So I'm selling my gaming laptop on craigslist up here in Alaska. I get a text message from a guy in California. I'm used to lots of scam texts, and this one seems a little suspicious to me. He offered to pay the price I asked + 175 for shipping/insurance, and said he's used to ordering things from around the country, he just googles and looks for deals. I told him I'm not comfortable sending out the laptop unless I have cash in hand, because I've heard stories of checks and paypal and stuff getting retracted after people sent off the item. He said he's cool with that and trusts me, and is gonna set something up with his bank, Western Union. Basically, I'm supposed to get an email giving me instructions to go pick up the cash from the Western Union here in Anchorage, and once I have that cash, I'll ship out the computer.
What do you think, is this fishy? To me it seems like I'm assuming no risk, he's the one taking it all (which is partially why it seems so fishy). I'm certainly happy to ship it off to wherever if I have the cash in hand, this whole thing just seems a little odd.
EDIT: Turns out the "bank" won't actually give me money until I send the tracking info for the item. Meaning I wouldn't get cash until I've shipped the laptop. Definitely a scam.
So I'm selling my gaming laptop on craigslist up here in Alaska. I get a text message from a guy in California. I'm used to lots of scam texts, and this one seems a little suspicious to me. He offered to pay the price I asked + 175 for shipping/insurance, and said he's used to ordering things from around the country, he just googles and looks for deals. I told him I'm not comfortable sending out the laptop unless I have cash in hand, because I've heard stories of checks and paypal and stuff getting retracted after people sent off the item. He said he's cool with that and trusts me, and is gonna set something up with his bank, Western Union. Basically, I'm supposed to get an email giving me instructions to go pick up the cash from the Western Union here in Anchorage, and once I have that cash, I'll ship out the computer.
What do you think, is this fishy? To me it seems like I'm assuming no risk, he's the one taking it all (which is partially why it seems so fishy). I'm certainly happy to ship it off to wherever if I have the cash in hand, this whole thing just seems a little odd.
EDIT: Turns out the "bank" won't actually give me money until I send the tracking info for the item. Meaning I wouldn't get cash until I've shipped the laptop. Definitely a scam.
yes you are being scammed
yes you are being scammed
Alright, that's kinda what I thought. But how does he expect to scam me? I mean if he actually sends the money to the bank, then I'll walk out of there with cash...
What exactly is he trying to do? Send monopoly money and hope I don't notice? As long as I don't ship anything until I have cash, there's no real way he can actually scam me, right?
Alright, that's kinda what I thought. But how does he expect to scam me? I mean if he actually sends the money to the bank, then I'll walk out of there with cash...
What exactly is he trying to do? Send monopoly money and hope I don't notice? As long as I don't ship anything until I have cash, there's no real way he can actually scam me, right?
I just got the email from him. Turns out the "bank" won't actually give me money until I send the tracking info for the item. Meaning I wouldn't get cash until I've shipped the laptop. Definitely a scam.
I just got the email from him. Turns out the "bank" won't actually give me money until I send the tracking info for the item. Meaning I wouldn't get cash until I've shipped the laptop. Definitely a scam.
good rule of thumb for ebay/craigslist/any auction site: the second that they mention escrow/western union, in 99% of cases its a scam.
always prefer meeting locally for craigslist, and credit card/paypal for ebay.
good rule of thumb for ebay/craigslist/any auction site: the second that they mention escrow/western union, in 99% of cases its a scam.
always prefer meeting locally for craigslist, and credit card/paypal for ebay.
this same thing happened to my friend
he asks bank if its ok to send item bank says yes
he ships
he checks bank account - no money
bank cant do anything at this point
this same thing happened to my friend
he asks bank if its ok to send item bank says yes
he ships
he checks bank account - no money
bank cant do anything at this point
Western Union can be legit. I've used it a couple times for international business (cheaper for sample orders than a wire transfer by far). However more than likely he will send out an email and try to do a fake middle man/broker/escrow scam, and will send you a spoof Western Union email saying send the laptop and the money will be released once you send them a tracking number. If its normal western union, all he will need is your full name and city then he can send you money and you can pick up the cash. There is no other bs middle man stuff. 99% sure its a scam, but you could tell him to go ahead and send you the money and you will ship it out once you have cash in hand.
Western Union can be legit. I've used it a couple times for international business (cheaper for sample orders than a wire transfer by far). However more than likely he will send out an email and try to do a fake middle man/broker/escrow scam, and will send you a spoof Western Union email saying send the laptop and the money will be released once you send them a tracking number. If its normal western union, all he will need is your full name and city then he can send you money and you can pick up the cash. There is no other bs middle man stuff. 99% sure its a scam, but you could tell him to go ahead and send you the money and you will ship it out once you have cash in hand.