OK, here’s the scenario. I have work now, but am trying to line something up for the future, as I’ll be out of work in a month or two. I put an ad in the paper, the hand-out booklets, the yellow pages…not much response. The economy is slow here.
So my wife puts an ad on Craiglist, for the nearby coastal region, where the economy is better. I get an email from a bloke in the UK – says he’s buying a house in So. Calif. (won’t tell me where), and wants to “secure” my services, can he mail me a check for 1000.00?
He gives me a long list of services needed: new doors throughout, new windows, drywall repairs, plumbing problems, etc. I tell him yes, we can do that – and I ask to look at the project, but he says No, not until I get there, “for security reasons”. So I say no reason to send a check. We’ll meet when he gets here, and go from there.
He writes back, and is insistent that he wants to mail me a check for 1k to secure my services. I checked the state reg’s, and they do allow a deposit of 1k. But I have no contract, have not seen the job, don’t even know where it is. He is asking for my name and address.
I can’t imagine how this could be a scam, but there’s always a new angle. Is this how they do business in the UK?
I’m bumfuzzled. I don’t want to take his check, but don’t want to argue about it either. Anyone ever encountered something like this?
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Replies
My guess is that you will get a cashiers check for say $2500.
Then he will say because of all of the problems with exchanging funds, etc that he wants you to cash it and then use the extra to pay some other people.
Then in a month or two the check will be returned as a forggery.
That kind of scam has been common with ebay and the like.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Most likely a scam. Ive had this problem with craigslist on a couple of things Ive posted ( none of them for work though).
It's a scam. He will send you a check, money order, whatever. You'll deposit it and it will initially appear to be good. But with him in the UK it can take a few weeks to be properly cleared.
I'm not sure what he's going to ask you do do, but be assured he will get some value that you won't be able to retrieve. And the check will bounce, eventually.
OK, thanks, I suspected as much. I wrote back and said that I could not accept funds without a proper contract, and that I would be happy to look at the project when he arrived. Hopefully that's the end of it.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Sure sounds like sucker bait.Take the check, staple it to your notes and put it in a folder with this guys' name on it. When he shows up, hand him the check, and proceed from there.If this is a scam, you only risk is a staple and a folder tag. If it's for real, the only thing the guy can say is "An honest man!?!?"SamT
SamT got it right.
Won't cost you anything to accept it and not cash it.
If and when he shows up, then you can deal with it.
Just don't put any money out until then.
Ozlander
Of course, if it does turn out to be a scam (and you haven't cashed or deposited the check and haven't paid anything to anyone), you can always string him along for fun.http://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htmRebeccah
It's a scam, Huck. I advertise my rental on Craigslist and get these offers all the time. It's always from Great Britain and it's always "urgent."
Edited 9/24/2007 8:53 am ET by Mudslinger
Yeah - I wrote back and said no deposit without a contract...and haven't heard from him since. If I had to do it over, I'd say Send the check - Make it out to M. Mouse, Disneyland, Anaheim California.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
based on that other thread sounds like U could take it to a check cashing place and walk with with a handful of cash ... leaving someone else holding the bag ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
There IS a chance that, because the economy there has been good, that he's had a hard time securing workers. For him to fly over here and have a no-show would be a huge waste of his time.
But it does sound fishy.
It's 100% for real.
As he said, he has significant security concerns to consider. This is because he is actually the son of an ousted African King. He needs to find a way to move some serious amounts of money without arousing suspicions from the guerrillas.
I'm actually very close to a deal that should be worth several million dollars (my contact said "25 dollars million", but I'm sure it was just a transliteration issue).
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Laughed out loud at your post. Thanks.
Hello all,
This is a copy of a letter I recieved from Craiglist when I rented out my extra 2 car garage, With Craiglist you are going to get crazy emails everyday . just don't respond and only pay attention to your normal buisness practices.Hello Renter.
How are you there?Hope God is taking care of you and your family? i came accross your email address through craigslist and will like to know if your garage, parking spot for my M class benz is still available .My name is Yemi .i read medical science and will be on my clinical practises in women breast cancer in May so i need a garage, parking spot .A little about me.I am 26 years old,iam gentle,neat,respectful,i mind my own smoking, no overnight guest,no party,i promise to keep the place neat as you ever wanted,my favourite colours are blue and white.I want to rent from JUNE 2007 and
i will love to rent for some months but i may extend the rent later so tell me more about the garage, parking spot place and .If there is any application that i will need to fill plz have it sent to me via email so i could print and bring it over with me when coming over cos i do not have acess to fax machine.I will be happy to rent from you so get back to me as soon as possible. Please inform me about the garage, parking spot so that i can tell my agent to make the payment asap before my arrival.Hope to read from u soon.
