Am I Being Scam?

[Howard2k]

Definate scam!

I had an issue with this a couple of years ago, which is one reason I disable the email function and will only sell locally.

Long story alert!

I posted a couple of ads for a few sports-related items, and got an email a couple of days later from a guy who claimed to be interested. The first few emails looked legit, and the guy claimed to be local (which I didn't doubt, because he gave me a number with a local area code). He sent me an email wanting to know if I "still had the stuff for sale" (that should have been the first clue), and if it would be possible to come buy and check it out? I said "sure", and proceeded to give him my address. The next email I got was EXACTLY like this (there was a little more to it, but the whole "carrier/Shipping Co" part is pretty much the same). He actually sent me a check for 3X what I was asking, and instructions on what to do to cash it. By that time I was onto him, so the next email I sent, I told him that I had decided that I changed my mind about selling and to go ahead and cancel the check.

He emailed me back saying that it was too late to cancel it, and that I "have to cash it!". I told him "I don't have to cash anything, because I know this is a scam", and his last reply was "I'll kill you!". Now, since he/she/they had my address, I had no choice then to file a PR. Haven't had another email like that since.

Here's how the scam works, in a nut shell:

The scammer(s) send you a bogus check for more than what you're asking (usually 3-4X the original asking price). You deposit the check, then once it clears through the bank (after the manditory "holding" period), you get the cash, take out your share (your asking price), then send/wire the rest back to the "buyer".

The only problem is, by the time the scammer has the money, the bank will have already flagged your account with a fraudulant check alert, and guess who's responsible for all the fees and BS that goes along with it?

Actually the key to the scam is that the bank hold is NOT tied to the clearance of the cheque. Public perception is that it is, therefore the public assume that the bank release of the funds is indication of the funds being cleared when all it is is the expiration of the holding period. The actual clearance may occur before the funds are released on domestic cheques, or after funds are released, especially on internationally sourced cheques or money orders. The misunderstanding if the difference between cheque clearance and release of funds is critical to the success of the scam.

 

[st.bede]

Yes that is a classic scam.

 

[McCloud9]

Hey folks, need a bit of a advice here.

I listed my amp at CL, it's a MESA Mark IIC early 80's.
Got a lot of interested party but none has come thru yet.
So this morning I got this email.....

from the guy,

Sounds Good,

I am ready to purchase it asap.I anticipate that I'll have a Certified
Check issued out to you from my bank.I'm in no rush with you till
fund's are cleared in your bank which takes only a day. You do not
have to bother yourself about the shipping. I'll instruct a Shipping
Co Agent to come for pick up at your door,when you must have gotten
your cash at hand. Kindly e-mail me back with your physical address
such as Name,Address (NOT P.o.box) City, State, Zip-code, Phone
Number.I will be sending the payment via Overnight FedEx Express Mail
Delivery .You can delete the advert asap

Thanks
Mark Smith

Sounds legit but I have my doubt and I don't want to get burn.
Should I play along and see what's gonna happen?
How would you guys approach the situation?

Would be interesting if you could take this to your local police dept. and then get them involved, give a name and address at the police station with the cops onboard of course, then when the guy comes to pick up the amp....well you see where I'm going.

 

[68_Mustang]

Would be interesting if you could take this to your local police dept. and then get them involved, give a name and address at the police station with the cops onboard of course, then when the guy comes to pick up the amp....well you see where I'm going.

They never pick up the item, the scam is that the check will be more than the asking price, they say it was the wrong check and to cash it, then wire them the difference. The check is later discovered to be fraudulent when the bank processes it, and you are hit with the bank fees.

 

[rockstar232007]

Actually the key to the scam is that the bank hold is NOT tied to the clearance of the cheque. Public perception is that it is, therefore the public assume that the bank release of the funds is indication of the funds being cleared when all it is is the expiration of the holding period. The actual clearance may occur before the funds are released on domestic cheques, or after funds are released, especially on internationally sourced cheques or money orders. The misunderstanding if the difference between cheque clearance and release of funds is critical to the success of the scam.

That's what I said.

V

"You deposit the check, then once it clears through the bank (after the manditory "holding" period)..."

Would be interesting if you could take this to your local police dept. and then get them involved, give a name and address at the police station with the cops onboard of course, then when the guy comes to pick up the amp....well you see where I'm going.

It won't make any difference.

That's what I did after the "I'll kill you!" email, and all the police officer did was make a short report. They didn't even take the email (which I saved and printed) or fake check. Now, I'm not really complaining, but what can they actually do?

 

[WahChickaWahWah]

Sounds like His Royal Highness, "Mark Smith" of Nigeria.

 

[Howard2k]

That's what I said.

Quite right, sorry buddy, I did not mean to marginalize your post. It is an important but poorly misunderstood concept (clearance vs release of funds) and I felt it needed further expansion.

 

[McCloud9]

That's what I said.

V

"You deposit the check, then once it clears through the bank (after the manditory "holding" period)..."



It won't make any difference.

That's what I did after the "I'll kill you!" email, and all the police officer did was make a short report. They didn't even take the email (which I saved and printed) or fake check. Now, I'm not really complaining, but what can they actually do?

Yeah that's a crying shame that the authorities can't or won't take some kind of action when the victims offer whatever evidence they have, especially when a death threat is involved after the scammed had your personnal address info. That must of been a lousey feeling to have to worry about. If it had been me, any poor delivery guy that came to my door would probably been looking at a resident that was armed. Glad nothing ever came of that threat!

With all these scanners being so prolific and well known about it would seem something could be done to track them down via their internet service provider thru their IP address. I wonder if these guys are savvy enough to spoof their IP address. Recently I had a text message from a number that claimed they were Wells Fargo bank, and that my card had been disabled and to call them.

I dont have an account with them, but even if I had, I would know better than to reply to that. Many people may not, or as in the case of a woman who came into my wires office recently, she had received the same txt and told my wife that she had been so busy at the time she replied without thinking andshe gave them her ACCT no. And change her pin before it hit her what she had done. Luckily for he she realized it quickly and called a friend who works at that bank and they were able to lock up the account, I believe before any damage was done.

Its a good thing for the OP that he checked into it here first since with so many members someone had surely had the same scam attempted on them. Any more these days its always a good idea to google things like this and at least be able to find out about the scam before following thru. Its the poor elderly that usually fall victim to scanners but not always.