WARNING! Craigslist Issue

[Jay Beckman]

Reposting this from another photo group...

If you come across a Canon 7d body Ser. #3814B056AA it was purchased off a Tempe, AZ photographer using counterfeit bills via Craigslist. If you go to buy one off CL, write down this serial number and double check it against the one you're looking at.

Just helping spread the word.

[Scott Youmans]

Jay, thanks for posting this information.  I recently sold a D3s and was very cautious about the legitimacy of the bills I might receive.  Everything turned out very well but I actually studied how to detect counterfeit bills and took a magnifier with me in case there was any question.  A couple of times when selling items like this I've met the buyer at my bank so I could deposit the money right on the spot and have the bank look at the bills.  After hearing this I might make this standard practice.  I've got two lenses going up for sale later today so I'll be especially careful.

[Matt Ottosen]

I know it doesn't help this situation or any like it, but in this day and age I just don't understand why people don't use eBay and PayPal.  I use both and I love their services, I just look at the transaction fees as insurance if there is any sort of dispute from either party.

[Dave S.]

Jay,

Unfortunate incident and thanks for sharing!  Hopefully we can all learn from this and protect ourselves to prevent another occurrence.

Another option, when dealing with cash, would be to pickup one of those counterfeit detecting pens,  like what they use at Circle K and such.  Run a swipe across the bill to detect a fake bill.