There are at least three variations to this scam:
1. The check is phony, but the bank does not notify you until after you shipped the item.
2. The check is written for more than the asking amount. You are instructed to send a MoneyGram or other untraceable fund for the difference. In this variation, the scammer does not care about the item. All they want is to get the MoneyGram before you learn the check bounced.
3. The scammer sends additional money "to pay the shipper that will arrive". Soon thereafter, the seller is contacted by the shipper, who wants payment to pick up and deliver the item. The seller gives the shipper a payment, but later learns the "shipper" was part of the scam, because the seller paid good money, but the buyer's payment was phony.
Here is info on what can happen to you after cashing fake checks https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0607/scams.html
So, instead of cashing the check, file a Mail Fraud Complaint! http://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx
Read the info at this Craigslist link, for helpful advice: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
Short warning from the Craigslist site:
DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON!
follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
There are at least three variations to this scam:
1. The check is phony, but the bank does not notify you until after you shipped the item.
2. The check is written for more than the asking amount. You are instructed to send a MoneyGram or other untraceable fund for the difference. In this variation, the scammer does not care about the item. All they want is to get the MoneyGram before you learn the check bounced.
3. The scammer sends additional money "to pay the shipper that will arrive". Soon thereafter, the seller is contacted by the shipper, who wants payment to pick up and deliver the item. The seller gives the shipper a payment, but later learns the "shipper" was part of the scam, because the seller paid good money, but the buyer's payment was phony.
Here is info on what can happen to you after cashing fake checks https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0607/scams.html
So, instead of cashing the check, file a Mail Fraud Complaint! http://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx
Read the info at this Craigslist link, for helpful advice: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
Short warning from the Craigslist site:
DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON!
follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.