Is this a Craigslist Scam?
A few days ago I posted my computer desk for sale ($100) on Craigslist. I received the following reply:
—–Original Message—–
From: Amy Waldrop [mailto:waldamy5@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 7:18 AM
To: sale-330383117@craigslist.org
Subject: Ikea GALANT computer table w/ keyboard tray - $100Kindly let me know if the above listed item is still available for sale ? I will love to buy this but am not available to pick up right away.My Bank will be taking care of the payment promptly,regard
She couldn’t spell, but whatever, $100 is $100. I reply:
This is still available. I can set it aside for you depending on how long. Are you interested in just the desk or both desk & keyboard tray?
Then I receive the following — note the different address:
—–Original Message—–
From: Brian A. Burke [mailto:bluecold01@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: Ikea GALANT computer table w/ keyboard tray - $100Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase.My Bank will be mailing (overnight) a certified check from my account to cover the cost ,while you hold on my behalf. Once you have this, my mover will come pickup at your place.I will be needing the following information to issue out the payment . . .
1.Name to be on the check
2.Home address
3.Telephone
** Please note that the payment will be overnight by the Bank to your address and its bound to be delivered within 2 to 3 days.I have taken a close look at the advert and am completely satisfied i really need this and would appreciates that you help save this for me till the payment arrives.Furthermore do remove the posting from CRAIGSLIST.COM as am definitely buying it from you and it would be sad for me to have the payment in the mail only to be alerted it as been sold when the check does arrives. **
Again, poor grammar, but — fine, there is plenty of evidence on educational sorting in mating relationships, so maybe two poor spellers found each other in the marriage market. So I send along my reply with the requested addressing information.
Just now I received another reply:
—–Original Message—–
From: Brian A. Burke [mailto:bluecold01@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 4:34 PM
To: Alexander Tsai
Subject: Re: Ikea GALANT computer table w/ keyboard tray - $100Hi i want you to know that i am still very much committed in buying from you but i just contacted my Bank and i was made to understand there is a miss interpretation on the check i requested to be sent to you for the cost of the purchase.
It was claimed at the Bank that i requested that a check of $3100 be sent to you but i know quite well i only made a request for just $100 which is just enough for the Ikea GALANT computer table w/ keyboard tray Its was a terrible mistake and i was only alerted when i contacted them to have the details of the transaction so once you do receive the check please cash it at once and deduct your money with an additional $100 which is a gift from me.
The excess fund should please be sent to my mover via western union once you’ve cash the check,this fund will be use in off setting the cost of the shipment he as undertaken for me recently.He will be needing a part of that to come over to your place for for the pick up.Please let me know at once if i can trust you to handle this with care.I will be expecting your email with a confirmation on this issue at once thank you.Best Regards.
My suspicions are definitely aroused at this point, but I have a hard time detecting the angle. Where’s the scam? What am I missing?
This is my reply:
Please cancel the check immediately. That should be easy enough for you to do. Then have your bank re-issue a certified check in the amount of $100. If your bank cannot do this, then I will rip up the check and mail it back to you as evidence that I have destroyed it. Once you receive the destroyed check, then you can reissue a certified check in the amount of $100. Thank you.
If this guy really is wasting my time, the next reply is going to be cheeky. I’ll keep y’all posted.
The more I think about this, the more I think it is a 419. I just realized that I gave these guys my address. So I guess I shouldn’t be too cheeky. I might end up sleeping with the fishes.
Oh definitely 419. They send you a false check for you to deposit. When it clears, you send them the money (from your legitimate acct) and keep a little on the side. Then when the bank/authorities get savvy, you’re on the hook for the funds.
Classic 419.
You better reread your New Yorker magazine, lest another Christian shrink get taken down.
You were suspicious AND you still gave them your address? Definitely a scam. Report to craigslist asap (altho I don’t think they can do much for you). Who pays for a $100 desk via certified check? And who hires a mover for a $100 desk?
Okay, so it’s a 419. But I fail to see why I should report anything to Craigslist — how am I at risk for anything at this point? When the check arrives, I won’t cash it. Simple as that, right? Only thing I have to watch out for is a little visit from my new friends in Nigeria.
Haven’t heard back from him yet. I sent another e-mail:
Reporting to Craigslist just helps the community in the future. They can watch for these folks or warn others. They have your address and phone number now, although enough people fall for this scam, I doubt they’ll do anything with your info.