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timcuth
Braves Fan
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join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL
Technicolor ET2251

timcuth

Premium Member

Probable scam, how to deal with?

I believe I have detected a scam being attempted on my son. He offered an item for sale on Craig's List and got a quick response from someone who offered to buy it for the asking price and asked no questions about the item. He said he would send a check and for my son to wait until it cleared, then ship the item.

Then, instead of the agreed price of $125, the man sent him a check for $1750. Before the check arrived, he emailed my son saying he realized his "mistake" and asked my son to deposit the check and write him a check for the difference. I am almost 100% certain this is a scam and told my son to return the man's check and have nothing more to do with him.

However, I am wondering whether I should tell my son to take it to the bank and report it as suspected fraud? Maybe this would help prevent others from being scammed in the future. I know that would be the right thing to do, but as the man knows my son's name and address, I fear there could be reprisals in the future. "No good deed goes unpunished."

What do you think?

Tim

jjoshua
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ

2 recommendations

jjoshua

Premium Member

Tell the man that his check will be ripped up. He can send a new check for the correct amount.

You'll never hear from them again.

The name and address on the check are probably forged.

donoreo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
North York, ON

1 recommendation

donoreo to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
Totally a scam. Tear up the cheque.

John Galt6
Forward, March
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp

1 edit

John Galt6 to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
Take it to the bank...and let them know it is a scam.

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue

Premium Member

Take it to the limit...

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

take the bus to prison...

J E F F4
Whatta Ya Think About Dat?
Premium Member
join:2004-04-01
Kitchener, ON

1 recommendation

J E F F4 to Gbcue

Premium Member

to Gbcue
How do we know that this scammer isn't the same guy that owes you $500? Hmmm..interesting.
Expand your moderator at work

dogma
XYZ
Premium Member
join:2002-08-15
Boulder City, NV

dogma to AVD

Premium Member

to AVD

Re: Probable scam, how to deal with?

said by AVD:

take the bus to prison...

...where you'll wind up taking it up the arse.

This is a very common scam. You guys are absolutely dealing with a criminal because no legitimate person would ever do that. donoreo See Profile is correct, destroy the check, email him via craigslist that the item has been sold, check shredded for his protection but he should put a stop payment on it, and under no circumstances ever communicate with him again.

The Pig
I know you want to be me
Premium Member
join:2009-09-11

The Pig to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
SCAM

smithfly114
Premium Member
join:2008-01-14

smithfly114 to timcuth

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to timcuth
I think you should send me the difference and I will assume the risk and return it to the sender.

Johnny34
Fed Up. Bye.
Premium Member
join:2001-06-27
Atlanta, GA

1 recommendation

Johnny34 to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
This explains why these scammers continue. If you actually think that this could be anything other than the classic "refund me the difference" scam, you are in some sort of denial state.

I hope your son did not deposit the bogus check - that can actually bring felony charges.

LazMan
Premium Member
join:2003-03-26
Beverly Hills, CA

1 recommendation

LazMan to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
Did he mail the check to your son?

If so, maybe talk to your local postmaster - postal fraud is taken VERY seriously...

donoreo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
North York, ON

donoreo

Premium Member

said by LazMan:

Did he mail the check to your son?

If so, maybe talk to your local postmaster - postal fraud is taken VERY seriously...

Oh yeah, attempting to commit fraud using the post office.

timcuth
Braves Fan
Premium Member
join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL

timcuth to Anon

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to Anon
No, I am not asking whether he is a scammer. Read the OP. I am asking whether we should get rid of the check and otherwise leave him alone, or take it to the bank and report him as a probable fraud.

Tim
timcuth

timcuth to Johnny34

Premium Member

to Johnny34
said by Johnny34:

This explains why these scammers continue. If you actually think that this could be anything other than the classic "refund me the difference" scam, you are in some sort of denial state.

Nobody seems to understand my question. Let it go or report him as a fraud?

Tim

Sober
Just Say No
Premium Member
join:2003-02-24
Crack House

1 recommendation

Sober to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
Report it if you want, but this scammer most likely is located in Nigeria, and there is little they could do.

