Craigs List help.. Is this shifty?

[chocovrdmicears]

DH listed something on Craigs list last night. He listed it as *cash & carry* only. We received an email from a "potential" buyer.
They would like to overnight us a Bank Of America certified check. Once the funds have cleared they will send their shipper to pick it up at our place. They requested our name, address, and phone number and asked us to take down the listing to show that we are going to sell it to them.
We have never sold a thing on Craigs list so I have no idea if this sounds 'normal' or 'shifty'. Anyone with experience selling on there have any opinions or advice?

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

It's a scam! Your bank will initially clear the check, but a few weeks later it will bounce and you will get stuck with no money and no item. I have heard the same story from many people. My best advice is CASH ONLY!

 

[caribear]

DO NOT DO THIS!

This is definitely one of the scams on Craigslist!!

 

[4mickey2]

agreed... step away from this sale.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Ugh. I figured it was. All my warning bells were going off when I read the email. I said to DH "Who in their right mind would overnight a certified check without seeing the actual thing?" Why do people have to be so shifty?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

THANK YOU for your help everyone.

It makes me sad to think of how many folks might be tricked into this kind of thing.

 

[DawnM]

I get those emails every time I list on Craigslist

 

[NYCDiane]

What they usually do is, they'll send you a check for more than the amount of the item... For example, you're selling the item for $1500. They'll send you a check for $4000 and say it was an error and for you to just send them back a money order or something for the difference. A few weeks later, the check they sent you bounces and you're out everything and you'll never be able to track these people.

One of the oldest scams in the book!

 

[Niagara2]

I bought sight unseen and sent a bank check as a down payment for a large purchase on craigs list. I knew the item I wanted, and it was a brand name bedroom set that I had been eyeing in a furniture store. I spoke to the lovely seller numerous times. I actually called from New York State to Florida. Sent the check from my northern home to FL. My husband flew down, rented a uhaul a few weeks later, paid the balance in full with another bank check, and took to our winter home in FL.
I guess the women could of taken our downpayment and ran, but we had her home address, and emails from her on what we were doing. I would think we would of had her arrrested if she tried something. She was a bit older, and in our many conversations, got comfortable with each other.
The item was selling for 10 cents on the dollar compared to the new set sitting on the showroom floor. The only thing I felt bad about is the price she was asking. I do not know if she knew what good furniture this was.
Maybe I got lucky, but it worked for the buyer and seller in this case.

 

[a1tinkfans]

DH listed something on Craigs list last night. He listed it as *cash & carry* only. We received an email from a "potential" buyer.
They would like to overnight us a Bank Of America certified check. Once the funds have cleared they will send their shipper to pick it up at our place. They requested our name, address, and phone number and asked us to take down the listing to show that we are going to sell it to them.
We have never sold a thing on Craigs list so I have no idea if this sounds 'normal' or 'shifty'. Anyone with experience selling on there have any opinions or advice?

RUN...FAST and do not look back S C A M
CASH is CASH!
(by the way, the funds seem to clear, then MYSTERIOUSLY there is a PROB and YOU are out of Your item and the $$$!)

 

[Dizneydaz]

I've sold quite a few things on craigslist and have done fine. I've only sold smaller items. Always Cash Only. I do get those emails as well and ignore them.

Reminds me of when I was sellling my minivan a few years back on Autotraders.com. I got an email asking me if the minivan was still available ( I had just listed it) and they had a serious buyer for it. They would send me a cashier's check for $2,000 more than the asking price and I would then give them my car and $2000 as well. I was so annoyed when I got this email-did someone really think I was this stupid! I knew what would happen-I would lose my car and be out $2000. The only reason these scams work is people get greedy. They always offer you the full asking price for what you are selling.

I responded to the email that the van was still available and to contact me (by email) if they were serious. They didn't.