Is this a dodgy customer?

Dhmellor

HiI think I'm asking for a warning, rather than offering one! But I can't see anywhere else to post this, so bear with me.....

I recently advertised a musical instrument for sale on a website which specialises in selling instruments. You just pay a flat fee and post your ad. I'm not a dealer - it's a private sale of a good-quality string instrument, for which I am asking £7,500.

I have just received an enquiry from someone calling himself Tom, who gives no address and just has a gmail email address. He says that if I give him my full name and address he will send a cheque for the asking price plus delivery cost. Once my bank has cleared the cheque I am then to send him the instrument. Or in Tom's words: 'I shall instruct my accountant to send you a cheque for the payment and shipping of the Instrument. When you receive the cheque I will like you to take the cheque to your bank and cash the cheque and used the balance of the money for the settle my transporter who will come to your location for the collection of the Item after the funds have cleared your bank.'

There is something odd about this, and it's not just that Tom no speaka da English (which is not unusual - the trade in good musical instruments is very international). But he has not asked to see or try out the instrument, which any buyer would normally want to do. And oddly, he wants to arrange for his 'transporter' to collect the instrument from me, although I will pay him out of the money from his cheque. But on the other hand, he has not asked me for my bank details. So if I go ahead and bank his cheque and it is cleared, what can go wrong?

The only thing that occurs to me is money-laundering, but buying a musical instrument which you have not had valued or even seen is a way of losing money rather than laundering it!

Any comments or warnings from the wordly-wise much appreciated. Cheers.

Reggie_Rebel

Two things will happen here

1 - The cheque won't materialise so as you have been messed about Tom da Crook will ask for your bank details to send you the dosh straight away. Bye bye piggy bank

2 - The cheque will arrive, Jason Statham will be the Transporter and he'll kung fu kick your house to the groud

Halloway

It's a scam. Do not go through with the transaction. The cheque will probably not clear and is likely to be stolen or otherwise fraudulently obtained. Don't trust the cheque clearing as proof that everything's OK.

This is a well-known cheque fraud method:

http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Nigerian/counterfeit_cashiers_check_scams.htm

Halloway

Just noticed your username. Are you the D.H. Mellor?

Volcano

Reggie_Rebel wrote: »

1 - The cheque won't materialise so as you have been messed about Tom da Crook will ask for your bank details to send you the dosh straight away. Bye bye piggy bank

They can't take money out of your account just because you've given them your account number and sort code.

Halloway is correct. The cheque will show in your bank account, you'll send the instrument away, then the cheque will bounce. As someone is collecting the instrument you won't have any idea where it's gone either.

Robert2009

Since the transporter will be coming to collect your instument, suggest that he brings cash with him.

you know it makes sense.

Rob

dealer_wins

Tell the buyer that for collected items you only accept Western Union, and you will not hear from him again.

Definite 100% guaranteed scam, well done for asking on here you not only saved yourself £7500 but also a possible police enquiry once your bank reports you to them for depositing a fraudulent cheque.

BFG_2

SCAM

Works as follows

Cheque arrives - for about £10,000

You pay into bank

Cheque clears

Scammer asks you to forward the 'extra' £2500 to the 'shipper' via western union.

6 weeks later bank says "oops, cheque was a dud/stolen. We're taking our £10k back"...and there's sweet FA you can do.

BTW- The scammer probably isn't even too interested in getting your violin/whatever - just the 'excess shipping' [after all, what use is a violin in Nigeria...lol]

Enfieldian

Have you been living in a cave for the last couple of years?

This "private ad" scam has been doing the rounds for ages now, everything from cars to mobile phones.

Always the same format as well....

dacouch

Money can be taken out of your bank from your account details...Jeremy Clarkson fell for that one when he published his bank account details in the paper

BFG_2

dacouch wrote: »

Money can be taken out of your bank from your account details...Jeremy Clarkson fell for that one when he published his bank account details in the paper

Mmmmmhhhhhhhhh, not so sure it's that simple.