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Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 3:27:54 PM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		Last night I posted a lathe for sale on craigslist. I set up a fresh email for that purpose so if it were to get spammed to death I can just cut it loose. Got me a membership and posted ze machine. So far so good.

Well in what I would think is record time I got a response. Guy wants pictures and my sinister has the camera, so I said I'd get some and send them off, and of course I would include them in the ad if he doesn't buy it. However this is a lathe, and pictures don't really tell the story of it's condition. I gave the basic measurements and what I would include, like chucks and the stand etc.

So I get another email saying that the price is fine, and he wants to know where to send the cashier's check. Well that sounds better than a personal check, as they don't bounce. However the guy didn't call me. I did give him the number.

Now I was pretty descriptive in the ad, but I find it hard to believe that he wants to buy this thing ($600) sight unseen. I was expecting maybe a few questions, like how much vertical slop is in the head and things like that. This makes me a bit suspicious.

However I'm wondering just what he could do. He has my phone number, what can he do with my address ? If he's remotely casing the joint, all he knows is I have  computer and a lathe, and if he can pick that lathe up and walk out of here, well he can have it. It's a machine and not light to say the least.

So, just with my name and address, what is the risk ? He could already sell my email to a spammer. He could send me junk mail. Ripping me off is not easy, nor is it wise because well...... remember all those gun threads ? This house is very rarely empty.

If it's legit, there are two possibilities. He could just have enough money that it really doesn't matter. Maybe he just collects machinery. Another possibility is hat I underpriced it so low that he would take it in almost any condition. And it may not be on the up and up, maybe he got his hands on a blank cashier's check and want to use it, to screw me. That's not going to work because that thing is not leaving until I have the money in my hot [not so] little hand. And I'm not washing it through another account or someone else's account. One way or the other that would leave me holding the proverbial bag. I would take it to a branch of his bank maybe, that or take it to my bank to make absolutely sure it's good.

So discounting the possibilty of a bogus check, or getting robbed, what other vulnerabilities exist ? If he gets the cancelled check he might have my account number, but not the routing number. I might also start another account for that purpose, I intended to anyway. I need a debit card and I don't want it tied to my checking, I don't want anything tied to my checking except checks. The debit would be separate, totally. If the balance goes flat it just declines. I could get a line of credit on it, but I don't want one.

Basically I do know how to do business, with all this I think I am pretty safe, but things change all the time. What other ways are there to screw me somehow ? The information given will consist totally of name, address and phone number. I suppose he could get one bank account number, but what can he actually do with it without the routing number or PIN code or anything ?

I'm also considering insisting on a postal money order. You don't get those back and I'm not sure you can find out any information on whoever cashes it. I think. That's why I ask. There are people here more familiar with modern scams etc. than I am.

And this is not necessarily a one time shot. I intend to do more business online.

What should I be looking for ?

T
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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 3:44:19 PM   
KYsissy


Posts: 781
Joined: 5/12/2005
Status: offline 		Are you shipping it?  If not, cash in hand when he picks it up. Otherwise I would do some form of payment that cannot be linked back to your primary bank accounts.

My buddy had a nice old car he fixed up. He put it on Craigs list and got a guy from the Carribean that wanted to buy it. He was thinking scam but I told him if he puts cash in your hand, why not?

One week later he had a wad of Benjamins in his hand and his car was gone. 

Scam? maybe. but maybe not. Just be careful.


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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 3:46:45 PM   
Lucylastic


Posts: 40310
Status: offline 		How will he be receiving the lathe? are you mailing it, is he picking it up? if hes picking it up I would prefer cash.
Personally I dont like cashiers checks from anything but a local bank. Been caught that way. Money orders are better personally speaking.
just my 2 cnts



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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 4:52:02 PM   
DarkSteven


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Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline 		The standard scam is to give you a check for more than agreed upon, and ask for the difference back in cash.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 5:27:06 PM   
ThatDamnedPanda


Posts: 6060
Joined: 1/26/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

The standard scam is to give you a check for more than agreed upon, and ask for the difference back in cash.


Yeah, that's probably the scam, Term. You're asking 600 for the  lathe, has a cashier's check for a grand, asks for $350 back and you can keep the extra 50 for your trouble. A week later, the bank calls to tell you the cashier's check was forged.

That other shit - your phone number, the throwaway e-mail - can't hurt you, Term. The e-mail's a shell anyway, and as for the phone number, people can get phone numbers out of the phone book. It doesn't put you at any risk.

How the heck did he get your bank account number, though?


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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 5:45:11 PM   
January


Posts: 891
Joined: 4/17/2004
Status: offline 		Why would he send you a money order? Isn't he going to pick the lathe up?

I've done a lot of online sales through ebay and so on, and done some local Craigslist sales, and I know that Craigslist discourages transactions that aren't face to face. You should insist on cash. Yes, even $600.

Even Postal Money Orders can be counterfeited. (So can cash, obviously).

January




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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 5:49:49 PM   
kalikshama


Posts: 14805
Joined: 8/8/2010
Status: offline 		To backup what DarkSteven said

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts on craigslist.

NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.

FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.

CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"

NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.

DO NOT RENT HOUSING WITHOUT SEEING THE INTERIOR, OR PURCHASE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SIGHT-UNSEEN - in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist. You are being manipulated by a scammer.

DO NOT SUBMIT TO CREDIT CHECKS OR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR A JOB OR FOR HOUSING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET THE INTERVIEWER OR LANDLORD/AGENT IN PERSON.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 6:09:07 PM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		Cash only when he comes to pick it up. Anything else isn't worth dealing with.


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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 6:38:48 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		Who the hell would pay ship on something that big?

BTW- you may have already won publishers clearing house prize patrol.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 7:06:31 PM   
WyldHrt


Posts: 6412
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

The standard scam is to give you a check for more than agreed upon, and ask for the difference back in cash.
Quite correct.
The other standard scam is to send the check, wait until is is cashed, then have an 'emergency' and suddenly need the money for medical expenses or some such. The 'buyer' will then ask for the money back via Western Union, and tell the vic to keep $50 for his or her trouble. A variation of this scam is often used with hotels and child care providers.

The reason that these scams work is that banks are required by law to provide provisional access to funds deposited by check, money order, or cashier's check within a certain time frame. Most people assume that when they see the money in their account or get it in their hot little hands, it means the check or money order is good. This is a huge mistake, as it can take weeks or even months for a forged or stolen check to bounce, and when it does, the account holder is on the hook for the entire amount. This goes even if the teller swears up and down that the check is good, BTW.

~Helpful Wyld


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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 7:14:52 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		look for a local dude- cash and carry.

key word-  CASH.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 7:15:35 PM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		UFR

To clear it up a bit.

"Are you shipping it? ........" , etc.

He wanted to know where to send the check. It seems like he has no problem paying in advance. He said he would send people for it, with a truck I presume.

I think the best way to handle this is keep it simple. I stated in the ad that after I recieve the deposit I will break the machine down for transport. I'll make it clear that I will not do that until the check actually clears. Then I insist on cash when it is picked up. That simple. I think.

Whaddya think ? I got a paper trail from the check and I move to dismanle it AFTER I have the money from the check. By then I'll have also sent him pictures. Cash money, then loaderup. Want a reciept ? no problem.

T

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 7:18:09 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		is it worth $600 for scrap?

I would want to see it work.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/14/2011 9:50:01 PM   
WyldHrt


Posts: 6412
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

He wanted to know where to send the check. It seems like he has no problem paying in advance. He said he would send people for it, with a truck I presume.

Scammers never have issues paying in advance, as they are not paying. As for sending people for the machine, don't be surprised when things change and he wants it shipped.
quote:

I think the best way to handle this is keep it simple. I stated in the ad that after I recieve the deposit I will break the machine down for transport. I'll make it clear that I will not do that until the check actually clears. Then I insist on cash when it is picked up. That simple. I think.

As I said, it can take weeks or months for a fake/ stolen check to come back bad. Cashing such a check/ money order at the issuing bank isn't a bad idea, but if the check is stolen or created using stolen account information (read: phishing), it can still come back on you. Given that legal ID, and often a thumbprint, are required to cash a check at a bank where you don't have an account, they will still come after you if the check turns out to be fake.
quote:

Whaddya think ? I got a paper trail from the check and I move to dismanle it AFTER I have the money from the check. By then I'll have also sent him pictures. Cash money, then loaderup. Want a reciept ? no problem.

I think that a paper trail doesn't mean anything if the check is fake or stolen. Have you traced the emails to see where your buyer is located? If you don't know how to do that, mail me on the other side.


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"MotherFUCKER!" is NOT a safeword!!"- Steel
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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 1:48:37 AM   
Hippiekinkster


Posts: 5512
Joined: 11/20/2007
From: Liechtenstein
Status: offline 		Definite scam.

I haven't turned wood for nearly 40 years.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 5:30:39 AM   
thishereboi


Posts: 14463
Joined: 6/19/2008
Status: offline 		When I tried to sell a bed on craigs list, I got about 100 of those emails and yes it's a scam.

edited to add: You will also start getting emails from "craigs list" stating that your account is in violation and you have to click on a link to fix it. This is also a scam.


< Message edited by thishereboi -- 1/15/2011 5:34:46 AM >

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 5:35:05 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		UFR

I got two more offer on it now. I guess I can just blow off anyone who doesn't give me that "warm fuxxy" feeling :-)

T

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 5:52:06 AM   
DarkSteven


Posts: 28072
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline 		And anyone not local, too.   Go with cash.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 8:14:00 AM   
Michael75


Posts: 31
Joined: 4/4/2010
Status: offline 		I might buy something like that sight unseen, but my first payment choice would be paypal followed by cash on collection.

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RE: Question : Possible scam ? - 1/15/2011 8:28:26 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

And anyone not local, too.   Go with cash.


I will only sell to local people.   It is less hassle.

Term has an advantage being in a metro.

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