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iPad mini Sold iPad and got counterfeit money, how should I take action?

Breaking Good said:
I'm really sorry to here what happened to the OP. Fortunately s/he did the right thing in contacting the police.



I know hindsight is 20/20, but in the U.S., Staples sells a pen that will test bills to see if they are counterfeit. I think one costs something like US$8 or so.



I've seen the same pen used in banks.
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Did you see post #43?
 
baypharm said:
You are a very lucky fellow. One of our employees sold a MBP and received a counterfeit cashiers check. The bank notified the police. They thumped and banged on his door and he caved and opened it. They hauled him away and he was later convicted of possession of a counterfeit payment instrument, a felony. His pleas that he had no prior knowledge that the check was bad went unheard. He was convicted based on the fact that he was in mere possession of something illegal. Mens Rea no longer protects Americans.

I realize that laws vary from state to state but I wanted you to know how lucky you are that the police didn't take you away.
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He took a cashier's check? Never.

dndandrea said:
I thought the whole process was fishy and my skeptical self decided to take a look at the bills after they left. I didn't see the watermark on the right side where the you can see the president under light. I compared it with my roommate and then it became obvious that it was counterfeit. The bills even felt different, but any random person probably wouldn't realize it.

Called the cops as soon as I realized it, and I knew i'd be out $400 plus my iPad.

The only thing I can think of doing is calling every pawn shop in a 2 hour radius and observing any iPad sold on craigslist/ebay. If anyone has anything better please let me know!
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Dude, don't you have his email or phone number?
 
Medic311 said:
i have a pen that detects counterfeit money. on the end is a UV light that shows the internal strip also.

basically the way i conduct my sales on craigslist is this:

1) agree to meet at a Starbucks, Panera, or Apple Store
2) place item on the table and hold onto the item
3) request that buyer takes out cash, counts it on the table and uses my pen on the money to verify it is authentic
4) slide item to buyer so he can open it up and inspect it while i then take back the pen and verify the strips and other markings with the UV light


the reason why i do this is because a while back a buy tried to break the seal and open up a brand new ipad that i was flipping without showing me the cash. something seemed odd, so i asked to see the money. he said "I GOT THE MONEY". i said i want to see the money. he said he has it, not to worry. i take the ipad back and i say show it to me and count it. he counted it and he was $75 short.

he was hoping to have been able to score the iPad for $75 less and since he opened it, he was figuring i would just agree to the sale. yeah, nice try
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Screw that, meet them at a police station. Anyone wanting to rob you or use counterfeit bills would be nuts to meet you there.
 
miamialley said:
...and they don't need to. Does Starbucks and Panera?
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if a Starbucks or Panera manager saw you sitting there conducting a business transaction inside of their store, they have every right to ask you to leave. would they do so? probably not. when i sell things on craigslist i always get an iced tea and bring a magazine so i blend in.

if i walked into my local police station and sat on the lobby bench i would be asked why i was here. when i tell them i am selling an iPad to someone on craigslist, they will tell me i have to leave and that i am not allowed to conduct personal business inside of a public building without prior approval. if i resist leaving, i would possibly be detained, fined for solicitation, and who knows what else.

not sure why this is so difficult for you to understand
 
laudern said:
When is america going to get real money like Australia and Canada, which are much harder to confer-fit and extremely obvious in nearly all cases when it is counterfeited?
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About 10 years after they get chip credit cards and get rid of dollar bills and the one-cent coin.

BTW, here in Canada we have Interac money transfer. $1.50 fee. The buyer sends you the transfer. If you agree to the sale once you meet, he gives you the code to accept the transfer. The money is instantly deposited to your account.
 
miamialley said:
Screw that, meet them at a police station. Anyone wanting to rob you or use counterfeit bills would be nuts to meet you there.
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My local police station has a lobby and does allow it. I do it all the time there or inside bank where their are cameras everywhere. I don't give them the product until the teller says money is good.

Police said they would rather have the transaction in the lobby then showing up with the coroner to pick up dead bodies.

Call you local police dept they will tell you it is fine. They cannot get involved with the transaction but I highly doubt a criminal would agree to meet there if they had bad intentions.

By the wake I got fake bills once. Thieves can wash money and pen won't work. Good test is too use you fingernail to feel the rough little lines on the shirt. It is textured.

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Medic311 said:
if a Starbucks or Panera manager saw you sitting there conducting a business transaction inside of their store, they have every right to ask you to leave. would they do so? probably not. when i sell things on craigslist i always get an iced tea and bring a magazine so i blend in.

if i walked into my local police station and sat on the lobby bench i would be asked why i was here. when i tell them i am selling an iPad to someone on craigslist, they will tell me i have to leave and that i am not allowed to conduct personal business inside of a public building without prior approval. if i resist leaving, i would possibly be detained, fined for solicitation, and who knows what else.

not sure why this is so difficult for you to understand
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My local PD is fine with it. They know craigslist is dangerous. I do it all the time for pricey items.
 
if you don't want to sell on ebay try selling on amazon. I've actually have had better luck selling stuff on amazon lately instead of ebay. amazon is really popular now. also spend time on calculating the cost to ship, so you don't lose money. too risky meeting people. there is some cold hearted desperate people out there that will cut your throat just for an iPad
 
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