My wife and I bought a swim spa in 2013, and after finally learning what all the dials were for, we began using it daily. We loved it, all except the getting in and out! We tried a small step stool, cinder blocks, and finally ordered “proper” mahogany steps from the spa maker because we wanted to be safe. Eventually, we added a deck and the stairs became redundant, so we decided to put them up for sale at Craigslist. That's when we met the scammers.
I first got an email, and here it is verbatim: "I'M OK with the price and the description stated so I would like to send payment asap. Please let me know if a Us Certified Check OR Cashiers Check is OK. After the check clears my Mover will come and pick it up at your location.I would have come and take a look of it but I can't anymore am not available at this moment,Due to my work reschedule.(on a business trips). If you can get back to me with your mailing info.I'll mail the check out asap through UPS Service.So your Full Name to write on the Check, Full Postal Address Apt # suite #,Not a P.O Box address, a firm price,with your cell phone number to reach you,so that i can mail the check out asap."
I asked a friend about this — he happens to be something of an expert on Internet technology and often sells things online — because I thought it sounded fishy, if only because of the poor grammar. He identified it immediately as a scam. "They send a seemingly real check for more than your asking price and then ask you to refund part of the difference to some fake moving company by wiring the funds to them," he explained. "The original check is fake and eventually bounces."