possible scam?

[chrags95]

I have waived shipping costs for a buyer who says he is willing to pick up my item, but he doesn't know where I live and won't tell me where he's coming from. Instead, he wants my information so he can send me a certified check. After the check clears, he claims he will have "movers" come pick up the item. It sounds super fishy, but I can't exactly figure out what the scam would be. Any help?

[mtgraves7984]

possible scam?

@chrags95 

Sounds like a probable  scam to me... but I can't pinpoint why.

So... in the instance of receipt of the certified check (I suppose you'd consider it a cash sale), you deposit and wait a period of time (I suppose you'd wait for the check to clear before marking it 'Paid'), then hand it to someone (quite possibly it's allowed with the QR code) who is not your buyer?

And is it one of your rims or all three available rims? $20 to ship one is a small price and smaller hassle (?) for the buyer...

Hold out for other posters with other ideas... and good luck.

[fab_finds4u]

Since it's a certified check, initially a bank will accept your deposit. But several weeks later the bank will debit your account for the FAKE check. This will be after the movers show up.

Certified checks cost money. The last one I wrote years ago cost $8.  Why would they pay you with a check when they can pay on eBay? 

Tell them to pay on eBay or have their "mover" bring cash, or send a  USPS Money Order that can be cashed at the PO and is cheaper than a certified check and you don't have to wait for it to clear.

I bet you never hear from them if you give them those payment options. They're trying to scam you if they don't pay on eBay or send you a money order.

[janet9988]

The scam part will be that the check will be for MORE money than the item and you will be asked to pay the movers their "fee" out of that check.  And then the check bounces.

[simba6]

Classic fake check scam.   Those " certified " checks are not so much and can bounce some time later.

Your a new seller and a target for scammers.   I don't even see that you made a sale on eBay.

Was it on another account?

[soh.maryl]

There is no "possible" about it.  

[eburtonlab]

The latest variation of the certified check scam is that after the check is received by the seller and deposited successfully (apparently) in the seller's bank account, the "buyer" will shorty thereafter claim to have problems with the movers who have suddenly all contracted COVID and cannot pick up the item.

The "buyer" will demand immediate repayment of the full amount of the check, eventually convincing the seller to send payment via some sort of online payment app or money-gram, which is of course not reversible.

When the bank eventually discovers the certified check is a fake and removes the money from the seller's account, the seller will be out the entire amount of the "refund".

A quick way to turn a fake certified check into cash without needing to actually have movers pick up an item or do any work other than to find a seller willing to take a check.

[pastumpy]

Only accept cash.  Period.  If a mover is coming to get it, have to movers brings the cash.  Require a government ID from the mover, and get a signed and dated receipt.  This is for a vehicle, boat, anything that the buyer wants local pickup except something that requires payment through eBay.   Down payment is always through eBay.  If not a vehicle, the buyer should be more than able to pay through eBay, anyway.  You have no good way of indicating it is delivered without going through eBay. 

[rustydalmatian]

You are the seller.  Accommodating an occasional reasonable request is fine, but you are letting the buyer dictate the terms of YOUR sale.  You make the rules within eBay's parameters.  If he can't live with that, cancel the sale and block him.

[goldlikesteez111]

That’s exactly what I was suggested to do multiple times and never trusted it the checks name was in the name of a cousin always. 

[goldlikesteez111]

Make sure all their ids and check names all add up if it’s too much of a hassle for them ignore and block this goes for eBay 

facebook craigslist etc

[annadryl]

This is an old thread. The OP never came back with any further info. I assume they just cancelled.

[kh-sandra]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.