Counterfeit checks often used by people operating Nigerian scams and if you try to cash one, you’ll be responsible for paying the money back to the bank.
The need for greed will always prevail and the most honest of people can fall victim to the following new scam. The offers are posted on online services and bulletin boards like eBay and arrive as a sale offer or business opportunity via email or Instant Messaging or replying to your posting.
We’ve already discussed how Nigerian scams artists use counterfeit money orders as a payment method to trick people into sending money, valuable property. Counterfeit checks are often substituted in these schemes. This article examines how these scams often work.
How Nigerian Check Scams Work
Classic Nigerian scams often originate from another country. It may not be Nigeria. That’s just where the scam gets its name. You get a letter or email from someone claiming he or she has a business selling some product over the Internet, a significant amount of money they need help spiriting out of their country or a charitable organization that needs to accept donations.
Sometimes they just offer to buy something you’re selling or rent a property you’ve advertised on the internet. You’re told that you’ll be sent a check to pay for the items you’re selling or you’ll be asked to deposit money in your account then wire them their share while you keep the rest.
One version of this scam involves buyers “accidently overpaying” for an item you’re selling. The details aren’t important. The key is that the deal sounds very lucrative for you, so enticing that you won’t spend too much time thinking about it.
Once you’ve cashed the checks and forwarded money back to the person that sent you the check, you’ll notified that the checks were forged, stolen, or are counterfeit. It may take a week. It could take several months. If the check’s counterfeit, count on that fact being discovered.
The bank will be missing some money and trust me, they’ll figure out why and guess who they’ll turn to first to recover the funds? That’s right, they’ll come after you.
You’ll be responsible for every penny. Go ahead and tell them the story about the mysterious overseas buyer. They’ve heard many stories like this before. It won’t help because no one will ever hear from or see this person again.
You’re left holding the bag, and will have to pay the bank for the amount of the check.
This is not to mention the possibility of law suits and/or criminal charges you may face. If you thought that once a check cleared it was a “done deal”, you are wrong. The bank has every right to take their money back from you if the check is later determined to be counterfeit.
How to detect this check scam
Like others in this category you need to know who you are doing business with and as always, if it sounds to good to be true it usually is. Your best bet is to not send any money or merchandise to someone until a check has cleared the bank.
Don’t give in to threats or any other form of coercion because if you hold onto your money or goods and you’ve been paid with a bad check you are so far out nothing in this deal. If you give in and mail merchandise or money abroad and then it comes to your attention that the check didn’t clear you are, as we said earlier, holding the bag and will have to cover the check.
I have received a check in the amount of $1800 for a set of tires I advertised on Craigslist for $800. It was delivered by USPS on Sat, the buyer demanded that I cash it within 24hrs, send him $1000 money order for moving of the tires. I was foolish enough to give my address and I am a single woman living alone. He has been harassing me via text and phone, another mistake I made. I’m fearful, what do I do? Please help!
This guy most likely lives over seas. You’ll never see him. It would cost too much money for him and would risk him being apprehended. Block the email and number and forever it ever happened.
The same thing is happening to me what u do is call your local sheriffs office or your states fraud hotline apparently targeting women don’t just let it go pursue it who ever these people are they need to b stopped
change phone number and contact secret service
Dont cash these checks u will go to jail. It happened to my friend 4 months in jail.
I got a check in the mail for posting things online,2,540 dollars.the guy is demanding 1,000 back to lay other workers.the check hasnt cleared yet,but jf it clears, does that mean its a good check?