Does this smell like a scam?

[merlinmurph]

Just for fun, offer PayPal and see what he says.

[bikinchris]

Originally Posted by sjbraun

I received this message regarding some things I have listed on SteveBay.

"I am really interested in buying but I'm out of town.. Due to coronavirus in town I will send a cashiers check for payment and have my shipper come pick up the item soon as check clears and you have your money available, is that ok by you ?"

This seems like an awfully convoluted way to manage a purchase.

Steve

Nope. Send the cash with the driver or no deal. Otherwise, PayPal and never click on bogus emails claiming to announce arrival of the money. Just open the app if you get a notice.

[flying]

Tell him ok exchange will be at Police Station where driver will be fingerprinted & photo logged while check clears

[Veloo]

That's hilarious! Did you have the checks sent to a post office box?

Originally Posted by dave thompson

Years ago when this kind of scam was prevalent I would play along with the scammers to get them to send me their checks. I would agree to their ‘deal’ if they’d overnight the checks to me. The FedEx/DHL/UPS fees can be a lot, particularly when they originate in Nigeria and places like that. I eventually tired of playing with them but not until I had collected a buttload of checks.

[unterhausen]

I stopped a grad student from falling for this scam. They were going to double his price and wanted him to give them $500 or something like that. Funny thing was, he had gotten to the point where they had given him the fake cashiers check and they wanted it back when he declined the deal. So a local came and picked it up. Police were totally uninterested, not sure exactly what they do for a living other than arrest drunks.

I think so many people are wise to the cash-back scam that they are just trying to steal stuff with it now. Because if someone says they will give you a check and want cash back it is a dead giveaway.

[mdeth1313]

Originally Posted by bshell

***NO FRIENDS AND FAMILY payments on Paypal either. Unless you know the person and/or are willing to lose your money. Friend recently got scammed for several hundred this way.

I'll never understand this. There are so many paypal fee calculators you can figure out what the fees are and cover them while paying with the protection of your credit card.

[sokyroadie]

Originally Posted by bshell

***NO FRIENDS AND FAMILY payments on Paypal either. Unless you know the person and/or are willing to lose your money. Friend recently got scammed for several hundred this way.

As a seller there is zero risk to Friends and Family payment. As a Buyer lots of risk.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by sjbraun

I received this message regarding some things I have listed on SteveBay.

"I am really interested in buying but I'm out of town.. Due to coronavirus in town I will send a cashiers check for payment and have my shipper come pick up the item soon as check clears and you have your money available, is that ok by you ?"

This seems like an awfully convoluted way to manage a purchase.

Steve

Same as previous scam, with 'virus' thrown in...you'll cash the 'cashiers' check, then lose the item and then find out the 'cashier's check' is bogus..

SCAM