I am supposed to provide housing/help for a Vietnamese lady employed by a U= S company. Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in 8 d= ifferent cities. What kind of company would hire someone without knowing w= here she would end-up in? They send me a big official bank check and I am = supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. The worst outcome is = that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. But i shoul= d have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they haven't sold m= e where to pay out yet.
If the check is real, how could they trust me with the money, with just a f= ew email exchanges. The check looks pretty real to me. If the check is no= t, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. What possible way can they= scam me?
company. Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in 8 different cities. What kind of company would hire someone without knowing where she would end-up in? They send me a big official bank check and I am supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. The worst outcome is that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. But i should have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they haven't sold me where to pay out yet.
email exchanges. The check looks pretty real to me. If the check is not, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. What possible way can they scam me?
Google is your friend.
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I suggest you ring them and check whether the thing is genuine. I suspect it is a cleared for value vs cleared for outcome fraud.
The money will appear in your account for the 3-4 days that it takes the banking system to identify that the cheque will bounce or it is a forgery. This might take longer if it is a clever one with mismatched electronic readable info on it so that it appears to go to the wrong branch or some such. ISTR US banks have prehistoric physical cheque clearing that allows some very cunning abuses of the system. Beware.
The cheque will likely bounce just after you have paid up.
company. Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in 8 different cities. What kind of company would hire someone without knowing where she would end-up in? They send me a big official bank check and I am supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. The worst outcome is that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. But i should have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they haven't sold me where to pay out yet.
email exchanges. The check looks pretty real to me. If the check is not, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. What possible way can they scam me?
Bottom line: Run away...very far away...
I once had a discussion with my banker that went something like this: How long does it take for a check to clear? If it bounces, we'll withdraw the money from your account. Yeah, but how long before I can be SURE that it cleared? If it bounces, we'll withdraw the money from your account. But, surely, there's a time limit after which I'm safe? If it bounces, we'll withdraw the money from your account. You're saying that there is NO time limit and you can bounce the check any time? If it bounces, we'll withdraw the money from your account.... oh, and there's a bounced check fee, and overdraft fees for every check YOU wrote on the insufficient funds. And if we think YOU were involved in the fraud, we'll prosecute YOU.
The best scams look legit. This one has been discussed so many times that you'd have to have been living under a rock not to know about it.
company. Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in 8 different cities. What kind of company would hire someone without knowing where she would end-up in? They send me a big official bank check and I am supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. The worst outcome is that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. But i should have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they haven't sold me where to pay out yet.
email exchanges. The check looks pretty real to me. If the check is not, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. What possible way can they scam me?
They will send you "too much", then ask nicely for a refund of the overage. The check, of course, is bogus and you're out what you send them. IOW, it's a scam with bright flashing lights around it, warning you to run away.
A search on "Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union" +scam gives:
Once again, you're a decade or two out of date. Hell, you can even deposit a check at some banks with a camera phone. Canceled checks are scanned and destroyed, and some retailers run your check through the register to complete the transaction, then give back your voided check.
company. Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in 8 different cities. What kind of company would hire someone without knowing where she would end-up in? They send me a big official bank check and I am supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. The worst outcome is that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. But i should have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they haven't sold me where to pay out yet.
email exchanges. The check looks pretty real to me. If the check is not, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. What possible way can they scam me?
It's a real credit union. The check is almost surely forged.
This is a straightforward variation on the advance fee scheme.
Worst (and most likely) case is that you are out the money you send to the "travel agent" (probably via Western Union, right?) and then you get investigated for being part of the attempted fraud (and they likely decide that you're not guilty, just gullible). Run away.
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As they say, check forgeries in the US can take weeks to be returned... and they will just subtract the sum from your bank account.
US company. =A0Some people say it's a scam because she had the same ads in= 8 different cities. =A0What kind of company would hire someone without kno= wing where she would end-up in? =A0They send me a big official bank check a= nd I am supposed to disburse part of it to her travel agent. =A0The worst o= utcome is that i have to pay the travel agent and the bank check bounce. = =A0But i should have enough time to hold until the check clear, since they = haven't sold me where to pay out yet.
few email exchanges. =A0The check looks pretty real to me. =A0If the check= is not, it won't take long for my bank to notify me. =A0What possible way = can they scam me?
Ask yourself why would you be required to disburse funds to someone else's travel agency? The ticket never went to you; the woman never worked for you -- whoever wrote the check to you would normally pay the travel agency directly. Why get you involved?
There is a well known scam where someone sends you a counterfeit check. You deposit it, but then have to send some of the money back to the sender. When the check is discovered fraudulent, you're out the money. Here there's an added complication in that the money goes to a third party.