Regards
Yemi
I'm pretty sure this is a scam, having read all the posts here. I wrote back and said I could not accept a check without a contract, but would be happy to view the project at any time.
The reason I'm pretty confident it is a scam: 1) He would not give me an address, or even a general location of the project 2) He would not give a time frame of when he would be available to show the project 3) His description of services needed sounded like it was lifted from my webpage 4) His wording sounds suspiciously similar to the letter you posted
-------------------------------------------
Hello ,
Thanks for your mail update and i really appreciate your explanations and am sorry for getting back to you late,i want you to handle the plumbing repairs and electrical troubleshooting,drywall repairs - wall and ceiling,new doors to be installed,windows installed of the building both interior and exterior of the building ,you would be purchasing the materials that you would need to have the jobs done,i would give you all necessary funds to purchase the materials needed for the job done when i arrive the states okay and as time goes on when i arrive you would be handling other vital job cos i beleive you can be capable of doing other jobs for me okay,though it is a bungalow house okay and as time goes on you would be handling other jobs like i said,i guess that is not a problem,i realize you are capable of handling this job,i would have love you go to my house for site seeing so as for you to see the building but i would be taking you to my house when i arrive the states cos no one is allowed in there due to security reasons,hope you can understand?and as time goes on you would be handling other jobs in my house okay Well i want you to know that i am willing to make a upfront payment of $1000,so when i arrive i would balance you the rest payment for the service okay. If you are satisfied with me making the deposit payment,get back to me so that i can issue out a money order for the service you will be rendering okay, Please,donot forget to send the name you would want to appear on the money order,and also the address you would like the upfront payment to be sent to.I would require a contact telephone number as well.I await your urgent response.
regardsthomas
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
You'll gladly accept funds but you dont take checks. Cash only.
Play his game.Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
I'll back you on this being a good choice. I agree with whomever thought he'd find a reason to "cancel" his trip and say he needs $X00 back, pretty please help him out since you have $1000 of his. Then you'd write that check and his would later bounce. I don't get how people can do this and live with themselves, but they do it.
Also be aware that every check you write has all of the information needed to start forging checks against your account.Because checks are processed without human intervention it doesn't have to even look like your checks or have your signature to clear and stay cleared until you fight it (unless you use a "positive pay" system, and how many small businesses do that).I've been working with print output software for over 7 years and I'm always amazed at how many businesses have a fit about sending sample check stock (that I could buy at Office Depot) but happily email me their bank account information and a payroll run with social security numbers without bothering to use a password-protected zip.-j
Also be aware that every check you write has all of the information needed to start forging checks against your account.
Which is a great reason to have only your name, stated in a different way than you sign your checks, printed on your checks. No address, SSN, nothing but your name.
And do NOT allow clerks to write any info on your check, ever. They can look at your driver's license or other information, but may not write it on your check.
With a name like "Jimmy the greek" what odds are you giving??????"No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree." - W.C. Fields
Jimmy the GEEK -- **HE** is odd.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
BWAAAAA!!!!"No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree." - W.C. Fields
A UK resident who has a house in the states should have a little better command of the english language than that....okay?
You are right. The scam I heard about also had to do with the UK and the person supposedly worked as a civil servant there. They wanted to buy a house. A lawyer over here looked at the grammar and said that anyone in the civil service in the UK would definitely not use grammar like that. He said it looked like someone using ordinary english, something a civil servant would definitely not do. Evidently he was aware of the difference. I guess like you and I would recognize a lawyers letter. Couldn't understand it, but recognize it, yes.
roger
A UK resident who has a house in the states should have a little better command of the english language than that....okay?
Mike, I was thinking the same thing. You know those Brits and their proper English!
Doug
Don't bother to post to the building board on Motley Fool UK--this is a scam!
Someone else recommended http://www.419eater.com/index.htm. I'll second that. You'll note that the tone/wording on your letter is very similar to all their examples.
Kathleen
This is because he is actually the son of an ousted African King. He needs to find a way to move some serious amounts of money without arousing suspicions from the guerrillas.
I believe you mean gorillas. Those guys are extremely suspicious, especially since someone stole their glue recipe.
The license laws say that you can accept a depost not exceeding 10% or $1000, which ever is greater. That is a big problem, how can you alot time for his job when you don't have a contact. I guess if you are dead in the water at that time, it might work, or not. If you do accept his deposit, then don't you have a contract? What if you don't want the job, are you locked into it and can he go after you for damages?
My feeling is that this is a scam or he is an idiot. Either way, probably not the person you want to deal with.
I'd talk to him by phone. If your instincts are like mine, you will know what to do.
