Question about scam

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artCROSS

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I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but after the whole Local Music Store "scam", i wanted to get your guys' opinion on something.

I put a mixer up for sale on another website. Somebody contacted me, saying they wanted to buy it. She said she's a dealer in canada for imports and exports. Since she was a dealer, i offered to sell her my interface and effects pedal. She said she would, plus she'd give me $100 more than my asking price (i said i'd give her a deal if she bought all of them together, but she said she wants to keep other buyers off and refused the deal). Ok, I thought, good deal. She says she has a shipper in the states she wants me to go through. Fine, i'll do that. I asked if she could use paypal, and in the response email, it starts getting fishy. She says she wants to do it through cashier's check. But, here's the thing. Her friend in the states (not the shipper) is going to send me a cashier's check for $3000! more than my asking price. I'm suppose to cash the check, deduct my asking price, then wire the remaining $3000 to the shipper via western union. Apparently she has other items she wants the shipper to ship to her in canada. She's giving me an extra $100 for the trouble. I asked her how i'm suppose to get my equipment to the shipper, and whether or not the shipper is suppose to pack it, or if i should do it myself. No response yet. Does this sound fishy to you?

She gave me her contact info in canada, and I googled the address, and it's a newspaper company, which makes me think she works there. After reading the other thread about the music company going out of business, I just got paranoid. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance.
 
I'd say ask for her phone number and talk about the situation. Even if she really wants it shipped and payed for that way, so be it. If I were a scammer, I wouldn't give my phone number to someone I was gonna scam. She is gonna send the money first right? So even though it seems like a strange way to pay, it's her loss in the worst case. I wouldn't worry about it that much.
 
I owuld worry greatly that she wants you to cash a check much larger than you should. You may be at no loss in this transaction for your gear, but you may unwillingly be involving yourself in something else that is shady and maybe even illegal. Not only that, but the fact that you are getiing the check in the mail, and having a multi state (or country) transaction means this would be a federal offense. Why can't she just send the $3000 herself to this other person? This sounds like a whole lot of trouble just waiting to happen.
 
I had the same thing happen.
I was trying to sell my Zoom 1044. I guy in Florida contacted me and after a few emails he asked if I would take a money order for the $350 asking price. I said that was cool and when the money cleared I would ship the unit. He said that the company he worked for Apex Logistics would pick it up. At this time I still suspect nothing although I am on guard. He then says that an associate of his owes him money and he wants the associate to send me a money order for $2000. I am then supposed to cash it and send the balance to his "shipping company" via Western Union and arrange pick up. At this point I email him back with a link to the Federal Trade Commision website and their article detailing the very scam he was trying to run. The way it works is, you take the money order to your bank and cash it. The bank contacts you a week later telling you it was a fake and they hold you accountable for the full $2000. Meanwhile this un-traceable joker gets away with the $1650 in my case. I also forwarded all of the emails to the FTC.
 
I saw this scam listed in the latest FBI internet problems. The check they send is a forgery and you get caught cashing a forged check. Bummer, dude.
 
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS PERSON BEFORE YOU READ THIS!

You can see more about these types of scams at:
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164--70449--,00.html
or just do a search for cashiers check scams.

HOPE THIS HELPS


I copied part of the info below:

"NEW COUNTERFEIT CHECK VARIATION
Other new tricks on this old scam involve a response to an online offer to sell or auction goods (usually expensive items). Here is how the new scam may unfold:

The con artist "buyer" e-mails the seller to express interest in the item, offering to pay with a U.S. bank cashier's check.

Once the offer is accepted, the "buyer" makes some excuse for sending a cashier's check that is several thousand dollars more than the cost of the item and wants the seller to send excess money: 1) to cover transportation costs for the purchased good; 2) because the buyer's secretary made a mistake and put the wrong check in the envelope; 3) with the purchased product; or 4) to a third party to cover an existing debt.

Credibility is added to the ploy when the "buyer" insists that the money only be sent after the cashier's check clears.

The cashier's check is an elaborate counterfeit and it takes the bank longer than usual to discover the fake.

The seller thinks they have received a good check and sends the good and the “extra” cash.

The bank notifies the seller the cashier’s check is a counterfeit and removes the check amount from the seller’s account. The seller lost the goods and cash. "
 
Tha fact that you felt this was fishy enough to take the time to post here tells you all you need to know.

I wish more people would listen to and "heed the advice" of that little voice inside their gut...some of these scams would not be as successful.

Mark
 
Ow, I had no idea it could work out like that! I just thought, you cash the check, that's it. Stupid me.
 
I knew it was too good to be true...if the check is already on the way, what should i do? I'm glad i posted this...
 
artCROSS said:
I knew it was too good to be true...if the check is already on the way, what should i do? I'm glad i posted this...
Click to expand...

Cash it and keep it. Fuck em.
 
I just emailed her back with the link the the FTC site and told her if she could not do it using paypal to forget it. I also filed a complaint with the FTC...anyone wanna buy a mixer, interface, and guitar pedal? :)

Thanks for the help guys.
 
I'm glad you didn't get too far into this and lose anything. On the web site link that I posted - I found the following: (if the check is on it's way maybe there's a better chance of catching this scammer)



"Do not cash a purported cashier's check that comes to you ....... Call the issuing bank that appears on the check to verify its legitimacy, and report any suspicious activity to the contacts listed below.

If you receive one of these fraudulent letters – or any similar material that you deem suspicious – turn the entire mail piece over to your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/ContactUs.htm if it appears that the postmark on the envelope is within the United States. If it appears to be from Canada or involve a Canadian phone number, inform PhoneBusters by sending an e-mail to info@phonebusters.com or calling toll-free 1-888-495-8501."
 
This person is trying to run a version of the Nigerian "419" scam on you!
419.fcd@usss.treas.gov is the federal addy that handles these scams!
Check the "ebolamonkeyman" website for some very funny games a guy turned on the scammers! It's a hoot!
I get the same "deals" a lot because I run ads on various sites selling gear. I just forward them to the feds and copy it to the sender. They stop for a while but will start again!
If you haven't already passed on her "deal", you should now!
 
what mixer?????? and i strickly go through paypal unless you are close enough to me for me to drive to your place with my state trooper cousin :D
 
Funny...i just got 3 more emails from "dealers" that are interested in buying my mixer, but they are currently out of country, and need the item shipped to their base in Canada by their own shipper. Looks like I have a nice night ahead of me of fowarding emails to the feds...:)

I'm so glad I started this thread, because I was all ready to do exactly what she wanted b/c it was such a good deal...i'm a sucker, but now I know what to look out for.

Oh, and for anyone that's interested...It's a Behringer Eurorack UB2442fxpro mixer. I didn't really think anyone here would be interested, so it's on ebay now along with my edirol fa 101 interface and Digitech RP2000 pedal. But, if you do happened to be interested, you can either check it out on ebay, or PM me...and yes, I will do everything possible to make you feel comfortable buying from me, as now I've been on the receiving end. regards.
 
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