Another scam via Craigslist: offering more than asking price

I was selling an item on craigslist
and this person offered to buy it for what i was selling it for
but then turned around and said they accidently sent the check for way more
then i was asking,then asked me to just cash the check and wire the money..
well i did just that and once i wired the money i havent heard from them since
and i just recieved a letter in the mail from my bank today telling me i owe them 2,500 for a check that was no good..

so now im stuck paying all this money back, my bank account that i have had 10+ yrs
will be closed and who knows what else is gonna happen to me..

I have called the FBI, local police and contacted a laywer
but the bank doesnt care and wants thier money!!!

Becareful, i was just scammed and now i dont know what to do or how
to pay this back!!

Hello ,

How are you doing today?i want you to know that the deal is on as My
secretary has posted the payment already but there was a little
problem which i guess we can handle with care,while i contacted her to
confirm if the payment has been mailed out and I was made to
understand that it has been sent but instead of the actual amount for
the Item,She made out the check for $2,500 she claim that was what i
requested but she didn't get that straight.

The payment has already been posted before i was inform about this and
i wouldn't want this to delay the sales as i have rectify this with my
Bank and all you have to do once you have the payment is to take it to
your Bank, have it cashed and deduct the money for your good plus an
additional $100 for the stress I have put you through during the
course of this transaction as well as for your running around.The
excess fund on the payment will then be wired to my mover via wester
union the same day so that he can come for pick up as i already plan
on using the excess on the payment to offset the cost of the various
shipments he as undertaken on my behalf.

Do let me know if i can count on you to have the excess sent to my mover,

Awaiting your urgent response...

Hi!
I am selling a dining romm set on craigslist, Here are two responses, please remember the names SCOTT JAMES and MARQUISE!

"Hello
Thanks for the prompt response, i know about the screws, and i will
love to make an instant
purchase,so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist,i don't mind
adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from craigslist
so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item. 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 .You don't need to bother your
self with the shipment ,i will take care of that.So i will need you to
provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of
the check. 1.Your full name 2.Your mailing address be it residential

or postal address 3.Your phone number.

My Regards,
Marquise."

and the one from Scott
Hi,
Thanks for the prompt response to my inquiry, I am interested in buying it,.I would love to come and check it but My Daughter would be going for a Kidney transplant in the next few days and as a good father i have to be at her side with the mother.I am handling the purchase of this item now to my secretary.pls do withdraw the advert from Web i don't mind adding $20 for you to do that,so i would be rest assured that the item is held for me.I should believe it is in good condition as stated and seen in your ads.I will be making the payment via a Certified Check ,my secretary will send it across to you,I will arrange a Mover who will be coming to Pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Pls I will need both your name and physical address along with you phone number to issue out the
payment.
Regards.

My family is Law Enforcement, so I didn't fall for it, but the bad grammar and englisg also threw up a flag!

BE CAREFUL PEOPLE!!!

~WIllow

I just got this email today - 12/3/2008

From: frankie.roonie104@gmail.com

I appreciate your response to my inquiry. Am interested in buying it from you. I would love to come and check it out myself but I just got married and am presently on an honeymoon trip to The Rep Of Benin with my Wife.Please withdraw the advert from the web so I can be rest assured that the item is held for me. I don't mind adding $50 for you to do that, I should believe that it is in good condition as stated. I will be making the payment via a Certified Check, which my secretary will mail across to you. I'll be picking the item from you with the aid of my mover. My Mover will be coming to pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. I will need both your full name, phone number and physical address which will be on the payment and also enhance payment delivery. Hope to read from you soon again.

Thanks,Frank.

I got the same scam from an Andrew Lancaster via Craigslist:

 " Hi,

I hope you are fine and alright. I have been busy myself but doing
great. There is something i think i must bring to your notice. After a
reconciliation of my account , i discovered that somehow my assistant
must have over paid you. The payment that was meant for another
transaction was sent to you and the one meant for you was sent to
another, however i want to believe i wont have a problem with you.
Please once you receive your payment, i would like you to deduct your
money and send the remaining via western union  to my daughter so she
can settle some of her pressing needs and also reactivate my Fed ex
account which i will use for the pick-up . I will provide the info you
need to complete the western union transfer once you receive payment.
Thanks once again for your understanding.
Warm regards.

