I have listed a couple small household items and within minutes I get offers from people that never correct grammar to overnight a certified check to me and they will arrange pickup. I know it's bogus, but how are they scamming people this way?
Kittysue
Favorite Answer
It's not a new scam. It's a very old scam.,it's a fake check scam. Google craigslist check overpayment scam -- thousands of hits https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=craigslist%20check%20overpayment%20scam
The problem with certified checks is that they can take 3-4 weeks to come back as fake, YOUR bank has no way to know it's fake if they use a real account number and that account has money in it. Thats why the scam works.
Read Craigslist's scam warnings page http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams -- it can't be any clearer
Rudydoo
Can't find any warning against this exact arrangement, I've been attempted before, someone mailed me a check for ten times the asking price, then asked for a refund along with the item that I had to ship. I mailed back their check, which was certainly no good and told them sorry. Not responding to this, but it doesn't add up for me.
tehabwa
Hmm. Certified check? If it were transfer into your account, I'd get it (they want bank info, to drain your account).
The only guess I have is that the stuff gets picked up, and they sell it, either without paying you at all, or paying you less than they resell for.
Sorry, I dunno. Does the craigslist scam warnings page describe this situation?