This scam has surfaced before, but it seems to have taken on a new life in spring 2004. There've been a rash of scammers attempting to use this ruse in long-distance auto sales. The punch line is that the cashier's check is bogus, and you will end up being liable for replacing its full face value. The amount you forward to the scammer's cohort (e.g., the 'shipper') is his profit from the con. You can read more about it at scamchecker.com (or check the Yahoo directory for other sites documenting known scams).

Of _course_ I know the difference... I don't want you to kiss a hole in the ground.