Is this a Scam?

[Tuckervill]

Another thing I just read on Wikipedia. Sometimes the first offer is just to build your trust, and the scamming ("oops, made the money order out for too much. Please wire me back the difference?") comes later.

Just don't do it.

Karen

[mimitabby]

has there been much conversation about the bike?
no? it's probably a scam. You can tell him you will only take a cashier's check (bank guarantees money behind it) for the amount of the purchase. I bet he'll go away.

[Eden]

Yes that is a scam - the money order will be fake, the next thing the person will try to talk you into is cashing a money order for *more* than the asking price and sending back the excess. Don't even get involved with this person unless they will put the whole thing on Paypal.

[smilingcat]

I've got $500 cash burning a hole in my pocket,

is an opening line for a scam.
MO, cashiers check and bank notes can all be counterfeit.

Don't even respond to the guy. more you engage him more chances of giving too much information about yourself.

About three years ago, I sold my car. Best place was on e-bay. Yahoo was terrible with scammers floating around. Local paper that advertises cars were just as bad.

"Hi, I am an agent representing a client, he had given me a check for $*** for a deal which did not consumate. He is out of Europe and unable to issue you the check but would like to purchase your car immediately. We would like to send you the check and have you send us the car with the excess balance back to us..."

Same form letter with different e-mail address. I tried to trace his e-mail and got very confusing... Somewhere in eastern Europe...

My first reply was that "I would set up an escrow account with a title insurance company and he can forward the check. When it has cleared with confirmation from the issuing bank, the title and the car will be released by the insurance company." No reply... but I kept on getting ths same silly form letter with different names.

DON'T BOTHER

an honest buyer is expected to show up and give you cash in hand and in return expect to have the item transferred at the same time.

Other weasely thing some buyer will do is show up and claim they are short by $** and would you be willing to take less or will be back with the balance. Tell this kind of person BYE BYE!! NO DEAL.

smilingcat

[SadieKate]

We're selling a lot on Craigslist right now. Legititmate buyers aren't even questioning that it is a cash-only transaction and that they must pick up the item unless you can arrange to meet somewhere, but even that is rare.

Don't even take a cashier's check as those can be counter-feited also. I assume the Criaglist folks have posted the warning based on a large statistical sample and wouldn't be making idle chit-chat.