# Is this a scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347 "2009-05-04T21:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/1 "2009-05-04T21:24:27Z")
I’m selling some landscaping equipment on CraigsList and I got this reply: > [@](#): > > Thanks for the response, I’ll really like to have the item but i wouldn’t have time to be around in person so pls I’ll be sending you a Check via my bank for the cost of the item.Because of the nature of my job, I’ll not be available to pick up the item myself, with this, I will be getting in touch with a moving company for the pick up for it on my behalf. I hope you do understand… So I’ll like you to provide me with the following information so as to notify the payment for the item. > > 1.Full name to be on the check > 2.Home or work address (Ups doesn’t deliver to P.O Boxes) > 3.Phone number > 4 The final price > > As soon as you have cashed the check I’ll make arrangement with the mover concerning > the pick up. Pls do me a favor of removing the Ad from CL as I’m committed to buying it. > > Best regard. It seem fishy but I don’t understand how it could go wrong. Advice/opinions? ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/2 "2009-05-04T21:26:01Z")
Not even gonna read past the first sentence. Scam. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/3 "2009-05-04T21:26:53Z")
Lots of scams start out with a check which you’re supposed to deposit, which turns out to be fake. My question is, what does UPS have to do with it? That might be a way for them to avoid charges of U.S. Mail fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/4 "2009-05-04T21:27:42Z")
If you have to ask, it’s a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy8467](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/5 "2009-05-04T21:31:29Z")
Definite scam. Run far far away. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/6 "2009-05-04T21:32:06Z")
I Googled the main text and got LOTS of hits for that scam. Sheesh. Anyway thanks for the responses. ETA: Some people are mean. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/7 "2009-05-04T21:32:21Z")
Total scam. Probably they will send a cashier’s check for too much, ask you for a refund, and then the check will bounce. You’ll be out a chunk of money and owe fees too. ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/8 "2009-05-04T21:37:24Z")
A piece of advice when dealing with people on Craigslist… When making a deal: Speak over the phone, not just email Meet in person in a public place. Bring a friend if possible. Accept cash only (beware it may be counterfeit, also) Also take into consideration… Never under any circumstances give away your home address or full name. Use a nickname if you can. Somewhere along the line you may sell something which you’re unaware is defective and a buyer may get upset… you wouldn’t want them knowing where you live, though sometimes it’s unavoidable if it’s something large. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/9 "2009-05-04T22:00:36Z")
Actual people interested in buying something will call it something more specific than an “item”. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/10 "2009-05-04T22:09:49Z")
Saw this when we tried to sell a piano. We got a reply from the midwest. Wondered why they wouldn’t rather buy one locally. My wife insisted it was OK and asked them to send a check. It looked real enough. I called the issuing bank. they asked for the routing number. I got three numbers out of mouth when the lady told me it was phony. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/11 "2009-05-04T22:51:34Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Total scam. Probably they will send a cashier’s check for too much, ask you for a refund, and then the check will bounce. You’ll be out a chunk of money and owe fees too. What if you deposit the check and then wait a good long while (6-8 weeks?) before forwarding the overpayment? Would that be long enough for any false check to become obvious? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/12 "2009-05-04T22:56:17Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > If you have to ask, it’s a scam. I wonder if this is true, at least regarding all the ‘Is it a scam?’ posts on the SDMB. I’m pretty sure every single one I’ve read has ended up being a scam. Actually, I’m pretty sure I posted one myself once (not ‘Is it a scam?’ but ‘How does this scam work?’). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/13 "2009-05-04T23:09:29Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I’m selling some landscaping equipment on CraigsList and I got this reply: > It seem fishy but I don’t understand how it could go wrong. Advice/opinions? This is definitely a scam. They’ll send you a check–perhaps a phony cashier’s check–for more than the amount of the item, ostensibly to cover shipping fees or whatnot. The’ll ask you to pay the shipping company out of it. You deposit the check which seems to be good, and eventually you discover that it’s not good. The bank charges you back for the check and the bad check fee, and of course you’re out the amount you gave the shipping company. It may well not be a legit carrier, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/14 "2009-05-04T23:25:57Z")
Scam, scam, scam, scam, eggs and scam. Has this question ever been asked with the answer being “no”? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/15 "2009-05-05T00:10:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What if you deposit the check and then wait a good long while (6-8 weeks?) before forwarding the overpayment? Would that be long enough for any false check to become obvious? Yes, but the check would still bounce and you’d still be charged fees. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/495347/16 "2009-05-05T00:15:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, but the check would still bounce and you’d still be charged fees. Could you also be charged with trying to pass a fraudulent check?