You're Thoughts - Does this look like a scam?

[cstreit]

One thing that gets me is once a check clears - it clears... How can it clear - and then not clear?

I get there are pending and completed deposits - but if you wait the requisite time your bank requires?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by cstreit

One thing that gets me is once a check clears - it clears... How can it clear - and then not clear?

I get there are pending and completed deposits - but if you wait the requisite time your bank requires?

Oh, Banks will deposit any check to your account, but you don't really have the money until it makes it through the system...it's called "collected funds". I suspect the scammers hope the sucker deposits the check, then ships the goods...

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by cstreit

One thing that gets me is once a check clears - it clears... How can it clear - and then not clear?

I get there are pending and completed deposits - but if you wait the requisite time your bank requires?

From a video that I recently saw, the scammer sends you a counterfeit cashiers check. You deposit the check and it adds to your balance but hasn't really cleared. In fact, some banks will put a hold on the check until it does clear. The scammer is counting on the fact that you have other funds in your account. And, if you've been a long-time customer at the bank, they may "clear" the check before it truly cleared, giving you temporary credit for the bogus check.

In my case, the scammer wanted me to ship an Item that I was selling. He also wanted me to pay a shipper via western union. If I had followed thru, I would be out the set of wheels I was selling, and probably out my own cash to pay for some shipping co. A couple ow weeks later, I would get notice from my bank that the check bounced and I would still be out a set of wheels and payment to a shipper.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

From a video that I recently saw, the scammer sends you a counterfeit cashiers check. You deposit the check and it adds to your balance but hasn't really cleared. In fact, some banks will put a hold on the check until it does clear. The scammer is counting on the fact that you have other funds in your account. And, if you've been a long-time customer at the bank, they may "clear" the check before it truly cleared, giving you temporary credit for the bogus check.

In my case, the scammer wanted me to ship an Item that I was selling. He also wanted me to pay a shipper via western union. If I had followed thru, I would be out the set of wheels I was selling, and probably out my own cash to pay for some shipping co. A couple ow weeks later, I would get notice from my bank that the check bounced and I would still be out a set of wheels and payment to a shipper.

This is correct at at the core of why the scam works.

Your bank will pre-clear either part of the check if not the entire amount.

How much depends on a variety of things, your standing with the bank, how much money you have in the account, as in, if you have more in the account than the check is worth they may make 100% of it available immediately.

Now when you add out of state or out of country checks into the mix there is additional time needed for the bank to clear it. Anywhere from an additional 5-10 days.

So the scammer banks on that delay. They send you a bogus check, your account is credited with the amount so now you think the money is in and yours.

You send the item and by the time the bank knows the check is no good and pulls the funds back out of your account it's too late.

Normally this scam involves the scammer sending you a check for more than the cost of the item and asking you to send them back the difference.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by cstreit

- but if you wait the requisite time your bank requires?

Because too many people are idiots and don't understand how the system works so they don't wait.

It's what scammers count on.

They understand human nature and exploit it.

It's like when you get one of these emails full of spelling and grammatical errors and think "who falls for this crap?"

The poorly written emails are by design, it's intentional.

They are sending 100's of thousands of emails at a time.

It's a form of lead gen filter to identify the gullible.

Put another way, anyone who bites is a better prospect and more likely to be exploitable.

You don't want smart people replying, you are looking for low hanging fruit.

[Tidybuoy]

Got my counterfeit check today.

Interesting, I called the bank to inquire if this was a valid cashiers check and they told me that the account is valid but they could not disclose if the funds were available and told me that I would have to deposit into my own bank account and then my bank could verify.

As I was talking to the bank, I noticed that the bank name is misspelled "Nationa" instead of National.

So, I did nothing but today I got an e-mail from the scammer. It was an exact duplicate of the first e-mail requesting my address so they can send a cashiers check.

I think I will just frame the check as my official souvenir for scammers. BTW, they sent me $2k too much because they accidently paid me for some furniture they bought and want me to send that back to them in the form of a wire transfer.

[JackDidley]

I just looked up all the City national banks in Glendale Ca. and no branches had that address.

[Ziggythecat]

The “Escrow Trust Account”is a nice touch, and might give someone gullible confidence, but I’ve never seen any bank check that says that.
I wonder just how many suckers they do find.

[Gogar]

Send them a photo of a cop holding the check and laughing.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Send them a photo of a cop holding the check and laughing.

Hmmm, my nephew is a cop and I'll be seeing him on Monday. Maybe a photo of the check next to his police car.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rcooled

I had to laugh when I first got one of these calls and they used the term "cops". Someone on their end apparently woke up 'cause the recorded message now uses the word "police" instead. I get about 3 or 4 of these calls per week despite the fact that I block the number each time.

After all this time and all the warnings about scams, it's hard to believe that these guys must still be able to snag enough people to make it worthwhile enough to keep this going. I realize that it's all automated now but someone still has to manage it.

It's Skynet. They are scanning the populous to see which of us they'll be able to use for their own purposes when they take over.

[Neilk]

Well I am in trouble now. Should I start a GoFundMe account?

[A930Rocket]

It seems that a fake Craigslist ad always had a gmail address on the picture with limited or nonsensical description.

Now I see ads with a late model car for $1,000 etc.

[RKDinOKC]

You don't have to deposit the check to see if it is a good check. Take it to your bank and ask the teller to make sure the check is good. It only takes them a few minutes.

[john70t]

1). If you sell a vehicle to a stranger you will probably want to file a 'release of liability' form, asap, so they don't play smash up derby or rob banks with the car, and then run away with you left on the hook.
(btdt to a smaller extent.)

2). To establish identity of the purchaser, you will need proper ID etc.

3) That will scare most of 'em away.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

You don't have to deposit the check to see if it is a good check. Take it to your bank and ask the teller to make sure the check is good. It only takes them a few minutes.

Unless the check is also from your bank, how can a teller check to see if it's legit? The only way I can think of is if a teller uses a scan device that treats the check like a "debit card".... instantly withdrawing funds. Do NOT trust an "entry level" teller....they're not gonna cover yer a$$ if the check goes through the fed system and turns out "bogus" or there are no $$$ in the account by the time it does...jmo.

[MBAtarga]

The check is fake. Don't waste your time seeing if it is "good."

[LeeH]

This guy cracks me up...

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

And, if you've been a long-time customer at the bank, they may "clear" the check before it truly cleared, giving you temporary credit for the bogus check.

I seriously don't understand why US consumers keep putting up with this ****.
EU did away with checks 30 years ago. It was already almost not used since we did wire transfers in the late 50ies already.

I was dumbfounded when in 2004-2008 i read about this crap in the US here on the forum and that y'all hadn't figure it out yet.
+10 years, NO change whatsoever

This is institutionally supported fraud and as long as you guys keep using checks you will have scammers like this.

And to think the Bank will give you the money before it clears if you are a good customer? Basically they will help the fraudster if you are a good customer???

What
a
Joke.

I've said it before, i'll say it again
STOP USING CHECKS, the Rest of the world already has.
(except for the Brits perhaps but I guess y'all being former Brits , the Apple really doesn't fall far from the tree)

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Well I am in trouble now. Should I start a GoFundMe account?

No just pay me and I will make it go away.
I don't accept checks.