Is this a scam? Is this a Scam

[Anonymous Poster]

I am selling a tractor, I have posted the price of 8500, I have had several offers from Africa. The last person wants to mail me a US cashiers check for 11,000 then I mail his shipper the balence, I questioned his legitimacy, he says the check will clear, he has not seen the tractor.

 

[sendero]

Where in Africa? If it is Nigeria, I would pass.

 

[mhalla]

Re: Is this a Scam - without a doubt!!!!!!!!!!

<font color="green">This has scam written all over it. There was nother thread on this sort of topic not too long ago.

Mike </font>

 

[popeye]

Actually it does sound legit if the cashiers check clear. What bank is it written on? After selling and shipping boats to Mexico and other places the shipping could be $2500.00 and sounds about right. You are in the drivers seat if he is sending the check to you first. Let us know how it works out.
Mike

 

[Chipperman]

Firefighter
Sounds like a scam or money laundering set up to me.
Chipperman

 

[Darren]

If you are careful it might work. Be aware that cashiers checks have been counterfeited. I posted elsewhere about taking a cashiers check to a branch of the bank that issued it and finding that they were not able to immediately verify that the check was valid.

I would set up a new account at a bank you don't currently use. Deposit the check and wait until the check clears the issuing bank. Then wire your proceeds to your other account. Use what's left in the new account for the shipper.

Don't on any hand be coerced into doing anything until the bank says the money from the check is in the new account. When you do a wire it immediately debits the account so the money is not available to cover any other debits. Do not reveal your normal account number to anyone connected with the transaction. As soon as the shipper is paid, closeout the new account.

If the deal works and the buyer comes back with something that seems odd, don't let your guard down. You don't owe them anything even if they bought your tractor.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Guys, I talked to our local bank, they say give them 10 days and if it clears everything is ok. I sent a Better Buisness Burea page on Nigerian Scams to the customer, he states he is legit, he says he is a contractor in the states. I was wondering, if the check clears how could I go wrong, normally the scams work with the buyer recieving the tractor before the seller gets the check cleared.

 

[Alan L.]

Sounds like a scam to me. "His" shipper is probably his brother-in-law. He wants you to fork over $2500, and then the cashiers check doesn't clear, so he makes $2500 on the deal.

I wouldn't send anybody any money until the check clears.

 

[mhalla]

<font color="green">Ask yourself if this is legit, why isn't the "buyer" simply paying the shipper himself? Doesn't this in itself make the transaction extremely suspect?

Mike </font>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

THis is a common scam apparently. It was reported on one of the TV news programs like 60 Minutes a while back.

Whatever you do, send no money until the check clears your bank, and then I would even move the money from that account to another bank just to be sure that there was not mistake...Then I would wait another week or two...

It certainly is a scam though. Play it out for what it is worth and then let us know when the check proves worthless.

The scam depends on people believing that a cashiers check is the same as cash. They send off the difference before the find out the truth...thinking that when the check is deposited and the money shows up in their account that it really is there. The reality is that it is not there until the check clears...which it never does.

Think about it. Why would someone send that much money to a complete stranger [you] ??? answer is they wouldn't...