Sellin a Lappy, scam???

[Corporate Thug]

i posted a lappy for sale of Craigslist and here is a response I got

I live in the boston area and I will be paying via USPS Money Order once payment is made I will send you a prepaid label and invoice for shipment..please get back to me with your full name and address for payment..

is there any risk here sense she is sending a USPS MO???

 

[Aimster]

u r fine

just make sure it clears and send it

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Pretty much everything can be a scam. MOs/checks can be forged.

- M4H

 

[BriGy86]

always make sure the payments clear and are legit

 

[RossMAN]

Scam

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Pretty much everything can be a scam. MOs/checks can be forged.

- M4H

well, like Bri says, i wouldnt ship the thing until i cash the MO or have it deposited in my account

 

[purbeast0]

this is exactly why i ONLY take paypal, and if the person won't do paypal, I'll find another buyer ...

its not worth the hassle of a potential scammer.

 

[AnyMal]

Take MO to the Post Office and have them validate and cash it for you. You should be safe as long as you don't ship before cash is in your hands.

 

[DVK916]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
this is exactly why i ONLY take paypal, and if the person won't do paypal, I'll find another buyer ...

its not worth the hassle of a potential scammer.

You can still scam with Paypal. I know lots of people who have been scammed using pay pal.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Take MO to the Post Office and have them validate and cash it for you. You should be safe as long as you don't ship before cash is in your hands.

thats what i was thinking...

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Scam

Why? You're probably right, but why?

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Take MO to the Post Office and have them validate and cash it for you. You should be safe as long as you don't ship before cash is in your hands.

Winner.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Pretty much everything can be a scam. MOs/checks can be forged.

- M4H

well, like Bri says, i wouldnt ship the thing until i cash the MO or have it deposited in my account

depending on the process, i hear it can float for 2 weeks before its found to be fraudulent

cash it and make sure its legit before sending

 

[Mermaidman]

Why would someone in Boston buy a laptop from California? Put yourself in a buyer's place--would you buy a laptop on Craigs List from someone across the country? Either
-the buyer is dumb
-it's a scam, or
-your laptop is a very very good deal

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Why would someone in Boston buy a laptop from California? Put yourself in a buyer's place--would you buy a laptop on Craigs List from someone across the country? Either
-the buyer is dumb
-it's a scam, or
-your laptop is a very very good deal

You mean people don't buy things from people in other states? Wonder how eBay made its money.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Why would someone in Boston buy a laptop from California? Put yourself in a buyer's place--would you buy a laptop on Craigs List from someone across the country? Either
-the buyer is dumb
-it's a scam, or
-your laptop is a very very good deal

You mean people don't buy things from people in other states? Wonder how eBay made its money.

For something like a laptop, IMO, CraigsList has less cachet than something like eBay or AT's FS/FT. This buyer can't find a similar laptop other than on a CraigsList listing across the country?!

 

[ViviTheMage]

definatly clear it before you send it , and let her know you are waiting for it to clear before you do anything.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Also make sure that the MO is mailed to you via USPS.

That way, if fraud is involved; the full weight of the US government can come down of the perp. Mail fraud is actively pursued.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Why would someone in Boston buy a laptop from California? Put yourself in a buyer's place--would you buy a laptop on Craigs List from someone across the country? Either
-the buyer is dumb
-it's a scam, or
-your laptop is a very very good deal

I purchased a laptop from a person in Calif when working in Penn.
He had the specs that I wanted and the price that I was willing to pay.

Yes it was using the FS/FT vs. CraigList, but the overall transaction is the same as the other person.

 

[tommywishbone]

Get money order. Go to bank, cash money order. Send product. The end.

Edit: I don't think the Post Office is in the business of 'validating instruments of payment'. You don't want the money order validated... you want the money order cashed. Once you have the money, send your stuff.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Why would someone in Boston buy a laptop from California? Put yourself in a buyer's place--would you buy a laptop on Craigs List from someone across the country? Either
-the buyer is dumb
-it's a scam, or
-your laptop is a very very good deal

Exactly what I was thinking. CL ads are localized, and they're not really meant to be shipped out and all..

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Take MO to the Post Office and have them validate and cash it for you. You should be safe as long as you don't ship before cash is in your hands.

True. If the document hasn't been forged and you get CASH in your hands, you're clear out the door. This doesn't sound like a scam simply because he's willing to send you a PO MO...those are pretty legit and hard to forge.

 

[AMCRambler]

So yeah, I got this sucker I'm scamming a laptop from. I'm gonna send him a forged USPS money order tee hee hee!

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Take MO to the Post Office and have them validate and cash it for you. You should be safe as long as you don't ship before cash is in your hands.

True. If the document hasn't been forged and you get CASH in your hands, you're clear out the door. This doesn't sound like a scam simply because he's willing to send you a PO MO...those are pretty legit and hard to forge.

Not necessarily--What if the bank or USPS accuses you of cashing a forged MO?

See this thread.

 

[imported_LoKe]

p-p-p-powerbook!