Nigerian scam/over-payment check scam.
keets
Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
I thought I'd detail a recent experience I had to give everyone a heads-up on a scam which, until it took place, I was unaware of. For anyone so inclined, you can do a Google search on "Nigerian scam" or "overpayment scam" for more detailed information, but here's what happened........................
I had listed a few items on eBay and included my e-mail address in the item description, which is most probably how the individual contacted me. During the course of an auction I received a message which I wrongly assumed was from an eBay member which would result in an "off eBay" sale of the item. The buyer initially asked if the item was still available and requested a price and additional pictures. I replied and in his follow-up message is where the scam began to take shape. He stated that he was acting for a client and that the payment I would receive would be larger than the sale price and I would be asked to remit the overage in a seperate check(the overage was his commission). Though it sounded suspicious to me it wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary. The buyer sent another message to discuss the sale and asking for assurances that I would in fact remit the overage, so I suggested that he pay via PayPal if he was uncertain about anything.
Last weekend, after a few days had passed with no further contact, I received a message which stated that payment was sent and should arrive in a few days via UPS overnight(a tracking number was included). It was delayed due to the holiday and in the interim I received an anonymous message with a reference to my "online sale" in the header. It was from an individual alerting me to the fact that I was being targeted with a fraudulent/counterfiet check and outlining what was taking place and how the scam would proceed. All his details were correct as to what had already happened/the name of the individual contacting me, and in subsequent e-mails he suggested I search online to find information about the scam and ways to report it if I was skeptical. I was also asked to not do anything to alert the buyer. The "informant" said that UPS had been notified and that the package would possibly not be delivered.
Yesterday UPS pulled into the driveway and delivered the overnight letter which contained only a Cashiers Check which for all practical purposes looked genuine. I contacted the "informant" and he suggested i destroy/deface the check(but under NO circumstance should I cash it) and have no further contact with the buyer. He also said I might contact the bank which held the account that the check was issued by to alert them that they had been compromised.
This morning the buyer e-mailed my instructions for his remittance just as the "informant" had said the buyer would do. I attempted to contact the bank branch in New York state where the account was held but could only get an 800 number to call, so I went to a local branch of the same bank a few miles from home. Along with the check and the envelope it was delivered in I presented the bank manager with copies of the e-mail correspondence along with the headers which should enable tracking. She said that the check was almost certainly stolen/counterfiet and she said everything would be forwarded to their fraud depertment for investigation.
As laid out, the hope is that the victim-----me-----will cash the check which will then go through the system and after several weeks be determined as fraudulent, leaving me responsible for the entire amount. I doubt that I would have followed through with things simply because there were too many names/locations/institutions involved, but without the heads-up from the anonymous "informant" I may well have been taken to the cleaners. The check was drawn from a bank in the state of New York on an account held by a University, the package came from a location in Florida and payment was to be wired to London via Western Union. One individual made the initial contact, a second "signed" the check and a third was the recipient of the payment.
A feel a bit foolish thinking how close I came to falling victim to the scheme, but I'm wiser in the end I hopefully other members who weren't aware of it can learn from my experience. In the end I find that my opinion of PayPal has changed and I'll be quite a bit more cautious in online transactions. I suggest others heed that warning and please do some searching at Google with "overpayment scam" as your search words. If you were unaware of this(as I was until recently) I think it'll really open your eyes up!!
Al H.
I had listed a few items on eBay and included my e-mail address in the item description, which is most probably how the individual contacted me. During the course of an auction I received a message which I wrongly assumed was from an eBay member which would result in an "off eBay" sale of the item. The buyer initially asked if the item was still available and requested a price and additional pictures. I replied and in his follow-up message is where the scam began to take shape. He stated that he was acting for a client and that the payment I would receive would be larger than the sale price and I would be asked to remit the overage in a seperate check(the overage was his commission). Though it sounded suspicious to me it wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary. The buyer sent another message to discuss the sale and asking for assurances that I would in fact remit the overage, so I suggested that he pay via PayPal if he was uncertain about anything.
