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OregonMan's avatar
OregonMan
Explorer
Aug 24, 2018

Please help! Is this buyer of my trailer trying to scam me?

Hey guys, so I got very excited because I thought I finally found a buyer for my trailer. He refers to himself as "Mr. Frost" and is older. They sent me a cashier's check for my trailer, which pays the full amount + shipping. However, the cashier's check looks to be from a different funding source other than Mr. Frost.

He says that he already has a shipping company to use called "Shippers Incorporated" and that the extra cash from the cashier's check will be used to pay the shipping company when they arrive because "they're an old company and only accept cash."

As much as I want to deposit this check, the scam hairs on my neck keep standing up. I've read of similar scams online where a buyer of something expensive e-mails you, is on the other side of the country (Mr. Frost is in Ohio) and they use their own shipping company.

The part that makes me think it might be legit is that we already have a cashier's check. If we deposit a cashier's check could they do a stop payment on it?

I'm really concerned about this guys. I haven't deposited the check, signed any paperwork or given the location of the trailer. So many parts of this deal match other scams... but we already have the cashier's check which is the one part that's different. Any thoughts please? Thank you!

100 Replies

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  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 24, 2018
    Ask your bank to verify funds. Nothing moves until the check clears without recourse. Verify this with your bank and get something in writing. You may incur a returned check fee.
  • OregonMan's avatar
    OregonMan
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    tnscoutr wrote:
    I would not accept it. Tell him to take care of shipping himself. I am betting a scam.


    Yeah I'm leaning toward scam. Sigh.. I've been trying to sell this trailer for MONTHS and finally thought I found someone. It's hard not to deposit such a large check when it's in your hands... but I keep getting this feeling that if I deposit this check, his "old shipping company that only accepts cash" will come to my house, take 7 grand in cash for shipping it to Ohio, then something weird will happen and we'll be forced to refund them for the trailer.

    He said we'll need to sign "paperwork" with the shipping company. I'm guessing this states that we'll fully refund him if anything happens to the trailer.

    MAN... what a bummer.
  • Dennis12's avatar
    Dennis12
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    Take it to the bank and see what they say. I looked for Shippers Incorporated on the net and do not see them. The balls is in your court. Go cash the check and hold the TT until the bank says it cleared and the money is yours. They should be able to tell you right away.

    PLEASE RE-POST WITH YOUR RESULTS, WE WILL BE WAITING
  • Sea_Six's avatar
    Sea_Six
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    Ask your bank how long it could possibly take before the cashiers check bounced due to any number of reasons.

    You'll be surprised to hear what they have to say.

    Be sure to talk to the branch manager or someone in charge, not just a line teller.


    I'd tell him that he can pay with cashiers check for the agreed upon price and he is on his own for the shipping company charges.

    And tell him that when your bank tells you the funds have absolutely cleared, the RV can leave your possession (and the same goes for the title).
  • kirkl's avatar
    kirkl
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    scam, someone I know was selling a couch and it was the same scenario as yours, pay you and they setup shipping. It ended up costing him money somehow. Stay far away.
  • hawkeye-08's avatar
    hawkeye-08
    Explorer III
    Aug 24, 2018
    It likely could be a scam, the scenario you mention is a common scam. Have him wire the funds from his bank to yours. Work with your bank on how to do that... at least that is what I understand to be the best method.
  • OregonMan's avatar
    OregonMan
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    2oldman wrote:
    It's likely a scam, but I don't see how depositing the check could hurt. IF it clears you're good...they can't claw back the money. I doubt it will.


    That's the part that gets me. I'm gonna go to the bank today. Every aspect of this feels like a scam EXCEPT we have the cashier's check already.

    However, another scam I've heard of is that they pay you, use their own shipping company, then reroute the trailer after it's in the shipping company's hands and file a complaint saying they never received the trailer. However, I don't know how they could do that since we're not using a selling platform like eBay.

    I'm asking the buyer for more information including their full name, address, and the full information on the shipping company before I deposit this check.
  • tnscoutr's avatar
    tnscoutr
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2018
    I would not accept it. Tell him to take care of shipping himself. I am betting a scam.
  • Bird_Freak's avatar
    Bird_Freak
    Explorer II
    Aug 24, 2018
    I had someone pull the same exact thing on a classic car. Its a scam! Buyer sends you the fake check and buy the time it takes to clear you have paid a shipping company and lost your camper.
    I called the bank on the check to verify and there was no such bank.
    Tell him cash only.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Aug 24, 2018
    It's likely a scam, but I don't see how depositing the check could hurt. IF it clears you're good...they can't claw back the money. I doubt it will.

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