i have been trying to sell my amp on craigslist and someone said they will send me a money order and pick up the amp later. well i told him i would prefer cash but went ahead with the money order. now the guy siad he sent me the wrong amount and wants me to send the money back via western union. i have heard of people getting scammed like this before and heard its pretty common. what should i do?

Officially: I dont know

Unofficially: Find him and kick his #$@*&!% head in....

CC

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Turn his sorry $@! in. Call the cops. This scam has been around for a long time. Whatever you do, don't try to deposit that money order or take the money out of your bank. It's fake.

Id back out, sounds like a scam to me

+1

Simple ...

Deposit it and wait for it to clear. The bank might even be able to tell you it is a fake right when you give it to them. Make sure you go inside and mention your concerns to them. When the bank gives you the green light, you send money via Western Union.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Going into the bank is still not a safe bet. They can't always tell if something is legit until they send it for processing. I know a girl that got bit by this scam. She did exactly that, and waited for the funds to clear. They did but, two weeks later the bank got the cashiers check back as a forgery and she was on the hook for $3500.00. Clearing the bank and clearing the processing center are two different things unfortunately.

Hope fully you saved the emails. Print them out and take them and the money order down to your local Police Department. Tell them everything.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

tell him you'll give him the cash when he comes to pick up the amp.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DO IT...IF HE SAYS HE WILL PICK IT UP, YOU CAN GIVE IT BACK TO HIM THEN...ASSUMING HE ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH WITH THE DEAL...WITH CRAIGSLIST, I ONLY ACCEPT CASH AND IN-PERSON PICKUP.

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
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and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

Tel lthe joker to pound sand

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Send the money order back using registered mail or something you can track. Make up some excuse to call the whole thing off. I wouldn't feel comfortable meeting some scammer in person and I have a blue belt in karate. It's just not worth it.

Cash on exchange in person is the only way to do it. Just let him get his money when he picks up the amp.

Are you in the US?

If so, file a complaint :

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

My son got scammed on a bogus *but looked legit) cell phone deal and got his $ back with the help of this group.

Good luck!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Might be a variation on this?


Counterfeit Cashier's Check

The counterfeit cashier's check scheme targets individuals that use Internet classified advertisements to sell merchandise. Typically, an interested party located outside the United States contacts a seller. The seller is told that the buyer has an associate in the United States that owes him money. As such, he will have the associate send the seller a cashier's check for the amount owed to the buyer.

The amount of the cashier's check will be thousands of dollars more than the price of the merchandise and the seller is told the excess amount will be used to pay the shipping costs associated with getting the merchandise to his location. The seller is instructed to deposit the check, and as soon as it clears, to wire the excess funds back to the buyer or to another associate identified as a shipping agent. In most instances, the money is sent to locations in West Africa (Nigeria).

Because a cashier's check is used, a bank will typically release the funds immediately, or after a one or two day hold. Falsely believing the check has cleared, the seller wires the money as instructed.

In some cases, the buyer is able to convince the seller that some circumstance has arisen that necessitates the cancellation of the sale, and is successful in conning the victim into sending the remainder of the money. Shortly thereafter, the victim's bank notifies him that the check was fraudulent, and the bank is holding the victim responsible for the full amount of the check.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!