Last weekend, after a few days had passed with no further contact, I received a message which stated that payment was sent and should arrive in a few days via UPS overnight(a tracking number was included). It was delayed due to the holiday and in the interim I received an anonymous message with a reference to my "online sale" in the header. It was from an individual alerting me to the fact that I was being targeted with a fraudulent/counterfiet check and outlining what was taking place and how the scam would proceed. All his details were correct as to what had already happened/the name of the individual contacting me, and in subsequent e-mails he suggested I search online to find information about the scam and ways to report it if I was skeptical. I was also asked to not do anything to alert the buyer. The "informant" said that UPS had been notified and that the package would possibly not be delivered.
Yesterday UPS pulled into the driveway and delivered the overnight letter which contained only a Cashiers Check which for all practical purposes looked genuine. I contacted the "informant" and he suggested i destroy/deface the check(but under NO circumstance should I cash it) and have no further contact with the buyer. He also said I might contact the bank which held the account that the check was issued by to alert them that they had been compromised.
This morning the buyer e-mailed my instructions for his remittance just as the "informant" had said the buyer would do. I attempted to contact the bank branch in New York state where the account was held but could only get an 800 number to call, so I went to a local branch of the same bank a few miles from home. Along with the check and the envelope it was delivered in I presented the bank manager with copies of the e-mail correspondence along with the headers which should enable tracking. She said that the check was almost certainly stolen/counterfiet and she said everything would be forwarded to their fraud depertment for investigation.
As laid out, the hope is that the victim-----me-----will cash the check which will then go through the system and after several weeks be determined as fraudulent, leaving me responsible for the entire amount. I doubt that I would have followed through with things simply because there were too many names/locations/institutions involved, but without the heads-up from the anonymous "informant" I may well have been taken to the cleaners. The check was drawn from a bank in the state of New York on an account held by a University, the package came from a location in Florida and payment was to be wired to London via Western Union. One individual made the initial contact, a second "signed" the check and a third was the recipient of the payment.
A feel a bit foolish thinking how close I came to falling victim to the scheme, but I'm wiser in the end I hopefully other members who weren't aware of it can learn from my experience. In the end I find that my opinion of PayPal has changed and I'll be quite a bit more cautious in online transactions. I suggest others heed that warning and please do some searching at Google with "overpayment scam" as your search words. If you were unaware of this(as I was until recently) I think it'll really open your eyes up!!
Al H.
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Comments
Edited to add:
Fortunately, I cancelled the deal before this happened. It started out as a cash offer, which I accepted. Then they asked if a check was ok. Then they said someone would be sent to pick the item up. Next, the check that was being FedExed was his entire paycheck... by that time, I was irritated, and smelling a scam so I called the deal off. I researched what had happened, and sure enough, I found the exact scam. I emailed the guy back and called him every bad name I could think of... it felt GOOD!
Bastages!
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Just who is "the informant?" Perhaps "the informant" is a mole who has penetrated the scammer's operation. Hmmmmm ...
<< <i>I have heard of the same type of scam for a long time, though not through Ebay, before. So how do you think the anonymous informant knew to contact you? >>
An old scheme in a new wrapper, deceptive.
And yes, what about the mysterious anonymous informant?
<< <i>I thought I'd detail a recent experience I had to give everyone a heads-up on a scam which, until it took place, I was unaware of. For anyone so inclined, you can do a Google search on "Nigerian scam" or "overpayment scam" for more detailed information, but here's what happened........................
I had listed a few items on eBay and included my e-mail address in the item description, which is most probably how the individual contacted me. During the course of an auction I received a message which I wrongly assumed was from an eBay member which would result in an "off eBay" sale of the item. The buyer initially asked if the item was still available and requested a price and additional pictures. I replied and in his follow-up message is where the scam began to take shape. He stated that he was acting for a client and that the payment I would receive would be larger than the sale price and I would be asked to remit the overage in a seperate check(the overage was his commission). Though it sounded suspicious to me it wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary. The buyer sent another message to discuss the sale and asking for assurances that I would in fact remit the overage, so I suggested that he pay via PayPal if he was uncertain about anything.
Last weekend, after a few days had passed with no further contact, I received a message which stated that payment was sent and should arrive in a few days via UPS overnight(a tracking number was included). It was delayed due to the holiday and in the interim I received an anonymous message with a reference to my "online sale" in the header. It was from an individual alerting me to the fact that I was being targeted with a fraudulent/counterfiet check and outlining what was taking place and how the scam would proceed. All his details were correct as to what had already happened/the name of the individual contacting me, and in subsequent e-mails he suggested I search online to find information about the scam and ways to report it if I was skeptical. I was also asked to not do anything to alert the buyer. The "informant" said that UPS had been notified and that the package would possibly not be delivered.
