how does this scam work?

[NorthCyd]

The bank may not do this. I had to do some wrangling with my bank to get funds made available early. Our banker said he'd try, but mentioned that they really shouldn't be doing that. End of the day, they did it, likely because we were longtime customers of both banks and had decent amounts of money both places.

I guarantee if you call the bank and tell them that you think you have a fraudulent check with their bank info on it they are going to want to look into it.

 

[3TrueFans]

when the check clears, it is clear, no? what is the point of having a check clear if it really sin't clear? is this a common misconception?

The idea is that people see the funds in their account and think the money is theirs, if you tried to get the scammer to wait the 2 weeks or whatever it takes to actually clear they'd just move on to someone else. They'll usually try to pressure you that the deal has to be made quickly.

 

[CyclonesRock]

they sent a physical check via usps with a tracking nmber. no phone numbers given. just an address to send the check to.

A page right out of the scam playbook. Do not send them money. Take it to your bank and ask them to help you verify the check. If the paying bank won't cooperate, which unfortunately is often the case, your bank can send it for collection and will credit you the money once they actually receive payment from the other bank. It takes longer but then there are no risks that you get screwed out of your money. DO NOT send any money until you have guaranteed funds, and then DO NOT send them a check from your personal account. You do not want your personal account information in the hands of a stranger.

 

[JustBecause]

A page right out of the scam playbook. Do not send them money. Take it to your bank and ask them to help you verify the check. If the paying bank won't cooperate, which unfortunately is often the case, your bank can send it for collection and will credit you the money once they actually receive payment from the other bank. It takes longer but then there are no risks that you get screwed out of your money. DO NOT send any money until you have guaranteed funds, and then DO NOT send them a check from your personal account. You do not want your personal account information in the hands of a stranger.

They won’t ask for a check. They will want it sent electronically.

 

[EvilBetty]

No. The bank has to make that money available to you after a short period of time, but it will take a few weeks for it to get processed all the way around. By the time it does, the issuing bank will inform your bank that is fraudulent.

Meanwhile, you will have given people real actual money and then the whole amount they sent you will be removed from your account.

I had no Idea banks make money available before the check truly clears. To be fair though, I write a check about once every 2 years and all of my income is deposited electronically. No one has paid me via check in more than a decade probably.

 

[CyclonesRock]

I guarantee if you call the bank and tell them that you think you have a fraudulent check with their bank info on it they are going to want to look into it.

Not necessarily, there is so much check fraud now that many will not even assist other banks, let alone a stranger on the phone. How do they know that you are not a scammer phishing for info?

 

[EvilBetty]

A page right out of the scam playbook. Do not send them money. Take it to your bank and ask them to help you verify the check. If the paying bank won't cooperate, which unfortunately is often the case, your bank can send it for collection and will credit you the money once they actually receive payment from the other bank. It takes longer but then there are no risks that you get screwed out of your money. DO NOT send any money until you have guaranteed funds, and then DO NOT send them a check from your personal account. You do not want your personal account information in the hands of a stranger.

Oh, there will be no sending of any money. As soon as they said we have to pay the movers we said "whole lotta nope". that check has been deconstructed.

 

[Farnsworth]

Only question is, were they cheap, AND high quality movers?

 

[pourcyne]

In future, ask for a cashier's check and/or money order. Do not take a personal check.

 

[8bitnes]

In future, ask for a cashier's check and/or money order. Do not take a personal check.

Money orders are easily faked

 

[CyclonesRock]

In future, ask for a cashier's check and/or money order. Do not take a personal check.

This is no longer a guarantee of not getting scammed. Many fraudsters now use fake cashiers checks and money orders, technology enables them to create whatever they want out of thin air. AND bank's cannot hold cashier checks as long as other types of checks so it actually increases the chance you get scammed if you aren't cautious.

 

[8bitnes]

they sent a physical check via usps with a tracking nmber. no phone numbers given. just an address to send the check to.

Take it to your post office and ask for the postmaster to report a case of fraud. If this is truly a fraudulent check/scheme, they have commit a federal mail fraud felony. If the stamps were printed, they'd have a possibility of being busted. If they are professionals, I bet the envelope had old lick em and stick em stamps applied.

 

[CYDJ]

I would have responded with two words: "Cash only"

Those are NOT the two words I would have chosen. But, to each his own.

 

[Die4Cy]

My wife works for a banking group, fraud really started to amp up last summer and has not dropped off.

 

[dirtyninety]

Don't worry, the FBI is fully dedicated and focused to cleaning up this kind of chicanery to give us North Americans consumer confidence.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

I get this crap all the time. Whenever they ask if someone can pick it up it’s a scam. I don’t recall the exact details but there is info if you Google it.

 

[CloneIce]

Every time I hear about these elaborate scans to steal a few hundred bucks…. Wouldn’t it be easier for these fools to just get a job? Pays a lot better too.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Every time I hear about these elaborate scans to steal a few hundred bucks…. Wouldn’t it be easier for these fools to just get a job? Pays a lot better too.

Obviously it pays enough for them to keep doing it. How long does it take to send out 100 messages and $1,000 extra on fake checks? Get one a day, you're doing pretty well

 

[CycloneBax]

facebook marketplace
giant welding table for sale. probably weighs 3000 lbs

There were red flags all over the place, but I dipped my toe in the water because I need this thing gone. they said "will you take a check as long as it clears before I send movers to pick it up?" I said sure. they send the check but it is for more than the price of the item and they say "oh sorry forgot to inform you, I didn't want to send 2 checks so you'll have to pay the movers out of the single check I sent you". It was a little over 1k more than the table price.

I said no, absolutely not. they deleted our correspondence. this is obviously a scam. but how does it work? If the check clears, I have their money and the welding table and they have nothing. If the check doesn't clear the deal is off, and I move on and no one wins.

I think everyone is missing the big picture here.

Who in the hell has a 3000 lb welding table they are trying to get rid of quick?

I would be worried that the ad was the scam. LOL

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I think everyone is missing the big picture here.

Who in the hell has a 3000 lb welding table they are trying to get rid of quick?

I would be worried that the ad was the scam. LOL

Well, now you’ve gone and done it. See ya.