I think i have been Scammed

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Hi All,

I think I am a victim of a scam. Was asked to cash a check and have the $ wired over.

I have yet to hear from the bank but would like to know if indeed it is indeed a scam, should I make a police report? What should I do? I have absolutely no intention of cheating the banks.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:14 am

It most probably is a scam. I'd say that it is to 99.9%.
Maybe there are very rare occasions where something like this really happens and even is real, but I doubt it.

Did you get to keep a percentage? What was the amount?

As what you should do now. I don't know, but I think telling the bank about it would be good. Better you tell them than they find out themselves and come to you.
That at least might show them you're an honest person and didn't mean any harm.
This will probably not help very much, but at least it might be considered that you didn't do this with bad intentions.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:16 am

Since you don't tell us anything about what happened, it is difficult to tell you if it is a scam. But if you were given a check by someone you don't know and asked to send the money by western union or another non traceable service, then I would guess yes.

You need to tell the bank immediately. Explain what happened and the situation. Cashing fake checks is illegal and if you let the bank find out on their own and have to contact you, it looks worse. Then contact WU or the service you used and see if they can stop the transfer. Probably not but it may be worth a try. The police can't do much for you, when you talk to the bank see what they suggest. You can also report it to the Secret Service web site for internet fraud.
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/reporting.htm
But they can't much for you either.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:11 am

Hi yogil80

I am sorry to hear you've been a victim of a scam. You may also want to head over to www.scamwarners.com for more advise. Please do as Mr. Who suggested. Do not wait for the bank to discover the fraud.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

I should have done my research prior to accepting that offer. It was the usual case of receiving a check, cashing it and wiring it to another country.

It was this site that actually prompted me to call western union and I managed to stop the transfer in time. I also contacted the bank to indicate that I have absolutely no intention of cheating them.

I am not familiar with the criminal/legal system here. Should I be filing a report of any sort? I was given www.ic3.gov by western union.

Thank you so much guys, I owe u all christmas presents.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:52 pm

yogil80 wrote:

I owe u all christmas presents.

You better don't offer this to us...

I'm happy to hear you could stop the transfer, so at least the lad didn't get his money. And if you can return the money to the bank and say you're sorry for a couple of hundred times they might actually even decide to forget about this because you were honest and came to them, instead of waiting for them to ring at your doorbell.
Not sure about this though, but if you clarify the whole situation quickly chances for this to happen are higher than if you have a nap first.

And knowing that the lad will run to WU for nothing is already a nice little xmas gift for us. And if you can now avert all danger from authorities to come your way, then you've also made yourself a pretty nice present.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Guess what?!! Just as I was typing the earlier post, that scammer called me and wondered why the $ has not gone through. He insisted that the check can't be fake and all that crap.

I was starting to think of all the scenarios that could happen..he coming to my place to stalk me etc etc etc. The package I received originated from seattle in any case.

Geez, what did i get myself into? If there is anything I can do help to promote this site, let me know.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:41 pm

At this point drop it. Ignore the person and rebait (if interested) from another email address.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:50 pm

Just drop the whole thing entirely, since he has your phone # and address. Trying to tell them the check is fake and that you're aware of the scam doesn't work, at least from the baits I work on.

If you post the mail headers here we might be able to tell you the country of origin this scammer operates from. Also, if you want to PM me the address from Seattle I might be able to help you figure out if he has a second victim on the line.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:46 pm

yogil80 wrote:

It was this site that actually prompted me to call western union and I managed to stop the transfer in time.

That is wonderful news!!! As the others have said, drop communication. It's fine to tell the scammer, that the check has been deemed fake by the bank. Then ignore them and they will move on. If neccesary, block their email addresses.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Thank you all for helping me in here. I learned my lesson well and recovered all my $. Save for the fact that I am still paranoid about tat scammer coming to my house, I am otherwise feeling much better.

I do not have the originating address from seattle. In any case, I am still curious to know where that person is.

