How does this scam work?

[Earbrass]

Posted an item on facebook as for collection only. Got a reply in poor English:

 

"Ok I take but I would like to come tomorrow but I am currently busy with work, I will send a UPS postman to your home to give you your money in cash and collect the item."

 

I don't think UPS offer that service, do they? Sounds well dodgy to me, but if I were to get cash, how would the scam work?

[Jakester]

They'll say they'll send the money, but "UPS" will need an 'insurance fee' to cover the delivery, which they say will be refunded in the money they send to you as reimbursement. 

 

They'll send a link to you, and either you pay a sum of money over, or they get your details via a malicious link and/or malware, or all three. You're then out the 'insurance fee' and of course nothing ever arrives. 

[Earbrass]

Bit of googling reveals a variation where cash is handed over, but is counterfeit. I have blocked that user.

[TheGreek]

Give them a wrong address. They've wasted your time - waste theirs.

[Waddo Soqable]

Or give them the address of a dodgy block of flats, and meet them on the stairwell with a couple of mates, and a lump of wood....

[paul_c2]

Could it be a subplot of a wider scam where they are fishing for info, and use the information to confirm/match up name, address, phone number and possibly email address of targets?

[neepheid]

56 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Give them a wrong address. They've wasted your time - waste theirs.

 

The street address of a police station, perhaps?

[TheGreek]

1 hour ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Or give them the address of a dodgy block of flats, and meet them on the stairwell with a couple of mates, and a lump of wood....

 

I think that Ped needs to get a disclaimer on this as soon as...

[Waddo Soqable]

30 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

 

I think that Ped needs to get a disclaimer on this as soon as...

Of course you'd simply meet them and say v. nicely..

"hello, nice to meet you, this is my lump of wood, his name is John, he likes to meet new people, me and John and my two mates are going for a kebab, fancy coming? “

Quite innocent and no violence ever occurred or implied.... innit

[Saul Panzer]

15 hours ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Or give them the address of a dodgy block of flats, and meet them on the stairwell with a couple of mates, and a lump of wood....

Used a similar tactic some years back with a scammer looking to "buy" a classic Rolex...no lump of wood required though.

[paddy109]

Commonplace scam on FB marketplace unfortunately!

[Beedster]

The moment there's even a slight deviation from "I will send you the funds by recognised method and either collect the gear or ask you to arrange a courier" I'm out, I've simply had too many bad experiences now. I won't even take cash anymore unless it's from a buyer I know/trust  

[diskwave]

Facebook has become a flippin hell hole, especially if your trying to sell small high value items. I currently have some camera stuff for sale and as soon as it was listed I started getting similiar...."plse send me your bank details, I'll give it to the courier and then we'll pay you"...What? Nope. Get lost.

[Grahambythesea]

We had a similar offer for a dining table. My wife checked the persons profile and almost immediately they took it down. Never turned up for the table.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 24/04/2023 at 15:54, Earbrass said:

Posted an item on facebook as for collection only. Got a reply in poor English:

 

"Ok I take but I would like to come tomorrow but I am currently busy with work, I will send a UPS postman to your home to give you your money in cash and collect the item."

 

I don't think UPS offer that service, do they? Sounds well dodgy to me, but if I were to get cash, how would the scam work?

I had the exact same message a couple of weeks ago. I told them I'd be delighted to help as, luckily enough, I'm actually the head of the local UPS department (I'm not).

Managed to string them on for a bit and waste as much of their time as possible.