I've only purchased (traded) via an Armslist ad once, and it was a face-to-face (via FFL) deal. No way I would do a remote deal. I haven't sold there in quite a while. The last two listings I made both got scam responders wanting to send me their paycheck, then I was supposed to deposit it and send the rifle and difference back
Does that crap actually work on people?! Who would take such a ridiculous offer?
BTW, that brings up a point people ought to know about banks. It can take 3+ weeks for a check to truly "clear". When the funds show up in your account, as in, they are available to spend, that just means the bank has given you the rope; if it bounces, you're liable
If you are suspicious of a check, you can inform your teller and they can flag it with a hold on the funds and it'll get the scrutiny it deserves
The only time I've done that was with a "bank check" issued by a Louisiana bayou credit union using 1970s watermark technology (a graphic arts savvy person with a good laser printer could print their checks). It turned out to be good, but the buyer was rather impatient
about the 3 weeks it took to ship it, despite my communication early about the hold, and his initial concurrence that it was fine. I stated in the Gun Broker auction in two places that it was USPS MO only (spelled it out too), again in the initial email to the buyer, and again in a follow on email
Some people have poor reading comprehension or simply insist on doing it their way, regardless