/me being extra cautious/paranoid

[fustercluck]

Selling my piano (keyboard) on craigslist and someone is really interested. Though I want to be extra cautious. Here's the reply from the person:

Thanks very much for your reply and sorry for the late respond i want you to know that the price is ok by me and i have read all about your digital piano at the ads i just want to be sure that nothing is wrong with it ,i should have call you but i have a little hearing problem i will making your payment available to you through cashier check i will also be responsible for the pickup of the piano ,that will be done by my shipping agent when you have receive your payment ,pls get back to me if that arrangement is ok by you

Not too familiar with cashier's checks, but that sounds ok I guess. I know banks are closed on the weekends and I wouldn't be able to cash the check until Monday, so I guess this person will have to wait to come look at it until then. Also...what is a shipping agent?

 

[zoiks]

You should only deal locally on CL. Isn't that like plastered on top of each sale posting?

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Adaman
Selling my piano (keyboard) on craigslist and someone is really interested. Though I want to be extra cautious. Here's the reply from the person:

Thanks very much for your reply and sorry for the late respond i want you to know that the price is ok by me and i have read all about your digital piano at the ads i just want to be sure that nothing is wrong with it ,i should have call you but i have a little hearing problem i will making your payment available to you through cashier check i will also be responsible for the pickup of the piano ,that will be done by my shipping agent when you have receive your payment ,pls get back to me if that arrangement is ok by you

Not too familiar with cashier's checks, but that sounds ok I guess. I know banks are closed on the weekends and I wouldn't be able to cash the check until Monday, so I guess this person will have to wait to come look at it until then. Also...what is a shipping agent?

A shipping agent is what a Nigerian uses to scam you out of money. Wait a full 10 days (i think that's the rule) for the bank to clear the check before you let the guy take the piano.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Should be fine. You can't screw someone with a cashier's check; they're guaranteed by the issuing bank.

A shipping agent is a person or company who will handle the company. This person may be referring to an individual who will come by and physically take the paino, or he may be talking about a company like UPS.

But the grammar (or lack thereof) would scare me a little. Grown men and women are able to form full sentences (as a general rule); this sounds like a middle schooler wrote it trying to sound like an adult.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, only deal locally. No point getting caught in a scam with someone in a different state/country.

 

[homercles337]

Thats reeks of the typical CL scammer. Stay away!

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Should be fine. You can't screw someone with a cashier's check; they're guaranteed by the issuing bank.

A shipping agent is a person or company who will handle the company. This person may be referring to an individual who will come by and physically take the paino, or he may be talking about a company like UPS.

But the grammar (or lack thereof) would scare me a little. Grown men and women are able to form full sentences (as a general rule); this sounds like a middle schooler wrote it trying to sound like an adult.

You can make a fake cashier's check pretty easily. Why the hell would someone want/need a shipping agent for a keyboard. This isn't a real piano it's a keyboard.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Should be fine. You can't screw someone with a cashier's check; they're guaranteed by the issuing bank.

A shipping agent is a person or company who will handle the company. This person may be referring to an individual who will come by and physically take the paino, or he may be talking about a company like UPS.

But the grammar (or lack thereof) would scare me a little. Grown men and women are able to form full sentences (as a general rule); this sounds like a middle schooler wrote it trying to sound like an adult.

I disagree. I bet its a scam. In fact I'm sure of it.

I wouldn't advise the OP to deal with anyone even with a cashiers check. And yes there have been oodles of scams with cashiers checks.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

 

[dainthomas]

Top Five Craigslist Rules

#1: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#2: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#3: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#4: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#5: If it sounds like a scam it is.

Why do people continue posting these kinds of threads?

 

[Ns1]

it's a scam 100%

you can already tell just by the way they type alone


they will issue you a fake check, and by the time the bank realizes it's a fraud they already have your item/money

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Top Five Craigslist Rules

#1: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#2: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#3: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#4: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#5: If it sounds like a scam it is.

Why do people continue posting these kinds of threads?

To make you angry? - I'm always extra cautious so I just wanted to get other's opinions.

This one didn't jump out as a scam to me. If the person wants to come by and test the piano I assume she's in the same city. Also, it sounds like she said she'll wait until I have the money in my hands to come and pick it up.

Everyone's real sure it's a scam though? I did find it odd she wouldn't give me her phone number because she claims to have a hearing problem...if you can't hear someone on the phone should they really be into getting a piano which requires a lot of playing by ear? It pays to be cautious.

 

[necine]

It's a scam, backoff it quick.

 

[crt1530]

It can take weeks for a fake cashier's check to be discovered. Atomic Playboy doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Should be fine. You can't screw someone with a cashier's check; they're guaranteed by the issuing bank.

A shipping agent is a person or company who will handle the company. This person may be referring to an individual who will come by and physically take the paino, or he may be talking about a company like UPS.

But the grammar (or lack thereof) would scare me a little. Grown men and women are able to form full sentences (as a general rule); this sounds like a middle schooler wrote it trying to sound like an adult.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, only deal locally. No point getting caught in a scam with someone in a different state/country.

Yes you can fake it. The warnings are all over CL.

