Corrected Fraud Scam Alert

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

First off, now I understand one of the reasons why Trains.com doesn’t
host a classified section.

I listed on two other train forums in their free classified section two HO
Berks as a pair for sale.

A reply came in from I thought a modeler, who expressed , I thought to be
a genuine interest.

He stated in his first reply that payment would be in a certified cashier check.

On day two he wanted pictures so his wife can see what the locos looked liked.
I complied, scanned the photos and the MR review.

On day three he asked for my mailing address & telephone #.
He also stated in this request that he would be making an overpayment
to me and that I wire the excess via western union to his vendor.

Upon receipt of this western union transfer his vendor would make
arrangements to pick up the Berks.

That bogus check is due to arrive anytime now and in the meantime
I received an almost identical e-mail from another scamer.

I have since learned to appreciate my Berks and will continue to own them.

2

Can we assume you have notified the authorities? When the MO arrives you should do something about it.

Bob Boudreau

3

Yes Bob, I will refer it to authorites and post a follow up here.
This really comes as a surprise stunt to me that these guys
would bother to scan modeler’s classifieds.

Never have I even seen a fraudulent complaint like this posted.

4

Yup, sounds like it’s time to call the FBI (internet comms transcend state borders).

5

I’m confused. Generally, I thought, these frauds took place totally electronically. This guy is sending you an actual money order?

6

Also a postal offense, theft by description through the US Mails should
that conveyance be used to transport a bogus check.

7

Chuck, I understand how fishy the overpayment sounds, but I didn’t catch on to how you know the Certified Check is bogus. Help a slow learner. [:D]

REX

8

Why would he make an overpayment?

$4000 bucks overpayment is really odd.

Yep, try to scam you out of the $4000 bucks from a bad check.

You are not responsible for the bad check, the check writer is…
Any check that doesnt clear first, the sale should be refused.

9

I have heard of this scam before (not in MRR), and locomotive3 is NOT pulling anyone’s leg… It’s definately a scam.

Just remembered on place I saw it. It was on eBay, more precisely eBaymotors… I was looking at either cars or motorcycles… Anyway, some guy was selling something. This particular acution was a re-listing, because the first person that “won” the auction apparently was doing this same scam as loco3 is talking about. The guy put a statement in his auciton listing simlilar to “don’t bother trying to send me a cashiers check with an overpayment - I know it’s a scam” or something like that…

10

The guy claimed to be a resident of Scotland working on assignment in Russia
and stated he would send a “certified cashier check”. This statement was made on day one.
On day three he ups the pay-ee amount to $4,000.00 & looking for a refund.
Rex, I’m a slow learner too. It took a few days for it to click.

11

This scam is prevalent on Craigs list and other interenet classified sites. The check is bogus and when your bank figures it out, you will be on the hook if you have sent the scammer the “difference” in overpayment. I have heard of this scam lots in the past year or so. We listed have listed stuff for sale at Craig’s list several times and the e-mails come almost like clockwork…The tip off is that they want to pay by cashiers check and always refer to some one else arranging to pick up the items later. They don’t usually mention the overpayment until later…I now pretty much ignore anyone whose emalis have these statements in them. Craigs list has a warning that pops up telling people about the scam when you list items. Another way to check out the legitimacy of the emails is that they are always from overseas Check out the properties…Now why would some one in Thailand want my bedframe???They couldn’t find any for sale in their country???

I always hold checks (any kind) to make sure they clear.

12

In cases like this, the old adage should always be taken to heart: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Any e-mail request for unsolicited “deals” should always be viewed with a very scrutinizing and wary eye…

Tom

13

And that too, a third party.

14

Thanks guys. It is unreal the deception some go to steal your money. I don’t think anything is worst than hearing on the news of an elderly couple getting scammed out of their life saving and now it’s even in the hobbies. What a world. [:(!][:(][xx(]

REX

15

Ok. I think I understand this. Is this how it works?

  1. I list something for sale. Fraudguy offers to buy or wins the ebay auction for $100.00.

  2. Fraudguy offers to send me a cashier’s check for $1000.00. Fraudassistant picks up the item.

  3. I deposit the cashiers check from Fraudguy made out for $1000.00 to my bank. I have the bank wire the difference ($900.00) to Fraudguy.

  4. Fraudguy’s cashiers check turns out to be a fraud, but I’m out the $900.00 I wired to Fraudguy.

Is this pretty much what we are talking about here?

16

Dave,

Exactly!!! With one correction: Item is never picked up. Usually the buyer tells seller that he will arrange for pick up later through a shipping company. The check is a good enough forgery to make it through the first round at the bank and then is kicked back within a couple of days. By then the seller has wired funds to fraud guy and is on the hook for these funds. This scam has also been used on lots of small businesses…Wherein buyer/fraudguy offers to make a substantial purchase and runs the same scenario.

17

I refuse to play that game.

If I sell Thomas the Tank engine for 100.00 I want to see a legit check for 100.00 BEFORE the engine gets shipped.

If that buyer started talking “overpayments” and “Vendors” and “Western Union” etc…

Game over. Also I am disturbed by giving away the name and address (Ph #) to the buyer… I would just ship the item after recieving information on where to send it. The buyer can use the return address or email to contact me.

Yeeeshh.

I recall some of the more greasy comchek from trucking scams that people tried to pull.

I hope no money or property was lost in this particular sale.

18

At that particular point in time that was the only way that I could expect to receive a legitimate payment through the US mail.

No money loss. On the plus side lets look at what we all learned about how a modeler
can get the shaft. We’re all ahead of the learning curve on this one.

19

This is another version of the nigeran scam that goes on pretty regularly. Notify the U.S. Postal Inspection service about it also. USPS.com