I have resolved to clear out a few things from the house/business recently.  While I have also listed these items on eBay, I also put them up on Craig’s List.  Within a couple of hours of posting the items, I had engaged in 2 separate text dialogues with “potential” buyers.  Both buyers had local area codes, so I was more trusting than I would have been if it was the area code of some island in the Caribbean.  Fortunately, before I will accept your money and your proposal, you have to earn it.

Cust01:  Used Air Hockey Table - $250
Me:  Yes, what questions do you have?
Cust01:  Hi, I am very fine with your price and i'm willing to payyou upfront with a Cashier Check and after you received and have 
it cleared then i will take care of the pick-up myself. I am ready to offer you an extra $50. I need your name & address and payment will be issued out today. I will appreciate it if you take the 
posting off CL today and consider it sold to me. Expecting to hear from you soon. Austin Wilson
Me: Not interested in cashiers check. Cash would be fine-could 
lower price a little

Cust02:  Small Business Cutting Carbon Pre-Filters from Bulk 
Filter - $1000
Me:  What questions do you have?  Would you like to chat about 
specifics?
Cust02: I really appreciate your swift response,I will be paying 
you with a cashiers check and after it fully clears with you, my 
movers will come for the pick up.I don't mind adding an extra $30 so you can keep it in my favor. Please text me with your Name & 
Mailing Address and i will have the payment mailed out 
immediately. Let me know if this is fine with you. Thanks.
Me: I could send you a Paypal invoice. I prefer to meet you or 
your movers somewhere. The items will easily fit in a van and 
could be brought to a meeting place. 
Cust02:  I can do a cashiers check only and once it clears, the 
movers will meet you at your address for the pick up
Me:  I am cautious when on Craig's List. Strong preference on not 
meeting at the house. 
Cust02: this is 100% legit
Me:  Can I call you?
Cust02:  Ill call you after work
Me:  Ok. Thanks. 
Me:  Listed another CL item today. The person who contacted me 
wanted to pay in identical way and pick up later. I am willing to discuss lesser amount for cash. Not interested in cashiers check. 

When the first text came through, I went “Wow, maybe these things will sell without to much pain.”  As the second one came through, I smelled scam. (To be completely accurate, I got a whiff of scam on the first one, but I was looking for the scam.)  As I pondered on my “luck”, I remembered a similar scam from 5+ years ago.  I listed on something on eBay.  The item was purchased in England, and they wanted it sent to Africa.  They would send me a cashier’s check from England.  And, because they liked dealing with me so much, they made the check for a little extra beyond the price of the item and the shipping fee.  I tolerated the “kittymail.com” account and played along just for fun.  Once the check arrived and I took it to my bank, the “scam” came out.  (In fact, there must have been lots of scamming going on–they had placards at the bank asking questions to  help you realize what transactions [business or otherwise] might be risky.)

These cashier’s checks are drawn on non-existent accounts.  The bank routing numbers may be legit, but once the bank gets the check to withdraw the funds from the checking account, they find the bank account numbers to not exist.  So, the process works like this:

1. You receive a cashier’s check and take it to the bank to deposit.
2. A good teller might ask you about it.  They may say, “Huh, that doesn’t feel like check paper.  The formatting or the logo of the bank looks a little off.”  But, if they don’t, you will go ahead and deposit the check in your account.
3. The cashier’s check is sent on to the bank the cashier’s check is drawn on.  When they can’t process because it is a bogus account, the check goes back to your original bank.
4. Your bank will pull the money out of your account and maybe charge you some type of fee for the trouble.  But, if you bounce a check, there will certainly be fees and penalties.
5. The “scammers” are planning on getting your stuff during that period when you “think” the check has cleared and you have their money.
6. My wife is in banking.  She was not sure how long it takes before the bank “knows” the account doesn’t exist.  Her guess was maybe a week, but it certainly could be shorter.  Regardless, when you have a person claim, “It is 100% legit”, it probably isn’t.

Both eBay and Craig’s List may have their perils.  Rarely, does something that sounds to good to be true turn out that way.  Be skeptical, but don’t lock your trust in a box that can never be opened.  In life and in business, trust slowly.  There are good people, but the bad apples make the rest of us work a little harder to earn it.