A.Lancaster

Tom Cook 

show details 12:11 PM (2 hours ago)

Thanks
for your reply,Concerning my inquiry,Am quite comfortable with the
condition of the item since i won't be making any repairs on it,i will
add $50 to it for keeping it for me, Please provide your full
Name,Address and your Phone number for payment.I am paying by Money
Order.It will take few days for payment to get to you. As perpick-up, I
will make arrange for the pick-up after payment has been received by
you.I hope it is in good condition,kindly get back to me with your
name,phone # and mailing address where payment will be sentI will let
you know how i intend to pick it up.I would have loved to come check it
out but i am presently away on a business trip,so you can send me pics
of the item so that i can know it is in good condition.
Note:
I
would appreciate it if you take the posting off CRAIGSLIST today and
consider it sold to me.As for the pick-up,it would be handled after you
receive your payment.
Thanks.

Here is a copy of an e-mail I just received today. This guy wants to buy the dining table that I have posted for more than what I was asking. Here is a copy of his e-mail. They obviously are counting on us being completely stupid.

Hi,
If you want to sell it now im
willing to offer $430.I can pay you right now with a Certified Check,
I won't be able to come look at it,due to the nature of my profession,
and there short notice traveling jobs, I had to leave town and will be
back in a week or two so i'll forward your details to my client to
make the my payment payable to you in order not to delay. Can i have
your contact info ( full name and address) with phone number to
proceed with payment. It will be sent to you via UPS or FedEx courier.
I will arrange for pick up as soon as you confirm cleared funds. thanks and God bless.

Regards ,

jeyifous
11 fordham avenue
Thousand Oaks,CA 91360

Hello Seller, thanks for the info , well i am so glad i could come accrss it for a cheaper price this is how it will go , i will issue out a check of $2500to you so when you get it , you will deduct the total amount of the item - and another extra $25 to keep away all buyers from it and i want you also to remove the ads from criagslist so that other buyers wont disturb you bcos i want to buy it so you keep additional $25 dollars for that so it totals $110.00 for you so, the rest funds you will wire it to my shippers that are in GA via western union money transfer, they will come the next day as soon as the funds is sent to them , they will come and pick it up from your home , so i hope you can be trusted and you will remove the Ads from the site , well hoping to hear from you you will g et the check via UPS so it will be fast bcos i want to make this transactions fast and sharp okay , take care seller.i will let you know when the company's check has been mailed out okay thanks

i will like you get back to me with your full home address that am gonna send the payment check too ok

thanks for getting back to me.

Unfortunately, they both have my address and phone number. I hope that nothing happens.

Here's the two emails I received today from TWO different scammers:

Hi,i am interested in purchasing the above mentioned item and i am okwith the asking price. I am glad it is still available for sale. I amonly able to make payment by money order at this time b/c i am away onassignment. Please provide me with your name , address and phonenumber for payment. It will be nice if you can send me more pictures, if not its ok. It will take about 7days for payment to get to you.As per pick-up, I will make arrangement for the pick-up after paymenthas been received by you. I don't mind adding thirty dollars so youcan keep it in my favor.Please take the posting off craigslist todayand consider it sold to me. ThanksExpecting to hear from you soon. Regards,A. Lancaster

I hope you are fine and alright. I have been busy myself but doinggreat. There is something i think i must bring to your notice. After areconciliation of my account , i discovered that somehow my assistantmust have over paid you. The payment that was meant for anothertransaction was sent to you and the one meant for you was sent toanother, however i want to believe i wont have a problem with you.Please once you receive your payment, i would like you to deduct yourmoney and send the remaining via western union to my daughter so shecan settle some of her pressing needs and also reactivate my Fed exaccount which i will use for the pick-up . I will provide the info youneed to complete the western union transfer once you receive payment.Thanks once again for your understanding.Warm regards. A. Lancaster

BEWARE OF ANDREW LANCASTER (andrewlancaster101@gmail.com)

AND this second one from another listing I had from ERIC CAMPBELL:
Hello there,
Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase, so please and please do withdraw the advert from Craigslist, i dont mind adding an extra $50.00 for you to take the advert down from craigslist so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item. 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. You dont 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.
1. Your full name
2. Your mailing address be it residential or postal address
3. Your Phone Number.
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. Thanks
Regards
ERIC.

Hello,
How was your day? I want you to understand that the deal as my secretary as posted the payment already, but there was a slight error i guess we can handle with care, Instead of the actual amount $225 for the item, She made out the check for $3,500; She claim that was what i requested but she didn't get that straight.
So once you have the check please cash it and deduct the money for your goods plus $50 that for your run around expenses.
The excess fund should please be sent to my mover via Western Union, This fund will be use in offsetting the cost of the shipment he as undertaken for me recently.
**Please email at once to let me know that i can trust to have the excess funds sent to my mover**
Your Warmest Regards,
ERIC.