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Used
Equipment Market Attempted Fraud Stories |
See Rules
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Sellers, please
BEWARE of people, often
from foreign countries (often Nigeria), wanting to send a cashiers check often for more
than the amount of the item and having you ship your product and/or send
difference to someone else or back to them. Cashiers checks can, and in
this case, will bounce. This is a common scam. For more information go here
or search "fake cashiers check scam" on any search engine.
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Independently
confirm the name, address and phone numbers of the buyer. Check
out the phone book, directory assistance or try an on-line database.
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Insist
on an official check drawn on a local bank or a bank that has a local
branch. If the purchaser is not local, call the bank where the
check was purchased. Be sure to obtain this phone number
yourself, not from the person who gave you the check.
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Be
suspicious if the cashier's check is made out for an amount higher
than the asking price and you are asked to transfer the excess amount
to another bank account.
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Be
especially cautious if the purchaser is long-distance or if you are
dealing with them over the Internet.
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If
the check shows it was purchased by someone else, not the person you
are dealing with, or if the check doesn't have the look or feel of a
real check, contact the bank to check its validity. It might be
counterfeit.
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Search
the Web for government special
alerts to learn whether the bank your check is drawn on has had
its checks counterfeited before.
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Listen
to your instincts. If something about the business transaction
doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
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Here is some feedback we have received regarding
a few cases attempted fraud in the Marketplace.
We thought
we'd start posting some of these in hopes that our visitors will be more informed and
therefore less susceptible to this sort of crime. A few bad eggs try to ruin things for the rest of us.
Let's not let them.
If you have a story or a
warning - email us!
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A man by the name of John Smith contacted me regarding
purchasing our uniforms we had for sale through the website. We
had been in contact for several months. He seemed very intelligent and
honest. He told me that he had a company that was going to be
sponsoring the uniforms and other equipment that he was purchasing, and that
company was going to send me one lump sum and I was to send him the
difference through Western Union so that he could disperse the money.
I FELL FOR IT. Now, our non profit organization is out $3,000.
The money was sent to us in the form of a Cashier's Check. I had no
reason to believe it was fraudulent. So I deposited it in my bank and
took out the difference and wired to him before it cleared. Well, it
never cleared. His email address is mass_joee@yahoo.com.
Every time he called the number came up as unknown number. He made a
mistake once and called from his land line, which I gave to the police.
He told me that he was out of the country on business. (London) He
also told me he was originally from North Carolina and he was starting a
small gym there. Now, looking back all the signs were there.
This was a huge learning experience for me and my gym.
Thanks, Yvette
2/08
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Check this out, this was some of our correspondence after his 'overpayment'
of my equipment ... the check was bad! -- Bill
hello bill
good day.
i'm still expecting the money as you promised.
thanks
olivia
Subject: RE: i'm in tight corner.....
Olivia,
What is your direct address so I can send you a little of the money?
Bill
To: (seller)
Subject: RE: i'm in tight corner.....
hello bill
i thought, the check must have been cleared by now. what held you from
depositing it since you received it?
pls if there is anyway you can help me with little money, i don't
mind.
thanks
olivia
To: (buyer)
Subject: RE: i'm in tight corner.....
Olivia,
As I told you, our banks require a three week holding period on your bank
check for it to clear. It just got deposited over the weekend. I
will keep you posted when it clears..
Bill
>Subject: i'm in tight corner.....
hello william
good day. pls what is the problem?
why do you chose to punish me this way? you know i have family as
you do. do you want my family to suffer?
pls, if you can not send the deposit to kenneth hollies, i don't mind if you
could just send me at least $1500 for my children's school
fees and feeding.
Right now as i am talking to you, i don't have any
money left with me. it is, as a result of my money being trapped by my
customers. they said i should supply all their goods before they release my
payment to me.
pls william, i'm pleading you, to consider
my situation and that of my family. we
are in difficulties now.
thanks for your understanding. hoping to hear from you. olivia
Way to go Bill! You stuck to your guns and avoided the trap. Others take note!
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I got this:
Good day
my Name is boyle milla from outside the usa i saw one of your (my
product) you place on advert on the internet and im interested in buying it.
i will like to have in touch with you to tell me the actual prize you will sell
it so that i can make the payment through cashier check thanx for your
co-operation looking forward to your reply
regards boyle
--
This is clearly one of the bad guys. It's IP is from Nigeria. Needless to say, I
didn't respond.
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I recently
encountered someone trying to pull this scam on me. I tried to find
out as much info about them as possible to be able to file a complaint
before terminating agreement. I am selling a piece of exercise
equipment and they responded very anxious to buy. They were trying to
pull the Cashiers check scam where they were going to send me way more than what
the machine was selling for. I have all the correspondences that
were sent between us as well as the email address if you need that
information: Email me back if you would like more information on these
correspondences.
Thanks, Jeremy
1/20/05
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A long time ago I tried to warn people because I
got scammed for almost $6000. Here's my story: I have sold quite a bit on this
site and have had good luck until??? This buyer was so interested in my
machines, they wanted pictures, conditions, delivery services, negotiations
and was willing to send me a cashiers check 1st. Story was, that they wanted
to send more than the amount and I was to send balance to shipper direct. My
cut was only $1900 and I had no reason to believe a cashiers check would be
bad. It was a legitimate bank and my bank cashed it with no warning of holding
it till it clears. They said I was a good customer and had no reason to think
I would cash a bad check. (ME)?!! I Took my cut and wired balance (WIRED, A
BIG NO NO)!! Not even the FBI can trace a wire transfer as you can pick it up
anywhere in the state. Three days later the buyers rep wrote and said he
received the money, thanks and something has come up. He said the buyer have a
stroke and can't use the equipment. I had it all palletized and ready for
pickup. He said to please send balance back right away (wire transfer again).
AND my $1900!! I told him the deal was done and he gave me a sob story
and begged practically. He told me to keep 10% for my trouble. I kept $650 and
wired the rest back. 3days later my bank calls me in for a bad check. I was
devastated and had to wipe out my savings and pay the rest back at $250 a
month in which I have 3 more payments. I'm out $6000. My bank turned their
back on me, the FBI wasn't interested, the local cops made a report and
recommended I call an internet fraud co.. Moral of the story?? DON'T
ever send a wire transfer. Don't send anything until their check, money order,
cashiers check has cleared and confirmed by your bank that its good money.
Cashiers checks and money orders used to be safe. No so now. My bank says
there was several red flags, but I failed to see them. Maybe so, but I have
learned to trust no one period. Pay Pal is a good deal, but clearing the money
is the safest. I will also never sell to anyone out of the usa. Call the local
sheriffs office, phones books, places of employment, their banks. That's it, be
careful!! Ernie
1/10/05
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I want to thank you for placing the warning about the Cashiers Check Scam on
your web page. I received an e-mail just like you described. The man
wanted to buy the Hydraulic Circuit that I have listed but said that a client in
the U.S. owed him twice my asking price and that they would send me the check if
they could "trust" me to send them the difference. He ended the
message with "God Bless". I appreciate that you are looking out
for people at usgyms.net! Thank You!
12/2/04
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Yes, I got the same story about sending the
machine outside the US and will pay by cashier's check and that I should deal
with some other person who is his "agent" here in the states.
Ended message with "God Bless".
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