What's the Scam Here?

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FourT6and2

FourT6and2

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Feels scammy. But not sure how they benefit. Any guesses? Guitar listed on Reverb. I receive an offer, not a message, but an offer for $50 less than my asking price. So if I hit accept, they're supposedly bound by their offer. Along with the offer, buyer includes a message:

"Hi,This is so lovely,still available?,if yes kindly email me…. [EMAIL ADDRESS]"

I've sold off Reverb before, so no problems there. I email the guy and this is his response:

"I asked you to message me because I’m willing to do this off reverb to avoid the tax,I’m willing to pay with check and have an hauler pick it up when check clears."

Word choice seems suspect. "Hauler"? WTF is that. Pay with a check? Nobody does that in 2022. But he says I can wait for check to clear. If check bounces, I'm ok because my bank won't ding me. If check clears and then I ship, what could happen? What's the scam here? A reasonable person would not say they'd pay with a check and then have their own 3rd party "hauler" come pick up the guitar. Makes no sense. A legit buyer would ask to pay via PP for buyer protection and then I would ship.

I told him to call me and his response is:

"I’m out with my family so I can do the calling later when we seal the deal."

I said no phone call, no deal.
 
LP Freak said:
Definitely red flags
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out how this guy benefits. Let's pretend I play along and agree. He sends me a check. I deposit it. I wait for it to clear... I ship out guitar or he has a "hauler" come pick it up. Then what? What's the scam?

Is it something where check appears to clear, I ship guitar, and then somehow check turns out to be fake? I would just wait two weeks to ship and confirm with my bank. Or is there something else to it?
 
When they say “kindly” I’m out lol. The check will initially show as cleared. Then after the fact your bank will figure out what’s up. By that time you’ve shipped because it “cleared”.
 
fearhk213 said:
When they say “kindly” I’m out lol. The check will initially show as cleared. Then after the fact your bank will figure out what’s up. By that time you’ve shipped because it “cleared”.
Click to expand...
Yep. Tell him it needs to be a Postal MO
 
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Maybe ask for a money order, but otherwise does sound fishy. Does the buyer have any feedback? I'd probably steer clear.
 
It sure seems weird. I would expect some sort of shenanigans as it progresses. “OMG my hauler is in your town and must pick up today” or something weird.

Why not PayPal? There is none of the income tax bs to deal with in 2022.
 
As above, or, after check clears and shipped they put a stop payment on it. You’d be out your axe.
 
Yeah seems off. Are there other items seen in your post? Maybe come to your home and haul everything off?
 
I had this recently. I listed a few amps, immediate offers at just below or exactly at my asking price. Lots of emails of "my dad is interested in this email him at x" whatever. All offers and messages happened within an hour of me listing. All offeror accounts had 0 feedback. Clearly all bullshit but I assume they wait until you ship then dispute the charge? Since reverb doesn't initiate payment until you ship.
 
Kindly is a sure fire offshore red flag.
Doing the deed off market red flag
The whole pickup thing - red flag.
Run, don't walk.
 
FourT6and2 said:
lol not a bad idea
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Say something like: Hey, thanks for the interest. In the spirit of the holidays, I’ll lower the price to cover the taxes.

They won’t respond, or if they do, they will still want to go outside of reverb.
 
For the record, I prefer going off Reverb. The last couple of guitars and amps I've sold have been off Reverb. I save having to pay fees. Buyer saves on tax. Works out for both of us. I don't think wanting to do a deal off Reverb is a red flag. But the other stuff definitely is.
 
Anything with a check and they say they are sending someone to pick it up is 100% scam. Used to see this all the time when I worked in banking. Scammer pays by bogus check, usually a "certified check" because in the olden days these were considered to be safe. You deposit, your bank "clears" the check in a few days but the check comes back somewhere around the 10 day point as bad. By that time, you're out the merch and the scammer and their "currier" are long gone. The bogus checks are usually drawn on some little po-dunk bank somewhere with a phony phone number on the check that if you call, will put you in touch with "someone at the bank" that will verify the check as legit if you call.
 
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