Solutions needed for already occured craigslist scam
Alright, so a friend of mine recently contacted me saying that his brother had been scammed on craigslist. The situation is this, my friend's brother posted an ad on craigslist selling a laptop valued at $500. A guy contacts him wanting to buy the laptop. I guess both of them come to an agreement, and the buyer sends a check in the mail with a value of $1500. For whatever reason, my friend's brother did not find this suspicious, but whatever. Along with the check came some instructions on sending the guy back the difference ($1000). He then goes to cash the check the day after he received it, and apparently everything was good. Then the next day or so, he sent $1000 back to the guy. After sending the guy the $1000, he's notified a few days later that the check of $1500 was fradulent, and I assume funds were then withdrawn. Now that's where it leaves off. They never sent the buyer/scammer the laptop, but he ended up getting away with the $1000. I recommended taking all the information they have (email, phone number, address listed on the envelope with check, etc.) to the police station and filing a report.
As soon as I read the situation, I knew it just reeked of scam before I even finished. Unforunately, my friend's brother never consulted anyone on the matter until it was too late. So, besides filing a police report, is there any other form of action that they could take? Is there any specific info they should have to make sure this asshat gets nailed? I'm sure there have been plenty of other people that ended up in a similar scam, so any insight from those situations would be great help. Like always, any help is appreciated!
As soon as I read the situation, I knew it just reeked of scam before I even finished. Unforunately, my friend's brother never consulted anyone on the matter until it was too late. So, besides filing a police report, is there any other form of action that they could take? Is there any specific info they should have to make sure this asshat gets nailed? I'm sure there have been plenty of other people that ended up in a similar scam, so any insight from those situations would be great help. Like always, any help is appreciated!
Comments
Originally posted by: nes_pimp
He sent the money before he cashed the cheque! Id like to see the instructions the guy sent, why would he do that?
THIS^^
Why would your friend send a check for $1000 before checking if the first check is good or not. I feel for the situation your friend is in but he kind of screwed himself here. Nonetheless I wish you guys the best of luck on catching this crook.
What happened was he went to cash the day after he received it, and apparently everything was good. Then the next day or so, he sent $1000 back to the guy. After sending the guy the $1000, he's notified a few days later that the check of $1500 was fradulent, and I assume funds were then withdrawn.
Originally posted by: Lincoln
contact the police and hope for the best.
^This.
I'm sure the feds will do their thing. Good luck man.
My sister fell for one of those once upon a time, she was selling a car. She figured it out eventually, didn't cash the money orders, then started receiving like 10 fake money orders a week for about 2 months. Apparently once those folks get your info they pass it out and try to hit you again. The investigator we spoke to said that there were probably dozens of fake money orders out there using her information now that they had her address and legal name.
Originally posted by: Taco!
^This.
I'm sure the feds will do their thing. Good luck man.
My sister fell for one of those once upon a time, she was selling a car. She figured it out eventually, didn't cash the money orders, then started receiving like 10 fake money orders a week for about 2 months. Apparently once those folks get your info they pass it out and try to hit you again. The investigator we spoke to said that there were probably dozens of fake money orders out there using her information now that they had her address and legal name.
Ah man, that REALLY sucks. I couldn't imagine having to deal with that nonsense, sheesh.
I figured the best solution would be to go ahead with the police involved. I'll be sure to update when he fills me in on what's going on.
If I sell something for $500 --- why on earth would someone send me a check for $1,500 and ask for a refund. Does this make ANY SENSE AT ALL??? Because checks are just so expensive that once you write one you can't void it and write another? Why would anyone in their right mind do this????
I don't say this to be mean to the victim, but people, please use common sense!!!!!
I'm sorry - it's just really difficult for me to fathom how someone could fall for this --- I'm honestly trying to imagine what goes through someone's mind when they get the check for $1,500 and the instructions, and think it's all on the up-and-up.
I'm sorry for the victim here --- as others suggested, you can take all the information you have, the instructions, the method he contacted the victim, and take that to the police, but I wouldn't be too optimistic about it leading to much.
Unfortunately there usually isn't much luck getting the bank to refund the charge because the $1,000 check was written and signed legitimately, so it isn't a fraud case where they would generally refund the funds.
Good luck!
A person sending a check for $1,500 for a $500 is a BIG RED FLAG....
Originally posted by: WeLoveClassicGames
Doesn't Craigslist mention you should always pay in cash to prevent these type of scams? Also did your friend's brother even meet the guy in person and at least get his real name and info?
A person sending a check for $1,500 for a $500 is a BIG RED FLAG....
Yeah, I do think craigslist mentions that. No, I don't believe they ever met in person.
It is ridiculous that someone would fall for something like this, but who knows, maybe his brother has never had any experience in online dealings. For us, this is a no-brainer, it's bullshit. For him, he probably wasn't suspecting, obviously, he's naive. There was a return address, but they figure it's most likely bogus. As far as contacting the bank, I don't believe they have. I'm definitely going to pass that tip along.
NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) or Insufficient Funds? I assume the check was legit but
the scammer's account lacked the funds.
Originally posted by: ndcapo
Couldn't your friend's brother file a complaint with the local State Attorney for
NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) or Insufficient Funds? I assume the check was legit but
the scammer's account lacked the funds.
Interesting, I'll ask and see!
To update, yes, they did get in contact with the bank, and according to my friend, they denied the case. It seems that they're being put on "hold" as the bank looks into the situation further.
Probably not a whole lot that can be done at this point. This is a very, very, very old scam. As in, before the Internet.
At least he's only out $1000 and a laptop. People usually do this with cars.
When I worked at a used computer store, the idiot working the phone got scammed big time by someone using the relay service. You know, the one where the deaf can use the Internet or a TTY device, and the operator relays between you and the deaf user? Unfortunately, it's also fantastic for hiding your identity. Guy ordered at least a dozen laptops and paid with either a fake money order or a stolen credit card - I don't remember which. The thing was, he had them shipped to Nigeria. *Why* the guy accepted the order is beyond me. Another blatantly obvious scam. Yes, they actually got shipped, no, they didn't realize until it was too late. I wasn't there that day, but I got to hear the aftermath...
-Ian
If that happened to me, I would find out where the person lived and send some bikers out to get the money back ( am good friends with some major members of clubs). I remember a while back, debt collecting companies were sending Hell's Angels out to collect money of people.