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Topic starter
I want to alert those of you that rent that there is a scam going on.
It starts with some person responding to an ad for a vacation rental. They say they want the condo and will send the amount. Then they say that they want to send the amount plus some EXTRA money which you are to send to them. They then send a cashiers check for the rental plus an extra amount and they give you an address which you are to send the money. The check comes by UPS or some other mailing process. The local banks take up to 14 days to process a cashier check. That is the key! So if you cash the check it may come back and they will deduct the amount from your checking or savings account. If you sent the money back to the person you are out that amount. If you find yourself in this situation you should call this number before you cash the check. It is 800-223-7520. They will tell you if the bank check is good.
I discussed this scam with the FBI, gave them the names, adresses etc. but they felt they would not do anything unless the names came up in their data base. Also they do this by email with a non-paid address like yahoo or google and never give a valid phone number. So you never can find them.
billd
Posted : January 25, 2008 9:27 pm
Hi Bild:
Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like a variant of a "Nigerian Scam" or a "4-1-9" scam. In one of the rental property versions (there are MANY versions, including a tenant version where they offer a nonexistent apartment-- I believe "4-1-9" refers to the Nigerian criminal code section for taking money under false pretenses), someone offers to take the unit but they want to pay "extra" and have you send it back to them, or to someone else, etc. I was inundated with these a few years ago when I posted an ad on a house swap list.
Islandlola
Posted : January 25, 2008 11:02 pm
Islandlola you are correct, this has been going on for a few years and seems to originate from the UK; I alerted my post office, since it's mail fraud, and followed through at their request
I received counterfit Postal Money Orders which I turned over to GB Post Office.
Posted : January 26, 2008 9:40 am
Topic starter
Just to let you know we got ANOTHER one the other day. It is amazing that these things go on and on.
But so it is!!
billd
Posted : January 28, 2008 12:10 pm
OHHH, you haven't heard of Scambaiting. It's very entertaining, not sure if I'd have the cajones, though...
Posted : January 29, 2008 3:24 pm
