Can certified bank checks be scams?

Question

i am selling my wii on craigslist and someone said there gonna send me a certified bank check and the postal service will pick it up, can certified bank checks be scams?

Answer 1

Yes, it can be a scam (ie. the bank does not exist, or the cheque is a fake).

You can insist that you will *only* give the Wii to the guy once the cheque clears (certified or not). Same with money orders (lots of money order fraud out there too).

Answer 2

Certified?  I have not seen a certified check in decades.  Cashier's checks or money orders, lots, but certified checks are a dinosaur.

The postal service does not pick up packages unless the sender puts in the service order.  

Answer 3

YES, they CAN be scams, and this is a very well known one.

You will deposit the phony check into your bank and give away the item you're selling. A few days later, the bank will tell you that the check was no good, but by that time, your item is long gone and you're stuck for the bad check.

The ONLY way you should sell something on Craigslist is if your buyer shows up in person with actual cash in hand.