I also received a strange call shortly around the same time from Port Saint Lucie, FL - 772-206-3498. I tried to call it back but it went to a weird fax line or something.
I listed rental in the Craigslist, just received a text from this number and named Jessica. It sounded odd that her employer will pay for her stay, utilities, airfare, will be sending extra money, asked to deduct the rent and send the rest of the money back.. Its a SCAM!
Got a text off Craigslist from this no. Wants to buy the item I have listed. Says
" The price is ok, but I'm not in town right now because of neck surgery am attending to but will send you cashiers check I will include my movers payment,my mover will come for pick up as soon as you get it cashed from your bank.okay?"
This is exactly as it was sent to me.
I replied OK, contact you when I get home.
He says "....send me the name you want me to put on the check and the address you want me to send it to."
That's when I looked up his phone no. and found your info. Does this sound like the same Guy?
Mark
It doesn't matter if it is the same guy. It is the same scam. There are probably hundreds of crooks running this scam,not simply one person.
Craigslist, Kiiji, AutoTrader, Etc. Scam:
The scam works like this. Communication is always by text or email for some made up reason such as they are deaf, they deployed and can't use their phone (then how did the text get out?), etc. They think your item as described is perfect. They might ask a few questions about it, and then will pay your asking price, sight unseen, because they are never around close by to come look at it (they use the stationed somewhere in the military a whole lot, or working overseas, or on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, or simply fill in your own job here). They will give you an extra $40 or $50 to hold it for them. Then they tell you they will send a cashier’s check or money order for that amount plus extra for the “shipper”. They count on the fact that people don’t know or realize that the funds being made available by the bank and the check actually clearing are two completely different things. They ask you to wire that extra money by untraceable means such as Western Union or Moneygram. The check or money order turns out to be bogus and you end up out the money you sent plus the bank fees. Also, if the check is big enough you may end up being charged criminally. Take the check and the envelope it came in to the post office and have them forward it to the postal inspectors.
In the case of them using PayPal, the same thing happens. They send a fake email looking like it came from PayPal, get you to pay the shipper, and then find out that the e mail was fake and no money is available.