The scammer is also doing this with 100s of people so being able to draw it back to your son for repercussion is pretty slim.

JRW2
R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Gary, Ziggy, Max.
Premium Member
join:2004-12-20
La La Land

JRW2 to timcuth

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to timcuth
Take the check to your local police, I assume you have an address to send the additional funds to and not a PO box.

This should allow the police to capture the person...
Assuming they want to do their jobs...

Sober
Just Say No
Premium Member
join:2003-02-24
Crack House

Sober to timcuth

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to timcuth
Local police are going to be able to do very little.

Ray422
MVM
join:2002-03-04
Lost

Ray422 to timcuth

MVM

to timcuth
Is the post-office better ?
Why not notify the FBI ?

You'll probably never hear from either one.
Doesn't the government lose everything in it's own paperwork anyway?

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD to timcuth

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to timcuth
stop yr snitchin

timcuth
Braves Fan
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join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL
Technicolor ET2251

timcuth to Sober

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to Sober
said by Sober:

Report it if you want, but this scammer most likely is located in Nigeria, and there is little they could do.

The scammer is also doing this with 100s of people so being able to draw it back to your son for repercussion is pretty slim.

Ok, I understand. He is likely untraceable. Thanks.

Tim

Nanoprobe3
Looking for cures in memory of Mom
Premium Member
join:2003-05-11
Crab Nebula

1 recommendation

Nanoprobe3 to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
said by timcuth:

No, I am not asking whether he is a scammer. Read the OP. I am asking whether we should get rid of the check and otherwise leave him alone, or take it to the bank and report him as a probable fraud.

Tim

Do not, under any circumstances take the check to the bank. Especially if it's BofA

dogma
XYZ
Premium Member
join:2002-08-15
Boulder City, NV

dogma

Premium Member

I didn't consider that the check may be a stolen/forged from a legitimate business or individual.

DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium Member
join:2001-07-23
Bristol, CT

DrStrange to timcuth

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to timcuth
Take it to Postal Inspectors and/or FBI.

DC DSL
There's a reason I'm Command.
Premium Member
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
Actiontec GT784WN

DC DSL to timcuth

Premium Member

to timcuth
Since it was sent via USPS and he provided a US postal address for the "difference" to be sent to, take all the physical documentation you have to your local Postal Inspector. Local police are not likely to be of much or any help (unless it involves an address within the jurisdiction). Be sure to retain copies.

timcuth
Braves Fan
Premium Member
join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL
Technicolor ET2251

timcuth

Premium Member

said by DC DSL:

Since it was sent via USPS and he provided a US postal address for the "difference" to be sent to, take all the physical documentation you have to your local Postal Inspector. Local police are not likely to be of much or any help (unless it involves an address within the jurisdiction). Be sure to retain copies.

My son has not yet actually received anything. I have convinced him that this is pure fraud and that, if he does receive a check, to just destroy it.

Thanks,
Tim

DC DSL
There's a reason I'm Command.
Premium Member
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
Actiontec GT784WN

DC DSL

Premium Member

said by timcuth:

My son has not yet actually received anything. I have convinced him that this is pure fraud and that, if he does receive a check, to just destroy it.

Thanks,
Tim

It would be better to pass it along to the postal inspector since they actually do go after scammers like this, especially if the perp is stupid enough to us a US address.

timcuth
Braves Fan
Premium Member
join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL

timcuth

Premium Member

Ok, if it actually comes, I will consider taking it to the postal inspector.

Tim

Snowy
Lock him up!!!
Premium Member
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI

1 recommendation

Snowy

Premium Member

Re: Absolutely a scam, how to deal with?

know that a UPS or FedEx delivery is also possible.
It's cheaper than sending a letter first class via USPS.
Creating a UPS or FedEx account using a phished credit card yields free shipping for the scammer for months sometimes.
It gives the scammer a little leverage too via the tracking/delivery info & the recipients signature acknowledging receipt of the check.
I'd never discourage someone from reporting a crime, statistics have a value.