Seller Beware

[Mudfarmer]

I just posted my B2710 on Craigslist. Got the following response:

"From: Andy R Smith
Sat 2/25/2023 9:25 PM
I really appreciate your response.
The first email was addressed to my cousin, who assisted me in contacting the seller because I'm new to Craigslist.
I've been working incredibly long weeks so I won't be able to meet with you before buying, but I'm fine with the price and condition as they are listed on Craigslist. I'll go ahead and issue you a Cashier's Check, and when you have the money and it clears, I'll make plans for pickup.
Please respond as soon as possible with the information provided.
Full name
address, city state and zip code
Your mobile number:
Last price:
As soon as this is given, payment will be delivered overnight to you via UPS Next Day Delivery, and I will give you the package's tracking number.
Please remove the ad from Craigslist or label it as sold today. I will also add an extra $70 to deter other purchasers until you receive my check.
Thank you, and while we wait for your response, I hope we treat this with good faith. "

Not sure this is a "good faith offer." I responded that I would not sell untill the buyer inspected the tractor and I inspected the buyer. BTW the deposit-to-hold I listed in the add was $100. I priced the tractor, 2004 with 1040 hours, new rear tires and rear hydraulics at $9000 - I think that's a fair price. I'm pretty scam alert - what's others' opinions?

MF

 

[Torvy]

I just posted my B2710 on Craigslist. Got the following response:

"From: Andy R Smith
Sat 2/25/2023 9:25 PM
I really appreciate your response.
The first email was addressed to my cousin, who assisted me in contacting the seller because I'm new to Craigslist.
I've been working incredibly long weeks so I won't be able to meet with you before buying, but I'm fine with the price and condition as they are listed on Craigslist. I'll go ahead and issue you a Cashier's Check, and when you have the money and it clears, I'll make plans for pickup.
Please respond as soon as possible with the information provided.
Full name
address, city state and zip code
Your mobile number:
Last price:
As soon as this is given, payment will be delivered overnight to you via UPS Next Day Delivery, and I will give you the package's tracking number.
Please remove the ad from Craigslist or label it as sold today. I will also add an extra $70 to deter other purchasers until you receive my check.
Thank you, and while we wait for your response, I hope we treat this with good faith. "

Not sure this is a "good faith offer." I responded that I would not sell untill the buyer inspected the tractor and I inspected the buyer. BTW the deposit-to-hold I listed in the add was $100. I priced the tractor, 2004 with 1040 hours, new rear tires and rear hydraulics at $9000 - I think that's a fair price. I'm pretty scam alert - what's others' opinions?

MF

My wife got burned by a similar scheme when attempting to sell an antique bed. It is 100% a scam.

 

[scootr]

That has SCAM written all over it. Don't worry real buyers will come later asking for a discount without any mention if payment method.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Yeah, probably a scam.

You could try and get their "cashiers check" and actually deposit it (I would set up another account specifically for this). Once it clears (if it does), take out all of the funds. If you actually get the funds, then no problem..... they can come for the tractor.

Just don't give them any personal info, just public record stuff like address and phone number. Definitely no account numbers etc....

 

[Torvy]

How they got my wife was that they needed her to take some of the cash from the cashier's check to pay the carrier to deliver. She sent that out (against my advice, btw) and then the cashier's check was dishonored about a week later. (despite being 'confirmed' prior). You cannot deposit n the money and take it out. The bank can and will come after you for it.

Stay far away and report to whatever sites you are using. I am friends with one of our local SAIC for cyber crime (our daughters were in school together). You can also report to them. There is a chance they may be able to use you as bait.

 

[K5lwq]

My reply would be bring cash money when you come to pick it up. That is if it does not sell in the meantime.

 

[ruffdog]

SCAM.....plenty of people get suckered into this crap though.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

maybe scam / maybe not. I would take it further if you want to sell.

