I posted a sale on craigslist for a dining table. I just received an offer. The Buyer will pay using a certified check drawn from a US bank. Should I go through with the Sale? Is this a Scam? What are the precautions I should take?
here is the email that the buyer sent me.
Hello,
i appreciate your quick response on this sales i am very much
satisfied with the condition and i want you to know that my term of
payment is by certified check drawn from us bank due to some reasons
and i have my own shipper that will come for the pick up of the item
upon your confirmation of receiving and cash the check, and again to
let you know that you don’t need another buyer for the item so do
withdraw the advert from CL and get back to me with the following
information to
have the check mail out to asap.
1…..full name to write on the check
2…..full physical address to mail the check to please not P.O BOX
3…..Home & Cell Phone to contact you
kindly get back to me asap, Regards.
Thank you fluther community for the help in advance. This is trulty an amazing site.
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16 Answers
Looks like scam.
Often times, a check can be successfully deposited in your bank… only to be rejected later. So confirmation in that case can be a fleeting thing. Same goes for money orders.
If you have access to a local branch of his bank, you could cash his check there. Then you’ve got cash in hand and are good to go.
Hi John. I agree with Rob on this one. It most likely is a scam. If you read the Craigslist posting for avoiding scams, this type of arrangement is one of the most common ways to be taken in a scam. I have successfully sold items on Craigslist, but it has always been to local buyers where we met face to face and exchanged cash for items.
craigslist = $cash only payments in my book
John, I was perusing some of the examples of scams from the Craigslist website, and they are very similar to your email. Definitely avoid it!
Even with legit transactions, only go local and never with anything but in person and Cash… I love Craigslist, but this is always the best policy.
This SO looks like a scam to me… beware!
Broken English, shady payment, third party “shipper”—Sounds like a scam to me.
Thanks guys. I had a feeling it was a scam but i was unsure since it’s my first time to post on craigslist. I need a better way to get rid my furniture before I move out of this house.
Depending on the size of the city you live in, you shouldn’t have any trouble selling it locally as long as you follow a couple of rules:
1.) Don’t fool yourself as to how much your table is worth. Forget how much you paid for it when you bought it. Throw emotion out the window and ask yourself, “How much would I pay for this, right now?”
2.) A well written ad with an honest description does wonders.
3.) Pictures do more. Lots of pictures.
Good luck! (And cash is definitely the way to go).
Yeah, definitely scam. Only deal with cash on craigslist.
Tell him to use pay pal, or cash, or no deal!
Why would he mail you a check without picking up the table? Scam. And not even a very convincing one.
Response moderated (Spam)
Sounds suspicious to me. Craigslist says most certified and cashier’s checks sent to people are fraudulent and once they bounce, you are responsible for that money to the bank.
Most fake emails sound very formal due to poor English skills. You’d think scammers would’ve wised up to this by now.
Ask him to meet with you in person and for a personal check only. If he refuses, then it’s a scam.
It’s definitely a scam. When selling something on Craigslist, only accept cash.
Response moderated (Spam)
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