Is this Scam? A guy from Craigslist

15 years ago

Very old scam. Classic scam. Scam, Scam, Scam. This has been going on for years and years and some people still fall for it.

Never, ever, ever take a check that's more than the intended amount and give the rest back via western union. Check is bad and you'll end up paying the whole amount since you won't be able to recover it.

Never use Western Union to pay for anything. The scammers will only use western union.

Only use it to send money to a friend or family you want to give money to.

Even Craigslist warns you about these common scams if you read the warning.

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YiKeS

15 years ago

Originally Posted by ostrich80

Hi, I have listed a projector in craigslist ... and he said he will mail a check

The projector was listed as $630 and he sent me $3999 check and he asked me to

wire rest through western union to someone. He told me to keep extra 50 dollars for

the hassle. The check was not personal check. Check was from city of glenwood or something.

He didn't tell me how much check would be until I accept it. He just told me to do a favor.

I thought maybe it was couple hundreds or something.

Do you guys think he is a scamist?

if the check is clear in my bank, can he charge back?

another thing he is skeptical, he asked me to send it through some cargo company. He said someone will come and pick it up.

He didn't want fedex or UPS.

You just gotta ask yaself ... why does he not send it himself :rolleyes:

YiKeS

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Emailrevealer

15 years ago

Yes it's a scam. That's exactly the kind of online scam I investigate for a living.

They get the account information to print the check from the people that reply to those Nigerian emails about winning the lottery or some billionaire trying to get stolen money out of their country.

They print the check up and get some dupe to deposit it. It will clear for a few days but ultimately bounce or the account holder will notice the money missing.
YOU WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MONEY.

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Kay King 15 years ago

I can't believe people keep falling for this. Whether a couple hundred or a few thousand - it's a scam. I do hope you are asking here BEFORE doing this - instead of after.

You receive a check for $3999 and deposit it into your account.

Here's what you do:
*** 630 is for the projector (you send the projector to buyer)
*** 50 (for your trouble) you think "wow, easy $50 bucks"
***$3319 You send this amount from your bank acct

The check you were sent hasn't cleared yet - it might be almost a month before you know it was a bad check. When your bank learns it's bad - they remove that amount from your account immediately.

Usually the person wants you to send it Fedex - this guy's in a hurry. He's sending a partner to pose as a "cargo company" to collect the money. If the guy accepts a check he heads straight for your bank to cash it immediately. This scammer is cheap as usually the "bait" is about $200 easy money for you.

Here's what happens later:

the check you deposited is returned unpaid- $3399 is taken from your acct
You lose: $3319 of your money
and your projector

And you feel like a fool when you learn you've been scammed.

kay

Good - just read that you sent it back. I would have just thrown it away, but....
Your won't hear from him again as he knows now you won't fall for it.
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- ostrich80 15 years ago
  
  I didn't know it takes that much time to find out the check is bad.
  
  I have his name and address for WU transfer. I am going to report this guy...
  
  FTC online complaint form (Federal Trade Commission)
  Internet Fraud Complaint Center (Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Home)
  
  I don't know if they are going to do anything... but...
  
  thank you... now I learned the lesson without paying.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  ostrich80 15 years ago
  
  Here is the emails he used. Maybe this can help other warriors who are not familar with this type of scammer.
  
  Email 1
  "Hello there and how are you doing today? please i would like to know if it is still up for sale as posted please more pictures are needed if its still available thanks "
  
  Email 2
  "Hello thanks for the response am happy that you still have it available for sale and i am okay with the pictures i see here and am ready to proceed with making the payment i will be making the payment with a bank certified check this i will mail out to you via a courrier service and get to you with the tracking # and i will be responsible for the pick up i will have my shipping company contact you for the pick up as soon as you verify the fund i send to you all i need you to do now is get back to me with your full name and address for me to mail out the payment to you as soon as possible i will be waiting to read from you asap thanks "
  
  Email 3
  
  "Hello
  Thanks for the mail i got the name and address i will mail out the payment to you as soon as possible and it will be mail to you via Fedex and i'll get back to you as soon as i do that with the tracking #. I'll like you to notify me as soon as you have it delivered to you.
  Note:- i'll be sending you some excess on the payment this you will give to the cargo company when they contact you for the pick up i will notify them to get intouch with you as soon as you verify the fund please, i'll want you to recomfirm the address again to avoid any mistake in geting the payment to you, You can take the Funriture off from Craigslist and consider it sold to me."
  
