Bogus cahier's checks being passed

CoinRaritiesOnline · December 14, 2006 10:26PM

Edited to remove HTML

CoinRaritiesOnline · December 14, 2006 10:28PM

This is from a Professional Numismatists Guild email alert:

"Bogus cashiers checks are being passed to purchase coins by the following person:

Marcus Smith
c/o Williams, Smith and Associates
3763 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste 102
Pasadena, Ca. 91107
310-590-7208
jgilmore2006@yahoo.com "

I personally know of one "attempted" purchase and one "successful" purchase (for $1700) from from coin/currency dealers this person, or ring of criminals. They are using counterfeit cashier's checks, apparently.

SmallSizedGuy · December 14, 2006 10:30PM

Apparently he has been passing these checks for a while. See similiar thread in the Currency Forum. I wonder why he has not been shut down yet?

numisma · December 14, 2006 10:42PM

Dave, thanks for the heads-up. Unfortunately, they probably use more than one name. Hope they nail the scumbag.

PerryHall · December 14, 2006 11:57PM

Bogus cashiers checks and bogus money orders are nothing new. Thanks to computers and scanners, they can make some convincing fakes. You almost have to treat them like personal checks.

Michigan · December 15, 2006 12:10AM

<< This is from a Professional Numismatists Guild email alert:

"Bogus cashiers checks are being passed to purchase coins by the following person:

Marcus Smith
c/o Williams, Smith and Associates
3763 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste 102
Pasadena, Ca. 91107
310-590-7208
jgilmore2006@yahoo.com "

I personally know of one "attempted" purchase and one "successful" purchase (for $1700) from from coin/currency dealers this person, or ring of criminals. They are using counterfeit cashier's checks, apparently.
 >>

From what I have heard he has ripped off 3 or more dealers with the fake cashiers checks. The police were trying to get a warrant
for his arrest but some red tape tied things up and he apparently laid low for awhile but is now trying to pass more fake cashiers checks.

RBinTex · December 15, 2006 12:19AM

Someone needs to contact the secret service. They DO have jurisdiction for this if the aggregate amount is large enough.

Dog97 · December 15, 2006 12:22AM

I know a guy that just got scammed on a Harley sale with a bogus $9,000 cashier's check. Cashier's checks are no better than a personal check. Whatever payment you get, don't deliver the goods until you have clear money!!

bushmaster8 · December 15, 2006 12:26AM

As an aside, I was told by my bank that Cashiers checks are not a good vehicle for sending $$ thru the mail.

According to this teller, if a cashiers check is lost in the mail, etc. the buyer has no recourse to recoup the funds. She says Money Orders are the safest way to go.

Any bankers out there that can verify what she told me??

Dog97 · December 15, 2006 12:33AM

<<<She says Money Orders are the safest way to go.>>>

Fake MO's are common too. Cash them and get clear money before you ship!

bushmaster8 · December 15, 2006 12:59AM

<< Fake MO's are common too. Cash them and get clear money before you ship! >>

Very true.

But I am not talking about fakes... I am talking about what happens if a genuine Cashiers Check is lost or stolen.

RBinTex · December 15, 2006 1:02AM

"...if a cashiers check is lost in the mail, etc. the buyer has no recourse to recoup the funds. She says Money Orders are the safest way to go."

You CAN put a stop payment on a cashier's check if it is lost or stolen.

nencoin · December 15, 2006 3:58AM

I can't believe this guy is still on the loose. He paid for a $1500 gold coin from us back in July with a bogus cashiers check (we didn't send the coin). Contacted the USPS and the police, but guess that did no good. Someone mentioned red tape earlier - the police in Pasadena must be tripping all over it.

Russ · December 15, 2006 4:17AM

<< 3763 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste 102
Pasadena, Ca. 91107 >>

That address is for a company called Box and Send Etc, which provides mail drop services.

Russ, NCNE

mrearlygold · December 15, 2006 4:18AM

<< Dave, thanks for the heads-up. Unfortunately, they probably use more than one name. Hope they nail the scumbag. >>

IrishMike · December 15, 2006 4:22AM

<< As an aside, I was told by my bank that Cashiers checks are not a good vehicle for sending $$ thru the mail.

According to this teller, if a cashiers check is lost in the mail, etc. the buyer has no recourse to recoup the funds. She says Money Orders are the safest way to go.

Any bankers out there that can verify what she told me?? >>

Utter stupidity, you can place a stop payment on them just like any other check. Yes I am/was a banker for 35 years.

BlindedByEgo · December 15, 2006 4:24AM

<< 

<< 3763 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste 102
Pasadena, Ca. 91107 >>

That address is for a company called Box and Send Etc, which provides mail drop services.

Russ, NCNE >>

With the new postal regulations covering mail drop services, it should be a lot easier to identify the bad guy. Just a few miles away from Pasadena, in my hometown, I had to fill out several pieces of paper (mandated by the Gubmint) establishing my identity and right to maintain my box account.

The PD in my town also goes after the scammers agressively. I hope that Pas gets their chit together. This guy needs to be stopped.

Jake · December 22, 2006 2:02AM

Add one more attempted to pass a bad check

Marcus Smith
c/o Williams, Smith and Associates
3763 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste 102
Pasadena, Ca. 91107
310-590-7208
jgilmore2006@yahoo.com "

Address on outer envelope
GE& Associates
8306 Wilshire Blvd. 671
Bevelty Hills, CA 90211

Had a real good hunch on this one, good luck all

Michael Jacobs
Jake's Marketplace, Inc.
Jakesmp.com

numisma · December 22, 2006 2:12AM

Hi Jake. Did the crook order online, or was it a phone order? Did you contact the police?

John91C · December 22, 2006 2:16AM

I once heard (don't know if it's true) that it can take up to 60 days to truly verify if the cashier's check/MO are legit. Something about having to do everything by hand rather than electronically.

John

EricSan · December 22, 2006 4:25AM

When I took a cashier's check to my local bank (sold some coins on the bay), they immediately confiscated it, charged me $15 to send it for collection, and told me it might take up to 60 days to clear

They then showed me a huge binder of phony cashier's checks and described to me the many ways that they are forged. So I asked "why bother?" I mean, if no one trusts them (especially the banks), then why do they continue to issue them? Seems easier just to use a money order or personal check and wait for it to clear, which, given our current state of electronic communications should really only take a few mintues anyhow...

wayneherndon · December 22, 2006 5:07AM

I recieved one from the them that was using a different address in the greater LA area but using a different name and with Gibson, _____ & Associates as the company name. I can't remember the second name in the list but it appears they try to make it look like the buyer works at some type of professional firm.

WH

777 · December 22, 2006 6:19AM

This gentlemen tried to outfox me on $6500 in pcgs $20.s When the Attorney Generals Office is done with him, he will wish he never seen a gold coin before...

Bogus cahier's checks being passed

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