[ale] [OT] new kind of scam

[deritchie at earthlink.net]

THIS IS A SCAM. There is a nontrival amount of this sort of fraud going on (mystery shopper, large checks where you need to send a portion back, etc.) craigslist seems to have a lot of enterprising crooks who are looking to con the unsuspecting. Also be careful to look over large currency too...
The best thing to do is ignore the scammers.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----
From: "Michael H. Warfield" <mhw at WittsEnd.com>

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:49:36 
To:Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
Cc:mhw at WittsEnd.com
Subject: Re: [ale] [OT] new kind of scam


Hey Sean,

On Fri, 2007-11-16 at 20:32 -0500, Sean Kilpatrick wrote:
> I am trying to sell a pair of fairly valuable antique chairs
> on Craig's List for an extremely reasonable price.

> I got what follows in the mail this afternoon, and my response
> was "NO!" followed by declaring my willingness to sell_only_
> to those who show up in person and pay cash. I also commented
> that he was asking me to forge a Cashier's check.

> Is there_any_ chance this was a valid offer?

	Doubtful.  Very doubtful.  I don't quite see where the hook is, since
they're not asking you to advance them anything and they'll wait for the
check to clean and they claim they'll use their shippers.  

	But...  It just doesn't smell right.  And, yeah, that bit of "printing
a cashiers" check is as hokey as a $3.00 bill.  I would tell them to
save the $50 paper cost and go direct wire transfer or paypal (or cash
in person as you say, but I'm not sure I would want to meet this bunch
in person unless it was in a very public place).  If they can't handle
that, there is "no way Jose".

> Sean

	Mike

> -------------<begin copied material> --------------------------
> 
>  
> Sounds Good.I want to purchase the item today and pay you via Electronic 
> Cashier Check drawn frommy Bank of America account it is a real cashiers 
> check after you print it. The check will be sent to you immediately via 
> email all you need to do is purchase a Business check paper at any Office 
> depot or stationary store to print the check on and immediately when you 
> print the check proceed to your Bank to deposit or Cash it,the Business 
> check paper cost $20 only but i will offer you $50 to purchase the Business 
> check paper to print the check.The item will be picked up from you by my 
> Company shipper so you don't have to worry about shipment of the item also 
> I will wait for you to confirm and clear the check before the shipper come 
> to pickup the item from you actually I should have handled this myself but 
> i am not available to do that now i am currently away for my Company 
> seminar that is why i want you to do this and i will pay you $50 to 
> purchase the Business check paper to print the check.This is the fastest 
> and best method of payment because it is instant once you purchase Business 
> check paper all this process of printing and cashing of the E-check can be 
> done within 2 hours.Thanks.
> 
> -------------------<end copied material> ------------------------------
> 
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-- 
Michael H. Warfield (AI4NB) | (770) 985-6132 |  mhw at WittsEnd.com
   /\/\|=mhw=|\/\/          | (678) 463-0932 |  http://www.wittsend.com/mhw/
   NIC whois: MHW9          | An optimist believes we live in the best of all
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