Is this a scam involving a certified check and will i somehow end up arrested?

Question

want to rent timeshare out for week.

african sounding guy writes back and says his wife's employer will be paying for it, then changes the story a few times, but is still interested.

First he wanted my physical address.

How would a certified check scam bite me on this? Cuz I know they think of ways.

Answer 1

Plain jane called that one right...

Answer 2

What will probably happen, should you be cough*dumb enough*cough to pursue something about which you are already suspicious, is this: he will say that he has a certified check made out to him for say, $10,000 which he will sign over to you and will tell you to keep the week's rent after you cash it and then you'll mail him the change. DON'T DO IT.

It will take your bank a week or more to find out that his 'certified' check is no good (never was any good OR it was altered to a higher amount). In the meantime, you will have sent him a GOOD certified check .. and YOU will be out the amount of his check. Again: DON'T DO IT.

And block his phone number and his e-mails and NEVER give out your address (not to mention NEVER EVER NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY OR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS). If it smells like S**t and looks like S**t, it's S**t. Right?

Answer 3

The certification could be fake - insist on an international Postal money order instead.

If the guy's from Nigeria or Burkina Faso, forget it- it's a guaranteed scam..

If he wants to send you "extra" and have you wire the balance to someone - forget it, it's a scam.