Do you think this is a scam????? HELP PLEASE?

Question

Here is the deal. I posted up an ad on craigslist. I was selling a PS2 and 16 games. Someone asked me for it. They told me that they were going to mail me a check for the money i asked. I thought it was a little weird. So I told them to call me instead but they said "sorry my cellphone broke down THIS AFTERNOON". I gave them my mailing information for the check. She said once I receive the check cash it in and call her shipping company so that they can pick it up . So i said yeah. Today they email me saying that her secretary accidently wrote a check for $3,200. They said once I cash the check to take the money I asked for and then take an extra $100 for doing a small task. After I that if I could send the rest to her shipping company. Then she said to email her shipping company today and tell them when to pick it up. Should I trust her. What I find weird is that the "shipping company" is called Shipping Company USA. I have never heard of them. Could this be a scam?

Answer 1

Yes it is a scam.  Here is how it works....  They send you a fake check.  You deposit the check into your bank account.  The next business day the funds show up in your account as available and you are on cloud 9.  Being you are an honest person you subtract the difference and send them back what they overpaid you.  Two weeks later you get a notice from your bank advising you that a check you recently deposited was returned for Non Sufficient Funds NSF.  Now your bank holds you responsible for the full amount of that check so your account is now negative $3200 plus the money you sent "The Shipping Company".  Don't fall for it.  What's worse is that the check they send you is probably a check that was printed on the computer like many companies payroll checks which isn't the problem.  The problem is that the MICR line where the routing number and account number are located is comprised of some poor saps checking account that was compromised in an on line phishing scheme.  So now in addition to being out the money you are now prime suspect in a check fraud case.  Do you ever write checks for thousands extra?  I don't!  Good scam so give them credit but a little played out.

Answer 2

YES IT IS A SCAM I AM 100% SURE! THE CHECK THEY WILL SEND IS A FAKE, THE BANK WILL CASH IT BUT IT WILL NOT GO THROUGH SO IN A FEW DAYS THEY WILL DEMAND YOU REPAY THEM AND BY THEN YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE ALREADY SENT THEM THE MONEY. ON TOP OF THAT YOU COULD BE CHARGED WITH CHECK FRAUD BECAUSE YOU WERE TRYING TO CASH A FAKE CHECK. TRUST ME! NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO DON'T CONTACT THEM. IF THEY SEND YOU A CHECK SHRED IT ITS A FAKE. YOU WILL THANK ME.

Answer 3

Yes, it's a scam.  Destroy the check.

Answer 4

That certainly is a scam if I ever saw one! Educate yourself when it comes to things like this. It is a good thing you asked!

http://peoplegetbusy.blogspot.com/

Answer 5

It's a scam!    The check will bounce in a few days, and your bank will expect you to cover your overdraft.    The money you send/give the scammers will be gone forever.

Answer 6

Scam scam, scam scam scam.

No such shipping company, and it is obviously sketchy.

Answer 7

Haha duh??

Answer 8

This is a scam... Repeat this is a scam... Do not cash that check. There are many like this... me and a buddy of mine checked it out, and there are serious consequences. Rip the check up... and ask for them to send you a MONEY ORDER. If they really want it , they will send it... if not it was a scam.

Answer 9

Absolutely it is FRAUD and a scam...

Since you got the check in the mail, contact the Postal Inspection Service.  To find the nearest office, contact your local Postmaster - he or she will give you the address and telephone number.

Answer 10

It is indeed a very bad scam.  Just yesterday someone was complaining of getting caught in a similar proposition.  The check will not be honored and you'll owe the bank the money back, plus they will have your money.

Have nothing to do with it.