Does this sound legit??

[Pnewsom]

Originally Posted by Earl49

All deals are face to face and cash only, we meet in a public place. And I don't mention it, but I am usually carrying a sidearm.....

Careful they don't take that too...

[Godfather]

Originally Posted by Heroditus

Totally a fraud! Run away from this as far as you can and don't send him any money!!!!

Or any of your info!

[Rosewood99]

The fact that this question is even asked is why these scams keep living. They always find that one in a million who will take the bait.

[PTony]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

The fact that this question is even asked is why these scams keep living. They always find that one in a million who will take the bait.

Mm hmm. Agreed 100%. Some lessons are best learned the hard way I suppose.

[guitararmy]

As someone who has been scammed once by a fake eBay second chance offer, I've learned you can't be too careful.
As a rule, it seems that any response to a sale that is wordy or has some strange excuses is almost always bogus.

[_zedagive]

Thanks everyone-

I was never going to follow through with the offer, but since it sounded like no exchange would the place until the check cleared, I wanted to know exactly how the buyer gets screwed. Now I know and hopefully helps someone else that has a trap set for their precious instrument.

[roylor4]

All the elements of a scam are present:

1) They want your "item" (non-specific so they can use the response for everything on CL)
2) Cashiers Check - It WILL be a fake
3) Odd use of grammar and terminology IE - "Nigerian Prince"
4) Offering to pay more than asking price so you will jump on it
5) It will be "picked up" at a later date. Usually by "an agent" - this gives the thief plausible deniability of ever receiving the "item"

PS - A new version is that the buyer is blind and will send a "driver" to pick up the "item"

[ruby50]

I get something like this every time I list on CL, mostly without the cashier's check mention. Always mentions "the item". Just to weed them out, I respond on the CL email scrambler "I have several items for sale, which one are you interested in" and never get a response

Ed

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by _zedagive

"Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment? I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Cell Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $40 for holding it for me Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon"


Not sure if I should respond. Any advice?

Thanks!

And to repeat, just for emphasis -

"the item" - because they crank these out all day long, no time (or point, as far as they're concerned) in specifying "guitar" or "chainsaw" or "Barcalounger".

"will arrange for pickup" - they can't ever pick the item up themselves. "busy hours at work" is pretty unimaginative, I saw one once who had to arrange a pickup because he was working on an oil rig in the North Sea AND had a broken arm, poor fella.

[Beakybird]

Some big companies fall for extrapolations on the phony money order scam. Many have lost millions.

[GTRGUY005]

I always add the following to my CL ads, regardless of what I am selling (guitars, furniture, etc.):

Cash and pick up only!!!

[Paddy1951]

In a word, NO. This is a phishing expedition of sorts. Somebody hopes your stupid enough to bite.

[golfreggie]

Originally Posted by PiousDevil

Do not respond. Do not acknowledge their existence. Delete the email. Do not offer to sell to them for cash.

What he said, this has been going on for a long time