Scam or not?

Triathlon Forum
1

I am selling a bike and got the following
phrasing looks very similar to the phrasing seen in these e-bay scams…
no question on sizing, components, condition…
and the price was always indicated in the classifieds.

Dear Sir,

My name is XXX XXX based in some town, some state,USA.
I am interested in buying your item . I will like to know it’s current
prices . Method of payment will be by Cashier’s Check. I will also
arrange for the shipping after payment is done.
Please kindly get back to me if this is okay by you.

2

I say scam, DO NOT REPLY TO THE E_MAIL
.

3

that’s what I thought…thanks.
I emailed back and said paypal payment only by CC and verified buyer…
I probably won’t get answer…

4

Hmm. Could be a scam. Tough to tell. Good luck with it though.

5

I agree with the other guys. Paypal doesn’t cost the buyer anything so I would be really suspicious if he/she doesn’t want to use it.

6

Sounds fishy, but I’m not really sure what you have to lose if you get a (authentic) cashier’s check. Am I missing something?

7

I work for a bank and there have been a lot of fake cashier’s checks going around the country. The scam is that it takes a few days for the check to clear, but since the seller thinks it’s a real cashier’s check, they deliver the merchandise.

8

Don’t do it. Insist on Paypal, and withdraw the cash from Paypal before shipping.

I know of a French math professor who once sold a wheel to a guy in another state that he met on a tri forum. Can you believe that the seller took a personal check? Man, some people are just too trusting…

:wink:

9

what an idiot! I am sure he even sent the powertap before he got the check…
oh, hang on how did I know it was a powertap???

:slight_smile:

10

what an idiot! I am sure he even sent the powertap before he got the check…
oh, hang on how did I know it was a powertap???

:slight_smile:

Funny thing about that powertap…Every time I get to pedallin hard, a little message pops up and scrolls across the screen:

“ERROR. Power readings are 175 watts below historic averages for this unit. Are you pedalling at all? Do you have a chain on the bike? We are used to seeing 400 watts. What the hell are you doing back there?”

11

What did you ever do with the disc wheel that was replaced? Did you ever send it to the guy who bet you that you wouldn’t flat at IM Lake Placid?

12

darn, you scared me! I thought it was not working anymore!

13

What did you ever do with the disc wheel that was replaced? Did you ever send it to the guy who bet you that you wouldn’t flat at IM Lake Placid?

Well, that guy rides those itty bitty little wheels, and my disc was a full-size manly wheel. But, if that guy rides from Florida to San Diego this summer (as he has threatened to do), I might be inclined to strike a compromise of some sort. Perhaps a traditional San Diego sports-bet item: His choice, a case of tuna or avocados. And, I will accompany him in my kayak on a swim from La Jolla Cove to Scripps Pier and back (~2.4 miles). Other door prizes from my discarded-bike-parts-box might be available.

BTW – that disc is now safe and sound up in Long Island, on Justin’s bike.

14

I got the same routine, probably from the same “buyer”. As soon as I made it very clear that without paypal there would be no deal, I never heard back from him…