Would like input on what kind of scam this could be

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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:26 pm

I am not new to 419eater, but I haven't posted here in years.

I put a legitimate ad on craigslist trying to sell my daughter's drum set for $125. I got a text message today that said, "am interested in buying. I will be paying you with a check and i will take care of the shipping myself. i'll add extra $30 for you to keep in my favor. Please text me with your name and mailing address and I will have the payment mailed out immediately. Let me know if this is fine with you?" Chris Maxwell."

I thought he meant he'd pay for shipping and that I'd have to take it somewhere, so I told him they wouldn't fit in my car.

He replied, "My mover will handle that, don't worry about that, let me have your names (typical scammer lingo) and address to send payment.

My question: Even if he sent me a bad check, shipping the drums would cost more than I'm even asking for them. So what would he be getting out of this?

One more thing...
I tried calling the number he texted me from and a recording said, "Please wait while Google voice connects you." Can you send text message from Google voice now??? I thought it could just forward to your phone incoming calls!

Elite Baiter Joined: 10 Mar 2013 Posts: 1482

He propably has a helper to do the moving. This could be the new buyer for all we know. Car used for the moving could be stolen and they try to get more stuff out of the country with it. Come to think of it it could be our pal from the romo -bait.

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:44 pm

Thank you! Going now to look up romo-bait. Smile

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 1:13 am

No reason to over-think this. It's actually a lot simpler than that. It's just a standard fake check overpayment scam. It's just another ploy for cash.

If you responded, you would be expecting a check for $155. But what you would receive is a check for far more.

Oops--he might have forgotten to mention it, but the scammer will explain to you that the extra is for his "mover" (aka his mule.) He will handle the arrangements, but for some (illogical) reason, the actual payment to the "mover" will have to go through you. He will instruct you to deposit the check, withdraw the extra, and--you guessed it--send the "mover's" payment via WU or MG.

From there it's just like any other fake check scam. Eventually the fraudulent check is discovered, the money pulled back from your account, and you are out the money sent to the scammer plus a variety of fees and charges for the bad deposit.

But you'll still have your drums, because the scammer wasn't after them in the first place--he was after the cash.

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:29 am

Dorothy, you are probably so right! Thanks!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:00 am

This is still a really common format, but as they have evolved, the scammers have learned not to mention the overpayment up front as it tends to chase off victims. So they send the check and then the overpayment comes up.

They also don't care (and half the time don't even notice) what they are actually "buying." The best example of this I have ever seen came up a few years ago, with a scammer who tried to use this format to extract shipping for a cemetery plot. Very Happy

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 1

I think you'll find in cases like this is that..... The mover he sends will actually arrive before the check clears.
You're stuck in a little dilemma and they hope you'll take the "nice" option.
Goodbye drumkit.
This practice crops up quite a lot and it's amazing just how many people fall for it.

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21155

^^^This is actually a bit different from the one you are thinking about where they want it sent immediately while the PayPal or whatever is clearing your funds to you.

This shipper is never going to show, the scammer will ask the overpayment to be sent to his shipper for his payment and you are out the cost of the check and the overpayment that you sent away as well. He is not interested in the merchandise at all.

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