Craigslist buyer wants to pay me via money order: scam?

Hi Dave (and thanks for all you do!)

Just wanted to add that this scam goes the other way too. I saw a MacBook on Craig's List for a pretty unbelievable price and listed by a "lady" who was moving to England.

Of course it turned out that the money had to be shipped to a clearing house (in Nigeria it seems), and the MacBook would also be sent there, and then that very "reputable" company would forward each to buyer and seller. I did not do it of course.

Beware what's too good to be true. It's a sure clue to these scams.

jessica

I wanted to say thank you for posting this. I had exactly this happen and I just ended the transaction. Something seemed a little off when they asked me to take all of the money then send the payment to the shipping company. So I googled the name of the buyer and it brought me to a Criaglist scam website and then to yours. So thank you for your website and your information.

No matter what, everyone should do some research on their buyers before striking up a deal and if something seems sketchy it probably is, so don't do it.

THANKS ! for posting this info. I'm usually pretty in-tune with the typical scams, and even though we were suspcicious on this one, until we rec'd the last email suggesting we will get a money order for 2x the cost, and we have to use a particular shipping company, we were going to move forward. Then I googled his name, and the exact scheme was identified as a scam. I am embarrased I was falling for it - until the last email when it became quite clear it was a scam.

Thanks,
Brad

Wow my friend was looking for a roomate and this lady from mexico replied on craigslist. He was only asking for 460.00 and she was going to give him 2300.00 to pay for the rent and have him send the rest to a travel agency so she could fly up here. This popped up some red flags for us so we did a little bit of research and came across your site. It sounds like this is the same type of scam and we have severed all contact with this person and asre going to turn the money order over to the police.

Do not accept money orders online!!

Check out the e-mail that I received after posting something on Craigslist and you'll find that it is worded almost exactly like the one that you received but is coming from a different e-mail address. When I e-mailed them back they told me to send them my info asap or they wouldn't do it. Obviously a scam - I'm so glad I found this site and saw the e-mail that you got as well!

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.I want you to know that i want the best for both of us in this transaction.I'm cool with your price which is $130,please let me know if you will accept payment with Money order as it's the only way i can pay you at the moment.

I would have loved to come take a look at it but i am presently out of town.Please send me some pictures,i also want to believe it is in a good condition.Also,don't fail to reply with your cell number,full name and address where payment should be sent.I want you to take the posting off craigslist today and consider it sold to me.As for pick up, it will be handled after you receive your payment.

Expecting to hear from you soon.

Carlos.

Hey, I came across your site and a lot of scams out there.
Check out my E-Mail Scam.

michaelmcbride00@gmail.com

Hello kenley,

Thanks for getting back to me,I am interested in your item and i will
like to buy this item from you...am okay with the price listed for
it...So please do withdraw the advert.I will also like you to
know that i will be paying via Certified Bank Check or money order
due to the distance I am and personal commitment.I will need you to
provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of
the check as soon as possible..

Your full name
Your mailing address(residential)
Your phone number.

I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for
shipping,i will have my shipping agent to come over as soon as you
have cashed the check.....Await your response as soon as possible.

Thanks....

harry

--------------------------------
Strange how is E-mail is michael mcbride and look at the similarities between the two emails. Lol.
& He claims himself to be "harry" if you haven't noticed. Hope this will help you all. What to stay away from

I just got this scam as soon as i posted my bass guitar up and within 10 mins I got someone asking me if it was in good condition, i responded and he sent me this. With no name or any mention of my item at all or any talk of a bass.

I am okay with the price of this item and the condition of items and 'll like to make an
outright purchase of this item immediately because am in need of it and we want to get as
soon as possible, I anticipate that a Money Order or certified check will be sent to you via
express mail or ups or Fedex as the mode of payment, concerning the pickup, i will be
responsible for that, where the mover will come for the pick up at your location upon your
confirmation of receiving the payment(as soon as check clears at bank) and i want you to
remove this item from the ad now. So i will send the payment which will include the pick up
charges, in which you will make payable to the mover via money gramm/Western union
immediately after you have receive the payment and you will be compensated with $10 extra
for your running around to the money gram/Western union outlet to avoid the delay. And I
would really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be
possible.....and I will like you to provide the following payment information as soon as
possible;
full name .........................................
full home address (physical).......................
City...............................................
state..............................................
zip code...........................................
tel#...............................................
As soon as this is provided i will let you know when payment is mailed out and i will update
you on when you will receive the payment and give you instructions on what to do....thanks
and i hope we handle this in good faith.
Thanks.....

