I've got a Kirk Bike listed on the classifieds. This morning I got this e-mail:
"Dear Seller,
I'm happy to see your item placed on advert for sale,I'm really interested...I'm currently on vacation to Australia and dont know when i will be back...
My method of payment will be via Us funds Cashiers Check and will surely clear fine,If acceptable kindly get back to me with your selling cost....
Regards...."
Is this a scam?

David

Based on the method of payment and your gut feeling, it probably is. Your gut is usually right. Stick with that. Btw, where is the ad for your Kirk?
Cheers, Wayne

It's listed here on Roadbikereview.com in the classifieds you can try this link

http://classifieds.roadbikereview.com/showproduct.php?product=3541&cat=3

David

Yes, many of the scams start out that way. Then then they start talking about people owing them money, and they will send you the MO, and you can keep the difference, etc...

Just keep it local, and in person. You're much less likely to have a problem.

Maybe this will be mildly entertaining.

I've got a Kirk Bike listed on the classifieds. This morning I got this e-mail:
"Dear Seller,
I'm happy to see your item placed on advert for sale,I'm really interested...I'm currently on vacation to Australia and dont know when i will be back...
My method of payment will be via Us funds Cashiers Check and will surely clear fine,If acceptable kindly get back to me with your selling cost....
Regards...."
Is this a scam?

David

What kind of payment are you hoping for? Where is he asking you to ship it?

While I agree that the message is a little choppy, he's offering to pay with a cashier's check which is as good as you can expect. Of course, you can hold the bike until the money is in your hands.

The positive side of this is that he is not doing the old Nigerian scam of sending you a check that is more than your price and asking you to refund the difference. The downside is the wording and the bit about Australia.

If it was me, I'd probably pursue it a bit further.

terry_b, Please don't encourage this. In North America, this is the new version of the "Nigerian Scam". Those "Money Orders", or "Cashiers Cheques", are bogus, and the bank will accept them. It's only after 4-6 weeks that they are discovered to be fake, the the seller is up the perverbial creek.

There is probably much more to this, as the potential "buyer" will reveal in the next correspondance.

terry_b, Please don't encourage this. In North America, this is the new version of the "Nigerian Scam". Those "Money Orders", or "Cashiers Cheques", are bogus, and the bank will accept them. It's only after 4-6 weeks that they are discovered to be fake, the the seller is up the perverbial creek.

There is probably much more to this, as the potential "buyer" will reveal in the next correspondance.

yup...it sounds like that scam exactly...by the time the bank denies funds he'll have the bike.

terry_b, Please don't encourage this. In North America, this is the new version of the "Nigerian Scam". Those "Money Orders", or "Cashiers Cheques", are bogus, and the bank will accept them. It's only after 4-6 weeks that they are discovered to be fake, the the seller is up the perverbial creek.

There is probably much more to this, as the potential "buyer" will reveal in the next correspondance.


Screw it... you only live once, roll the dice and ship it to him 5th wheel. I am sure he is good for it. :D

The money guy at the dealership where I bought a new car in March said that they were very careful about taking cashier's checks. Don't do it.

When the offer does not mention the bike specifically, but calls it an "item" that means that it IS INDEED a scam, because this is a form letter that they send out to ALL classified sellers.

A few key red flags:
1. Buyer never specifies what the item is, and just calls it by some generic term like "item" or "product"
2. Buyer offers to pay you MORE with a cashiers check, and asks that you keep some money and just give him the difference. Turns out that the cashier's check is a counterfeit and when the bank discovers this 1 week later, you've already paid him his difference, and you're on the hook with the bank.

Anytime you are offered MORE, always walk away.

terry_b, Please don't encourage this. In North America, this is the new version of the "Nigerian Scam". Those "Money Orders", or "Cashiers Cheques", are bogus, and the bank will accept them. It's only after 4-6 weeks that they are discovered to be fake, the the seller is up the perverbial creek.

There is probably much more to this, as the potential "buyer" will reveal in the next correspondance.

I'm not encouraging anything. He asked an opinion and I gave mine. While it sounds screwy, I don't think it sounds as screwy as most.

Didn't tell him to sell the bike, I suggested he find out more information.

Except at this point, he's not offering more.

I'm not clear on why everyone is so churned up about cashier's checks. They come from banks and are paid for in cash.