Here's the email headers:

X-Originating-IP: [69.147.75.31]
Return-Path: <[email protected]>
Authentication-Results: mta180.mail.re4.yahoo.com from=yahoo.com.au; domainkeys=pass (ok)
Received: from 69.147.75.31 (HELO web62402.mail.re1.yahoo.com) (69.147.75.31) by mta180.mail.re4.yahoo.com with SMTP; Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:24:52 -0800
Received: (qmail 62777 invoked by uid 60001); 20 Dec 2007 08:24:52 -0000
Domain key snipped to prevent forum blowout - SP
Received: from [80.255.41.170] by web62402.mail.re1.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:24:52 EST
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:24:52 +1100 (EST)
From: Send an Instant Message "David Bromley" <[email protected]>
Reply-to: [email protected]

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:38 pm

Thanks for the headers.

Your scum bag is in Lagos, Nigeria.

Funny old thing.... Rolling Eyes

I'm really glad you got this sorted out. Well done you.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:42 pm

IP address 80.255.41.170:

Arvind Gupta
Blk 54A, Plot 10, Off Adebayo Doherty,
Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1,
Lagos, Nigeria

Who would have guessed?

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

OMG, thanks so much.

He had no accent or whatsoever. Who would have known?

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:09 pm

Just FYI, so no one runs off with the wrong information.

The address shown above is the address and contact information for the IP owner, i.e. the ISP internet access provider, not the actual scammer. It has nothing to do with the location of the scammer except that if the ISP is only local then the scammer is in lagos.

The scammer won't bother you. It is not in his best interests and he is only interesting in money.

What bothers me is you mention a package. How does the package fit in?

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

I meant to say a UPS 'package' containing the check. With the tracking number, I saw that it originated from seattle.

That scumbag called AT LEAST 10 times this morning....I finally picked up and told him I do not want to have anything to do with him. Geez....

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:49 am

Often times, the person mailing you the check, is also a victim, hence the Seattle postmark. They believe that they too employed by the lad, to write checks for payment.

I know your natural reaction is the need to confront him for almost taking you for thousands. It's better not to....just move on and learn from the experience. Don't pick up his calls, don't answer your email. I guarantee he will go away as soon as he realizes he's not getting your money.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

To add to what Lotta and DrWho have said:

You've received a check; this check, depending on the quality, cost your lad money- at some point, you may receive threatening phone calls or emails; your lad may threaten you with LEO involvement (blah, blah, you're stealing from him, blah) or you may get an email claiming to be from a LEO branch (FBI, US SS, etc) threatening you with legal action if you don't cash the check.

Pay no attention to that, should the threats come.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks for the advice!

I called the bank. The check was for an account which has already been closed.

Moderator Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 14513

Glad to hear you and your money are safe. Listen to the advice offered by others. TS is right, don't worry about 'threats" -- FBI, Internpool, UN, local dog catcher etc. All lad bs. They are lazy, the will move on shortly.

If he calls back you can always tell him you have been arrested and the police need to speak to him immediately. Wink

He will go away.

Master Baiter Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 158

This whole thread is a Xmas present in itself. Hearing 419eater saved more people from the evils of 419 Scammers just makes this Xmas even better. (I got $53k worth of Auctions TKOed by Ebay the other day in a stolen account, so I was already chuffed!)

If he keeps calling just do as Devil guy says. Say you were arrested because of the cheque and your account is frozen while its all investigated - oh and they want to speak to him - he will cut and run..

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:22 pm

Thank you for posting here yogil80. It's always good news to learn that a scammer has been denied.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

I can't believe that lad has not given up yet. Latest email from scumbag:

I believe u have gotten the funds back as i asked my associate not too pick up the funds in other to get things worked out @ both ends... let me know what the problem is and i wanna know if you've gotten your funds back cos i dont want to put you in any trouble helping me....I felt so perplexed while talkin to you on phone the othertime, and i had to call my client...Please feel free in contacting me back to know the status...am sorry it opted out this way...I meant for no arm

David...

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:10 pm

Quote:

I meant for no arm

That is a standard reply to get you to believe in him again. You can try telling him that you have notified the FBI and given them the check. They are working on it. Or Just filter his address. If your ISP email has the ability to bounce the emails set that so your email looks to be closed. Otherwise don't reply and just erase the emails. He will give up in a few weeks. Smile

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