Yesterday UPS pulled into the driveway and delivered the overnight letter which contained only a Cashiers Check which for all practical purposes looked genuine. I contacted the "informant" and he suggested i destroy/deface the check(but under NO circumstance should I cash it) and have no further contact with the buyer. He also said I might contact the bank which held the account that the check was issued by to alert them that they had been compromised.
This morning the buyer e-mailed my instructions for his remittance just as the "informant" had said the buyer would do. I attempted to contact the bank branch in New York state where the account was held but could only get an 800 number to call, so I went to a local branch of the same bank a few miles from home. Along with the check and the envelope it was delivered in I presented the bank manager with copies of the e-mail correspondence along with the headers which should enable tracking. She said that the check was almost certainly stolen/counterfiet and she said everything would be forwarded to their fraud depertment for investigation.
As laid out, the hope is that the victim-----me-----will cash the check which will then go through the system and after several weeks be determined as fraudulent, leaving me responsible for the entire amount. I doubt that I would have followed through with things simply because there were too many names/locations/institutions involved, but without the heads-up from the anonymous "informant" I may well have been taken to the cleaners. The check was drawn from a bank in the state of New York on an account held by a University, the package came from a location in Florida and payment was to be wired to London via Western Union. One individual made the initial contact, a second "signed" the check and a third was the recipient of the payment.
A feel a bit foolish thinking how close I came to falling victim to the scheme, but I'm wiser in the end I hopefully other members who weren't aware of it can learn from my experience. In the end I find that my opinion of PayPal has changed and I'll be quite a bit more cautious in online transactions. I suggest others heed that warning and please do some searching at Google with "overpayment scam" as your search words. If you were unaware of this(as I was until recently) I think it'll really open your eyes up!!
Al H. >>
I was already familiar with the scam behind your stories but wanted to comment on the portion where you said your "opinion of paypal had changed".
I was selling an item for a friend a few years ago. He supplied me with the item and I listed it on ebay. It sold and I received a paypal payment. The funds were in my account and showed as "Cleared" so I went ahead and sent the item.
2 days later paypal subtracts the amount(800$) from my account without an explanation. After 2 days of calling and no one telling what happened, I get a standard email about how the money used to pay for my item was stolen from a hacked account. I spent 2 weeks going back and forth via email and phone only to not get the money nor the item back. Turns out the money I received didnt even belong to the account who sent me the money. The thief made a series of transacations to take it from one hacked account to another and eventually to me. Apparently this "complex laundering"(meant to be read very sarcastically) was enough to throw paypal off the case and resulted in me and my friend being the ones that got screwed.
I think you are doing the member here a solid service by highlighting how shady things have gotten these days....nice job!!!
--Jerry
On there use their message system at least.
I win the European lottery pretty much every day, but never heard of this particular creature.
I've been targeted at least once that I can recall.
The old bait and switch whereby I send you a check for $2,000 for a $1,000 item claiming I'd already purchased the check or I'm limited to a minimum $2,000 withdrawel by my prestigious firm or some other reasonably sounding excuse.
I then ask you to take an additional $100 for your trouble in sending me the $900 that's left over.
You deposit the check, write the buyer your own check for $900 and include it with your shipment.
The buyer then cashes your good check while his check bounces all over the place leaving you with a $900 debt.
For Nigeria though, you just need to add zero's to the amounts above in three character increments!
BTW, I've received such offers as far back as 1994 and I'm glad you didn't get taken.
I'm a little curious about your mysterious "informant" who seemed to know exactly WHAT your scammer was going to do in time to "warn you". I'd be very careful that your not being "setup" by this informant (who will actually turn out to be the original scammer) in some future transaction.
Block BOTH of their emails if possible.
The name is LEE!
Velocity, Not Valuation Defines A Bubble.
<< <i>Three times I've told these guys "no problem, send the check, I'll be glad to send you the overage back" in accordance with their request and never has it shown up. I think they can tell I'm too cooperative and realize I'm on to them.
