Another scam via Craigslist: offering more than asking price

Hi,
How was your day? The check payment has already been sent to you via Ups and will arrive to you in 48 hours. I will like to inform you that this morning, When I contacted my bank to confirm if your payment has been mailed out, I was made to understand that instead of the actual amount for the item the bank made out check for $1500. The payment was already posted before I was informed about this but is a little problem which we can handle amicably. I wouldn't want this to delay the sales, as I have rectify this with my Bank and all you have to do is that, once you have the payment do take it to your Bank and have it cashed and you will then deduct the money for your goods and in addition a $50 (the cost of your running around).

The excess fund on the payment will then be wired to my mover via western union money transfer that same day, so that she can come for pick up as I've already plan on using the excess fund the payment to offset the cost of the previous shipments she has undertaken on my behalf. Do let me know if I can trust you to have the excess fund sent to my mover. Thanks and God Bless.

Melissa

Great. I'll send you a check from my bank to cover the cost as I'm happy with your early response.anyway, I'll not be available for the pick-up of the item because of the nature of my job so i got the services of a mover whom will come for the pick up of the item on my behalf. So I'll like you to provide me with the following information so as to expedite the payment for the item.
1.Your full name to be on the check
2.Home or work address (Ups doesn't deliver to P.O Boxes)
3.Your phone number
4 The final price
As soon as you have cashed the check I'll make arrangement with my mover to come over for the pick-up. Pls do me a favor of removing the Ad from CL as I'm committed to buying it. Have a nice day.
Melissa

I searched this guys email "melimail00000@gmail.com" and got to this page right away. So funny ...
I wonder why no one is trying to catch him ...

This very common in slightly different variations. The points that always sends up the red flag for me are as follows:
-Offering more than asking price
-No mention of exactly what you are selling (it is always referred to as the "Item")
-They want your information, but never give theirs.
-They want it shipped to a place other than their personal address.
-They will call from an unregistered number
-They can arrange their own shipping through their own company and are willing to pay YOU for the inconvenience.
-Someone is always sick, dying, dead, or my favorite "if you don't do this you are going to hurt my child's feelings"

Here is the letter I just received this week.

Good day seller,
I came accross your item for sale online,I don't mind adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from the web site so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item.I would have loved to come take a look myself but my son is going for kidney transplant in few days and i have to do all the running around because i am scared,i believe you will understand.I want you to know that i will be paying via a check,and it will be overnight payment due to the distance,I will take care of the shipment myself and also i want you to know that the payment will cover for the item cost and shipping charges so you dont have to worry yourself about shipping the item.All you have to do is to provide me with the following information so as to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address be it residential or postal address
3.Your phone #.**
Once again ,I want to remind you that you will not be responsible for shipping, i will have my shipping company to come for the pick up the item as soon as the check is cash.**
Regards
Mrs Sarah Joel

Thanks for the prompt response am quite satisfied with the condition .Am very much interested and i am really okay with the item and i will love to make an instant purchase,so please do withdraw the advert from Craigslist,i don't mind adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from criagslist so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item would have loved to come take a look my self but i am a very busy man i am sure you understand. I will also like you to know that i will be paying via company certified check,and it will be over night payment due to the distance .You don't need to bother your self with the shipment okay,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 and address

2.Your mailing 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

I don't get it. If they pay you more than you ask and you are able to cash the check, what's the scam?

avoid collinsmithwanttobuy@yahoo.com also.

Unfortunately emails from hotmail, gmail and others are very easily obtained under false pretenses. I am amazed no one mentions this. No use posting scammers email addresses as they most likely change day to day or the scammer immediately gets a new one. If you respond to emails from legitimate places like comcast, godaddy etc. then those users can be traced and most likely OK.