I think I'm involved in a bit of a scam

skaheadpunk · May 8, 2008

I saw one of those dodgy sounding job adverts and was kinda curious as to what they would actually say, so I emailed asking for more details.

'Mary' replied saying that she worked for the Light Of Hope Foundation, and was looking for people to help process donations. She sent an application form (name, address, marital status, not much else), so I fill it out, email it back. She then sent me one wanting to confirm that I would 'process' the 'donations', keep 10% for myself and forward the rest. I thought I was getting in a bit deep here and didn't reply.

That was a couple of weeks ago.

But today I got a cheque for £3000. And I'm pretty darn sure it's a real cheque.

What the heck do I do now?

skaheadpunk · May 8, 2008

I mean, I used a semi-fake address, but the postman still found me, lied about my age and haven't given her any other personal details at all. Used a fake phone number.

She gave me addresses for the UK and US offices, and both addresses exist, don't know if there's actually an office there though.

skye · May 8, 2008

I have heard that these scams send 'real' checks but are still fake.

419 scams they are called?

I wouldn't cash that check if I were you, if it is fake, it is your fault AFAIK.

skaheadpunk · May 8, 2008

Yeah, that's what I was thinking...

I mean, do I report it to the police or what though? Just leave it?

fleurya · May 8, 2008

That's definitely a scam, and a pretty obvious one by the sound of it. So, they send you a check, you cash into your account, and send 90% of it to someone else from your own account? What is the purpose of that? Why do they need to send it to you when they could just send it directly to whoever you're sending it to? What happens is you send them the money, the check bounces a week later, and you're out 3 grand.

I would definitely report it. If they intend to make money off you on this scam, there must be some way to track them. I'd hand it to the police, tell them the whole story, and do whatever I could to bring scum like that to justice before they end up tricking some old lady out of her life savings.

Now, if the deposed king of Nigeria contacts you directly, well that's a whole other story!

skaheadpunk · May 8, 2008

fleurya said:
That's definitely a scam, and a pretty obvious one by the sound of it. So, they send you a check, you cash into your account, and send 90% of it to someone else from your own account? What is the purpose of that? Why do they need to send it to you when they could just send it directly to whoever you're sending it to? What happens is you send them the money, the check bounces a week later, and you're out 3 grand.

I would definitely report it. If they intend to make money off you on this scam, there must be some way to track them. I'd hand it to the police, tell them the whole story, and do whatever I could to bring scum like that to justice before they end up tricking some old lady out of her life savings.

Now, if the deposed king of Nigeria contacts you directly, well that's a whole other story!

That or it's money laundering. I'll give the police a ring.

mojonandha · May 8, 2008

whatever you got is not a CHECK. Its called DEMAND DRAFT or MONEY ORDER.

If you stick this in the bank, they are supposed to pay you right away. If you want confirmation, stick it in your bank account, you will see your bank balance go up right away....Wait for few days and the bank will take that money back from your account and tell you that its a fake DD.

Its a classic 419 scam but a little smarter.

louishen · May 8, 2008

Its a standard check scam

You can cash it but it will eventually bounce, they will be pestering you for their share in the meantime - before the dud check it discovered.

At best you get charged for a dud cheque, at worst you have kept 10% of 300 and sent a cheque to them for the rest. They will cash your cheque leaving you 3000 out of pocket and technically part of a fraud attempt on the bank.

Go to the site www.419eater.com and report it there on the forum - they may be able to help more in tracking and reporting those scammers

eric · May 8, 2008

i love that site louishen - fist thing i thought of when i read the title of the thread.

skaheadpunk · Jun 13, 2008

I ended up sticking the cheque on my wall and leaving it there...

Today I received US$2000 in Visa travellers cheques. With watermark and hologram. I'm thinking fake or stolen or otherwise not legit... gonna take them to the bank and see what they say.

Sherman Homan · Jun 13, 2008

Think about what they are doing: they say they can't send checks to charities, but they can send checks to you?

skaheadpunk · Jun 13, 2008

Yes, it's clearly some class of cow-plop.

PerryLynch · Jun 13, 2008

You are definitely the money mule in a mail fraud scam. Here in the US, your best place to go with this information would be http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/ and/or the FBI. I don't know enough about the UK's Law Enforcement community to tell you exactly where to go with this evidence, but you might find a good link here: http://www.met.police.uk/reporting_crime/index.htm

Good luck, and don't get tempted. You'll be out a lot of money.

Perry

scooter · Jun 13, 2008

Good for you in spotting this scam in the first place! If enough people did research on these things or just asked people then we would all be better off.

louishen · Jun 13, 2008

Glad you were not tempted, while it is almost certain that the criminals will never be caught, the fact that you posted on here may mean some of us mac users will not get taken in by this too good to be true scam