--Jerry >>
A word of warning, my wife and I had a car for sale on craigslist and the buyer did overnight a cashier's check to us for more than the sale amount. The check included a watermark, color ink signature AND micro-printing as I examined it under my microscope. (Ref Thread)
It was as phoney as a Chinese Morgan Dollar!
DO NOT be comforted by the fact that you have a Cashier's check until you have CASH in your hand. And never, ever, ever, close a deal for more than the purchase price or your just setting yourself up big time.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>
<< <i>Three times I've told these guys "no problem, send the check, I'll be glad to send you the overage back" in accordance with their request and never has it shown up. I think they can tell I'm too cooperative and realize I'm on to them.
--Jerry >>
A word of warning, my wife and I had a car for sale on craigslist and the buyer did overnight a cashier's check to us for more than the sale amount. The check included a watermark, color ink signature AND micro-printing as I examined it under my microscope. (Ref Thread)
It was as phoney as a Chinese Morgan Dollar!
DO NOT be comforted by the fact that you have a Cashier's check until you have CASH in your hand. And never, ever, ever, close a deal for more than the purchase price or your just setting yourself up big time. >>
I'm just trying to get a check to hand over to the authorities....
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Three times I've told these guys "no problem, send the check, I'll be glad to send you the overage back" in accordance with their request and never has it shown up. I think they can tell I'm too cooperative and realize I'm on to them.
--Jerry >>
A word of warning, my wife and I had a car for sale on craigslist and the buyer did overnight a cashier's check to us for more than the sale amount. The check included a watermark, color ink signature AND micro-printing as I examined it under my microscope. (Ref Thread)
It was as phoney as a Chinese Morgan Dollar!
DO NOT be comforted by the fact that you have a Cashier's check until you have CASH in your hand. And never, ever, ever, close a deal for more than the purchase price or your just setting yourself up big time. >>
I'm just trying to get a check to hand over to the authorities.... >>
I doubt they can do anything sonce you can surely bet that any trails will be covered.
The name is LEE!
Lance.
than the informant probably had the same thing happen to them
and did a search of bidding activity of winning bidder
what is their eBay handle? what kind of feedback do they have?
say, I have a dropship opportunity for you. I have so many items to sell I was hoping you would be interested in helping me. I will send you a picture of the item, you list it and sell it and collect the money - and send me 75% (you keep the rest for your efforts and fees), and then I send the item to our buyer
Good post!
These Nigerian con-artists will try to scam you for anything they can. They play you for your honesty (or greed), and leave you holding an empty bag!
Best advice... "If it sounds too good to be true, don't be a sucker!"
<< <i>He stated that he was acting for a client and that the payment I would receive would be larger than the sale price and I would be asked to remit the overage in a seperate check(the overage was his commission). Though it sounded suspicious to me it wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary. >>
The above part I don't understand. Paying more than the sale price sounds immediately to me like a kickback. I think this is how they attempt to gain your confidence. They see if you will agree to their own corruption, which you in turn benefit from. This way you keep quiet about it, which you accede to since it profits you directly. Kinda of a *wink*-*wink* situation.
These things, IMO, seem to work in an environment where money is tight and people are willing to loosen up their morals (and awareness) for the sake of some seemingly easy dough.
Nice to have it all laid out for understanding, an educational lesson.
One of my employees college age daughters fell for this, and ended up out $2800.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
<< <i>That scam has been around since the early 90's. As mentioned before, mostly used in car scams. It would not work in an eBay auction, since PayPal will not accept payments in the amount greater than the winning bid + postage. >>
As others have stated this scam has been around a long time.Im surprised at you keets.Anyway it always follows a script..I want to buy your item but I will send you a cashiers check for the price plus xxx and you will return the overage to me.Apparently it takes about 2 weeks for these phony checks to go thru the system and then the duped person finds out that he lost the merchandise,the overage that he remitted and is responsible to the bank for the amount of the cashiers check.A cashiers check is used because everyone knows they are safe.
If anyone wants to buy your st gaudens for 1500.00 but wants to send a check to you for 3000.00 and tells you to send them a check for the difference you should be asking yourself why??THAT DONT MAKE SENSE. AND by the way when this was in the news here in N.Y. in most cases the persons bank said the check was good and cashed it BUT when it went thru the banking system clearing house they discovered the checks were phony.In many cases a month or so AFTER the check was cashed so now the bank comes after the fleeced person because they gave HIM the money.