Craigslist scam swindles El Dorado County woman of $3,500

Roseville police report that the woman recently listed her car for sale on the web classified. A man who said he was from San Francisco told her he wanted to deposit money into her bank account to reserve the vehicle.

The seller provided the man her bank account information over the phone. The buyer deposited a check into the seller's account, however, the check apparently never cleared before the man called again.

In an aggressive manner, he demanded his money back because his daughter had obtained a loan for the car. The seller withdrew $3,500 in cash from her account and gave the money to a woman who clamed to be the man's daughter in a Roseville parking lot.

That's the last the seller saw of her money. The bank told the seller the deposited check was fraudulent.

Police said a banking source told them it takes two-to-seven days for a check to officially clear, even if the balance on the bank account appears to increase.

Wise words from the Roseville police department's public safety newsletter:

"Don't spend or act on a check or other money transfer from a stranger until you've contacted your bank to confirm the deposit went through. Never give your bank account or other personal information to a stranger and don't do business with anyone who's intimidating or tries to pressure you into a sale."

http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/11/craigslist-scam-swindles-el-dorado-county-woman-of-3500.html