These craigslist scams really annoy me. A couple of years ago I was looking to sell my truck and got four responses from people that wanted to send me a check for more than the truck was worth. They wanted me to ship it them and keep the extra amount. This turned out to be an overpayment scam, which I didn't fall for.

Only do locally with Craigslist, no paypal just pick it up in person or no deal.

I got a similar email for a dress I had put up for sale which isn't even that expensive.
First the guy emailed me asking if it's still available and I said yes, then he sent this:

"Hi,

Thanks for the response.In a few days you will get payment. I will be paying by money order so give me your full name and address to make them payable to as i do not want to loose this sale to someone else. If you will keep it in my favor, i dont mind adding twenty dollars for the delay. Pick-up wont be a problem as i already have an arrangement for that.I will like you to also send me some pictures to look.

James."
His email is: jamesludwig119@gmail.com

Not even knowing it's a scam I just didn't feel like giving my address and wait for a money order, so I told him I can keep it and he can pay me cash when he comes to pick it up. Later I just got a little suspicious and googled his email and found out it's a scam.

I am very tempted to write back to him and tell him Karma will hunt him :)
Also was wondering if we should report such cases, how and where?
Thanks

I posted an item on Craigslist and got 2 responses back both of which were creepy. Most people on Craigslist say "I'll take it-where are you located?" and that's about it. These e-mails were way to formal..

"Hello,
Thanks for your prompt responds, However, i will need your name and address for payment,As am only able to make payment by money order at this time b/c i am away on assignment. It will be nice if you can send me more pictures. It will take about 7days for payment to get to you. As per pick-up, I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment
has been received by you. I don't mind adding thirty dollars so you can keep it in my favor. Please take the posting off Craigslist today and consider it sold to me, Include your phone number.
Expecting to hear from you soon.
Regards
Adams Levine."

"Thanks for getting back to me really quick. I will so much appreciate it if you can have the advert taken down from C.L I don't mind adding an extra $50 for you to do that so that I can be rest assured that the item is in hand. I wouldn't be able to come over for the check up due to my tight schedule but my mover will be coming over for the pick up once payment issued has been clarified.I will also like you to know that i will be paying via check and it will be over night payment due to the distance,once again You don't need to bother yourself with the shipment ok, i will do take care of that. So, i will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
Your Full Name,
Physical Address,
Zip code and phone number for the mailing of the check for payment.
Once again, I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for shipping...i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check.
Regards,
Mike."

It's amazing to see how they use the same wording again and again. I am glad I checked this out, although I was never going to reply to them...too creepy.

Ohh, let me add another to the list. A lovely email sent by rosemarywashingtonbase1@gmail.com

"Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me, I am interested in purchasing the above item mentioned and I am paying by money order which will take few days to get to you. Please provide your full Name, Address and your phone number for payment. As per-shipping, I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment has been received by you. I don't mind adding $50 dollars so you can keep it in my favor. Hope to hear back from you.

Thanks.

Rose"

Same thought as Dessee, how to report something like this? All the fraud complaint sites are if you've been defrauded or such.

i need a payapl payment information

Hey, I just got an email a few days ago that looked almost exactly the same as a lot of y'all's. It read:Hi,
Thanks for the response.I am willing to pay your asking price.I will pay by money order as its the only way i can pay you at the moment due to the fact that i am away for an assignment.I will make arrangement for the pick-up after payment have been received by you. I dont mind adding an extra $20 just for you can keep it in my favor.Reply with your full name and address where payment should be sent.and phone number that i can reach you with .Please take the posting off craigslist today and consider it sold to me.
Expecting to hear from you soon.
Regards

I replied by saying I only accept cash and will not accept money orders, etc. What do you wanna bet I'll never hear from this guy again? I looked on Bing Maps for the guy's name around my hometown...nothing. Honestly, these scammers are pretty stupid.