What is the end game to this scam?

[wdfifteen]

Over the years I have occasionally gotten responses to a Craig's List ad along the lines of:

"I am interested in your item. The price is acceptable and the condition is fine. I will overnight a cashier's check for the full amount. And pick it up later. Please forward
Your name
Your address
Your email address
Your phone number

If anyone was stupid enough to respond, what happens next? Is it worth going through this just to get someones name addresses and phone number?

It's clearly a scam. They never mention the item being sold and never ask any questions about it. And, "The price is acceptable and the condition is fine" is in every one.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Over the years I have occasionally gotten responses to a Craig's List ad along the lines of:

"I am interested in your item. The price is acceptable and the condition is fine. I will overnight a cashier's check for the full amount. And pick it up later. Please forward
Your name
Your address
Your email address
Your phone number

If anyone was stupid enough to respond, what happens next? Is it worth going through this just to get someones name addresses and phone number?

It's clearly a scam. They never mention the item being sold and never ask any questions about it. And, "The price is acceptable and the condition is fine" is in every one.

Data mining or mailing list?

[1990C4S]

Good start for anything from break-ins to identity theft, to mortgage fraud.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

what happens next?

Between the time you deposit their check and it bounces they need you to send them money for something.

They "overpay" then have you send them money.

[stevej37]

I had something similar, but in reverse, thru ebay.
I was bidding on a $500 Sony Camera., when the supposed seller emailed me and wanted to complete the sale outside of ebay for $50 less to avoid 'seller fees'..he said.
He said he would mail the new camera to me and after I found it to be as expected...paypal him the money. I figured..'How could I lose on this?'
After giving him my mailing address, the next day he emailed back that the camera was on the way.

The day after that...I got a phone call from an agent with the Electronic Crime Task Force with the FBI
Told me that if i accepted the camera from UPS, I would be charged with theft.

The camera never showed up...thankfully. I think they caught it at UPS.
The whole scam was due to stolen credit card numbers used to purchase new goods and sell to people on ebay at a discount.

The agent that called, also sent me a letter explaining the scam. I still have the letter. It was dated April 10,2001 and the address is 7 World Trade Center..9th floor.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by stevej37

The day after that...I got a phone call from an agent with the Electronic Crime Task Force with the FBI
Told me that if i accepted the camera from UPS, I would be charged with theft.

This sounds odd. Bit like one of those “the irs called me” deals.
You sure it was the FBI and not the scammer? Because it sounds like a perfect way to dissuade you from chasing the payment refund.

Yes I’m cynical.

Edit: nm. Posts crossed. Hope you were made whole.

[stevej37]

I wrote FBI..but it's the US Secret Service
No..I never lost any money...it would have been Dell losing the cost of the camera.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Data mining or mailing list?

This isn't 1998 anymore.

[stevej37]

This letter he sent explains the scam better.

[svandamme]

I don't understand why this is still a question.
the Check scam and FBI is on you scam , none of that is new??

I'm a European and we did a way with checks in the 80ies, and even I know how the check advance overpay scam works in the US of A.

It amazes me that you guys still have checks
and apparently people still fall for the scam, else the perps wouldn't keep trying that scam over and over and over again.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

If anyone was stupid enough to respond, what happens next? Is it worth going through this just to get someones name addresses and phone number?

The cashier's check could be a forgery that's not discovered until after you've already sent the item. These lowlifes count on the fact that rookies will sometimes send the item along before attempting to deposit the check. Even once the check's been deposited, it could take a little time before it's tagged as bogus.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by svandamme

I don't understand why this is still a question.
the Check scam and FBI is on you scam , none of that is new??

I'm a European and we did a way with checks in the 80ies, and even I know how the check advance overpay scam works in the US of A.

It amazes me that you guys still have checks
and apparently people still fall for the scam, else the perps wouldn't keep trying that scam over and over and over again.

I've had my credit cards stolen several times over the years. Never had a check stolen and I've never fallen for one of cashier's check these scams.

[svandamme]

sure, but that's theft, not a scam
And the CCard companies are very good at protecting the card holder.

CCard theft, is also more of a thing outside of Europe, We even have settings on our online banking to disable non EU transactions since those are riskier.
We don't allow transactions on just the number and security digits in the back here.

I've only had 1 issue with CC and it was a US website that had spilled my CCard number and somebody suddenly was buying cameras with it on similary unsafe websites.
the CCard company had instantly noticed something wasn't right and called me, blocked my card and sent me a new one.

[cmccuist]

Years ago i was selling a bike on Craigslist. The scammer was going to send the cashier's check for more than the amount to cover his "agent's fee". I was supposed to give up the bike to the "agent" and pay him his fee. The first time scammer sent the check (by FedEx!), I told him he spelled my name wrong. So scammer sent another check by FedEx and I told him I changed my mind. Hopefully, he was two FedEx fees.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by svandamme

sure, but that's theft, not a scam
.

Security is security. Is it better to have your money stolen by one method over another?

[John Barron]

That data is useful in multi-factor identification.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Security is security. Is it better to have your money stolen by one method over another?

Little bit.
Because for one thing (theft)is physical theft because you are either

not at home and unprotected, house not looked after by neighborhood social control (breaking and entering, burglary)
overpowered (robbery, walk around after dark in dangerous places)
careless (walking around flaunting wallet, putting it loose in easy to access pockets, walking with purse open.. leaving car windows open with visible valuables, leaving house unlocked with valuables in easy reach)


And a scam is muuuuuch different because, well, it requires the victim to be, uninformed and gullible and they actually hand over the money to the scammer freely.


From first to last it get's progressively worse and worse.
The latter is way worse in my opinion then the first one in the list.
Handing over the valuables freely is much worse then having em stolen beyond your control.

Just talk to somebody who has been scammed, and you'll realize that.. Not only have they been ripped off, they also get a massive dent in their ego.. because they were so stupid to facilitate it.. (and often repeat if it was a long duration confidence scam)

[rusnak]

When you're importing anything through the ports, use a customs broker and only wire transfer. The scams in the ports are rampant, and far more clever.