1006: Salty Biscuit

[Ansur]

The check scam does not need to be from nigeria. This is the exact same thing they do with Craigslist scam every day. The idea is that you will deposit the check without knowing how check clearing really works.

The scammer gives you a check but overpays. He needs you to give the extra to someone for some reason. Ooo, I accidently overpaid, please send me a refund of the difference. Or dang, that was my last check, can you just give me the difference. Or hey, the extra is for shipping. I have a shipping company ready to pick it up, so you can pay them.

You deposit the check and the bank, by law, has to make those funds available by the 4th business day for under $5k. That does not mean the check has been presented to the bank it was drawn on yet. So, a few more days later when they finally present that check to the out-of-state bank to get the money, it bounces and if you used any of that money, you are responsible for it.

So it looked to the scammed person like the check cleared because the bank showed them having the money after a few days. They pull the "extra" money out of the bank and give the overpaid amount (for example $1,000) to the requested 3rd party (the friend or fake shipping company rep they have that will ship the TV for them or whoever). Then next week you go check your bank account and find out the check really bounced, you're out that money, $1,000 of your own money on top of that, and the item you were selling is already gone. If you didn't have a grand of your own, then your own checks are bouncing and you'll get overdraft fees for extra fun.

The scammers use personal checks, chasiers checks, and money orders for these. Even if you called the bank to verify the check, they can have it cancelled and refunded to them before it clears for you.

[archicat]

Totally forgot to mention that I know how make an irish watermelon - successfully.

We've done it a few times before camping/festivals/picnics etc. It's awesome; I get my five-a-day fruit + buzz .