Funny Business?

carneyman · March 5, 2009

So I posted an organ (no, not a human organ) on craigslist on sunday, and got an email on monday. The buyer wanted to mail me a check for the organ, and after I deposited it, some movers would come pick it up. I said sure, sounds good to me.

Then I get an email today from her, saying her bank mis-understood her and is sending me a check for $2000 more than the price we agreed on. She wants me to deposit it, then wire the difference to the mover via western union...

To me its all kinda weird. For one, the first 2 emails were from one account ([email protected]) matching the buyers name, and the last email was from a gmail account with the same name ([email protected]), but with a different name in the email.

I've never sold anything through craigslist, never dealt with western union, so I don't really know what to think. Does it sound fishy to anyone?

Chestah · March 5, 2009

I hope you're joking. Classic 419 scam. They send you excess funds, you send the difference through Western Union. The check they sent you bounces, your money is gone.

EDIT: DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK, DO NOT WIRE THE EXCESS MONEY.

VMax2007 · March 5, 2009

I hope you're joking. Classic 419 scam. They send you excess funds, you send the difference through Western Union. The check they sent you bounces, your money is gone.

EDIT: DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK, DO NOT WIRE THE EXCESS MONEY.

+1

Total scam!

Sigmawess · March 5, 2009

I hope you're joking. Classic 419 scam. They send you excess funds, you send the difference through Western Union. The check they sent you bounces, your money is gone.

EDIT: DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK, DO NOT WIRE THE EXCESS MONEY.

+1

Total scam!

+ 1 billion, happens all the time! Dont fall for this one.

BuckFeverZ · March 5, 2009

I hope you weren't seriously considering doing this.

Huntervh · March 5, 2009

Classic Scam - send an email back that the price changed to $2,000,000,000,000 for you time. You will never hear from them again.

For some good reads on how to get back at the scammers, check out this site

http://www.419eater.com/

rvsahs · March 5, 2009

Classic Scam - send an email back that the price changed to $2,000,000,000,000 for you time. You will never hear from them again.
For some good reads on how to get back at the scammers, check out this site

http://www.419eater.com/

+1!!!

Freakin' con artists....

Draenor · March 5, 2009

Put lots of explosives in the organ with a cellphone wired as the detonator. Tell her to call you once received. Proceed to call the cell in the organ and ka-zam. No more scammer.

Oh you'll be out of money for the explosives and 1 organ...but think of the fun you'll have.

DofD · March 5, 2009

Absolutely fishy! It's a scam that's constantly run on Craigslist and other similar sites. Don't deposit the cheque! The way this scam works is they will send you a fake cheque, you deposit the money and wire the difference back. After a couple weeks your bank will detect the fake and you'll be liable for the money.

There's links on the Craigslist sites that talk more about it and the scams to watch out for.

Nick The Great · March 5, 2009

I saw a program on CNBC or something this weekend, "To Catch a Con Man" or something like that. It was done by Chris Hansen, the guy from the "To Catch a Predator" shows.

Neat show. He went to England and met with these guys. He'd spend all day f'ing with them about where his money was. "There was a problem with my bank, meet me later back at the pub." Some guys ran, some guys denied doing anything wrong. The shitty thing was they couldn't really do anything, since they were overseas.

I wouldn't fall for them myself but they're getting trickier.

VMax2007 · March 5, 2009

Absolutely fishy! It's a scam that's constantly run on Craigslist and other similar sites. Don't deposit the cheque! The way this scam works is they will send you a fake cheque, you deposit the money and wire the difference back. After a couple weeks your bank will detect the fake and you'll be liable for the money.

There's links on the Craigslist sites that talk more about it and the scams to watch out for.

Cheque?

Fuggin Canucks!!!

Josh · March 5, 2009

i hate scammers

Zembonez · March 5, 2009

ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MEET FACE TO FACE ON CRAIGLIST IS A SCAMMER!

Sorry for the all caps but man... I hope your post was a joke.

Edit: Whatever you do, stop answering their emails. They will go away.

carneyman · March 5, 2009

Nope, figured it was a scam. Whats weird is that they expect you to fall for it. Especially when she said the extra $2000 goes to the movers...

Now, the real question is, if the check DOES arrive, can I find a place that will cash it...without taking down any info of mine...and maybe throwing in a candy bar for my trouble.

DofD · March 5, 2009

Nope, figured it was a scam. Whats weird is that they expect you to fall for it. Especially when she said the extra $2000 goes to the movers...

Now, the real question is, if the check DOES arrive, can I find a place that will cash it...without taking down any info of mine...and maybe throwing in a candy bar for my trouble.

Any place that will cash the cheque ( Jeff) will require your ID to help counteract this type of fraud.

My suggestion would be to report the cheque to a bank or police fraud unit with any information you have on the sender.