What scam is this?

[Jim Garber]

Maybe I am getting paranoid in my old age.

That is a good thing. So many people get scammed. My 22-year old daughter got one of those calls from some guy who claimed to be an IRS agent and told her that she owed $3000 and that they were coming to her apartment to collect soon. She was very scared until i told her that the IRS would not call her, would not have her cell phone number anyway and the last time she paid taxes was through our address and not hers. So easy to get scammed.

I am glad it worked out.

[mrmando]

Ah, I was just about to contact you and offer to buy your MandoBird myself ... glad it worked out.

[J.Albert]

I wouldn't even bother replying to a response like the one the OP received.

Call me insensitive if you wish...

[Mark Wilson]

Did they play it first?

[jaycat]

Didn't play it, and of course, didn't plug it in.

[ajh]

Never mind...

[Jeff Mando]

I am glad it worked out!

[Bill Kammerzell]

That is a good thing. So many people get scammed. My 22-year old daughter got one of those calls from some guy who claimed to be an IRS agent and told her that she owed $3000 and that they were coming to her apartment to collect soon. She was very scared until i told her that the IRS would not call her, would not have her cell phone number anyway and the last time she paid taxes was through our address and not hers. So easy to get scammed.

I am glad it worked out.

The tax thing is very common. AARP has a long list of scams in their Mag every now and then.

[Eric Hanson]

So glad that it all worked out very well for you!
A lesson may have been learned by us all. I know I will reconsider, take the needed precautions, and give a person the benefit of the doubt.
Thank you for keeping us posted on how it played out!

[Timbofood]

So,is this sale going to be the seed for a new Guild?
Happy Valentine’s Day to yourself?

[FLATROCK HILL]

...But for your information, here are some other reasons I often suspect scams:
1) The email starts out with "I will like to know if your..." instead of "I would like to know if..." To me this screams that it's a foreign bot created by someone who doesn't speak English. I get this response a LOT to my various ads. The rest of the wording is usually funky too, phrased in such a way that no one who is a native speaker would say it that way.

Somewhat of a tangent here, but I just got a pretty realistic looking email from "American Express". It has all of the graphics and the 'Contact Us' info etc on the page. Here is the message that is included:

There is a recent security report for your American Express(R) Account(s). At time of report scrutiny, An error was detected validating your profile. In view of this, Cardmember information need to be updated and your mandatory effort is required.

There's a link included and instructions how to update my information. I think I'll pass this time.

[jaycat]

So,is this sale going to be the seed for a new Guild?
Happy Valentine’s Day to yourself?

Sure, if you know where I can get one for $100....

[Timbofood]

I did say “seed”, so a c note is a decent start! Any action on the tiple?
And, I didn’t say it’s would be for THIS year. Start filling an envelope, you never know what might fall in your lap!

[jaycat]

I did say “seed”, so a c note is a decent start! Any action on the tiple?
And, I didn’t say it’s would be for THIS year. Start filling an envelope, you never know what might fall in your lap!

Maybe a lap steel!

[F-2 Dave]

I was going to warn you that it could be a banjo player looking to jam. Glad it wasn't, and that you're safe. Can't be too careful.

[zedmando]

Use email

I have rarely sold anything on a service like that, but I created an email for the purpose & deleted the email after I was done.

At this point I should add that it's an electric... unlikely to be someone's first mandolin, I would think.

My first & only mandolin (So far)--is an Epi Mandobird VIII(8 string)

Update: Well, I feel a bit abashed now. Just met the fellow who sent the first response at the local cop shop and the deal went down without a hitch.

Maybe I am getting paranoid in my old age.

I really want to thank everyone who took the time to respond; without your input I might not have made the sale. Lesson learned.

Glad it worked out...