But I would not hesitate to take a deposit check from somebody as a retainer. I can always return it after it clears the banking system. if he askes for it returned before then, he is out of line and out of luck.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
"I can always return it after it clears the banking system."You have to be VERY, VERY carefull.In most cases the bank has to release funds with in 5 days.But it can take 2-3 weeks and maybe more before a counterfiet check returned.If I got a check under a situation like this I would go to my back and talk to an officer and see if they can put it in for collection like a draft.Don't know if that would work or not. But if it could be it you would know that it was bad before you got the money.It has been a long time since I got a draft so I have forgotten some of the details. What I can't remember is if the issuing bank escrows the funds are other wise guarantees that they are available.Any case the buyer issues the draft which is a promise to pay under certain condtions. In my case it was a bill of sale for an airplane.They my bank mails the drafter along with my bill of sale to the issuing bank and the issuing bank then inturn mails back a bank check..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I realize that. I'd figure to wait a couple months. Supposing that I got a note saying the due to dire unforseen circumstances, ( Like my wife just died in a plane wreck) I need that money back, I would have to reply that it has to clear my internal auditing system before I can return it.Meanwhile, My own daily balance shows higher.I get deposits all the time for work, so that is no big deal, but the way this one is presented, I would regard it as a retainer for services. Retainers may or may not apply to actual billing, but can be taken just for availability.
"I made myself available. If you can't use me, too bad"
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm guessing that you can get socked with a fee by your bank for having to handle the bad check.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
That might be with some banks. Mine does not.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The problem, as I understand it, with the current system there is no "point" where the check as cleared.That within 5 days the bank has to release funds to your account. The check is put in for collection and goes through the system. If it is good then you "hear" from them again.If it is not a valid check then you don't know anything about that either until it worms it's way through the system and it is returned.Woodturner says that the bank has upto 90 days to make adjsutments. And that sounds reasonable.So if I was in such a sistuation I would verify it with a bank OFFICER and, if right, use the 90 days wait before returning rather than waiting for the check to "clear".BTW. to show you how a check can never "clear" I wrote a check to anyother bank for a loan payment. I got credit for it so it "cleared" at that bank". But the check was lost along the way and it was never deducted from my account..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
But it can take 2-3 weeks and maybe more before a counterfiet check returned.
And the bank can "reclaim" the check for 90 day AFTER IT CLEARS, longer in some cases.
There are no guaranteed funds or certified checks anymore, like there used to be. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way recently - and this was with a certified check written BY the bank.
It wouldn't surprise me if all of a sudden he ran out checks and wants to do a direct deposit into your account. I nice little scam to get your personal info and banking info. I would be inclined to shy away from this one. No body hires a contractor without meeting them first. That's just dumb. If he is legit, he will meet with you.
Dave
What has been known to happen is that a person will send you a cheque for say $10,000.00 to do whatever . A couple of days later they call and say they have changed their mind and would like you to keep $2000.00 and send them a cheque for $8,000.00 balance.
The banks in their infinite wisdom of hanging onto money for a week or more, for clearance, (even though electronically it was instant but they make interest in that period of time on your money ) it allows a window of time for crooks to operate.
You have deposited their worthless cheque and sent them your good cheque while you are waiting for their's to clear
Got to give them credit. That's thinking.
roger
Might try posting your question here http://boards.fool.co.uk/Messages.asp?bid=50975&mid=10713073, see what the folks in the UK say. You'll need to register to post, but it's free, and I've never had any problems because of the web site (10 years).
The above discussion group is operated by the Motley Fool--articles are mostly financial stuff, but discussion groups are on almost any topic the members are interested in. I mostly follow the US boards, but wandered over to the UK boards when there were rumors we might be moving there. Things are just different enough over there that this could be legitimate.
Hope it all works out.
Kathleen
The Craig's list in my area has a warning about this scam, primarily as it relates to landlords. It's new to me on contractors, but I'd be willing to bet it is the same. Always out of the country.
this is a scam and a 2 bit hustle dont do it........... do you mind giving him my name????
As a landlord, I get these all the time. Most are from the UK, for whatever reason. It's not just a function of Craig'slist, I get them from other advertising venues as well.
They typically say they want to rent a place sight-unseen; and don't really ask any questions about the apartment.
If he can't give you any details even about the type of work he'll want done...run away.
If you think there's a hint of chance it's real, there is no harm in agreeing to receive a check. I like the idea of just holding the check till more info is known.
hold it, yeah. If it's sent by USPS and turns out to be a scam, the USPS will persecute (sic) for mail fraud.SamT
I advertised on Craigslist a couple of times. Nothing against Craigslist, but I got a few lulus there too.
Whenever I rent a house I place an ad there.
The first time, I got alot of out of the country folks looking to rent. They used briken english that was so bad I knew something could not be right. I never replied to them and they went away.
I also couldnt figure out what the scam might be, but I figured best to leave it alone.
DUH!!!!!!
http://www.fakechecks.org/index2.html