Comments on: Is this a scam?? I just don’t feel right about this…?

By: Alan M

Alan M — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:29:45 +0000

This is a fake cheque scam – a typical short con that is unfortunately very common on Craigslist

The idea behind it that you are ‘prepped’ by the scammer (who is more than likely a man btw which is probably why you haven’t been called) into expecting a cheque for a greater value than your rental agreement.
You will than be asked to bank the cheque and send the overpayment to ‘her’ travel agent via Western Union in order to arrange the flight.

Western Union is used by scammers as being electronic it is fast and paperless and once the transfer is collected, the scammer can disappear.
Western Union transfers can be collected anywhere in the world once the money control transfer number (MCTN) and recipient are known.
Scammers can also have ‘Westy names’ i.e.specific ID’s for collecting transfers. (The name of the ‘travel agent’ will be this particular scammers ‘westy ID’).

In the meantime the cheque bounces and you may well end up with a bad credit rating and having to placate an annoyed bank manager.You may even get a visit from those friendly chaps in the FBI.

All that info was sent as most of a scammers response is through pre-scripted emails – they simply copy and send. Someone somewhere thought that all that information was relevant so composed an email full of it. Believe me, I’ve seen worse :)

You have given the scammer your home address, so you *may* get a fake cheque turn up.
If you do and are nervous about it, take it and all the relevant emails to the FBI and have them deal with it. They’ve seen this sort of thing before, but there’s little they can do as most scams are carried out beyond the FBI jurisdiction.
If you are not nervous, do what I have done with all mine and stick in it a picture frame – it’ll make for a conversation piece :)

If your scammer does start to pester you by phone, place it by a radio and walk away, he’ll soon stop.

Occasionally, with these cheque scams, scammers will send the odd threatening email
e.g.
You’ve got my money, send me the air fare or I’ll get the FBI on you.
You can ignore any such email threats – they are the criminal here not you.
Besides, he is probably working out of an Internet cafe in Nigeria so is hardly in a position to call in the FBI.

Hope this helps
Luck with renting your room

By: Janiepoo

Janiepoo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:22:03 +0000

IT’S A SCAM!!!!!! Any time someone wants you to cash a check and wire money, it’s a scam! What happens is you deposit the check into your bank and then wire part of the money to the other party. Then the bank refuses the check and the money is already wired, so you’re out the cash. Why would you have to wire money to a travel agent for someone who is subletting an apartment from you? It doesn’t make sense.

By: Chaoscleaner

Chaoscleaner — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:46:22 +0000

Always go with your gut. But …yes, ask her for copy of her ID (not that that would prove anything really.) But if you Cash that check, make SURE it clears before you take further steps. It does seem ODD that she wants you to take “your money” out and then send rest to “agent” (and that is fairly easy to check on) I’d tell her to send you what she owes you for deposit, 1st, and to take care of her “agent” herself and the reason could easily be that you don’t want to be responsible for any possible lost monies.
Good luck, but remember to listen to that “little voice”

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:08:57 +0000

Shes sending you money for the rental and extra money for you to deposit in her account at western union? if so I would say the check is no good and your going to get stuck with a bad check and the fees to go with it.

By: Erin

Erin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:00:25 +0000

just by how she types, i wouldnt believe she was British… it doesn’t seem right. i would be very wary, and try to contact her by phone, and speak to her in person

By: Hugo

Hugo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:25:58 +0000

It’s a scam. Anytime that someone asks you to send money back after you cash their check, it’s a scam. When I rented out a room to a foreign student, I just had her send the required amount, no more, no less, via a straight bank transfer. I posted an ad in Craigslist too but I protected myself. I opened a new bank account just for the transfer.

By: LARA

LARA — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:29:53 +0000

Yes. this is a scam. One good clue is that she will send the check via fedex or ups. thus avoiding prosecution for mail fraud as she would be if she mailed it. Never ever return part of the check to someone as the check will turn out to be fraudulent. I have read of scams like this several times.

By: raichasays

raichasays — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:41:28 +0000

Yes, it is a scam. By the time you find out her check is bogus, your money will already be in her hands via her “travel agent”. There is no need for you to be involved in her travel plans.

Find another tenant.

By: M&T

M&T — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:51:48 +0000

I would pass on this one!

By: Lady_Breeze323

Lady_Breeze323 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:17:31 +0000

Wow, you people are gonna geta nuff of these damn CRAIGS LIST scams.

Please google the rip off report, and decise for yourself….

FIERCE_09