Beware, scammers everywhere

Another thing I've encountered is that when I've listed an item for sale on Audiogon, the communication begins on the site, but the potential buyer wants to talk and basically transitions the transaction off the site.  One time I spoke with the "buyer" and we came to agreement on the price, but he insisted that I give him my bank account info, so he could transfer the funds without me having to pay the credit card fee..."no thanks".  Another time the "buyer" said that he'd be giving me cash, but when he arrived at my home, insisted on giving me $600 less than we agreed upon when we spoke..."no thanks".

The scam with the movers or buyers associates picking up your product and there drivers giving you a money order or cashiers check for the purchase is a 100 years old, everyone should know about it by now. The buyer comes up with a reason (there are a thousand) why you do not need to ship the unit because he is sending his movers or whatever name they come up with (there are a thousand of names for those people also) and his driver will give you a money order (Postal or whatever you want) or Cashers check (from wherever you want) for the amount that you agreed upon. These money orders and cashers check are professionally counterfeited you can put a real one side by side with the counterfeit ones and you CAN NOT tell the difference unless you are a professional. The paper used in the counterfeit is usually one way to tell it is not real  but the only real way to tell if it is real or not is to call the issuing company and to inquire as to whether the number on the order is real or not.  So the drivers give you the payment you take it to the bank first to make sure it is real, they just look at it and assure you it is real. You deposit the check and life is good, till 10 working days later (usually)when  you are notified that the check was bogus and the funds have removed from your bank account. Your buyer is now a ghost with your equipment and you have no recourse because you wanted to save a few bucks and did not use PayPal. The people who do these kids of scams are professionals every year they get better at what they do, unless you are one of those people you are an amateur and would best be advised to not indulge in any activities with them. Always take precautions.

With all the fees the new sales taxes on used goods sold online the many scammers and the shippers hell bent on smashing your kit. Today I only sell pickup cash in my hand if I know you I may ship. Sure I have to reduce asking prices a bit sure it make take more time. But I get to meet buyer they hear see the gear before purchase no worries about after sale waiting to know if it made it to buyer intact. And I've actually sold other gear to these buyers as they see all my kit. 2 sales one buyer hard to beat that. And I've made a few new friends. Over all for me it's the better way.