# ok, this is obviously a Craigslist scam, but how are they going to do it??? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724 "2009-10-22T10:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/1 "2009-10-22T10:33:08Z")
I am selling my old breast pump on Craigslist (I breastfed Bram until I just couldn’t keep up with it anymore. I only used it around four times, so it’s still worth a considerable amount.) I get this email from an Elizabeth Edwards asking if it’s available. I reply that it is indeed, and I get this reply back. > [@](#): > > That’s great, Thank you for getting back to me. Though I’ll be using > the services of a mover who will come for the pick up of the item on > my behalf all because I’m currently away for a contracting Job but I > will send a Cashier Check through my Bank to cover the cost of the > items. The check will be delivered to you by a reliable courier > company within 2-3 working days. Please do provide me with your full > mailing address, and also indicate your final price, the Name that > should be on check and finally a cell phone #. Kindly delete the > posting because am serious in buying it, when the Funds Clears then we > can arrange for the pick up asap. Ok, so obviously, bogus. But what the hells the scam here? Are they just trying to get my information so they can sell it? Or are they going to send a check for real, but there won’t be funds to back it up? How does that help them? What is the purpose of urging me to delete the posting? I’ve looked at this from every angle I can think of, and can’t figure out what “Elizabeth” has to gain from this. I hate Craigslist for this reason. I need to sell the thing by Sunday to get some money for school. ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/2 "2009-10-22T10:57:35Z")
They’re going to send you a money order/bogus check for more than the cost of the item and ask you to refund the extra to them/send it to their cousin who’s studying abroad/whatever. You go cash it and send on the money, and weeks later it comes back as fraudulent. You’re on the hook for that extra money. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/3 "2009-10-22T12:34:07Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > They’re going to send you a money order/bogus check for more than the cost of the item and ask you to refund the extra to them/send it to their cousin who’s studying abroad/whatever. You go cash it and send on the money, and weeks later it comes back as fraudulent. You’re on the hook for that extra money. Ah, ok. That makes sense. I didn’t think of that, thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/4 "2009-10-22T12:38:16Z")
Doesn’t Elizabeth Edwards have breast cancer? Not sure what she’d need a breast pump for… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/5 "2009-10-22T14:03:26Z")
Also, the payment is being sent by courier instead of the US Postal Service in part to avoid the possibility of being charged with mail fraud. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/6 "2009-10-22T14:10:13Z")
Won’t you play with them and [scam the scammer](http://www.419eater.com/) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/7 "2009-10-22T14:11:39Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > Also, the payment is being sent by courier instead of the US Postal Service in part to avoid the possibility of being charged with mail fraud. In the spirit with which we correspond with our friends from Nigeria, have you considered telling them that couriers won’t deliver to your area, but only USPS does? Similarly, how about cashing the check and sitting on it until it defaults, laughing merrily at their tales of destitute relatives. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/8 "2009-10-22T14:35:12Z")
I’d assume the “Elizabeth Edwards” was a sick joke and then delete any emails from them. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/9 "2009-10-22T16:34:31Z")
I’d reply with something like: “That’s great! Total cost will be $XXXXX. However, it is a known scam for people on Craigslist to send a fraudulent check for a larger amount than necessary, and ask for a reimbursement for the difference, bilking the seller out of money. Therefore, if your cashier’s check is for one penny more than the above amount, I will NOT reimburse you ANY money. The price is $XXXXX, not $XXXXX.01. I trust you understand my caution.” Joe ---
**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:** [October 22, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/10 "2009-10-22T16:40:56Z")
You may still have to pay a fee to the bank for non-sufficient funds. It’s better not to pursue this at all. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-this-is-obviously-a-craigslist-scam-but-how-are-they-going-to-do-it/514724/11 "2009-10-22T16:45:00Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > I’d reply with something like: Why bother, there’s no way for you to make money out of this and it just wastes your time.