Question about a possible scamer

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

If this is the wrong place, forgive me as I'm new here.

So I put up an ad on craigslist for a TV and VCR/DVD combo and someone emailed me saying they want it, but they can't come look at it because they are in Florida(or some state, it was in the US) or some stupid shit that you always get with a scammer, so I played along and blah blah blah because he is (or was)obviously a scammer, broken English ect.

Then he asked me for an address to send the payment to. So I looked in the phone book, gave him a real street and zip in Anchorage(where I live) but changed the house number. Then he kept emailing me and I just ignored him figuring he would get bored and stop.

Well the other day I get an email from him saying he mailed the check and he gave me a DHL tracking number. I thought it was bogus so I look it up and he mailed it to Anchorage. So now I'm kind of freaking out this guy might be legit(although I don't know why you would buy a T.V on craigslist out of state).

I'm just curious if this is normal practice? Do they normally send DHL letters? IF it is legit (which I doubt, but I'm still nervous because I'm nervous by nature) what kind of legal problems am I looking at for giving someone a bogus address? I'm scared that it is legit and someone will get it, cash it and it will some how come to me.

Another thing is is he has my real name, cell number, and ISP email address because I've never ran into this on craigslist before so I never thought to get a different email, ect.

So what would you guys do? Is this typical scammer stuff as far as them sending DHL letters and stuff? He hasn't emailed me in two days and has never called. I NEVER wanted to scam this guy and I don't. I emailed him saying "I never received or took any money. Please stop emailing me." and a second email saying "I have decided not to sell the T.V with VHS/DVD combo. I will not touch the payment, I DO NOT want your money. Please have it sent back to you."

What can I expect in return from him? If he's a scammer will he try to threaten me with legal action?

I'm VERY new to this so I have many questions and concerns, so please forgive me.

Thanks for reading.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:38 pm

He is sending you a fake check. He wants you to deposit the check and send the difference to someone (most likely in Nigeria) via WU. This is a common check scam.

Was the address you have him a real address? Or just something close to one? I suggest just not emailing him back anymore, since he has real life details. He is not going to threaten you with legal action. What will he say? "I SENT THIS FAKE CHECK AND HE DIDN'T WIRE ME THE MONEY!!!!" Just don't worry about it. Just stop all communication with him.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Yeah, I won't email him anymore.

I forgot to mention the DHL package originated in Elkridge, MD.

According to the DHL website it is now in Anchorage.

The address was a real street in Anchorage with the real zip, but I made up the house number. When I google the house number in google maps it just points the road, not a specific house as far as I can tell.

Why would he want me to wire him the money? It's suppose to be the payment for the T.V and DVD/VCR thing.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:45 pm

He has a check mule or a scammer buddy in MD. I suspect a check mule, who is probably actually a victim.

You should be fine, just stop communication with him altogether.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:52 pm

Thet check will be more than the price you're asking for the item you're selling. It will appear to clear in a few days, and not be found to be bogus until after you've sent a large chunk of it via WU. Which is lost forever.
Leaving you out of pocket and possibly in trouble for banking the check.
The scammer isn't interested in what you're selling.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:53 pm

Zigzag- It might be wise to send the address in Maryland to a mod via private message - they can the communicate with the proper authorities and make sure that the check mule is shut down.

Bruin

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

I'm stopping communication.

I don't have his address. All the DHL site shows is his name, which is different then the name on his e-mail.

I have no contact info for him other than his email, and thats how we've been communicating, he never called even though my number was on the original craigslist ad(I never emailed it to him).

The more I think about it the more this seems to be a scam. Who sends a check to someone without talking to him on the phone at least?

I'm just a worrying person by nature and I'm just worried what will happen with this DHL package that it will some how fall back on me. I'm guessing DHL will just return to sender when they realize its a non-existent address?

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

DHL won't care unless someone tips them off and then, probably only if this were a repeat case.

You're in the clear. Deep breath. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:41 pm

zigzag wrote:

The more I think about it the more this seems to be a scam. Who sends a check to someone without talking to him on the phone at least?

It doesn't seem like a scam, mate. It is a scam. If he contacts you again, just tell him that you know it's a scam and you want no part of it.
There is the chance he may phone to see if you got the cheque (but doubtful) so do the same there - "It's a scam. Don't call again" and then hang up.
But like the other guys have said, there's nothing for you to worry about. You might want to be on your toes now though. It's nothing to get majorly hung up about, but now the scammer has your email address, he's probably going to bombard you with more crap.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:22 pm

Welcome zigzag! Very Happy

You are not the first to find your way here while in the middle of something you didn't expect. Shocked

Typically in this kind of situation, the scammer has some he has enlisted a "mule" (usually through deception) to send out checks to future victims that are written in excess of the amount of the check. The victim (almost you) depostis the check and sends the overage on to either this scammer or someone who works with him.

The check eventually bounces and the victim (you) get stuck with all fo the fees and possibly even prosecuted for passing a bad check. Plus the victim would have sent to item off to an address because the victim was "paid" for the item. Victims lose out in multiple ways.

If you would like to know more, visit www.scamwarners.com and look for the forum on check scams.

IF for any reason, DHL were to find you by name (I have had delivery services do that in small towns by using the phone book), you still have nothing to worry about because you didn't know all of this. All DHL would do is deliver the package to you. There are no markings that say that there is a fake check inside. It is just a package to them.

You can keep the check as a "trophy" (deface it though) and you WILL have the address for the "mule" that you can pass on to a Mod here for proper attention.

The scammer will not look for you. He (or the mule) is out the cost of DHL and printing of the bogus check. The scammer is looking for money, not looking for vengence. When things go South on them (and most places are South of AK Wink

), they just move on to the next promising victim.

The scammer would have no claim in court against you regardless of what he might say in an email. Imagine this scenario:
Judge What is your claim
Scammer Well, I sent this guy an email saying I would buy his TV.
Judge Then what.
Scammer I sent him a forged check from a person I have tricked into sending out forged checks for me.
Judge Did zigzag cash the check.
Scammer No your honor, zigzag did not, that is the problem.
Judge I don't understand how that is the problem?
Scammer Well if zigzag didn't cash the check and send me the money from the check, I don't get paid.
Judge So you are in my court because you didn't get your cut of a fraudulant action?
Scammer Yes, your honor, that is correct.
Judge You have no case against zigzag, however, the Bailiff has some nice jewlery that I want placed on both of your wrists...
Scammer Cool, jewlery... umm... damn!

I hope this helps to ease your mind zigzag, you had good instincts and you are going to be fine! Welcome and I hope you will stick around. Cool

Edit because I missed a thought.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Well according to the DHL website it said "Recipent refused delivery". I don't know if that's just what the default to if they can't find a house or if there was a real house with the numbers I gave the guy and they refused. Oh well I guess. I'll just wait for more emails and watch to see what happens with the package.

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