Recognize it - Report it - Stop it.

• long-distance buyer or seller

• offer includes a cashier's check, postal money order, Western Union, or escrow service (BidPay, etc.)

• refusal to meet face-to-face

• distant seller offers to send you a cashier's check that often far exceeds your item value or selling price, buyer asks you to pay his shipper and wire the balance via money transfer service. Never agree to a deal in which the payer wishes to issue an amount for more than the agreed price and expects you to reimburse the balance.

• refusal to speak on the phone

• NEVER give out personal financial information (checking account number, SSN, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)

• banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR

• scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)

• distant seller requests payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
  seller often claims that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE. Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Netherlands, but could be anywhere. Deal often seems too good to be true

• distant seller offers to send you a cashier's check and then have you wire money: this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not
  scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check deal often seems too good to be true