$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam
A buyer sends a cashier's check for more than the asking price and asks the seller to wire back the difference, but the check is fraudulent and bounces after the seller sends real money.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline sellers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$180
median reported loss
Typical range$36 – $1.8K
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
The scammer responds to a Craigslist listing and sends a cashier's check or money order for significantly more than the sale price.
2
They ask the seller to deposit the check and wire back the 'extra' amount, often claiming it covers a shipping agent or a mistake.
3
The check initially appears to clear, but days or weeks later the bank discovers it is fraudulent and reverses the deposit — the seller loses the wired money.
What to do first
Never accept payment for more than the agreed price — this is the hallmark of an overpayment scam.
Related terms
overpayment scamfake cashier's check scamcheck overpayment fraudOnline shopping scamsCraigslistSurgingOnline sellersAdultsFirst-time sellersSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersReal estate professionals and homebuyersUnited StatesCanadaoverpayment scamfake cashier's check scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jason, 35, a online sellers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Craigslist. The scammer responds to a Craigslist listing and sends a cashier's check or money order for significantly more than the sale price.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They ask the seller to deposit the check and wire back the 'extra' amount, often claiming it covers a shipping agent or a mistake.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The check initially appears to clear, but days or weeks later the bank discovers it is fraudulent and reverses the deposit — the seller loses the wired money.
The outcome
Jason realized something was wrong when buyer offers to pay more than the listed price without negotiating. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never accept payment for more than the agreed price — this is the hallmark of an overpayment scam. Jason's experience shows why buyer offers to pay more than the listed price without negotiating and payment is by cashier's check or money order rather than cash or a verified payment method are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Buyer offers to pay more than the listed price without negotiating
- Payment is by cashier's check or money order rather than cash or a verified payment method
- Buyer asks you to wire the overpayment back or to a third party
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never accept payment for more than the agreed price — this is the hallmark of an overpayment scam.
- ✓Only accept cash for local Craigslist transactions and meet in a safe, public location.
- ✓If you receive a suspicious check, do not deposit it — report it to your bank and local law enforcement.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC consistently warns about fake check scams, reporting that consumers lose tens of millions annually, with Craigslist being a primary venue for this fraud type.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never accept payment for more than the agreed price — this is the hallmark of an overpayment scam.
- ✓Only accept cash for local Craigslist transactions and meet in a safe, public location.
- ✓If you receive a suspicious check, do not deposit it — report it to your bank and local law enforcement.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC consistently warns about fake check scams, reporting that consumers lose tens of millions annually, with Craigslist being a primary venue for this fraud type.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online sellers, Adults, First-time sellers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online sellers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC consistently warns about fake check scams, reporting that consumers lose tens of millions annually, with Craigslist being a primary venue for this fraud type.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam
How does the craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam work?+
The scammer responds to a Craigslist listing and sends a cashier's check or money order for significantly more than the sale price. They ask the seller to deposit the check and wire back the 'extra' amount, often claiming it covers a shipping agent or a mistake. The check initially appears to clear, but days or weeks later the bank discovers it is fraudulent and reverses the deposit — the seller loses the wired money.
What are the warning signs of craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam?+
Buyer offers to pay more than the listed price without negotiating Payment is by cashier's check or money order rather than cash or a verified payment method Buyer asks you to wire the overpayment back or to a third party
What should I do if I encounter craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam?+
Never accept payment for more than the agreed price — this is the hallmark of an overpayment scam. Only accept cash for local Craigslist transactions and meet in a safe, public location. If you receive a suspicious check, do not deposit it — report it to your bank and local law enforcement.
Who is most at risk for craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online sellers, Adults, First-time sellers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam getting worse?+
Craigslist cashier's check overpayment scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.