I posted an ad on Craigslist to sell a large wardrobe. Got a text from an area code supposedly in Michigan, person does not identify himself by name. Wants to send me a cashier’s check, and I am to contact his movers to arrange for them to move it and pay them out of the cashier’s check funds. Asked him to send by overnight delivery; this is two days and have not received.
I asked for a tracking number; his assistant was to send it and has not.

I have now told him I am unhappy with vagueness of who and where he is, moving company contacts, no tracking number.

Furthermore I have caught a cold and want to go back to San Diego, and this transaction is the only thing holding me up.

At this point I would like to cancel the transaction, and return the check if and when it comes. I’ve heard of fake checks for things like cars, this is only a few hundred dollars.

What would my invisible but trustworthy friends advise?

UPDATE 1.31.19:
Got a text this morning with a tracking number. I said "this is a scam", responded "Scam?? This is no scam!!!"
Received USPS Priority Mail envelope today, sent by person in Las Vegas, drawn on Bank of Nevada. Supposedly from an RV company in Kalispell MT (that company does exist).
Amount of check is about $2,000 more than asking price of wardrobe.
I will call the bank in the morning.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sjtill,

Eject!


Craigslist transactions = face to face in EXTREMELY public place, preferably with security cams in the area and cash only. EBen then, proceed with excess caution.

Total scam. Move on.

Only every single thing about it.

Sounds legit to me.

Sounds like a classic scam profile. I'd walk away from that one.

quote:

Sounds legit to me.

Missing an emoji?

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Total scam. Move on.

^^^^^^^
Common tactic, asking seller to pay a third party from funds sent...

100% scam.

Run, don't walk away.

I don't know the country / area code for Nigeria, but I hear their prince needs a wardrobe once he gets here.

I forgot to mention I did a search on beenverified.com and no individual was found associated with the phone number.

I have canceled the transaction, and from now on will deal only face to face.

Thank you once again, invisible friends!

*UPDATED, Sorry, late to the party* Looks like you covered it already.
Scam. Did you Google the number?

Would be interesting to see if anything comes up on it.

I'm going to guess that the "purchaser" and the "shipping company are one and the same, you pay the guy, he leaves with the cash and you find out the check is no good in a few days. No merchandise, no money, no nothing.
Or at the last minute the "shipping company" will have a "driver issue", cannot accept payment for various excuses and you need to remit payment via Western Union or Green Dot card or something of that ilk. Driver never shows ,you still have the furniture but are out the money for shipping and bad check charges.
Or a setup for robbery by the "shipping company" when you have cash on you.

I would say cash only at time of pickup if you are determined to complete this. How the buyer gets it to you is his problem, not yours. And have backup with you at that time and place.

Personally I would walk away from the deal.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:

Thank you once again, invisible friends!

Wait. Your OP was serious? I thought it was sarcasm.

As a general rule, if a deal has me thinking "You want me to do what?!?", I walk away.

Similar for investments. If I don't understand it or don't see how I get my money back, I don't invest.

Cashiers check will be fake.

It's an extremely common scam.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Total scam. Move on.

^^^^^^^
Common tactic, asking seller to pay a third party from funds sent...

100% scam.

Run, don't walk away.

Forgive me if this sounds stupid, but why not take the cashier's check to the bank it is drawn on and cash it there?

I understand if you just deposit a check into your own account and it comes back. But I have to believe that even if a cashier's check is drawn on an out of state bank, there is a way for a banking institution to verify it is legitimate.

Now, would everyone take the time to do that? Probably not. Does everyone know what a cashier's check looks like or how it is different from a personal check? I doubt it.

I'm just following Para's advice and avoiding Craigslist. I'll take something to Goodwill or the dumpt before I will list it on Craigslist for sale.

Got a second offer by e-mail from someone whose name does not appear on DuckDuckGo or Google.

Local hauler will take it away tomorrow.

Funny, I would have given it away for free.

HenryinAZ, need a very large IKEA wardrobe? I'll give you a good deal.

If there's any doubt
There is no doubt.

DeNiro in Ronin

Please send me 10 million dollars cash, the 59th street bridge is for sale.I live in Nigeria so my 15th cousin in NYC will handle the transaction.