Remind Me Never to Use Craigslist Again

All I wanted to do was sell an item I wasn't using anymore. I got some jackass who tried to defraud me with a clearly phony cashier's check "threatening legal action" because I refused to go along with the Western Union fraud they were trying to set up. I already verified that the check was fraudulent at a local bank before I even did anything (meaning I didn't even cash it), so I don't see how such a thing is possible.

Does anyone else have experience with this? I'm annoyed with this crap. Even a little on the panicky side. Hell, I didn't even want to use craigslist for exactly this reason, but my mother-in-law insisted because she has a second golf cart waiting for us.

Is there anything else I should do?

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I have sold a few things on CL and no problems. However I always state cash only, you do need to be careful though there is always somebody trying to scam people. As far as the check if it was good why didn't he cash it himself and pay with cash.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

The bank took the check to investigate the fraud. We still use Craigslist, and we’re a bit smarter.

Edited to add - we now state cash only.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

The Aspie Corner's picture

@Raggedy Ann The funny thing about the check is that it's for double the amount I asked for. It says it's from Citibank but also from Shiseido (They deal in hair care products in Japan. The lady at the bank who said the check was fraudulent actually uses some of their products.) and it was "shipped" from Steelco Construction in California. And the emails were atrocious.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

Raggedy Ann's picture

@The Aspie Corner
Our check was from a guy in TX and the business address on the check was in TN and the bank was in NY.

Sell but always state no checks; cash only.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Craigslist is for sex traffic.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Big Al's picture

I appreciate the opportunity to help.

Actually, I tried using craigslist just last week, first time in forever. I had a dresser drawers I wanted to get rid of, for free. I said "FOR FREE TO A GOOD HOME" in the add. No one called, no one emailed me. I must have done something wrong. I mean, it wasn't a bad dresser at all, it worked and everything. I finally dragged the thing down to the end of my driveway and put two large signs on it, "FREE!" By the end of the day it was gone.
That worked better than craigslist anyway.

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mimi's picture

@Big Al
that and bringing stuff to a Salvation Army store that sold cheaply used furniture.

I must admit that I almost cried seeing for what they offered a Rattan Dining Table with 8 chairs, made originally by a quite famous San Francisco based designer. My mother bought them in the seventies in Germany from a friend's upscale furniture store in Hamburg.

If you really want to give something away for free you always have the best chances the stuff you have will disappear within a day from your drive way.

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a man drove from Houston to my community to purchase something for cash. It might have been a car or boat. I just remember it being thousands of dollars in cash. The sellers, a husband and wife duo, murdered him, buried his body in their back yard, and stole the money and stole his vehicle. They were later arrested, eventually convicted of capital murder, and are surviving life sentences with no parole.
I can't recommend Craig's List from the point of view of buyer or seller.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Strife Delivery's picture

Guess I'm the odd one out. I've had good luck on there. Bought a nice wingback for 20 bucks from a lady who was downsizing.

Regarding Aspie, I think you're fine. The guy will move on to his next person.

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