In Canada at least, a cashier's check is a check guaranteed by the bank and drawn on the banks own funds to you (not buyers funds). So ask buyer to send you a picture of the bank draft. It will have Banks name, address, and its serial NUMBER, etc..... If the Bank draft is drawn on a recognizable American based Bank (not something like bank of hong kong or bank of malaysia which you cannot check on) you can simply phone the Bank to ensure that the bank draft number is legit and funds are truly in the Banks hands. Better yet the local branch in person.

If dealing with a recognizable bank with local offices (BOA, Wells, etc...) and bank can confirm THEY issued the draft you are safe. Would never touch it if cannot verify with local branch so buyer has to provide on appropriate bank. If bank is forgeign and check cannot be made then scam for sure.

I have done this many many times as some of my old stuff gets sold to people too far away to inspect but unique enough they are willing to trust and take a chance.

For sure 100% right to be worried just do your due diligence with the issuing bank. Now if paypal, private cheque, Vemo, etc... wouldn't touch it with a 10'pole.

Cashiers cheques on legit Banks that have a local branch near you that can be independently confirmed by you in person should be fine. Like 2 step verification.

 

[ArlyA]

Might be a scam?? Gee, I think I've got some valuable items to sell here...... I will send you extra $$ for your hard work.

 

[RjCorazza]

The usual scam is over payment to cover the scammers 3rd party "shipping costs". Before the seller finds out that the cashier's check is fraudulent, they request that you forward the over payment somewhere (your money) and it's gone.

Seems odd that the potential scammer is only over paying by $70, but at some point he will be asking for $$$ to be sent, and you will lose it. My guess is that the 3rd party shipper overpayment will be mentioned when you respond.

 

[PreacherM]

No offense, but if you can't smell that as a scam you no business selling anything through Craigslist. No legit buyer sends a letter like that.

 

[stevem5215]

If you go through with that deal you are NUTS! SCAM ALL THE WAY

 

[old and tired]

scam - "Cashier's Check" can be faked... I followed one guy that would make the scammer send the Cashier's Check (he had dozen of fake ones) jump through hoops and what not. pretty funny to watch... only to waste the scammer's money (not with the check) but with the overnight postage.

You can follow through but don't give them the address - and tell them, you'll give them the address only after the check clears.... YOU will never hear back from them!

 

[scootr]

I usually respond with F off and die a slow horrible death to those.

 

[Yander]

They tried this with my dad when he sold his 8n on CL. He was 75ish. I told him not to even talk to anyone or deal with anyone that will not come and look at it.

He still calls me telling this BS story about the guy wants to send him a check, said he wants it and sending a check. I said, its a scam dad, "what how could it be a scam he wants to send a check", its a scam dad! He listened, it sold to a real buyer a week later.

My theory, they like tractors because they think everyone with a tractor is a gullible farmer who trusts everyone. Apparently they are right in some cases.

As soon as you see the words "I've been really busy and cannot come to look", it is a scam.

 

[m1garand762]

Tell them to cash the check and bring you a stack of dead presidents and check every single one with a counterfeit marker. I sold a tractor for 25 k told the guy to bring cash only and had a deputy onsite to verify the transaction and count the money in front of him. Call your local sheriff they will be glad to help you with that because it’s a lot less work than investigating the scammers

 

[JasperFrank]

Probably through old habit, but I still check Craig's List once and a while. Each time I do a look through, it seems like a waste of time. Posters on Craig's List are in another universe then I am. They want new retail prices on their used goods. Do I bother to call them and say, I can get that at such and such a place, new, for what you are asking? Which becomes an entirely extra waste of time.

 

[Thomas]

Another beware scam from Craigslist...
Off duty police officer set up date and time to meet seller with car it was cash deal,sadly officer was shot and rob but it wasn't fatal.

 

[m1garand762]

Another beware scam from Craigslist...
Off duty police officer set up date and time to meet seller with car it was cash deal,sadly officer was shot and rob but it wasn't fatal.

Just call dispatch they send on duty guys all the time for large cash transactions from .

 

[notaz3]

Our local police station has a "transaction sport" in the parking lot that is marked, lighted, and has cameras. Any time I list things on Craigslist I just put the time I will be at that sport and ask that buyers bring cash.