I listed two used appliances for sale on Craig's List. A potential buyer Emailed that he wanted to buy both pieces. He sent a "cashier's check" and asked me to cash it and wire the payment to his shipper (Paul Martinez) by Western Union and "keep an extra $100 for my trouble." The "buyer" had FEDEXed the "cashier's check" from a Walmart in West Virginia with no personal return address.
Craig's List has warnings posted about this kind of scam. I Googled Paul Martinez with address above and found that this address has been connected with multiple scams on Craig's List. The scam is that the seller cashes the teller's check at their bank and then wires the shipping payment to Paul Martinez. Several days later the seller's bank notifies them that the "cashier's check" was fraudulent and the seller has now lost the money that they wired to Paul Martinez.
Never wire transfer money on behalf of a buyer!!! Never assume a cashier's check is valid until your bank confirms that has cleared!!!
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