Beware of scammer on craiglist when selling.

 I recently posted my boat for sale on craigslist and I almost immediately got an offer. But they wanted to pay using a certified check and he would make arrangements to pick up the boat when the check clears. He would not give me his name and where he is from. So I looked up his phone number and it has an area code from Tennesee. I told him I called the bank and they said it would take at least a week for a certified check to clear. I told him cash ONLY upon pick up. Haven't heard fom him since.

Just beware of scammers on craigslist or any other selling site. 

BugleTrout,

I got the exact same line from my scammer.

 "I'm comfortable with the price and condition so I'll send a certified check and the mover will pick it up at your location."

He even sent me the check for $9500. I was only asking $4200 for my item. I told him I sent the CC to the Police and filed a Mail Fraud claim with the USPS. I haven't heard from him since. 

I've had scammers a few times but its really obvious.  Pretty easy to tell the difference between a real person and a scammer.  The tone is one big thing, no one will offer you more money than you are asking.  Its almost always the other way around, they will offer you less.  In fact I intentionally ask more than I want so that I can take the lesser offer and actually get what I truly wanted and the buyer thinks he's getting a deal yet. Mind games.

If they can't spell I take that as another sign of a possible scammer or idiot, not worth dealing with. 

Guess Ive been lucky. Ive bt and sold boats and campers and cash has always been expected.  One guy bt my camper for 8K cash, he didnt complain. Of course he knew he was getting a good deal.

If someone seems to be a bit "off" then there is the wise option of not doing business with them.

Agree with Dude. I've purchased some bigger items. Wrangler, Mustang, jet skiis. If the seller wants cash for these I move on. I'm not going to carry around that much cash. $2000 is my cash limit.  I'll just move on to the next guy. Never bought item that there was only one to pick from. I've met people at their banks if that made them feel better about the certified check/money order. Met some real good people and some real dandy's that's for sure. 

I got my first scammer on Craigslist today.  I've bought 2 boats, various sporting equipment, a jeep and have sold many items but this is my first scammer.  I must have been pretty lucky up until now.  I have a stainless prop up for sale on CL and I got the "I'm comfortable with the price and condition so I'll send a certified check and the mover will pick it up at your location, bla, bla, bla."  I just hit delete.

If some seller makes me go through hoops to buy the crap they are selling.. They can keep it.. (or stuff it)..

Ditto - I don't need a marker.  I'm not selling, I'm buying.  That's a good tip to the other sellers and I would encourage you to get one as counterfeit $100s are on the rise.  Scams do work both ways though.  If someone is trying to sell a $5,000 item, wants to meet in a "neutral" location, and demands I be carrying that amount in cash, I'll pass.  I've never been robbed yet, and I'd like to keep it that way.

If I was selling like you, it may be different.  But for big ticket items, I'm not buying if the seller demand I meet them in some parking lot with a pile of cash.  I guess the only point I was trying to make is that sellers of big ticket items need to understand if they demand cash only, they may be limiting their risk, but they are also limiting their market.  

Nobody comes to my house either, that is my wifes requirment.  I always meet a the Lowe's parking lot close to home.  But the Sherriff's office is just as close, and they encourage people to meet there.  TYpically I am dealing with cash less than $500, couple times aroune 5 grand.  Yes I CC when meeting purchasers too, and no I am not afraid of my shadow either.  I did read an article recently about a guy that met a potential buyer, and htey were both carrying, and ended up getting into a shootout.

jr8368, I'm sure ditto is not afraid of his shadow, just because he chooses to exercise his right to CC. I hope your cavalier  attitude never puts you in a situation where you can't protect you or your loved ones. I'm sure you think "that will never happen, I'm always aware of what is happening around me". 

velocity

Dude, Go to Staples and get a Shaprie counterfeit marker for like $1.99.  I keep one in my truck and a couple at my house.  I sell puppies for big dollars and only accept a small deposit via PP and the rest is to be paid either in cash or via a wire transfer prior to pick up or delivery.  I'm not trusting any cashiers check, bank check, money order or other supposed check that can be forged so good I can't tell.  I have a fake bank check that took my bank 3 days to figure out was fake - there went $5000 out the door because guess what?  I was never able to find the guy again as he used a fake name and address.

I carry most all the time but especially when I have a litter being picked up and people coming to the house with tens of thousands of dollars.

The breed of dog I sell has more scams on the internet than legitimite sellers.  I could tell stories about people getting scammed all day long.  The funny thing though is that most of the people buying my puppies never actually ask my name or address or even talk on the phone with me before plopping down a $300 - $1000 deposit.  It's almost all done via texting.  The people that ask 100 questions never buy, the ones that ask 3 or 4 questions and then ask how to put a deposit down are the ones that actually buy.

Polski,

While I can understand your "cash only" policy, be careful.  There has been a rash of sellers getting ripped off with counterfeit 100's.  To be perfectly honest, I'm not comfortable rolling with thousands in cash.  If a seller won't take a cashier's check for big ticket items, I'm not buying.  

I've bought and sold lots of stuff on both Craigslist and Lake Link. Always cash only no matter the amount. I sold a car on craigslist last summer for $6000. The buyer wanted to get a bank check. I said cash only or forget it and he showed up with 60 $100 bills. My biggest complaint about selling is the No Shows. They ask you to hold something and then they don't show up or even call. Now it's the first cash to show up. As noted below if it smells fishy it probably is.  I've also had sellers want to meet me at a neutral place like a Walgreen's parking lot because they did not want strangers coming to their house. I'm OK with that but I also have a Concealed Carry Permit.

 Well, The dumba$$ sent me the check for double what I was asking. Since it is a USPS certified check, I am taking it to the post office when I get off work. Let them try and catch the crook.