Parents have a flat to rent - think this is a scam!

hearts

lonestar1 wrote: »

Take the cheque Don't actually bank it and fail to return the left over to the sender if they query say its not yet cleared after a week say the bank have asked for a meeting and would like the sender to attend also. If you never hear from them again at least youve taken a stolen cheque out of circulation

LOL, I did this with one from Nigeria. The usual nonsense beforehand then, Iv'e sent a cheque please bank it and send me the difference. She/he then mailed me asking if I had recieved and banked it, I said yes. They asked me to send the difference or they could not leave their country. I said no I'm keeping it all. They said "but if you do not send it we cannot get free from here" I said thats tough it's a hard world and I'm keeping the money ;-)

Lots more emails tooed and frowed and I had a great laugh ;-)
My point being, have a laugh and some fun at their expence.

jimc_2

hearts wrote: »

My point being, have a laugh and some fun at their expence.

If you take this advice be careful and DO NOT actually bank the cheque. The authorities have no way of prosecuting the perpetrator of the original fraud but I've had it confirmed by the Police and Banks that the only legal action they can take in this fraud is AGAINST THE VICTIM if they cash or deposit the cheque. This is because, technically, they are the one 'obtaining funds by use of a false instrument' (the dud cheque) even if they only 'rest' in the account (like Father Ted's). The latest legislation in the matter uses the wording 'knowingly'. In other words if you KNOW (or have reasonable grounds to suspect) it's a scam cheque but bank it anyway the crime is all yours!

I do not know of any case where this has happened in the UK although I have read of instances of the victim being questioned at length in the USA and even spending time behind bars themselves. (This is suspected as being a major source of terrorist funding)

SquatNow

I had loads of people trying this one when I advertised my Car on Autotrader.

Rule of thumb is this: Never accept a cheque for ANYTHING.

Same rule applies to PayPal.

jimc_2

The main advice to avoid being targeted as a victim is: To think HARD before using an internet sale site that will openly display your contact email address such as Craigslist or Gumtree. This is where the fraudsters look for victims.

lonestar1

Felicity wrote: »

I would strongly advise against this. You can't imagine the sort of people you would be getting mixed up with and how they could retaliate.

My advise is forget about it and have no further communication with them. At all.

Theres no chance WHATSOEVER of these people turning up on your doorstep the crime centers around them being many miles away and being untraceable. As per othe rposter I agree DO NOT bank the cheque doing so knowing it to be fake makes you an accomplace.

I suppose they could put your email address on a sucker list but that just sets you up for more fun. Whilst they are wasting their time on you your saving some one some where from being conned :j

Felicity

lonestar1 wrote: »

Theres no chance WHATSOEVER of these people turning up on your doorstep the crime centers around them being many miles away and being untraceable. As per othe rposter I agree DO NOT bank the cheque doing so knowing it to be fake makes you an accomplace.

I suppose they could put your email address on a sucker list but that just sets you up for more fun. Whilst they are wasting their time on you your saving some one some where from being conned :j

You would be suprised, often these people have contacts in the UK and it has been known to happen.

A little bit extreme, but people have disappeared after entering into correspondance with these people and winding them up.

It is just not worth it, they are criminals and they can be dangerous. Why take the chance?

If you want to let some more experienced people play with them, then have a look at 419eater.com.

carla40

SquatNow wrote: »

I had loads of people trying this one when I advertised my Car on Autotrader.

Rule of thumb is this: Never accept a cheque for ANYTHING.

Same rule applies to PayPal.

this has just happened to my SIL, we are selling a classic car and she was sent a cheque, her bank made a !!!! up, telling her the cheque had been processed, she withdrew money to "pay for shipping", but luckily she forgot to get some money out for herself, went straight back into the bank, and it was showing that she was overdrawn, she checked with the same clerk that had told her it was cleared, and was told it had bounced. if she hadn't remembered to nip back into the bank, she would have lost the money. even the cheeky ***** had the b***s to keep ringing her asking when she was going to pay the money, he gave up when she informed him he was being investigated for fraud. even the police said they can't do anything about it.:mad:
so still trying to sell the car:mad:

daisykinn1

Haha! This is worded near identical to an email I was sent 2 weeks ago from someone wanting to buy my mobile privately rather than go through Ebay.

I also had a lovely one from Natvest Bank wanting to know my sort code and account number so they could transfer £1000 into my account. I'm a lucky girl. :rolleyes:

There was an amazing show on ITV about a group of single women being scammed into sending money to Nigeria for their internet lovers.

iolanthe07

I've just won 2 million Euros on the Spanish lottery. I only have to send my bank details and 100 Euros to release the funds so that they can deposit the money - so goodbye suckers, I'm off to Spain!

(hang on a minute......I don't do the Spanish lottery.....!!!!!!?