Author Topic: This is weird (Read 161 times)

glocke · « **on:** March 18, 2007, 11:31:19 AM »

Im selling a keyboard on craigslist for $1150.00
today I got an email from someone with poor english offering me 1200.00 to reserve it, and they will have someone come to pick it up for shipping...

Second email arrived saying they mistakenly wrote the check out for $4000.00 via an online checking account, and that it will be arriving tuesday, and they also asked for an immediate return of the amount overpaid...could be an honest mistake, but to my overly paranoid brain it just feels a little weird...

57basstra · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2007, 11:52:14 AM »

Big scam. Don't bite.

precarius · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2007, 11:57:53 AM »

Just cause you are paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't really out to get you!

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2007, 01:27:03 PM »

Chuckle... A new twist on an old gag. The check they are sending is a fake. By the time the mark (that's you...) realizes it, the product has been shipped/delivered and maybe even some more cash following to boot.

This has become such a familiar swindle that it seems they are upping the pressure by already accidentally sending the check before you agree to the deal. If you let them think they're getting away with it, you may be able to have the PD or FBI waiting for when they come by to pick up your keyboard. If you don't open the check if and when it arrives, there may be some evidence in the envelope as well.

Alternately, you can just tell them to go screw...

dannobasso · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2007, 01:34:55 PM »

$1150 looks just like $4000 to those with limited proficiency in English. Did they request dollars? Yen, Dracmas, Euros, Pesos, Yuhan, Sheckels, Talents? You could offer them their weight in Yak butter. That might be perfectly acceptable.

I guess cancelling the check was out of the question?

glocke · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2007, 02:18:00 PM »

This has become such a familiar swindle that it seems they are upping the pressure by already accidentally sending the check before you agree to the deal. If you let them think they're getting away with it, you may be able to have the PD or FBI waiting for when they come by to pick up your keyboard. If you don't open the check if and when it arrives, there may be some evidence in the envelope as well

its a new one to me...but I dont sell that often on the internet....

not exactly sure how I should proceed now...
I really dont want feds or cops in my house for any reason whatsoever... below is the text of the emails.

email 1)

Hello,
thanks for your prompt reply. Well, i must say you ve got a nice item and as a matter of fact, am buying it for someone dear to my heart. In a transaction like this, i will appeciate it if we can put trust first so that the transaction can go smoothly.

In the recent time, i bought an item from a seller who i sent payment to and never ships out my item, so i will like to know if i can trust you before i proceed with this transaction. I will like to pay you $1,200 if you can reserve the item for me while i make payment. My mode of payment will be through a US Cashiers/ Certified Check or Money order and i will wait till you get the payment and cleared before i ship the item.

Shipping will be handled by my shipping company as soon s fund is verified, all you need to do for me is to let me know when you will be available so that they can come and pick it up from your address.

Do get back to me with your full name and address plus your reachable phone number as it will be written on the check so that, i can forward it to my finance house to prepare your check for you to get it on time. Thanks and i will be waiting to hear from you soonest.

email 2:

Hello,
i am not in a good state of mind to tell you this but i think you will have plight for me and
understand me. I got a bad news today while i was about giving your info to my finance house, i was informed that, my dad had a serious accident and he is in COMA now. The shock of this news affected me badly that, while i was giving your info to my finance house, instead of $1200 to be written on your check, $4,000 was written on it and it has been sent to your address already.You will received the check on tuesday/

I hope i can trust you with my money and i hope you re trustworthy too and i will appreciate it if you can send back the remaining fund to me via western union money transfer and i promise that, i will also compensate you. Please do get back to me and let me know if you will be able to handle this. Thanks and i will be waiting to hear from you soonest

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2007, 04:08:07 PM »

The Western Union transfer is the clincher. This is definitely a scam. I'd email back and offer to send the check back, the seller can bring it back, get a new one for the right price and send that. I bet you either get a response that still has you cashing the check and sending the remaining $2800 or never hear from them again. If you proceed, the check will initially clear your bank, then in a couple of weeks you'll get a letter from the bank that the check was a forgery or stolen and the $4000 will be removed from your account. So you'll be out $2800 and your keyboard. DON'T DO IT!

Bill, tgo

glocke · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2007, 04:29:51 PM »

thanks bill....

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2007, 05:18:36 PM »

Definitely a scam.