What's the scam here?

[usernotfound0000]

Selling DDs bed, within minutes of listing I get these messages. The messaging style instantly made me wary but I don't get what the scam is? He left the conversation as soon as I said cash only but what's the worst they can do with your bank details?

They send you too much from a compromised account

Someone collects the bed and apologises for the error

You pay back the excess and the bank recalls the payment as fraudulent

You lose a bed and a sum of money, as the amount you forwarded as the excess is lost

Cash on delivery is the only way

Definitely sounds like a scam. If his son doesn't have cash he could stop off at a cash point on the way. Dodgy - Avoid.

Ah ok. I was dubious they would even collect given how eager he was to come almost immediately, so I assumed it was a way to get my bank details? I've heard of doing similar with PayPal but didn't realise it could be done with bank transfer too.

Yes, I thought the messaging style was odd anyway so I wouldn't have given my address to them anyway! Was just confused what their aim was - I thought the worst they could do was set up a direct debit (I remember that happening to Jeremy clarkson when they set up loads of charity donations with his bank details!)

Gingernaut · Today 12:26

They send you too much from a compromised account

Definitely, those ones are very common.

We had one last year, where he wanted us to pay the courier and he'd send an envelope with £50 for the insurance. He got very snotty when we said no.

Interesting he only talks of "the item" not "the bed".

So what would happen if we went cashless? it would be more difficult to avoid these scams.

Yes that's true, never really thought of that.