It's a fake check scam that will get you arrested as this guy and thousands of other people find out every year http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/C...
I don't know why people ignore Craigslist's VERY clear scam warnings http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
"Examples of Scams.....
2. Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check:
You receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
A cashier's check is offered for your sale item as a deposit for an apartment or for your services.
Value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item―scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.
Banks will often cash fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, sometimes including criminal prosecution.
These scams often involve a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc.)."
Craiglist is ONLY for face to face CASH transactions or you are always getting scammed. There are NO exceptions. If you cannot meet the buyer in person in the public location of YOUR choice and accept cash, then it's always going to be a scam
This is a Nigerian scam - you can tell because they say 'advert' instead of 'ad'
Plus NOBODY offers MORE money on Craigslist. People try to get you to reduce the price, not increase it. They look for suckers whose greed is stronger than their common sense
Yes, it is a scam.
Notice the "flowery" speech and the fact that he wants you to cash a check and forward money to a courier service that will pick up the item?
That is how they make money. The check will eventually bounce but not until you have sent off the money to the "courier service" and your bank will want their money back from you.
Check fraud from offshore operators offering to pay more than asking price are very common. In some cases they ask you to send money to a shipping service, which is actually how the scammer makes money (they don't really want what you are selling)
It's always bet to stick to locals you can meet face to face.
Search for Nigerian 419 to see lots of cases like below.
Craigslist has a big warning about this thief. The key is that his email to you never refers to what you are selling. He asks for you to hold "the item". They send out 10,000 of these every day.
Um, I would just say you can pay me upfront or not at all
i think so. use ebay instead
I don't know if I'm being over-paranoid about craigslist, but there are so many scammers & I don't want to be scammed. I saw other similar questions, but I didn't see an email similar to this:
Hello,
Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and i know there might be other potential buyers so am willing to add extra $30 so that you can keep it in my favor. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via courier mail.Pls do withdraw the advert from craigslist to avoid disturbance and to be rest assured on my side that i have bought it.
I'll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers/pick up money will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable movers to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be moved alongside with yours.
I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible. kindly get back to me with your Full Name and Physical Address including your Cell and Home Number so i can make out payment to you.
I believe this is based on trust.
Regards
