How does this scam work?

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) require banks to make money from cashiers, certified, or teller checks available in 1-5 days.

Funds from checks that might not be any good are released into payee's account long before check is honored by issuing bank.

Bad checks could bounce back and forth between banks for weeks before it is discovered "bad".

Basically, you're out of whatever it is you sold.

This is a scam - read how the scam works. One guy got arrested trying to sell his bike on Craigslist when he fell for this

http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-08-30/business/173...

It's a typical Nigerian check overpayment scam. They send you a counterfeit cashier's check but using a real routing and account number so it initially clears. They will then ask you to send the balance to their "shipper" through Western Union. Then 3-4 weeks later the check bounces and you now owe your bank the full amount of the check, you sent your own money to the scammer and the "shipper" (scammer using another fake name) has your bike

There will be some reaon you need to send him a check. It will be very small in relation to the entire deal, but that's the scam. They may also be looking to locate the motorcycle for theft after you tell the "shipping company" where the motorcycle is located. Some people have a great time working these people for fun, but I would be worried they would find some way to retaliate.

One guy has the people do things like take a picture in front of a visible landmark holding a check and a copy of a current newspaper. Then he asks them to do some other random thing related to identity verification. By the time they wasted hours jumping through his hoops, he just tells them the motorcycle was sold locally and says he's sorry.

It actually sounds like fun.

I haven't heard of the certified version, but if it was a personal check they would send you, it could be a fishing scam. The way I remember it, they would have to have an insider at their bank and while you cash the check, they could get your account info, and later dip into it. And yeah, the delay in funds to you thing would fall into place.

I send you a certified check for more than the agreed amount (having “forgotten” that I was organising shipping for example), but I trust you to send me a refund.

You send it.

You never hear from me again, check bounces.

Thing is, that is only one way the scam develops, there can be dozens of variations.

I don't know about the USA but in the UK and some European Countries a check (cheque) can be bounced WEEKS after the money has gone into your account; the check will clear, you spend the money and then without warning the money vanishes from your account. Very few people are aware this can happen.

Your question doesnt make any sense..soo you have a bike listed on craigslist or you are wanting to buy one??? You said you have a bike on craigslist but then you say "I assume he never intends to ship the bike but somehow will want me to send him money for some reason."

If HE was buying the bike from you, have him pay via paypal or a CASHIERS check..those are garuntreed funds

There ARE bogus "certified cheques", and they can take some time to be revealed as such. In the meantime, the bike is gone.