Of course, they could be counterfeit - but boy, counterfeiting a check for a bike seems like a lot of work. A car I can understand, it will have some resale. The only thing that's better in terms of security is a Postal money order. And they can be faked too. The upside to them is that mail fraud is generally pursued by the USPS.

So, financial experts - you're selling a bike, what kind of payment do you think is safe? Escrow is the only one that looks relatively sound to me (which is what I suggested in my OP above.)

Except at this point, he's not offering more.

I'm not clear on why everyone is so churned up about cashier's checks. They come from banks and are paid for in cash.

Of course, they could be counterfeit - but boy, counterfeiting a check for a bike seems like a lot of work. A car I can understand, it will have some resale. The only thing that's better in terms of security is a Postal money order. And they can be faked too. The upside to them is that mail fraud is generally pursued by the USPS.

So, financial experts - you're selling a bike, what kind of payment do you think is safe? Escrow is the only one that looks relatively sound to me (which is what I suggested in my OP above.)

I've never had any problems with Paypal before

"Dear Seller,

Cute. If I don't know the name of the seller I just leave out the salutations and get down to business or start off with a simple generic "Hi"

I'm happy to see your item placed on advert for sale

Clue 1: he refers to your bike as "your item", very generic, spam-o-gram format.

,I'm really interested...

Yeah, but really interested in what? Your bike or the opportunity to see if he can hook you.

I'm currently on vacation to Australia and dont know when i will be back...

Clue 2: Most people on vacation know when they'll be back. Next he'll tell you his wallet was stolen by a Jackaroo and that there may be delays until he can thumb a ride from the outermost Outback back to civilization.

My method of payment will be via Us funds Cashiers Check

Clue 3: As noted by others, forged cashier's checks are the current hip tool to use, banks accept them easily knowing they can jerk you around for payment/guarantee of funds even if the check is a fraud. I am surprised he didn't spell it "cheque" though since he is in Australia. And typographically he didn't capitalize the S in US and he left out the possessive in Cashier's, minor nits so not worth a clue on their own.

and will surely clear fine,

Ah yes, the old "trust me" dance. Do ya feel lucky???

If acceptable kindly get back to me with your selling cost....

Big Clue #4: Your ad clearly states the asking price further pointing this out to be a spam-o-gram.

Is this a scam?

I'd wager a good Cashier's Check that this is a scam. Just tell the dude to contact you once he has a clue as to when he'll return to where ever he calls home. Otherwise don't bother replying to him since he probably sent out hundreds of these exact same emails and only tracks the ones that are replied to.

I've never had any problems with Paypal before

I think that's the other option. They've actually recovered funds for me.

But you know, nothing is perfect. There was a car scam here involving a cashier's check. The guy did escrow, held the product and the funds and months later Wells Fargo came back and said it was fraud.

I'm wondering if there is any safe method other than cash.

Are you kidding? "Your item" and "cashiers check" are obvious. Maybe he will have his agent send you a big check and you can wire the difference to him.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

And I would love to go on an indefinite vacation in Australia.

I think that's the other option. They've actually recovered funds for me.

But you know, nothing is perfect. There was a car scam here involving a cashier's check. The guy did escrow, held the product and the funds and months later Wells Fargo came back and said it was fraud.

I'm wondering if there is any safe method other than cash.


This Korean dude bough my car from me last night. When I was talking with him on the phone, he said he wanted to do a personal check. I said I would rather not. He pulled up in his new mercedes, bought my car for his son, and gave me an envelope with cash. We had to count it 3 times, and he was $100 over.

He was a really nice guy, but I have never felt so strange/ vulnerable to deal with that much cash at once. I went to the bank this morning almost trembling that someone was going to mug me.

Here is the beauty.. sad to see her go :(
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t300/kestreljr/LRFrontGravel.jpg

...They come from banks and are paid for in cash.

Of course, they could be counterfeit - but boy, counterfeiting a check for a bike seems like a lot of work. ...
...

So, financial experts - you're selling a bike, what kind of payment do you think is safe? Escrow is the only one that looks relatively sound to me (which is what I suggested in my OP above.)

I'm no financial expert, but a phony Cashier's Check can be made with a basic computer, a scanner, and a printer. You could probably do everything down at your local copy place or college/highschool campus computer lab, or at your work during lunch.

