Another 'Is this a scam?" Question

February 2, 2022 10:48 AM

I am selling a large bulky item on FB marketplace, which is common where I live (non-US) .A oman has asked to buy it. But she lives 100 miles away from me. She has proposed to send me money via UPS Delivery in an envelope, and she will also get the UPS delivery person to pick it up. Is this a scam?

I'll be honest, the item I am selling is priced at the upper end of the market, and not particularly a 'bargain'. So I'm not sure why someone would go to these lengths. It's not electronic, if it matters.

(Outside of the US there is no Venmo. Direct bank transfers and Paypal Friends and Family are more common. Cash in UPS Delivery in an envelope not as common... Shouldn't have to explain this there's often a very strong US-bias here)

posted by moiraine to Grab Bag (15 answers total)

Response by poster: *woman not oman
posted by moiraine at 10:48 AM on February 2, 2022

Best answer: Yes this is a scam. Are you getting "cash" in an envelope or "money" in an envelope. If it's "money" it's probably something like a falsified money order or cashier's check or whatever your local equivalent is. If it's truly hard currency "cash," well I've never seen that before but I'd bet it's probably counterfeit. It'll come in as more than your agreed upon price and then they'll tell you oh oops I screwed up, can you just Venmo-equivalent me back the overpayment. And then you're out the money.
posted by phunniemee at 10:54 AM on February 2, 2022 [11 favorites]

Money as in actual currency? Or will they be sending a cheque or other instrument?

If they're sending you a cheque or "money order" or anything like that -- that's where it'd start to whiff of scam for me. UPS person picks up the package, cheque bounces, you're left holding the empty bag.

I suppose there's a chance of counterfeit currency as well, but this seems like a weird and piecemeal method of money laundering. Possible, but I don't think it super-likely.

EDIT: phunniemee and I crossed in the ether, sorry!
posted by humbug at 10:55 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

There are a number of scams involving items on craigslist or Facebook. Typically the way it works is that you are paid with something that is not real, whether it is a fake money order, a fake cashiers check, a fake email claiming that you have been given PayPal funds, a fake email claiming that you have been giving Venmo or Zelle, or something like that. Oftentimes the check will be for much more than the correct amount, with instructions for you to cash it and wire them the extra money.

If this woman actually sends you cash then it’s probably legit. Unless the money is fake, which seems unlikely. However, it is possible that her offering of cash will turn into a story about how she can’t get cash because of XYZ reasons, and offering you a check.
posted by Slinga at 10:56 AM on February 2, 2022 [6 favorites]

Um. Of course, I'm in the U.S., but I'd think that was sort of strange and be skeptical, too.

But then, if there was an item I really wanted, even if it was large and bulky... I'd borrow a truck and take the cash in person to buy it. I'd be uncomfortable sending cash off to someone and then never receiving the item.

Perhaps UPS does that sort of cash on delivery-ish thing? If it was real, it would seem that would be what she was attempting to replicate. But then, the cash itself might not be real...
posted by stormyteal at 10:56 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

I think it might or might not be a scam (if you get verifiably real currency in the envelope, you're probably fine) but I wouldn't accept this deal unless I was otherwise ready to take the object to the dump. If she wants it she can come get it.
posted by mskyle at 10:59 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks all. This was resolved quite quickly. I was trying to think how someone would scam me with cash. But I just googled the text from her message and it seems like a common scam for people in the UK. Will mark this as resolved, thanks. And report to FB.
posted by moiraine at 11:08 AM on February 2, 2022 [15 favorites]

I live in Austria. I would be sceptical simply because i don't believe that a ups delivery Person would be able or allowed to do this (delivery and Pick Up at same time).
If it was me i would find out if this is in fact a service UPS does offer where i live.
posted by 15L06 at 11:11 AM on February 2, 2022 [7 favorites]

This is definitely sketchy. There are SO many ways to transfer money to people even if you don’t have a Venmo yourself, like WesternUnion or PayPal or even asking a friend with an account to send it for you. The “100 miles away” part is also a red flag: it’s conveniently distant enough to feel too far to drive but not too far to be unfamiliar. Scammers will use this distance in transactions, like even online fake dating stuff, to avoid suspicion and also meeting up. Even if it’s legit, it’s a huge inconvenience and saying no is always ok. You are wise to be wary.
posted by smorgasbord at 11:57 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]

Glad you didn't get sucked in, moiraine, and thank you for reporting. Hope the creeps get shut down.
posted by humbug at 12:18 PM on February 2, 2022

Western Union is a red flag FWIW.

Many scammers want a WU transfer. Don't do it.
posted by Windopaene at 12:48 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

Just to clarify my point about Western Union: maybe to a white middle-class American it can seem like a scam -- and it certainly can be -- but it's the way that so many people, including me, transfer money to loved ones in South America and beyond. In the US, a country that is so hard on undocumented people who often cannot access regular banking options, it's a necessary evil for paying bills and transfering money. Being wary is always good but so is being aware of different livelihoods.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:19 PM on February 2, 2022 [8 favorites]

I know.

BUT

The only time I got scammed, they wanted payment via WU. And once that is done, the sender has basically no recourse.
posted by Windopaene at 3:46 PM on February 2, 2022

DEFINITELY SCAM.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 12:07 AM on February 3, 2022

Best answer: I was trying to think how someone would scam me with cash.

Courier companies will usually decline to (knowingly) carry cash in an envelope - they don't want their whole network to be an enticing target for thieves of all kinds. I bet the scammers were dangling the non-existent cash to get you to agree, and then on the second step they would have come back to say I just found out cash is against the rules but I will happily substitute this fake payment instrument.
posted by each day we work at 2:37 AM on February 3, 2022 [3 favorites]