 

[pyonir]

I've never done any dealing at all on craigslist and i would walk away from that one...sounds like a typical scam. Anyone that says anything about shipping agent...automatically I wouldn't deal with them.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Adaman

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Top Five Craigslist Rules

#1: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#2: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#3: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#4: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#5: If it sounds like a scam it is.

Why do people continue posting these kinds of threads?

To make you angry? - I'm always extra cautious so I just wanted to get other's opinions.

This one didn't jump out as a scam to me. If the person wants to come by and test the piano I assume she's in the same city. Also, it sounds like she said she'll wait until I have the money in my hands to come and pick it up.

Everyone's real sure it's a scam though? I did find it odd she wouldn't give me her phone number because she claims to have a hearing problem...if you can't hear someone on the phone should they really be into getting a piano which requires a lot of playing by ear? It pays to be cautious.

100% positive. For proof, just tell them you will only accept cash. that'll be the end of that discussion real quick.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: pyonir
I've never done any dealing at all on craigslist and i would walk away from that one...sounds like a typical scam. Anyone that says anything about shipping agent...automatically I wouldn't deal with them.

 

[fustercluck]

Alrighty, I'll propose cash only and probably never hear from her again - If that's the case, I do have his/her gmail address and maybe I can report this to google?

Thanks for the help.

 

[mugs]

I see from this thread how Nigerian scammers are so successful. :Q

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: mugs
I see from this thread how Nigerian scammers are so successful. :Q

How's that? I didn't get scammed. I did all my research before doing business of any kind. Me = Win!

You can get scammed with any type payment, so it's easy to just wave everything off as a scam. I guess the only way to do business locally is straight cash 'homey. Even if people pay in cash it could be counterfeit money, but that's the least likely of all scamming possibilities I suppose. As for dealing with people in other states/countries over the net, it's always risky business. Nothing is 100% safe.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's a scam.

Tell them cash only, no checks.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Top Five Craigslist Rules

#1: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#2: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#3: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#4: If it sounds like a scam it is.
#5: If it sounds like a scam it is.

Why do people continue posting these kinds of threads?

Especially somone who has been around here since 2002 ... OP you should be ashamed of yourself because this is an obvious scam!


Edit: Although you do get some credit for at least having the sense to ask BEFORE parting with your keyboard.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Adaman

Originally posted by: mugs
I see from this thread how Nigerian scammers are so successful. :Q

How's that? I didn't get scammed. I did all my research before doing business of any kind. Me = Win!

You can get scammed with any type payment, so it's easy to just wave everything off as a scam. I guess the only way to do business locally is straight cash 'homey. Even if people pay in cash it could be counterfeit money, but that's the least likely of all scamming possibilities I suppose. As for dealing with people in other states/countries over the net, it's always risky business. Nothing is 100% safe.

That you came here and posted your doubts indicates why they're successful. You've been on a site (Anandtech) for nearly 5 years. At least a dozen posts are made every week asking "is this a scam?" And, those dozen posts contain the same markers: shipping agent, money order/cashier's check, poor grammar, etc. With 5 years here and not automatically recognizing it as a scam and dismissing it, that indicates to me that people with less exposure to these scams are unfortunately far too likely to fall for them.

 

[fustercluck]

I don't read or see all of the topics on OT, doesn't seem like there's that many topics asking if something is a scam though. Those threads generally don't interest me. I don't see why it bothers anyone, just people asking if other people think it's a scam, that's the best way to do it.

I wasn't close to getting scammed here, I was never going to part with my keyboard before I had money in hand.

Just because I've been here 5 years I'm supposed to be an expert on who is and isn't a scammer? - I don't do much business online because I'm generally broke and have nothing to sell. If someone asked me if something was a scam I'd be happy to help them out and give my opinion. Cautious seller makes a thread here-> 20 people reply-> 95% of people say it's a scam, and scammer's scheme is thwarted, that's a good thing. People helping people

 

[DrPizza]

Oh, don't get the wrong impression... I don't mind at all that you've posted a question about something like that. A. It's better safe than sorry, and B. The number of questions about scams here actually helps people become more aware of what methods are being used. Except that I learned it here, I used to always think that cashier's checks would automatically be legit. There used to be plenty of places that would "take cashier's checks or money orders, but not personal checks." Hence the need for and creation of both types of exchange. The old style of business lends credibility to those forms of payment (unfortunately.)

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Adaman
I don't read or see all of the topics on OT, doesn't seem like there's that many topics asking if something is a scam though. Those threads generally don't interest me. I don't see why it bothers anyone, just people asking if other people think it's a scam, that's the best way to do it.

I wasn't close to getting scammed here, I was never going to part with my keyboard before I had money in hand.

Just because I've been here 5 years I'm supposed to be an expert on who is and isn't a scammer? - I don't do much business online because I'm generally broke and have nothing to sell. If someone asked me if something was a scam I'd be happy to help them out and give my opinion. Cautious seller makes a thread here-> 20 people reply-> 95% of people say it's a scam, and scammer's scheme is thwarted, that's a good thing. People helping people

I'd also rather have you come here & ask then have to read a thread describing how somone cheated you out of your keyboard ... its just that there are so many of these type threads posted on ATOT that I would expect any long-time member to recognize the warning signs.

I'm pleased you didn't get ripped off.