Beware of scam in classified section

I had an add posted in classified, The buyer was from out of the U.S. They responded to my personal e mail. They sent out a counterfit cashers check expecting money back. Make sure to get all cashers checks and money orders validated before you deposit them. So thies scam artists don’t get away with this. The guy that tried to pull the scam on me is under investigation now, but probably will not get cought because he is located out of the country.

Do not sell anything outside the USA, IMO. You have no recourse. It’s not worth the risks. There are plenty of potential buyers right here in the states.

I read up on this scam recently when I had an interested party in my car (2002 Camry posted in the classified ads) . Here are some suggestions:

– Get the check number off the cashiers check

– Get the bank name from the buyer, do not get the banks telephone number from the buyer.

– Find the bank’s telephone number from a reliable source like a telephone book.

– Call the bank and verify that the check is valid.

– Hold onto the title of the vehicle until you have the cash in your pocket.

Matt

I am going throught the same thing right now. I am almost ready to stop talks. I am very hesitant on the whole situation.

matth – where did you find the reading info on these scams?

Thanks,
Bryon

I too am going through the same situation. I have not heard back from the guy after I told him I will not wire any money until I have a)good funds in hand or b) he wire transfers the money into my account first. I then told him that after I recieve my money and he picks up the boat from me, I would have the papers for the boat sent to him separately.

I wish there was some way to really screw these guys over. I have no time or sympathy for idiots like that.

Bryon,

I did a number of different searches on yahoo, something like “cashiers check scam”. A number of links came up, here’s one.

Cashier’s check scam

If you are still in negotiations maybe you could get the authorites involved and try to get this guy caught.

Good Luck,

Matt

I read somewhere that a lot of these scams are originating in Nigeria, and there is nothing the U.S. Goverment can do to stop them, or go after them.

It’s worth repeating. Do not sell outside of the USA. Even in the states you can get scammed, of course, but you have more recourse. If it is something of high value, I’d think really hard about using a third party system such as Paypal or Western Union. The service does cost you a little but the peace of mind is usually worth it.

One other point, if you are not comfortable with a buyer or a seller, go with your gut feeling and end the transaction. Find another buyer/seller. It might save you a lot of trouble and heartache.

If you want to find out more on cashiers check scams and other consumer problems, check out clarkhoward.com. He has a very imformative radio program, also. If you live in an area with a radio station that carries his program, listen to it. He and his crew help people get out of problems when possible, and also keep you up to date on the lastest scams. Great show, highly recomended! They have a thing on cashier check scams up in front of their web site today. Check it out.

Personally when I buy or sell on THIS SITE it is only with another member of THIS SITE. I don’t consider this public domain in that sense. That classifieds is a “members only” priveledge seems obvious and I always assumed that is the intent. Don’t all of you?

After reading the cashiers check scam that matth posted I was laughing and at the same time upset. The deal has not been done and will not get done. The exact same things (especially the second paragraph) that were in that article were told to me from the buyer overseas. He will not wire the money. He will only send a cashiers check for the amount plus the shipping fee that i am suppose to forward on to his shipper. Thanks for all the info you have shared. I will be contacting the proper authorities. I hope there is some way they can catch this guy.