on August 10, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated Q: I am trying to sell a hot tub on Craigslist. I received this email. I don't think it's legit. (I didn't correct any of the typos or awkward language.)Thanks very much for your response .I would be buying the (Hot tub) you have for sale so kindly reserve it for me. You have to bear with me that I text, its because am hearing impaired. I am telling you this to make final re confirmation of the (Hot tub) which am willing to buy and I also want to let you know that payment will be by Check. However, I want to alert you on the fact that you will be receiving the Check next week and payment will cover your cost and as well as the shipping cost to be paid to the person that will take care of the pickup in your house..... So please as soon as you receive the payment, get it cashed immediately, deduct the money that accrues to you and send the remaining balance to the Head Office of the company that handles the shipment, I will pay you an extra $50 if you can reserve this for me.

So in view of the above, Here are some of the details I will need for final issuance of the Money Order to you.   (1) Full Name (2) Mailing address, no p.o.box please (3) your direct telephone number both home and cell.? {4} Acceptance of my offer (5} Final asking price   Once you get back to me with all the above information's, the Certified Check  will be issued out immediately and it will be sent to you. Living Room Draw Drapes So what do you make of this email?Ac Unit Quit Working People who are selling big-ticket items get scammed all of the time by thieves who send fraudulent checks with "extra" amounts. Aquarium Fish Tank Battery Cleaner VacuumThe seller is supposed to deposit the check, and send the overpayment or money to cover shipping to someone else.

Then the seller is supposed to allow someone to pick up the item. The problem is that, after the item is gone and you've sent the overpayment/shipping money to someone else, the check you deposited gets returned. Your bank deducts the money from your bank account. You've already sent money by wire or prepaid debit cards. Your item is gone. In the case of your hot tub, and many of these scams, there are a few tell-tale signs: The Ohio Attorney General's Office says this about fake check scams: "Someone sends you a check or money order, which you are asked to deposit in your account and wire-transfer the sender a portion of the money, minus a nice bonus for you as a "thank you" for helping out. Regardless of the pitch, the result is the same: The check or money order you receive is counterfeit. It will be returned to your bank unpaid, and the full amount will be deducted from your account. Never wire-transfer money to a stranger." People think cashier's checks or certified checks are guaranteed.

Bankers say that thieves can and do create fraudulent cashier's checks that look good enough to fool bank employees. The checks even contain watermarks. In addition, a person can put a stop payment on a legitimate cashier's check. I personally would not accept take a cashier's check for a private sale. Sure, you could try to figure out whether a check is genuine by calling the issuing bank. I've talked to many readers who've done that, only to learn later the check was stolen or somehow forged. My advice for payment: Cash. If that's not possible because it's a large amount, or the item is being shipped, then I would opt for a person-to-person payment. It's not a wire transfer. And you don't have to exchange account numbers. Most larger banks offer this. Most refer to it as "Quick Pay" or "Pop Money." Or you could accept payment by PayPal. Still, I certainly wouldn't ship out an item or allow someone to pick it up until after PayPal's waiting period had passed and you could transfer the money into your own bank account.

If the transaction is in person, I would accept a cashier's check if I actually met the buyer at his bank and watched him do the transaction in front of my face. For more on fake check scams, here's some good information from the Federal Trade Commission: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0159-fake-checks#fakechecksvariations Read more Money Matters columns here. Atypical Pneumonia (Walking Pneumonia) Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (Also Called 'Walking Pneumonia') Atypical pneumonia, sometimes called walking pneumonia, is a bacterial infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Some people with walking pneumonia do not even realize they have it, because the symptoms are so mild they can go undetected. They may feel well enough to go about their daily routines. Usually, walking pneumonia does not require in bed rest or hospitalization like other forms of pneumonia. Most of the time, walking pneumonia is caused by tiny bacteria called mycoplasma pneumoniae, which can live and grow in the nose, throat, windpipe (trachea), and lungs.

The mycoplasma bacteria do not have rigid cell walls. They can change their size and shape depending on their environment. The term “atypical” was applied to mycoplasma pneumonia after it was discovered that the bacteria that cause it are resistant to penicillin and some other antimicrobial agents (beta-lactams) that are effective against pneumococcal pneumonia. This has to do with the absence of a rigid cell wall in the mycoplasma bacterium. There are three types of atypical pneumonia. The onset of mycoplasma pneumonia may be gradual, with an incubation period of 1 to 4 weeks following exposure. During the later stages of the illness, symptoms may worsen, the fever may become higher, and coughing may yield discolored phlegm (sputum). Additional symptoms associated with Legionnaires’ disease might include Symptoms usually occur within 2 weeks after exposure. Mycoplasma pneumonia is spread through person-to-person contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing airborne water droplets containing the bacteria.

Mycoplasma bacteria can infect the upper or lower respiratory tract. The infection can be easily spread in crowded places such as schools, dormitories, and nursing homes. It tends to affect younger adults and school-aged children more than older adults. Chlamydophila pneumonia is spread through person-to-person contact when an infected person sneezes or coughs. School-age children are at greatest risk of infection. But people of any age can become infected. Legionella pneumonia (Legionnaire’s disease) has a different route of transmission, since it is not spread through person-to-person contact. Legionella bacteria live in the environment and can grow in warm water found in hot tubs, hot water tanks, fountains, or cooling towers. People may acquire Legionnaire’s disease when they inhale water vapor or mist containing the bacteria. Most healthy people do not develop the disease after exposure to the bacteria. However, certain groups may be at increased risk of being infected.

They include older adults (50 years old or older), current or former smokers, and people with chronic lung conditions (chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder or asthma). People whose immune systems are weakened due to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or kidney failure, or those taking drugs that suppress the immune system are also at increased risk. Legionnaires’ disease is also more likely to affect travelers who stay in hotels or aboard cruise ships. Walking pneumonia is quite common. About 2 million cases of mycoplasma pneumonia occur in the United States each year. Mycoplasma pneumonia accounts for 1 to 10 cases out of 50 cases of community-acquired pneumonia (pneumonia contracted outside of a health care setting). An estimated 8,000-18,000 patients are hospitalized for Legionnaires’ disease in the United States each year. Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you are experiencing, how long they have been going on, and whether any other family members are ill.

The doctor might also ask about any recent travel. He or she will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal breath sounds. If the doctor suspects you have walking pneumonia, a series of chest x-rays may be performed. Samples of respiratory secretions are usually not collected before starting treatment for mycoplasma pneumonia. However, analytical testing may be performed in certain circumstances. In cases where Legionnaires’ disease is suspected, the doctor will collect specimens from the respiratory tract for further testing. The urine also is tested. Mycoplasma pneumonia usually goes away on its own after a few weeks or months. If the symptoms are severe enough to require treatment, there are several types of antibiotics available that are effective. Use of antibiotics may shorten the recovery period. Antibiotics that are used to treat mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydia pneumonia, and Legionnaires’ disease include: Over the past decade, some strains of mycoplasma pneumoniae have become resistant to macrolide antibiotics, possibly due to the widespread use of azithromycin to treat various illnesses.