will include shipping fee in the check so you have nothing to worry about. I should have handled this myself but i am not available to do this now i am currently away for my company seminar that is why i want to do this to facilitate the transaction so proceed to delete the craigslist posting of the item if my mode of payment is accepted and get back to me asap with your full name,physical address and Phone # to send the check to you." Is there any way I can get scammed? If I read that correctly, the buyer wants to send a check, for me to cash the check, then for me to ship the TV.
Anything that complicated isn't worth screwing with. Typically the checks or money orders or whatever come back as bad, even if the bank accepts them at first. Get cash from someone, hand item to them. Done.
I don't know squat about selling stuff online, but I think MB is correct. Ultimately I'd tell you to follow your gut, which is obviously trying to tell you something if you're posting this here. imo.
Is he also a prince from an African nation? If you, the seller, have to go through hurdles for this guy, it's not worth it. Most of the time it's the other way around.
its a scam imo. i copy and pasted the description of the email into google and clicked the first link, and it the writing looks eerily similar to the one here although it is for a ring and not a tv: http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1279704.aspx
I sold my old tv for $600. the dude rolled up with $600 cold cash and truck to put the tv in. Don't get scammed. Cash Rules Everything... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GDfToFcJ2J4&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GDfToFcJ2J4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
It's a scam. These are VERY common on craigslist. I get at least one response like this every time I post something. If you see someone willing to pay more, and talk about "being abroad", it's a scam. Also, the "delete the posting" line is in nearly all of these scams. Plus, this dude isn't even trying to speak very good english. You won't be able to just cash the check. You'll have to deposit it, your bank will put a hold on it, and eventually they will figure out it is bogus and take the money back. The easiest way to spot one of these is to just copy/paste part of the message into Google and you will almost always find a very similar message that someone else got for a different item when someone tried to pull the scam on them. Don't fall for it. Or do, if you like getting screwed over.
Not only that, he isn't trying to speak English well. Seriously, though: this is way too fishy for me. I'd say do not proceed. Also, in the future, you might want to stipulate "no foreign shipping" or "U.S. domestic shipping only" in any ad listing.
Definite red flag that he is offering 100 more than the asking price. I have dealt with many transactions on craigslist and I only accept cash or sometimes paypal. Even if your bank accepts your check initially, it could later be discovered as a fraudulent check and that will come back on you.
Hey, it may have cost me $325,000, but I have a genuwine certificate that says I am a 45% owner of the fine African nation, Ayefuctyu. Not all things expensive, complicated and shady are scams, I have the certificate that proves it.
Id like to add to that about it being scam When I first listed my HDTV + stand, I got two people contacted me with similar stories. I basically told them I didnt care how they paid their "movers", I wanted cash in hand before the stuff left my posession...no cashiers checks or money orders that can be forged. See, the deal is that they fake the money order\cashier check and then you give to your bank, then by the time they determine it is fake, you are left holding the bag and getting charged for passing a fake CC\MO. When dealing with CL, CASH ONLY. Its the only safe way.
