I've advertised an item on Craig's List for $400. Imagine my surprise when requested to take it off the 'auction' and he would send me a check for $450 as a Cashier's check. First thing I did was think I had underpriced the item, but when finding it reasonable, I then thought "Ok, what's this lad up to?" Asking myself "lad" made me think of the fact that it was probably a scam.
Here was his intro through the Craigslist email forwarding:
Dear Seller,
i would like to know if this is still available for sale and what is the condition of it and for how long have you been using it?
Robertso I played him a bit, and am now awaiting a 'cashier's check' that will now be even more than the $450 he offered at first, and the instructions are:
Thank you so much Boby,
I got your information but i would like to let you know bofore i procced with the issue of the check to you that you will be receiving a check of over payment. Once you get it, you will take it to your bank to cashed out . You are to remove $450 from the money and you will send the remaning balance of the check to my shiping company that will be coming down to your address to pick up the item from you to my destination immediately the recieve the remaning balance of the check from you. That'a all what i have to inform you before i could procced with the issue the check to you. Hope there's no problem about that?
Robert
Meanwhile I have contacted my bank, Wells Fargo, to ask them to assist in tracking down this worthless paper that will arrive if he follows through. I want them to CSI it (fingerprints, signatures, etc.) to see if we can locate the scammer, who will provide an address to send the "overpayment" to.
Should I involve the Secret Service and/or FBI?
Regards
CB