Hi [email protected] [email protected]

Hi my name is Removed (BW). I believe I have a scammer on my hands from Craigslist.

He replied to my post on craigslist for a set of split rims that I was helping my husband sell.his first e-mail came from [email protected] and then all the sudden it changed to [email protected].

He sent a check and over paid for the item.We took the check to our bank to have it checked out and she automatically knew it was fake and that we was being scammed we was lucky that we didn't despoit it into our account like he wanted and then send the rest to his mover.

I even texted him that had an area code from California,but the check came from Florida,and the UPS label was from New York.He certainly got mad when I told him what the bank teller said to us about it and he claims that its not fake.

Is there a way to stop this guy?Somehow I think its the same person that e-mailed my husband like a month ago about the same product and I think its the same person that e-mailed me like month ago about a different product that I was selling on craigslist,but he was never specific about what product he wanted to buy,but I just shook that one off and didn't reply back to him on that.

When this guy e-mailed me about the split rims he claimed to be in the marines.So I told my husband that I am done dealing with craigslist for good.So I ask again is there a way to stop his guy?

Welcome to Scamwarners sandyh85,

To answer your question. Basically, no we can not stop these scammers. They are using fake names and email addresses. The person that printed the check and mailed it to you is a victim as well. They honestly believe that they have an online job printing checks and mailing them. On occasion there will be a knowing person doing this. That person can and will be arrested.

Do not blame Craigslist. They do have warnings on their site and also have warning in the emails you receive.

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
DO NOT RENT HOUSING WITHOUT SEEING THE INTERIOR, OR PURCHASE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SIGHT-UNSEEN - in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist.

Craigslist also has a mail system. All email needs to be through their system.

You were not contacted by the same scammer. Majority of all the responses you will get are from scammers.

List your "item" , sell in person face to face with cash at a public place.

Please Note:

The scammer will ask the Seller to cash a fake Cashiers Check / Money Order / Certified Check that is for more than the price of the 'item'. He will then ask the Seller to send the over payment to his Fake Shipper / Agent by Western Union or Moneygram to pay for the pickup and shipping.

The check / Money Order will be fake it will look real. Do not deposit or cash it.
Even if your bank tells you that the check/Money Order has cleared, it does not mean they will take responsibility for it when it is returned. They are required by law to give you access to money within a few days.

But later, when the check/Money Order goes to a clearance house or the original bank, the check/Money Order will be returned and you will be held responsible.

It can take days, weeks, or even months for the fraud to be discovered and you will be required to pay all of the money back, regardless of who sent the check/Money Order to you. The bank also may have you charged with 'Financial Fraud'.

This same scam can be done with Fake Paypal Payments. The scammer will send you an email pretending to be from PayPal with Payment Made. He will then tell you to pay the mover / shipper / agent via Western Union or Money Gram. If you send money by this method. You will never see it again.

You can help here:

File a fraud report with the postal inspection service. http://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx You can also request an envelope from them and actually send them the check since you received it via US mail.