Re: [artshow_photo] I think this is a scam.

1:33 PM |

Hi,

Oh, and also, don't think that when a check becomes available in your
account that it has "cleared'. Checks become available in a number of days
determined by law and your bank's policy. That happens regardless of
whether the originating bank has successfully removed funds from the account
it was written off. Checks can "bounce" sometimes even weeks after you
deposit them, long after you've sent merchandise and/or given money back to
them (under the pretense that it's going to the "shipping" company.)

The most secure way to accept mailed payments is via USPS (postal service)
money order. They can only be written in amounts up to $1,000
(internationally $700 except Canada is still $1000.) Then, you have to get
multiples. Upon receiving it, you can walk into a post office and actually
cash it. That is, if they have enough cash on hand. Sometimes you have to
call around a bit to find a place that does. Before they cash it, they make
sure it's a valid money order in their system (using serial numbers on th
check.)

Note that bank cashier checks can have the same problem as regular checks.
You really have no idea if it's a bank cashier check or if someone has just
made it look that way. (Unless you go to the bank it's drawn off and have
them check its legitimacy and cash it there.)

Thanks!

Mike

On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 4:26 PM, Michael Darling <darlingm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I 100% positively without a doubt not even a little am absolutely sure and
> right that this is a scam. Do yourself a favor, put it on the wall and
> frame it. :)
>
> This is one of the oldest check scams in the book. If you track down the
> bank that the check is written from, they'll probably tell you that due to
> privacy reasons they can't talk to you about the account. But, you might
> get someone who would tell you the account has been closed for a while and
> they have fraudulent checks come through on it periodically.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 4:11 PM, James Dunn <denanjums@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I got an email from a someone claiming to be a woman who
>> wished to buy three of my images - $950 worth, However,
>> she and her husband are moving from Seattle to London
>> England and want the shipping company to get the images
>> in the shipment of household goods.
>> So I say OK. Today a check for $3500 arrives via
>> Fed Ex. And her email - "oops" her husband got confused
>> and added the shipping company's payment to mine and sent
>> it to me by mistake. Could I deposit the check in my bank account
>> and give the extra to the shipper for her ?
>>
>> How many of you think
>> 1. This check is any good
>> 2. The shipper will demand cash
>> 3. No one cares about the images.
>>
>> Additional info. Fed Ex overnight letter sent from
>> New Jersey by someone who's name has never
>> appeared in the conversation so far.
>> The check is supposedly written on an account
>> belonging to a company in Houston Tx. and drawn
>> on a bank in Minnesota.
>>
>> I think I'll frame this check and put it on the wall.
>>
>>
>
>