Craigslist scam targets people selling merchandise online

The Superior Police Department has received multiple complaints of a fraudulent scheme/scam circulating on Twin Ports Criagslist adds, according to a public service announcement posted on the department’s Facebook page. In each of these incidents the victims are attempting to sell merchandise on Craigslist.

The victim locates a buyer on Craigslist and only communicates to them through e-mail or text message, so they rarely know the "buyers" name. When it comes time for payment of the merchandise, the "buyer", sends a check for an amount much higher than the agreed upon purchase price, sometimes thousands more. The "buyer" requests that the victim cash the check and send them back the excess money. The cashed check is usually drawn upon an account that was recently opened and doesn’t have sufficient funds to cover the transaction, but due to the timing of the transactions it may initially clear the bank as legitimate.

It is always a good practice to only accept secure or verified forms of payment for online auction style transactions and only for the amount required for the purchase, according to the alert.

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