Internet Scammers

   / Internet Scammers #41  
I still haven't done anything with this check. And I haven't heard a word from the so-called customer. I have a US Bank branch a few miles away. So, I just might take this check into them. They might be interested in who is counterfeiting/creating these things.
 
   / Internet Scammers #42  
I would be hesitant to try to deposit a check that you thought was fraudulent or to just hold on to it.

It might happen now that you have the check that someone just drops by and says they are there to pick up the tractor for the individual who sent the check and will arrange transportation themselves. According to them, you have been paid, and they are entitled to the tractor.

If this happens, I would require the individual to go to the bank with you and get the bank to re-issue a check directly to you. The bank will check to the make sure the surrendered check is good (and this is where you can voice your suspicions). Also they can issue you a check directly for the sale amount and you will never issue any check to anyone. Furthermore, you then can cash the check immediately while still there and you have been paid.

The Feds have a web site and do accept evidence of scams and schemes. If suspicious, and I would be, I would get the check out of my hands.
 
   / Internet Scammers #43  
Well, I finally made time yesterday to take the suspect check down to U.S. Bank. The girls there huddled over it for a few minutes, made some phone calls, looked on the computer screen, and low and behold!, it was phoney. The reason they were so freaked about it, is that I was the second guy in an hour to come in with one! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif They were really worried for me, but I let them know that I wasn't out anything but 1/2 hour of my time. The guy before me apparently wasn't so fortunate. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
   / Internet Scammers #44  
A sucker is born every minute. Businesses accept only in- state checks and only with proper ID. Businesses have options to validate checks (which checks to see if the individual has passed bad checks before). Individuals should be no more trusting than businesses. As an individual you should contact the bank to verify that the funds are available and check the individual's ID. Accept only in-state checks as you don't want to have to travel to another state to get the forms or make a complaint to authorities. Do you really know what another state's drivers license is supposed to look like? If you have any suspicion, require cash. Passing bad checks is a felony, but the authorities often don't go out and arrest the people, they issue a warrant and when the person comes in contact with law enforcement next, they are arrested. By then, your goods are long gone and even if convicted, the individual may never pay you back.

The internet however, has inherent anonymity and doesn't allow you to look at a drivers license. So contact over the internet allows people to have a fake identity or assume another's identity. Computers then allow them to forge checks. Accepting a personal (or as we have seen even a cashier's check) check without the validating information or opportunity takes a chance.

Finally, almost all of these scams are based upon some assumption. They may work on the fact that people assume a cashier's check is good (and there are ways to make the bank say it is good when it is not--i.e. if you have the proper check number and amount from inside information the bank may say it is valid). Or it may be simple Identity theft.
 
   / Internet Scammers #45  
Thought I had a legitimate buyer until I got this (after reading this thread a week or so ago)...


HI FRANK,

THANKS A LOT .I'M CURRENTLY IN WEST AFRICA. WILL YOU PREFER A CASHIER'S CHECK?I COULD INSTRUCT A CLIENT OF MINE IN THE STATES WHO OWES ME AN AMOUNT OF $9,700 TO ISSUE YOU A CASHIER'S CHECK ON MY BEHALF, THEN YOU CASH THE CHECK & DEDUCT YOURS $4000 & HAVE THE REST RETURN TO ME VIA MONEY GRAM TRANSFER .THEREFORE LET ME HAVE YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE[CELL& LAND] INORDER TO HAVE HIM SEND THE CHECK VIA FEDEX ASAP.

I WOULD TAKE CARE OF SHIPPING .HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

REGARDS.



(note this was from dallymartin@yahoo.com)
 
   / Internet Scammers #46  
Here is an email I got. We're talking BIG money now!!!





{URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL}
(RE: TRANSFER OF ($ 126,000.000.00 USD}
{ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX MILLION DOLLARS)

Dear sir,

We want to transfer to overseas ($ 126,000.000.00 USD)
One hundred and Twenty six million United States Dollars) from a Bank in
Africa, I want to ask you to quietly look for a reliable and honest person
who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or
to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money,even an empty
a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me
till the end for this important business trusting in you and believing in
God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am Mr. C. Galis, the Auditor General of a bank in Africa, during the
course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in
the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again,
after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the
owner of the account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and
if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for
nothing. the owner of this account is Mr. Phillip Morris, a foreigner, and
a sailor, and he died, since 1993. and no other person knows about this
account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and
my investigation proved to me as well that Phillip Morris until his death
was the manager Morris & Morris Coy.(pty). SA.

We will start the first transfer with Twenty six million [$26,000.000] upon
successful transaction without any disappoint from your side, we shall
re-apply for the payment of the remaining rest amount to your account, The
amount involved is (USD 126M) One hundred and Twenty Six million United
States Dollars, only I want to first transfer 26,000.000 [Twenty Six million
United States Dollar from this money into a safe foreigners account abroad
before the rest, but I don't know any foreigner, I am only contacting you as
a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local person here,
without valid nternational foreign passport, but can only be approved to any
foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign
a/c because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the a/c
Mr. Phillip Morris is a foreigner too, [and the money can only be approved
into a foreign a/c.

However, we will sign a binding agreement, to bind us together I got your
contact address from the Girl who operates computer, I am revealing this to
you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business,
you are the first and the only person that I am contacting for this
business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step
to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number including
the full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face to build confidence and to sign a binding
agreement that will bind us together before transferring the money to any
account of your choice where the fund will be safe. Before we fly to your
country for withdrawal, sharing and investments.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management
is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct
information of this account, which I will give to you, upon your positive
response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up
with instruction of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in
this business.

I need your strong assurance that you will never,never let me down. With my
influence and the position of the bank official we can transfer this money
to any foreigner's reliable account which you can provide with assurance
that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country
for sharing. The bank official will destroy all documents of ransaction
immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place and to build
confidence you can come
immediately to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this
remittance in your presence and three of us will fly to your country at
least two days ahead of the money going into the account.

I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that
you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. I will use my
position and influence to obtain all legal approvals for onward
transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the
relevant ministries and foreign exchange departments.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total
amount, 60% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses both parties might
have incurred during the process of transferring.

I look forward to your earliest reply through my email

You should try to call me on my satelite phone no. 882-1646685262. if you
are calling my No. dial the way you use to call other countries, do not put
South African area code, because it is a satellite phone.

Sincerely,

Mr. C. Galis


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   / Internet Scammers #47  
The message earlier about Elhaji Kamal and his attempt to buy my 4wd shaft was indeed a scam. I never responded to him because I had already learned of several variations on this type of scam and suspected that was what this attempted purchase was. As it turns out, several other people have contacted me about the posts here about Elhaji Kamal. He (or someone going by that name) has been trying to buy motorcycles, kayaks, real estate, and tractors. Thanks to the public nature of this forum at least 5 people have avoided being taken by this "guy." If there is anyone out there who wants to learn more about this type of scam here is a link that may explain it in more detail. This scam plays off people's better nature. If someone from outside the US is willing to trust you with lots of their money, this should be a warning sign.

web page
 
   / Internet Scammers #48  
Have fun with them Jim! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
 
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