Here I'd start by calling the credit union, to let them know someone suspicious is writing checks on one of their accounts.
The check is very good, with watermark and security thread. I changed the name to protect the real fool.
http://173.224.223.62/fool/check.jpg
To: spamtrap1888 There is nothing to investigate yet, other than the scammer spending $4.95 for priority mailing me the check. She said her boss did not want to send money to different people.
.95 for priority mailing me the check. She said her boss did not want to s= end money to different people.
She (or He) also send me a copy of her passport and picture ID. I don't wa= nt to post them (possible ID theft victim). Haven't heard back for several= days, perhaps i was asking too many questions.
--- last letter ---
How are you doing? Great and hope you are having a wonderful day. Well, Ple= asure hearing from you,i really appreciate it and I'm okay with the conditi= on of the place and i must tell you that am really happy about you renting = the place to me and i will want you to know that I'm really interested in r= enting the place from you and i won't take any chance in loosing the place = to another person. All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the= advert from the sites as i don't want to lose it to another person.
Also, i have forwarded all necessary details to my boss that would be respo= nsible for the payment and they said they were okay with it. And it was pro= mised to make the payment out to you this week. It will mailed to you via U= SPS ( Express mail ) Please what is your full name? I have inform my boss to send you all my payment including (first month ren= t fee and my traveling allowance ) which will be issued out to you, because= my boss complaining that they can't double issue payment to 2 different pe= ople. Please, this is the only way he can do it...
Please, i need your help on handling this right for me with trust. As soon = as you receive the payment kindly deduct the payment for the first Month re= nt of the place and help me to send back the differences funds to my travel= agent to take care of my traveling expenses to the state bcos that is what= i will be using to fly in. I hope you understand.
I will also like to know the nearest international airport terminal to book= my flight and if you will be able to pick me up at the airport cos I will = be coming down to the house from airport.. I await your quick response, it = will be very nice to rent the place.
for priority mailing me the check. She said her boss did not want to send money to different people.
to post them (possible ID theft victim). Haven't heard back for several days, perhaps i was asking too many questions.
Pleasure hearing from you,i really appreciate it and I'm okay with the condition of the place and i must tell you that am really happy about you renting the place to me and i will want you to know that I'm really interested in renting the place from you and i won't take any chance in loosing the place to another person. All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites as i don't want to lose it to another person.
responsible for the payment and they said they were okay with it. And it was promised to make the payment out to you this week. It will mailed to you via USPS ( Express mail )
fee and my traveling allowance ) which will be issued out to you, because my boss complaining that they can't double issue payment to 2 different people. Please, this is the only way he can do it...
you receive the payment kindly deduct the payment for the first Month rent of the place and help me to send back the differences funds to my travel agent to take care of my traveling expenses to the state bcos that is what i will be using to fly in. I hope you understand.
flight and if you will be able to pick me up at the airport cos I will be coming down to the house from airport.. I await your quick response, it will be very nice to rent the place.
This is very interesting. I often wondered how this works.
Did he/she just send a letter and check with an email address or did they start a dialog with you first.
$4.95 for priority mailing me the check. She said her boss did not want to= send money to different people.
t want to post them (possible ID theft victim). Haven't heard back for sev= eral days, perhaps i was asking too many questions.
Pleasure hearing from you,i really appreciate it and I'm okay with the con= dition of the place and i must tell you that am really happy about you rent= ing the place to me and i will want you to know that I'm really interested = in renting the place from you and i won't take any chance in loosing the pl= ace to another person. All i will want you to do for me is to please remove= the advert from the sites as i don't want to lose it to another person.
esponsible for the payment and they said they were okay with it. And it was= promised to make the payment out to you this week. It will mailed to you v= ia USPS ( Express mail )
rent fee and my traveling allowance ) which will be issued out to you, bec= ause my boss complaining that they can't double issue payment to 2 differen= t people. Please, this is the only way he can do it...
oon as you receive the payment kindly deduct the payment for the first Mont= h rent of the place and help me to send back the differences funds to my tr= avel agent to take care of my traveling expenses to the state bcos that is = what i will be using to fly in. I hope you understand.
book my flight and if you will be able to pick me up at the airport cos I w= ill be coming down to the house from airport.. I await your quick response,= it will be very nice to rent the place.
Oh, that was just the last email. Nothing came with the check. Sender of = USPS envelop was the credit union. There were a few emails before, but i d= id not save them. Basically, she is late twenty, professional woman, like = cooking, ... (Hint: she would be a good wife).
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