  Email 4
  
  "Alright i will mail out the payment to you as soon as possible and it will be mail to you via Fedex and i'll get back to you as soon as i do that with the tracking #. I'll like you to notify me as soon as you have it delivered to you.Hope to do good business with you thanks "
  
  Email 5
  "Hello how have you been? Im sorry i have not get back to you concerning the payment i was supposed to send to you last week,I lost a very close friend of mine which made me very busy last week but i promise to mailout the payment by Monday or tuesday and i will get back to you with the tracking # as soon as possible..Please bear with me thanks "
  
  Email 6
  "Hello how are you doing today am happy to let you know that the payment will be delivered to you today i sent the payment via FedEX and here is the tracking number...xxxxxxxx . please i will like you to take the check to your bank as soon as you get it and get it cashed i have already made arrangment with the shipping company that will be coming for the pick up and i will have them conatct you as soon as possible please the shipping company made it known to me that they will like the money for the pick up sent to them through one of the company accountant and i will like you to help me get this done as soon as possible today you will be doing this via western union money transfer please you are to deduct the amount due to you for the item from the payment i sent to you and i will like you to take a extra $50 for your effort in helping get the money across to them via western union here is the accountant's information you will have to send the money below
  
  NAME: xxxxx
  ADDRESS: xxx
  CITY: xxx
  STATE: xxx
  ZIP CODE: xxx
  "
  
  Email 7
  "Hi thanks for the email you are to send the balance with you after deducting the amount due to you for the item and the extra $50 and you are also yo deduct the charges you incure in sending the money via western union and get back to me with the total amount sent as soon as you get back to me with the informations i will forward it to them and they will get intouch with you for the pick up and time thanks please i will be waiting to read from you soon thanks"
  
  Email 8
  "Hello how are you doing please i am still waiting to read from youregards the payment i sent please get back to me asap"
  
  Thanks
  
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valerieSONORA

15 years ago

Read more about these scams on craigslist here:

craigslist | about > scams

They send a fake check that looks real for way above the intended amount. Like you sell something for $50 they send $1,000 and want to to wire the rest back and you can even keep a little for your trouble. You will end up owing the bank $1,000 after giving the scammer $950.

Call the bank on the check and verify if it is real.

It's not.

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Midas3 Consulting 15 years ago

It's either a Scam or a Scam, but I'm pretty sure it's the former.

BTW, I have a bridge for sale if you're interested :-)
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ostrich80

15 years ago

Originally Posted by valerieSONORA

Read more about these scams on craigslist here:

craigslist | about > scams

They send a fake check that looks real for way above the intended amount. Like you sell something for $50 they send $1,000 and want to to wire the rest back and you can even keep a little for your trouble. You will end up owing the bank $1,000 after giving the scammer $950.

Call the bank on the check and verify if it is real.

It's not.

Thank you guys for fast response...

Yes, check looked like it's printed from inkjet printer.

He sounded like he is in rush, he told me to do it fast....

I emailed him back that I will send back the check, no reply so far...

Thanks

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Always-A-Warrior

15 years ago

A scam no doubt. He rushes you to get the check cashed before the 6 days when your bank finds out its a fraudulent check. Plus Western Union already knows about this type of scams and they will not let it go through. WU will interrogate you before you can send anything through them.

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stevenh512

15 years ago

Absolute, 100% scam.. one of the oldest tricks in the book.. the check is fraudulent, your bank will gladly deposit it for you and it might even clear your account, but when they find out it's fraudulent you're liable to your bank for the money.

And never, ever use Western Union to send money unless you're absolutely, 100% sure it's legitimate (either sending money to friends or family, or a legitimate company you've done business with before.. for example I know a few people who have paid their utility bills by Western Union). Same goes for Moneygram or any of the other money-wiring services.

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ideasuniversity

15 years ago

It is a scam and nothing else. Tell him you will wait for 21 days before you send the $950 to him and you will see what will happen

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Is this Scam? A guy from Craigslist

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