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Has anyone gotten a scam check and just kept it?

T

Teresa

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
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Location
Medina, OH
I have received yet another scam e-mail from someone who wants to pay for a rental with 'trip funds - please take your share and send the rest to my agent by Western Union'.

I'm tempted to just have them send the scam check (play along) and then not send them any money. I know the check's no good so I thought I'd just keep it and see what they did to get 'the rest of the money' from me. Maybe get the local authorities involved or something - maybe we could shut down this particular person.

I seem to recall seeing something where someone had kept the scammer going for months - even to the point of arranging (not really) a trip to go see them (I think it was that 'deposed leader' scam).

Not that I don't have anything better to do. Just wondering if anyone has actually gotten a check and played along for awhile. I received one years ago and called the bank - they said it was bogus. I never heard from them (scammers) about it.

As I said - just wondering.
 
My initial reaction is that you're playing with fire.
Although you would never send them any money or disclose personal details, playing along could result in these folks finding out more about you than you'd prefer them to know. Maybe I'm a chicken at heart, but I shy away from having anythig to do with shady-characters
 
I agree. You would be taking an unnecessary risk - with no reward.

These scammers are located in other countries where the U.S. authorities generally can't shut them down. Even if you don't give out any personal info, by responding you'll be sending a clear signal that you are a good target for more scams.

Simply ignore the e-mail message for best results.
 
Talent312 said:
My initial reaction is that you're playing with fire.
Although you would never send them any money or disclose personal details, playing along could result in these folks finding out more about you than you'd prefer them to know. Maybe I'm a chicken at heart, but I shy away from having anythig to do with shady-characters
Click to expand...
My feeling too as you would have to give them a lot of details about yourself as well as the timeshare too. Too dangerous as you don't know what else they are capable in doing as they may harm your family. Turn the email in to the proper authorities and they deal with it or delete.
 
One has to be very careful when playing these games. It is very easy to get burnt. I have heard of overseas cheques "clearing" funds, the recipient spending the money only some months later having the "home " bank dishonour the cheque and the funds are recovered from the recipients bank account. This how the scam works, the recipient ends up paying twice ie spending money they dont have and then having to repay the dishonoured funds. As I said earlier the disnhonouring can take months to surface. Best advice is bin the cheque and dont get involved.
 
I've never taken it too far but I've messed with scammers on craigslist before. The best was being told the motorcycle is in storage in Charlotte and I live near Raleigh (only 2.5 hrs away). I told them I had business in Charlotte on Monday, my wife and we would make a weekend out of it, I would meet them at the storage facility with their "agent", and give them cash and get it home myself. I had made the hotel reservations and was really excited about riding it home. ;) They still wanted to ship it to me for free!! :rofl: :hysterical: :rofl:

As the 419eater web site says, if they are messing with you, they aren't messing with someone else who might be more gullible. While there are certainly risks involved, IMHO, they are very small. I wouldn't let it get so far as actually getting them to send a check. Make them go through lots of red tape filling out forms to rent it. Tell them you will give them the excess after the rental to cover any possible damages. Lots of ways to work it. :)
 
Remember you are dealing with low-life people that want to steal from you so how far they will go no body knows!

The best idea is to hit delete and NEVER e-mail or talk to them because you just opened the door!:crash:


PHIL
 
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All of these "offers" should also be forwarded to your state's Attorney General's email.
 
Teresa said:
Not that I don't have anything better to do.
Click to expand...

Teresa,

I can think of 1,000's of "better" things to do with my time. I would take a crochet class before I would waste the mental effort and time to string a scammer along. I'm sure there are many excellent volunteer organizations near you that would be happy to suggest something "better" to do.
 
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