When I'm selling something online I ask for cash or a U.S. Postal Money Order, and if they send the money order I take it down to the post office when I get it. And there are scams involving those escrow services too. I know enough people from on-line contacts that if I need to sell something to someone remotely I can usually find someone I sorta know to act as a go-between person. This option puts off at least 90% of the scammers. Anything else and I just say I will only deal locally and let the buyers figure out a way to work the deal, I"ll help them, but I'll try not to let myself get setup by the scammers.

If you want to sell something and work some sort of escrow into it then I'd suggest contacting a retail outlet near the buyer and work a deal with the retail shop to act as a middleman in the transaction for a small fee. You get someone acting on your behalf that is more solid and has some regular known means to send/receive shipments, the store gets the option to get a new customer in the buyer coming to pickup the bike, the buyer gets to visit a new shop. And nothing ships until all funds have cleared, which can take many weeks.

and gave me an envelope with cash. We had to count it 3 times, and he was $100 over.

He might have put the extra $100 in there on purpose to test your honesty. If you mention the extra hundred then he can more freely trust what you've told him about the car. People play lots of funny games at times.

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

Don't be a fool. This is a scam.

He might have put the extra $100 in there on purpose to test your honesty. If you mention the extra hundred then he can more freely trust what you've told him about the car. People play lots of funny games at times.

So is it a bad thing that I didn't tell him he was over??:eek:








I kid, I kid...

it's a scam...and I know someone who has fallen for it...dont do it

Of course, they could be counterfeit - but boy, counterfeiting a check for a bike seems like a lot of work.

Yeah it does. But counterfeiting a bunch of checks is no harder once it is set up. This is one of many in an assembly line of scam deals.

He doesn't want the bike. He will offer to pay with a check that is more than the price of the item. He will then ask you to return the extra by Western Union. Why don't you ask him to pay you by WU and you will never hear from him again.

Send him an old rusty Schwinn.

Send him an old rusty Schwinn.

Some rusty old schwinns go for a lot these days.

Hello,
Thanks for the mail...First of all i'm okay with the selling price...I don't want you to bother about the shipping,I have a shipping company that helps me ship my items.Just keep the item in good condition and make it set for shipping...I have an staff associate oweing closed to 5,000 on our last transacton,so i will instruct him to issue it out to you via Cashiers Check..When you get the payment you will deduct your $2800 for the item and extra $200 for the stress it will take to cash and wire the remaining funds to my shipper for them to be able to come for the pickup at your location...Also i have some other mechandise i bought,so my shipper will be picking them up also,so they will need the remaining funds to enable the come for the pickup....It will take 1-2 working days for the Check to clear before pickup.Notify me immediately when you get the payment so we can arrange on how i will funish you with my shipper's information who will be coming for the pickup at your location..
HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU....Am sure you can await the payment in the mail, It will be sent to the Information you will provide for me..i.e your full name,address and phone number...
Can you remove it from market and consider it sold to me? I will be happy if you can do that today ok..I will be looking forward to read from you.
Patrick...

Hello,
Thanks for the mail...First of all i'm okay with the selling price...I don't want you to bother about the shipping,I have a shipping company that helps me ship my items.Just keep the item in good condition and make it set for shipping...I have an staff associate oweing closed to 5,000 on our last transacton,so i will instruct him to issue it out to you via Cashiers Check..When you get the payment you will deduct your $2800 for the item and extra $200 for the stress it will take to cash and wire the remaining funds to my shipper for them to be able to come for the pickup at your location...Also i have some other mechandise i bought,so my shipper will be picking them up also,so they will need the remaining funds to enable the come for the pickup....It will take 1-2 working days for the Check to clear before pickup.Notify me immediately when you get the payment so we can arrange on how i will funish you with my shipper's information who will be coming for the pickup at your location..
HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU....Am sure you can await the payment in the mail, It will be sent to the Information you will provide for me..i.e your full name,address and phone number...
Can you remove it from market and consider it sold to me? I will be happy if you can do that today ok..I will be looking forward to read from you.
Patrick...


Sounds good to me! See how long you can keep this guy going..

I have family in Australia and I'd like to ship the bike to my brother and have you deliver the money to him. I owe him some money so he will decuct the amount I owe him and forward the balance to me. I hope I can trust you.

I have family in Australia and I'd like to ship the bike to my brother and have you deliver the money to him. I owe him some money so he will decuct the amount I owe him and forward the balance to me. I hope I can trust you.

Classic, I doubt you will get a response. Told you it was a scam. It's the second response that always goes into the goofy details.

