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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I have just spent the last two weeks dealing with one of the most bizzare situations I've ever seen. Beware of ANY new ebay buyers hailing from France - I had a new ebayer using the name Moore_pepper_2000 use the BIN on my 1869, then send me a cashier's check for the guitar and shipping, which he wanted sent via his own courier. As he's out of the country, I figured that shouldn't be a problem - maybe he has someone who does this for him all the time.
When I got the cashier's check, it was for the price of the guitar...plus $2700! Now, I've checked on shipping to France before, and it was in the $150 range, so what was with this? I emailed the guy, and he explained that he was having several items shipped to him from the US and needed a large chunk wire transferred to his shipper, and figured this would be the easiest way.
Anyone here trusting enough to send $3700 cash to someone you don't know assuming they won't screw you?
After conversing several times, I finally, against my better judgement, sent the transfer (which cost him over $150 in WU fees) and emailed him the info on it. The next day, he sent me an email claiming that the value of the US dollar had fallen, and his shipper needed more money, so please wire another $1000 and he would send me a check overnight to reimburse me...
Needless to say, I refused, and let him know I was not willing to be his money transfer (or laundering?) station, and unless he could deal with this himself, I was not interested in continuing with the transaction. He responded "no problem, just deduct your ebay fees and send me a refund. You can wire it to my shipper..."
So now, I sit here with $1000 from a possible money-laundering scam and the guitar, which he NOW says he doesn't want, and have no idea which agency I should contact about this guy. I would just as soon send him his money back and be done with him, but he claims that his "financial institution" will not accept a check or money order, which is why he needs a wire transfer.
Anyone here deal with this type of thing before, or have any thoughts? |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 269
Location: Nîmes, south of France | Edensharvest,
Yes this is scam ! I urge you to NOT ship the guitar and have NO deal with this person.
Scamers scan ad's on the internet or forums, they always offer MORE than you request, arguing for fees, financial agent, or so on. They usually proceed payment by check via Western Union, because no identitity is needed. When you cash the check, your bank says ok, with trust you ship your item, then your bank says it is a false one and debt your account 3 weeks to 2months later: you loose your money and your guitar...plus the money in excess you eventually sent back to him !
Months ago i was contacted by scamers on the internet, that was following an ad i put in a US website; they offer me 20k € for aircraft parts, that was twice the price i was asking for. Fortunately i was informed by my bank they were scamers, who operate from countries of far East Europe, the check was from a bank of Ireland, sent from Italy !!! I kept the check at home as a "souvenir" and am laughing every time i see it !
The only way to secure international payments is a bank transfer or eventually paypal, and the price is the price! If you receive a lot much more, that's not normal and scam is not far from you. Most important you must NOT send him any money back, this will be "lost money" for you...and good money for him!!
The France channel is bad for us honest french people, but fortunately there are ways to not be trapped by scamers. :) |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Arnaud,
Thanks for the info. Fortunately, I won't be out any money, as the check he sent was a cashier's check, like a money order, which I was already able to cash directly. The biggest thing now is I have my guitar and the money for it, and don't know what to do now. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by edensharvest:
I have my guitar and the money for it, and don't know what to do now. Enjoy the $1000. and sell the guitar to someone else. Easy decision. Dave
PS - If you feel "guilty" about the $1000. either give it to me or donate it to the OFC for improvements to the site. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The depth of Tuppy's altruistic nature brings tears to my eyes. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I should have figured that's what you'd say...
Not so much about feeling guilty or not, as much as two other thoughts:
1. If this is "bad" money, I don't want to be caught with it (i.e. trouble with authorities)
2. If this is a "bad" guy, I don't want HIM coming after me (i.e. trouble with goons)
The guitar is already for sale again - hopefully third time will be the charm on this one. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 269
Location: Nîmes, south of France | Originally posted by edensharvest:
Arnaud,
Thanks for the info. Fortunately, I won't be out any money, as the check he sent was a cashier's check, like a money order, which I was already able to cash directly. The biggest thing now is I have my guitar and the money for it, and don't know what to do now. Sorry for the misunderstanding, if you really cash the money, so that's ok! I figured the money was put on your account then the bank will take it back 2 months later ! Amazing story ... first time i hear something like that! |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I wouldn't be so sure that you haven't lost $1000. I have been told by both of the banks that I use for my business that counterfeit cashier's checks are becoming a reality, especially when sent from overseas. They told me to always request a certified bank cashiers check as the best form of protection.
I hope this isn't the case but requesting that first $1000 back is a bad sign. Please let us know the outcome (an hopefully happy ending) in about 90 days. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | It's going to be worse I fear. This is a relatively new but increasingly well known scam on ebay. If you sent real money out, you may be in for a nasty surprise as often what happens is that the cashiers check is a counterfeit and will be charged back to your account when refused by the drawee bank. Sometimes this will take a couple of weeks during which time you will feel pretty secure.
You better get with your bank right away and have them verify the validity of the cashiers check or you may be out a chunk of change. Definately DO NOT ship the guitar or you will be out that too.
I hope this is not the case, but I would be proactive about following up on it now. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Yeah...If the money order you recieved is bogus, is there any way for someone to come back to you?
Something is still fishy. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | That check is bugus, and somone will come looking for you for the money. Either via your bank, or the address on your ID.
Sorry to be the barer of bad news. You could tell him you don't have the cash, but if he'd overnight you another check you could cash it for him and turn the whole mess over to the FBI.
this is a great anti-scam site with lots of good stories |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | The cashier's check came from a Wells Fargo bank. I photocopied the check before I deposited it, so I'll call the bank on Monday and verify that it's good. If not, I think that I can reclaim the amount I sent out through Western Union, as I have that info too. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Oh, and the guitar is not going anywhere. He flat out said that he doesn't want it now, unless I'm willing to make yet another wire transfer for him (which, by the way, would be the rest of the total amount that he sent me) which I'm not doing. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Call Western union RIGHT NOW!!! See if you can cancel the transfer!!! |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The cashier's check came from a Wells Fargo bank. Huh? Wells Fargo doesn't have branches in France. Sounds like a bogus check to me. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | FBI report has been filed. We'll se what happens...
Lots of things don't add up. The cashier's check was mailed from France, no return address, but was issued from a Wells Fargo bank. The guy's ebay address is in Indiana, with a 206 area code phone number, which is Seattle. He called the other day several times, and the number that came up is a 601 number from Jackson, Mississipi! The western union transfer has been picked up, in Paris on Friday. I'll have to call my bank tomorrow and find out about the cashier's check, and see if it's good or not. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I'd call the local police at the 601 area code and give them all the information. This reeks of a federal offense and they will probably jump on it fairly quickly...specially with a phone number. |
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SELLER BEWARE - ALERT!!!
