Old scam, minor new twist

[Feanor]

I've had my Monarchy amps up for sale for a while and recently had an "offer" that turned out to be minor variation on an old scam -- one that everyone should be aware of.

• A guy replies to my Canuck Audio Mart ad; says he will pay my asking price and will send me payment immediately, please send my address & 'phone.
• I reply I need his address so I can calculate shipping; he says (via email) never mind, he'll arrange shipping and the shipping agent will pick up after I have payment. That's sounds a little different but I say OK and send my address & 'phone.
• I don't see any payment. He says he had to make trip to France but payment is in the mail. He emails a couple of times, then 'phones me; I say I'haven't got payment. He says it will arrive soon and I should follow instructions for the shipping arrangements.
• Finally his letter, payment, and instructions arrive, apparently from France. The "payment" consists of what looks like three Canada Post money orders -- each for more than the price of the amps. I am to deduct my price + $50 on account of delays, and send the difference via Western Union to some guy, supposedly the shipper. I get the very strong odour of Rat.
• Nevertheless I take the MOs to an actual post office (not the local convenience store outlet) where I express my suspicions even before trying to cash them. Of course, they are counterfeit. Fraud detected and no actual harm done. The post office clerk takes photocopies and my 'phone number.
• However when I get home I email the first guy that I have his payment and will follow instruction once I've cashed the money orders.
• A couple of hours later I hear from a postal inspector. He suggests I call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre who will record the incident and possibly take action because the culprit might still think the ball's in play. I call the CAFC, but it's after 4:30PM so they've knocked off for the day.

Of course the scam of receiving excess payment then forwarding the difference to somebody is old, old, old. The only minor difference is that payment was via money order rather than cheque/check. Did the guy really think I'd forward the money without getting hard cash for the MOs? The postal inspector said that I was smart to go an actual post office because a local outlet might have cashed the MOs without checking them; (unlikely for almost 3 grand).