One time I decided to have some fun with the guy, and we exchanged probably a dozen emails over a period of two weeks. Finally, when I got bored I told him where to go, nicely. :)

That should end it right there. I doubt he will respond to that. But you never know, they can be pretty persistant.

Dear Sir,

Due to difficulties in finding a long term storage site, a local electric utility has asked me to store some high-level radiocative waste inside this frame. A cashiers check was used to cover my troubles which I will use to pass along to your shipper. I just wanted to allow full disclosure to the buyer as I know it does not change the ride characteristics of the frame.

Kindly,

5th wheel

One time I decided to have some fun with the guy, and we exchanged probably a dozen emails over a period of two weeks. Finally, when I got bored I told him where to go, nicely. :)

I've done this too. I usually tell the scammer that I am really excited about the transaction and that I really need the money so please hurry. I usually provide false information to see how far I can get them to go. Great fun:D

terry_b, Please don't encourage this. In North America, this is the new version of the "Nigerian Scam". Those "Money Orders", or "Cashiers Cheques", are bogus, and the bank will accept them. It's only after 4-6 weeks that they are discovered to be fake, the the seller is up the perverbial creek.

There is probably much more to this, as the potential "buyer" will reveal in the next correspondance.


It's a scam..last year when i sold my bike i got the same email (except i think he was on vacation in Europe) I knew it was a scam but went along with it to see what would happen and he sent me the check. I took it to our local credit union and also talked to Kroll worldwide about it (worlds largest fraud and risk management company...i rep for them) and it was fake. They said it was a very good fake though (from a bank in Minnesota)

....
If it was me, I'd probably pursue it a bit further.


Maybe the single worst bit of "advise" I've ever seen on this board.

I don't understand how anyone can not see this as a 100% scam. I would bet both my legs on it.

They are remarkable in their reach. I'm asking $200 for a 15-year-old Bianchi on Craig's List and I got an inquiry from France.

Yep, those Celeste lugged Alfanas with bar-end shifters must be PRETTY desirable in Yurp.

You dont get me right..My staff associate is the one issueing out the payment to you..He lives in the states...So it will be easy to clear the funds in the states because its in US$....

KIndly understand my point..Awaiting reply
I think I'll ask for funds Western Union style

"Great, where does he live in the U.S.? I don't mind delivering the item to him personally because I need a vacation this summer and he can pay me in cash when I see him. Looking forward to his name and address so that I may visit him. Also, I have another buyer offering me $200 more than your offer. If you can match that offer in cash, I will be at your friend's doorstep in 48 hours. I will also give your friend a purple hat for his troubles"

Roflmao :d

You've got the beginnings of what could be quite an entertaining scam baiting. Check out http://www.419eater.com/ to see what I mean.

Of course it's a scam. What stanger in their right mind would ask you to be trusted with an extra two large? They depend on greed, trust and ignorance to achieve the goal of lightening your wallet.

I collect these scam checks, hoping that they cost these guys at least their time and hopefully some money too.

5th Wheel...your check will "look" authentic...actually, authentic enough that your bank will probably even put it in your account...then about 7 days later, you will get a letter from your bank stating the check couldnt be validated or that there were insufficient funds in the account...these guys are pros and know what they are doing...stop pursuing it already and save yourself the headaches...this scam is old as the hills...like I said, my friend fell for the exact same scam all the way up to cashing the check...then was out $2000...do yourself a favor and go to this link ( a consumer advocate) http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/6/23/167/ ....scroll down to the June 1 and March 17 2006 entries...this whole page is devoted to ripoff artists such as the ones you are dealing with...hope this helps. Chris

How about you tell him to go ahead and have it picked up with his shipper of choice, fill a box with junk , then wait until he receives his pile of junk and paid shipping across the world for it, including duties.... I saw a deal where a guy had done this with a mac laptop, some guys in London acted as secret agents, and actually have pictures of the guy claiming the bunk package at some coffee shop. They followed him home, got his address and then they turned the whole deal around on him.... May be kinda fun!!!

The funny thing about that laptop deal was the thief got zinged about $400 for shipping and for import taxes.. Now that is justice.....

yup...it sounds like that scam exactly...by the time the bank denies funds he'll have the bike.

No, because he/she doesn't give a sh!t about no stinkin' bike. You send them the $$, and that's the last you'll ever hear from them. No 'shipping agent' will ever come pick up the bike, because there ain't any. All these guys do is steal your cash.