Scams

[snaimon]

Can someone tell me how scams work?

Example: Someone (the person to be scammed) is to function as a middleman. The person (middleman) is to relay or transfer money from one party to another. The middleman is to receive 10% of the total sum as his/her commission. He/she receives a large sum of money from the first party via check; he deposits into his account. After the funds clear, he is to transfer 90% of the sum on to it final destination.

So, how is this a scam? Is it possible or HOW is it possible for the first party to retrieve the funds that have already cleared with the originating bank.

Thanks,

Stan

[andy]

There is no large sum that will be transferred ...

There will be extra "unforeseen" clearance and other fees involved, which the mark puts upfront ...

One or two people have actually fallen for these and put in tens of thousands; I think there was a case of someone shooting someone else a year or so ago after losing like this (was there a Czech man involved ...?)

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by andy

There is no large sum that will be transferred ...

Thanks. But here is the case.

My friend (the mark) has a check for $49 K plus in his possession. I saw the check; looked very official with TWO signatures. Checked was received in the mail. According to a note inside, he was to call a number in Canada before he deposited the check. He did that via SKYPE OUT and the person on the other end said he "activated" the check. So, if he deposits the check, his bank says it will take 15 days to clear. If he waits the 15 days and the funds have indeed been credited to his account, what can go wrong?

NOTE: my friend has not yet deposited the check. So what happens if he deposits the check?

Stan

[DRNewcomb]

This is obviously a scam but just to make the point, tell your friend to "send the check for collection" rather than depositing it.

[andy]

I don't know Stan

This sounds very modest compared to most of the usual deals which involve multi-millions, mostly fictitiously siphoned off from defrauded government contracts, or from a dodgy bank manager asking you to pose as the last living relative of a Saudi Arabian that was killed in a car or aeroplane crash seven years ago. The most recent one is much more pleasant, from a gorgeous 24 year old Nigerian princess that seems to be half in love with me already and wants to share the $27 million that she just inherited from her father; the language keeps skipping out of kilter though

I've asked Google how I can change my Google groups email address, but they don't answer. Some people have invalid email addresses, but you need a real one to receive the validation email; maybe you can edit only non-Gmail addresses ...

[Stu]

I suspect the check is counterfeit. A good quality counterfeit check will clear a bank. It takes longer to detect the counterfeit in the system than the clearance time allowed under banking regulations. Will then check crashes and burns, the bank will then come back after you.

The sad thing is that you can go to a bank manager tell them you have doubts about the authenticity of the check and you want to process the check in a way that will guarantee that it is authentic. You can tell them that your product is leaving the country and if the check is bad, you are stung. Despite all the warnings in the world, the bank doesn't think twice about going after you when the check bounces or whatever a counterfeit check does when it is detected.

Many counterfeit certified checks are run on high quality presses in Malaysia. Look for the obvious signs of color laser printer will not protect you. Unforutnately, your bank won't protect you either. Go to some of the Pay Pal Merchant forums and read about this.

If the check is nominally drawn on a Canadian bank the lag time is even longer. The hold time on a Canadian check is usually 15 days. The bounce time on a counterfeit is 40 days or so.

In another variation of the scam, scammers will con a mark and then tell them to transfer the funds to some third party. The third party will receive the money and then transfer it off to the scammers in Eastern Europe. You will get to keep your processing fee, but expect a visit from the FBI, a frivolous lawsuit from the cheated individual who is expecting the car or whatever else he thinks you will sending him.


Stu

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by andy

I've asked Google how I can change my Google groups email address, but they don't answer. Some people have invalid email addresses, but you need a real one to receive the validation email; maybe you can edit only non-Gmail addresses ...

Well, that people maybe is using simply Usenet through a good newsreader (www.mesnews.net for example) :P Pay attention to split Usenet from some (crappy) 'pure" Google Groups...

[meir]

I remember the shooting story. The man lost around 1.5 million Euro with Nigerians. And shoot Nigerian consul in Prague. He was several times in Nigeria. I thing over 20 times. And Central Bank Of Nigeria guarantees for the payment were certified By ambassador and Consul who was shot to death.